What Are The Most Common Endgames In Chess?

Some pieces are more present in endgames, mostly due to the moment they join the battle. The rooks, for one, the only pieces that can castle with the king, are rarely moved in the early stages.

Most Common Endgames In Chess

The most common endgame formation involves only the rooks. According to statistics, 8.45% of all chess matches end with one rook on each side.

After that, white rook and bishop versus black rook and knight are the second most common pairs to see in the final stages, with 6.76%.

In third place, the two rooks on each side are present in 3.45% of endgames.

In fourth place, a formation with a rook and a bishop of the same square color each is present in 3.37% of endgames, followed by a 3.29% occurrence of a white bishop and a black knight.

Then, a rook and a knight each is present in 3.09% of endgames, followed by the 2.87% presence of the white king and pawns against the black king with or without pawns.

After that, 1.92% for a rook and a bishop of different square colours each and a surprising 1.87% for endgames with a queen, considered the strongest piece on the board, on each side.

A white rook and bishop against a black rook is present in 1.77% of endgames and a bishop of the same square color each, in 1.65%. With 1.56% is a knight each, 1.51% a white rook and a black bishop.

With 1.42%, a white rook and knight with a black rook, 1.11% a white bishop and a black of opposite square color, 1.01% for a white bishop and black pawns and 0.97% for a white rook and a black knight.

Then, 0.92% for a white knight and black pawns, 0.90% for a white queen plus a minor piece against a black queen, 0.81% for a white rook and two minor black pieces, 0.75% for a white rook and black pawns, 0.69% for a white queen and a black rook with minor pieces.

Following the list, with 0.67% occurrence is the white rook and a pawn and a black rook, 0.56%, a white rook with two pawns against a black rook, 0.42%, the white queen and black pawns, 0.40% for a white queen and a black rook and 0.31% for a white queen and two black rooks.

Then, 0.23% for a black king plus one pawn and a black queen, 0.17% for the white queen and a black minor piece, and 0.09% for the white queen plus one pawn and the black queen.

With 0.08% occurrence are the white queen and two minor black pieces, 0.02% for the white bishop and knight and the black king and, the least present endgame setup, the 0.01% of the white queen facing three black minor pieces.

So, if it’s so clear that the rook is ever so present in endgames, it might be a good idea to plan some of your final moves with that major piece.