Introduction to endgames

I decided that before jumping straight into pawn endgames, it is first important to understand what the endgame is and why it is important to study it.

When we think of endgames, we think of positions without many pieces on the board. Of course, that is generally what all endgames are, but they are “ironically” complicated despite what they appear to be. In fact, to win endgames, you have to be incredibly precise, as endgames (especially pawn endgames) are solved all the way towards the final result, and knowing how to reach the desired result is very useful and this will convert many draws into wins, and losses into draws. You also need to know how to find the right moves very quickly, especially since by this point of the game you may find yourself in time trouble! Also, many aspects from the previous section of the game is different (e.g now you often must use the K as a fighting piece to win the game, being down 2 pawns can now become a draw just with opposite coloured Bs existing [which actually would help the attacking side quite a lot in a middle game], etc.). Essentially, you could even consider it as an entirely new game with so many changes.

Well, there are multiple ways to win endgames generally, and draw endgames (and lose endgames), but I will briefly summarise (in importance) what you may need to do to win and draw endgames (obviously if you are worse):

• USE YOUR KING
• Tie down enemy pieces if possible
• Create weaknesses in the opponent’s territory
• BE ACTIVE (do not give away too much material either)
• Create passed pawn(s) if possible to pose problems
• Trade pawns (if worse) when offered (if it does not pose too many weaknesses or give them higher winning chances)
• Trade pieces (if better and this is not where your advantage lies or increase their drawing chances) when offered

Yes. I totally agree! Your explanations are easily understandable and they help a lot.

Could I post a few interesting endgame positions in a forum, or even here?

Sure!

They will be selected of this very useful study, but I don't have time to do it now. https://lichess.org/study/U3igvZG6

quite an interesting study.

Yeah. My IM coach showed me. The author wrote a book of this. It shows that two moves never are the same. Like example 3.