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Stockfish at the start of the endgame

Mikhail Tal in the endgame.

1,100 endgames of Mikhail Tal, each evaluated by Stockfish at its start. 499 began equal – they brought 56.7 % of the points and 96 wins.

All endgames of Mikhail Tal →

How it began – and how it ended

Every endgame of Mikhail Tal by the value Stockfish gives its start – from the side of Mikhail Tal –, and what became of it.

  1. Clearly worse (−1.5 and less) 159 · 14.8 %
  2. Slightly worse 31 · 30.6 %
  3. Equal (±0.5) 499 · 56.7 %
  4. Slightly better 60 · 82.5 %
  5. Clearly better (+1.5 and more) 351 · 95.7 %

won drawn lost

By endgame family
Rook and minor piece56863.2 %51
Queen and piece38364.2 %30
Minor pieces8865.3 %8
Rook endgames6163.9 %7

Mikhail Tal against World champions

Points per endgame family – the family the endgame began in. Only families with at least ten endgames.

All endgames1,100 games · 73 positions in the trainer 63.8% 63.2%
Rook endgames61 games · 17 positions in the trainer 63.9% 61.9%
Minor pieces88 games · 18 positions in the trainer 65.3% 61.4%
Rook and minor piece568 games · 9 positions in the trainer 63.2% 63.5%
Queen and piece383 games · 1 position in the trainer 64.2% 63.5%

Mikhail TalWorld champions

A click on a row shows only the positions of Mikhail Tal from these endgames in the trainer.

11 turning points the tablebase found in these endgames

By time control

The same endgames, split into classical, rapid and blitz games – each beside the own group.

Classical1,062 games 64.2% 63.8%
Blitz35 games 55.7% 57.9%

Mikhail TalWorld champions

chessophia recognizes the time control by the name of the event (“Blitz”, “Rapid” …); all other games count as classical.

Won from equality 96

96 endgames Mikhail Tal began without an advantage – Stockfish saw at most half a pawn for either side – and won them all the same. Here the 24 with the lowest starting value.

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.48 – White: Kg1, Re7, Bc3, f2, h2, a3, e3, f3, c4; Black: Kg8, Rd8, Nf8, c5, b6, a7, f7, g7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−0.48 → won

Julio E. Granda Zuniga – Mikhail Tal
Buenos Aires Najdorf 1991 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 25 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.17 – White: Kg1, Rd1, Nf3, a2, f2, g2, h2, b3, e4, b5; Black: Kg8, Rc8, Bf6, e5, b6, g6, a7, f7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−0.17 → won

Abram Khasin – Mikhail Tal
Kislovodsk 1964 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 22 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.14 – White: Kf1, Ra1, Nd2, b2, f2, g2, h2, c3, d3, a4; Black: Kf8, Rd7, Bf6, c5, d5, e6, g6, a7, b7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−0.14 → won

Anatoly Lein – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch35 1967 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 30 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.12 – White: Kb3, Ba3, Nc3, e2, h2, f3, g3, b4, c4; Black: Kd8, Be7, Na6, e5, c6, f6, b7, g7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−0.12 → won

Claudia Noemi Amura – Mikhail Tal
Buenos Aires Najdorf 1991 · Bishop and knight vs. bishop and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 27 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.11 – White: Kh1, Rg1, Nd5, a2, e2, f2, h2, b3, c4; Black: Kh8, Ra8, Rg8, e5, b6, a7, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−0.11 → won

Mikhail Tal – Milan Matulovic
Herceg Novi blitz 1970 · Two rooks vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 31 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.1 – White: Ke5, Rd2, Nc5, b2, g2, a3, d3, h4; Black: Kg8, Rh6, Ng3, f4, d5, c6, a7, f7, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−0.1 → won

Mikhail Tal – Georgy Lisitsin
URS-ch23 1956 · Rook and knight vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 31 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.09 – White: Kc1, Bc7, Nb5, b2, c2, g2, h2, a3; Black: Kf7, Bg7, Nh6, f6, g6, a7, b7, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−0.09 → won

Mikhail Tal – Edmar John Mednis
Riga Interzonal 1979 · Bishop and knight vs. bishop and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 29 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.07 – White: Kg1, Rd6, Bf1, a2, f2, g2, b3, h3, c4; Black: Kf8, Re4, Bc8, f5, h5, c6, g6, a7, b71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−0.07 → won

Jozsef Pinter – Mikhail Tal
Taxco Interzonal 1985 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 31 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.04 – White: Kg1, Rd4, Bg2, a2, f2, h2, b3, g3; Black: Kg8, Rf8, Ne4, d5, c7, f7, g7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−0.04 → won

Vladimir Raicevic – Mikhail Tal
Novi Sad 1974 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 23 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.02 – White: Ke2, Ra1, Rd1, a2, b2, c2, g2, h2, f3; Black: Kc8, Rd4, Rd8, e5, f5, b6, a7, g7, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−0.02 → won

Mikhail Tal – Janis Mileika
Riga-ch 1954 · Two rooks vs. two rooks

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 22 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −0.01 – White: Kf3, Re4, Nb6, b2, h3, g4, a5, d5; Black: Kh8, Re7, Nb5, d4, f4, a6, d6, b7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−0.01 → won

Miguel Angel Quinteros – Mikhail Tal
St del Esterol m 5' 1987 · Rook and knight vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 35 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Ke3, Rh1, Bg2, h2, a3; Black: Kc7, Re4, Rh4, c6, a7, b7, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

0.0 → won

Mikhail Tal – Yuri L. Averbakh
URS-chT 1954 · Two rooks vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 32 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kh1, Rd1, Nf3, a2, h2, g3, c4, e5; Black: Ke8, Rc6, Bc5, b6, a7, f7, g78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

0.0 → won

Mikhail Tal – L. Liepins
Riga-ch 1954 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 32 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kh1, Qe1, Rd3, g2, a3, h3, b4, f4, e5; Black: Ke8, Qe7, Rh8, h4, f5, a6, e6, b7, f78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

0.0 → won

Mikhail Tal – Aleksandrs Koblencs
Riga-ch 1954 · Queen and rook vs. queen and rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 28 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kg1, Qd2, Be8, a2, b2, g2, h2, f4; Black: Kf8, Qb6, Nd1, a7, g7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

0.0 → won

Alexander Arulaid – Mikhail Tal
URS-chT fin 1955 · Queen and bishop vs. queen and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 28 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kc1, Rd3, Nb3, g2, f3, a4, b5; Black: Kf7, Re7, Nd4, e5, f5, g5, a78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

0.0 → won

Mikhail Tal – Nikolai V. Krogius
URS-ch sf 1956 · Rook and knight vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 33 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kh1, Rg1, Nf7, g2, h2, a3, b5; Black: Kg7, Re4, Ne7, h4, h58a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

0.0 → won

Mikhail Tal – Viacheslav Ragozin
URS-ch23 1956 · Rook and knight vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 49 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Ke3, Be2, Nd1, a2, b2, c2, g2, h3, e4; Black: Kc6, Ne5, Nf6, a6, e6, h6, b7, f7, g71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

0.0 → won

Jiri Fichtl – Mikhail Tal
Munich ol (Men) fin-A 1958 · Bishop and knight vs. two knights

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 23 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kg1, Qe3, Nf3, g2, h2, a4, b5; Black: Kg8, Qc8, Be8, a5, d5, e6, g6, f7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

0.0 → won

Bukhuti Gurgenidze – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch25 1958 · Queen and bishop vs. queen and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 33 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kf2, Qc2, Rf1, g2, e3, f3, h3, a4, d4; Black: Kf8, Qd6, Ra8, b4, d5, b6, f7, g7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

0.0 → won

Boris Spassky – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch25 1958 · Queen and rook vs. queen and rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 28 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kh2, Qh4, Rf3, g2, h3, c4, e4; Black: Kg7, Qd8, Rd7, e5, f6, g68a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

0.0 → won

Mikhail Tal – Nikolai V. Krogius
URS-ch26 1959 · Queen and rook vs. queen and rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 65 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kd1, Re5, Bd3, b2, c2, h2, a3, g3; Black: Kb7, Rf7, Be8, b5, d5, a6, e6, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

0.0 → won

Rashid Nezhmetdinov – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch26 1959 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 33 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Kf1, Nh3, Nf6, a2, f2, g2; Black: Kd6, Rc5, Bb3, g5, c6, b78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

0.0 → won

Mikhail Tal – Mikhail Botvinnik
World Championship 23th 1960 · Rook and bishop vs. two knights

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 33 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: 0.0 – White: Ke1, Nf3, Nf4, f2, b3, g3, h3, a4, c4; Black: Kf6, Bf7, Nb4, a5, c5, f5, c6, d6, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

0.0 → won

Dieter Mohrlok – Mikhail Tal
FRG-URS 1960 · Bishop and knight vs. two knights

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 36 →

Saved 41

41 endgames Mikhail Tal held or won although Stockfish saw a disadvantage of at least one and a half pawns at the start. The 12 with the worst value.

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.76 – White: Kc5, Qb8, Bd7, f3, d5, h5; Black: Ke7, Rf5, Ne8, h6, f71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−6.76 → drawn

Amador Rodriguez Cespedes – Mikhail Tal
Subotica Interzonal 1987 · Queen and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 52 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.67 – White: Kg1, Qd8, Be3, f2, h2, a3, g3; Black: Kh7, Qc4, Re5, h6, f7, g78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−6.67 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Laszlo Lengyel
Asztalos mem 6th 1963 · Queen and rook vs. queen and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 36 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.55 – White: Kh3, Qd7, Nf5, g4, c5; Black: Kh7, Qf4, Ng7, h58a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−6.55 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Kevin Spraggett
Candidates Tournament 1985 · Queen and knight vs. queen and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 51 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.4 – White: Ka1, Rh2, Bc2, b2, a3, g3, f4, h4, e5; Black: Kf8, Rd4, Bc8, d5, e6, h6, a7, f7, g71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−6.4 → drawn

Iivo Nei – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch sf 1955 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 32 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.34 – White: Kg1, Qb3, Nc6, b2, f2, g3, h3; Black: Kg8, Qf6, Be1, d6, g6, f7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−6.34 → drawn

Abram Khasin – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch24 1957 · Queen and bishop vs. queen and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 35 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.31 – White: Kg2, Qc5, Ba4, f2, g3, e4, h4; Black: Kg7, Ba3, Nb5, b3, e5, h5, g6, f78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−6.31 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Boris Spassky
Bugojno 1978 · Queen and bishop vs. bishop and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 53 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.22 – White: Kc1, Re6, Bh3, a2, c2, b3, h4, g5; Black: Kf8, Rd8, Nc3, d4, a6, g6, g71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−6.22 → drawn

Vasily Mikhailovich Byvshev – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch23 1956 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 36 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.2 – White: Kg1, Rd8, Be3, f2, b3, f3, g3, c4; Black: Kg8, Rb2, Bf8, a5, g6, b7, f7, h71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−6.2 → drawn

Isaak Lipnitsky – Mikhail Tal
URS-chT sf 1955 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 28 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.18 – White: Kg1, Qf7, Be6, a2, b2, f2, g2, h3, e4; Black: Kh8, Qd8, Bf6, a6, h6, b7, g71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

−6.18 → drawn

Garry Kasparov – Mikhail Tal
World Cup 1989 · Queen and bishop vs. queen and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 33 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −6.11 – White: Kh1, Qh6, Re1, a2, b3, h3, e4, f5; Black: Kg8, Qe5, Rg7, a3, d5, f6, b78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−6.11 → won

Mikhail Tal – Erwin Nowak
Prague radio sim 1960 · Queen and rook vs. queen and rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 42 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −5.97 – White: Kg1, Re3, Be4, a2, g2, h2, b3, f4, e5; Black: Kh7, Rd4, Rf8, b6, e6, g6, h6, a7, f78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−5.97 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Drew J. Sarkisian
Framingham CC sim 1988 · Two rooks vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 32 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: −5.77 – White: Kh1, Qd1, Rf1, g2, a5, h5; Black: Kh8, Qf6, Rf8, b4, f5, h6, g78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

−5.77 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Tigran Petrosian
URS-ch25 1958 · Queen and rook vs. queen and rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 47 →

Let slip 26

26 endgames Mikhail Tal began at least one and a half pawns up – and did not win. That belongs to it too: the 12 with the highest value.

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +7.04 – White: Kg1, Qa8, Rb1, f2, g2, c3, h3; Black: Kh7, Qg7, Nc5, a4, f5, a6, c78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

+7.04 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Svetozar Gligoric
YUG-URS 1967 · Queen and rook vs. queen and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 30 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +6.7 – White: Kg4, Rd1, Ng5, b2, h3, a5, d5, f5; Black: Kg7, Re3, Re8, d4, h4, a6, d6, b7, f71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

+6.7 → lost

Aleksander Buslaev – Mikhail Tal
URS-ch sf 1956 · Two rooks vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 50 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +6.62 – White: Kg2, Qd2, Rd6, c2, h2, d3, a5, e5; Black: Kg8, Qf4, Rf8, c5, a6, b7, g7, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

+6.62 → lost

Mikhail Tal – Robert James Fischer
Herceg Novi blitz 1970 · Queen and rook vs. queen and rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 30 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +5.97 – White: Kh2, Ba4, Bf4, Nd4, a3, b4; Black: Kh8, Rd3, f5, h6, g78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

+5.97 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Levon Ashotovich Grigorian
Karseladze mem 1968 · Two bishops and knight vs. rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 43 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +5.95 – White: Kg1, Ra6, Bg2, f2, g3, h3, b4; Black: Kg8, Rc2, Be7, e4, f5, d6, h6, g71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

+5.95 → drawn

Roberts Skuja – Mikhail Tal
LAT-ch 1954 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 30 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +5.45 – White: Kf3, Rg1, Bd2, a2, b2, f4, e5; Black: Ke6, Rh8, Nc6, d3, h3, a7, b71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

+5.45 → drawn

Rudolf Teschner – Mikhail Tal
Riga 1959 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 41 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +5.3 – White: Kf3, Re3, Nc7, g3, f4; Black: Kg8, Rh2, Nf6, c5, g6, h6, f71h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

+5.3 → drawn

Iivo Nei – Mikhail Tal
Keres mem 1983 · Rook and knight vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 36 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +4.7 – White: Ke2, Qc8, Rf1, a2, b2, f2, e3, f4; Black: Kg8, Qh2, Ne4, f5, e6, a7, g7, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

+4.7 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Vladislav I. Shianovsky
URS-ch30 1962 · Queen and rook vs. queen and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 27 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +4.54 – White: Kh1, Rc1, Rh3, h2, a3, b4; Black: Kh8, Rd4, Bf8, b5, a6, g6, h78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

+4.54 → lost

Mikhail Tal – Miguel Angel Quinteros
St del Esterol m 5' 1987 · Two rooks vs. rook and bishop

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 42 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +4.16 – White: Kg1, Re1, Be4, h2, g3; Black: Ke8, Bc6, Nb8, e5, h6, b7, f78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

+4.16 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Ulf Andersson
Tilburg 1980 · Rook and bishop vs. bishop and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 39 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +4.04 – White: Kg2, Rf5, h2, e3, g5, f7; Black: Kb8, Rc1, Rf8, Nb2, a61h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

+4.04 → drawn

Janis Mileika – Mikhail Tal
Riga-ch 1952 · Two rooks and knight vs. rook

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 37 →

Start of the endgame, value for Mikhail Tal: +3.99 – White: Ke2, Re6, Ne4, a2, b2, f2, g2, c3, h4; Black: Kg7, Rd8, Bh6, e5, f5, h5, a6, b6, c78a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

+3.99 → drawn

Mikhail Tal – Vasily Smyslov
URS-CupT 1976 · Rook and bishop vs. rook and knight

Whole game on chesstoteles, from move 30 →

How it was measured

For each of the 1,100 endgames Stockfish 19 evaluated the position in which the game became an endgame – at depth 24, with a time limit; a measurement that missed the depth does not count. The values are pawns from the player's side: an evaluation, not a verdict like that of the tablebase. When a game counts as an endgame is told on the page Database.

Measurements as of 14 November 2026.