Definition of "endgame"?

[bob]

Simply: how many pieces there can be on board? I remember old
Crafty's had some kind of game phase info: how was it done?

Jouni

there is no "exact solution". The question is, at what point in material do you feel safe to have your king get out into the center of the board as an attacking piece? If you start too early, you get mated. If you start too late, your opponent crushes you in an ending.

That is indeed what the endgame phase is all about.

Matthias.

And as a human, I don't have some "magic number" where suddenly fear vanishes and aggression rules. But in general, as pieces are traded, I am more willing to have my king "take a walk" to help out somewhere...