Réti's Drawing Study
Chess's most celebrated study. A lone king that looks hopelessly out of the race draws by marching down the long diagonal — chasing two pawns at once. Tablebase-confirmed.
What you'll learn
The technique, move by move
Every line below is verified against an endgame tablebase — perfect play, no guesswork.
Réti's draw — chase both pawns
1.Kg7 Ka7 2.Kf6 Kb8 3.Kg5 Kc8 4.Kxh5 Kd8 5.Kg5 Ke8 6.Kf6 Kd8 …
The only move — the king heads down the diagonal, impossibly staying in reach of both pawns.
Drill the Réti's Drawing Study
Practice randomly served positions and play them out against a perfect tablebase until you hold the draw every time.
Open the Endgame Trainer →Related endgames to master
The first checkmate every player must own. Use the rook to cut the king off and walk your own king up to force the lone king to the edge.
King & Queen vs KingBox the lone king toward a corner with the queen a knight's-move away — and never stalemate. The fastest of the basic mates once the technique clicks.
Two Bishops vs KingCoordinate the bishops into a wall and herd the king to a corner. Trickier than it looks and a classic test of piece harmony.
Bishop & Knight MateThe hardest basic mate — the king can only be mated in a corner matching the bishop's colour. Learn the W-manoeuvre and the 50-move clock stops scaring you.