Related Clues:

• Final stage of play
• Final check -- business is on target
• Stage in which you are close to getting a mate?
• Mating time
• Chess finish
• Lead-up to mating
• Part of a chess match when most of the pieces are off the board
• Aged men contrived last moves
• Mate's lead-in
• *Final part of a chess match
• Chess finishes
• Kill grouse etc, when ultimate strategy comes into play
• Winds up over match in the final stages
• Sound final whistle, perhaps, leading to drama
• When the fewest pieces are on the chess board