Endgame study

An endgame study is a chess composition whose normal goal is for White to move and force either a win or a draw. Black provides the best possible resistance. Unlike a directmate, where White must force checkmate within a stated number of moves, a study normally imposes no move limit for reaching the win or draw.

The position often contains relatively few pieces and looks like an endgame, but it is constructed to express a specific idea. The solution must show why the result can be forced against the relevant Black replies, rather than merely giving an attractive line that works if Black cooperates.

A study may resemble an ending that could occur in practical play, but its purpose is compositional. Specialist terminology usually distinguishes it from a chess problem, a constructed position with a specific task, even though both belong to the broader field of chess composition.