Endgame tablebase
An endgame tablebase is a precomputed database that gives the exact result and best moves for every position with a small number of pieces, so engines can play those endgames perfectly.
Also called: tablebase
An endgame tablebase is a database built by working out, for every legal position with a limited number of pieces, whether it is a win, a draw or a loss and how many moves it takes. Once the table exists, a program can look up any position and play it with perfect accuracy, with no need to search.
Tablebases have settled many endgame questions. They confirmed which positions are won and revealed some surprisingly long forced wins that no human would find unaided. They also show which seemingly won positions are really draws, which is useful when you analyze a difficult ending.
Analysis boards often consult a tablebase automatically once the piece count is low enough, and show the verdict next to the position. When you study endgames, you can use this to check your conclusions after you have worked them out yourself. Do not try to memorize the tables. They hold far too much information, and the aim is to learn the general principles, such as the opposition, the role of the active king and the standard plans, that let you play endings well without them.
A neighboring idea is Syzygy tablebases. Syzygy tablebases are a compact set of endgame tablebases created by Ronald de Man that cover endgames up to seven pieces and are widely used by modern chess engines.
It sits close to Endgame study. Endgame study is the focused practice of reduced-material positions, learning the basic checkmates, pawn endings and rook endings that decide many games and sharpen your sense of what each piece is worth.
Compare it with Stockfish. Stockfish is a free, open-source chess engine developed by a worldwide community, widely regarded as one of the strongest engines available and used by many analysis websites and apps.
An engine can tell you what "Endgame tablebase" means for a position, but not which mistakes you keep making; a first lesson with George Li reviews your games and finds those.
Related terms
Syzygy tablebases are a compact set of endgame tablebases created by Ronald de Man that cover endgames up to seven pieces and are widely used by modern chess engines.
The endgame is the stage that follows heavy trading, when too little material remains for mating attacks to dominate, so the kings join the fight and the struggle turns on promoting pawns and exact technique.
A chess engine is a computer program that searches positions and evaluates moves, usually playing and analyzing far stronger than any human, and it is used for analysis, preparation and play against a machine.
Stockfish is a free, open-source chess engine developed by a worldwide community, widely regarded as one of the strongest engines available and used by many analysis websites and apps.
A king and pawn endgame is an ending in which only kings and pawns remain, so the result depends on promotion races, king placement, opposition, and exact counting of moves.
Endgame study is the focused practice of reduced-material positions, learning the basic checkmates, pawn endings and rook endings that decide many games and sharpen your sense of what each piece is worth.
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