Endgame Tablebases
Tablebases contain perfect play for all positions with a limited number of pieces — every move is proven correct, with no guesswork.
What Are Tablebases?
Databases computed by retrograde analysis showing the objective result (win/draw/lose) and optimal moves for every legal position with a small number of pieces. They represent solved chess for those material configurations.
Reading Tablebase Results
Tablebases report two key values:
- WDL (Win/Draw/Loss) — The outcome with perfect play from both sides:
+2(win),0(draw), or-2(loss). The ±2 distinguishes forced wins/losses from positions where the 50-move rule affects the outcome (shown as ±1). - DTZ (Distance to Zero) — The number of moves to the next pawn move or capture (which resets the 50-move counter). A lower DTZ means the win (or draw defense) is faster. When studying technique, follow the moves that minimize DTZ.
Tablebase Formats
| Format | Pieces | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Syzygy | Up to 7 | Modern compressed format — the current standard, used by all major engines (Stockfish, Komodo, etc.) |
| Nalimov | Up to 6 | Classic format — widely supported in older tools, larger file sizes |
| Lomonosov | Up to 8 | Complete but not publicly available for download |
Online Tools
Lichess Tablebase
lichess.org/analysis — Free, no account needed. Set up any position with 7 pieces or fewer and Lichess will show the tablebase result, DTZ, and optimal moves directly on the board. The easiest way to look up a position.
Syzygy Tables Online
syzygy-tables.info — Query any 7-piece position directly via FEN. Shows WDL and DTZ for every legal move, colour-coded so you can instantly see which moves win, draw, or lose.
Offline / Local Setup
- Download Syzygy files — Available from multiple mirrors (search "syzygy endgame tablebases download"). The 3-4-5 piece set is small (~1 GB); 6-piece is ~150 GB; 7-piece is ~18 TB.
- Configure your engine — Stockfish supports Syzygy natively. Set the
SyzygyPathoption to the directory containing the files. - Use a GUI — Most chess GUIs (Arena, Cute Chess, Scid vs PC, Fritz) support tablebase probing once configured.
When Tablebases Are Useful
- Verify your analysis — Check whether your assessment of a position is correct
- Learn perfect technique — Study the winning method for a material configuration to understand the underlying pattern
- Resolve theoretical debates — Some endgame questions were only settled by tablebases (e.g. certain rook + pawn vs rook positions)
- Endgame composition — Confirm that a study or puzzle is sound
Limitations
- Piece count — Only useful for positions with few pieces (7 or fewer for publicly available data)
- Not a substitute for understanding — Looking up the answer doesn't teach you the technique; use tablebases to verify, then study the moves to learn why
- Practical play — Under time controls, you can't consult a tablebase; the goal is to internalise the patterns beforehand