best end game pieces to have...

EDITED

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
Then again, it's not always easy to get all 16 of those pawns off the board. Why, leave a few and the tables can turn:

[fen]2bb4/8/8/p1NN2p1/P4pP1/5P1P/7p/5K1k w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to play and win

Actually, this is rather an interesting position, and I don't see a clear win for White! If white waits with his King (Kf2) and forces Black to move his bishops, once white takes both bishops it's stalemate! Of course, white can capture one bishop only, but after a line like 1.Kf2 Be7 2.Nxe7 Bb7 white can't capture the second bishop and black can start targeting white's pawns.

This is just based on one look--other thoughts?

And yes, I know I may be taking this problem more seriously than intended, but it's still quite interesting to investigate.

Damn...I missed a move

Originally posted by Diet Coke
Being a Queen, a rook, a knight and some pawns up is a key position one must learn on this site.

Well, it's true that if you can't win in that position you probably aren't going to do very well.

Neither Nd3, Ne4 or even Nc3 threatening Nc3/Ne4 work.

Fritz has Kf2 as winning.

I'm putting it through deep position analysis hopefully it will find the mate. It will be a long one.

Originally posted by mtthw
Well, it's true that if you can't win in that position you probably aren't going to do very well.

You'll be able to draw against under 1000's though.

White pawn on b5 and black pawn on b6.

Nd3/e4 and mate on Kf2 is inevitable.

Originally posted by castlerook
Actually, this is rather an interesting position, and I don't see a clear win for White! If white waits with his King (Kf2) and forces Black to move his bishops, once white takes both bishops it's stalemate! Of course, white can capture one bishop only, but after a line like 1.Kf2 Be7 2.Nxe7 Bb7 white can't capture the second bishop and black can star ...[text shortened]... this problem more seriously than intended, but it's still quite interesting to investigate.

After 1.Kf2! Be7 2.Nxe7 Bb7, I believe 3.Ne4 wins.
3...Bxe4 4.fxe4 f3 5.h4! gxh4 6.Nf5 h3 7.Ng3#
3...Ba6 4.Nf5 and White mates on g3 again.

Somehow, I don't see Black having much time to harvest pawns, especially when White can relieve the stalemate with a well-timed h4 advance.