Most close games are decided by one tempo, not one piece. Learn to count the race to the king.
There’s a reason “I was winning and still lost” is the most common complaint at the improving level. In the opening and middlegame, material matters. In the endgame, a different law takes over:
“In the endgame, speed beats material.” Being one move faster to the enemy king is worth more than any captured piece.
Counting the Race
The core endgame skill is a rough estimate, made every move once kings come under fire:
- How many moves do I need to mate the enemy king?
- How many moves does my opponent need to mate mine?
- Whose turn is it?
If you’re faster — or equal and it’s your move — you attack and don’t look back. If you’re slower, grabbing a free piece is often the losing move; you need to either speed up your attack or add a move to your own king’s life with defense. The whole endgame is managing this race.
The Two Words That Decide Endgames
Tsumero (詰めろ) — a move that threatens mate next move. It forces your opponent to respond, which means it also buys you tempo. Stringing tsumero together is how you win a race: each one makes the opponent defend instead of attack.
Hisshi (必至 / brinkmate) — a mate threat that cannot be parried. It’s not checkmate yet, but there is no defense, so the game is effectively over. Learning to set up hisshi — rather than always hunting for immediate mate — is a huge practical jump.
When You’re Behind: Defend the Right Way
If the count says you’re a move too slow, don’t panic-attack. A single good defensive move can flip the race by adding one move to your king’s survival — and one move is all you needed.
How to Train Endgame Speed
- Solve tsume shogi daily. Mating-problem practice is the single most efficient endgame drill — it builds the reading speed the race depends on. Start with our Tsume Shogi guide and the Mate in 1 practice.
- Practice hisshi, not just mate. Ask “can my opponent escape next move?” — if no, you don’t need the full mate yet.
- Count in your own games. In review (How to Analyze Your Own Games), find the move where you took material instead of pressing the attack. That’s the tempo you lost.
Keep Going
- Tsume Shogi for Beginners — the core endgame drill
- Essential Tesuji — many finishing blows are tesuji
- How to Analyze Your Own Games
🇯🇵 日本語版: 終盤は速度 — 玉への寄せを数える
