Endgame blues

I've been playing chess casually for a number of years, but I've never gotten very good, in large part because I seem to lack the patience for the endgame! I have a basic understanding of the king-pawn endgame; mainly I get in trouble when there are rooks still on the board. If I hold a lead and want to exchange the rooks, I never seem to be able to force an exchange; and if I'm behind by say a pawn, I have trouble salvaging a draw. Sometimes I just get tired and give away the whole game too.I can hold my own with a 1400 or 1500 rated player -- til I get to that danged endgame!

Anyway, can anyone recommend a book or computer program that might help me improve my endgame? I have Chessmaster 10, and I've found much of the Academy useful there. I have Fritz 9 too; I've found that less helpful for me. I've also fussed with the trial version of the Personal Chess Trainer, which has great endgame drills but is kind of sparse on explanations. Apart from all that, how can I overcome the ennui that seems to afflict me when I'm just looking at pawns and rooks? I find openings and the middle game exciting; I find endgames rather less interesting.

If you want just essential basics, Pandolfini's Endgame Course.
If you want something that covers the very basic to the vary advanced, but is well written and easy to grasp, Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual.

Some golfers hate to putt, but that's where the money is, so they learn to do it well. In many endgames, the search for chess truth becomes accessible.

For example, white to move draws:

Originally posted by Wulebgr
Some golfers hate to putt, but that's where the money is, so they learn to do it well. In many endgames, the search for chess truth becomes accessible.

For example, white to move draws:

[fen]8/8/6k1/8/8/1q6/5R2/K7 w - - 0 1[/fen]

Originally posted by Regicidal
yeah, Rf6 ch. The rook can continue offering itself to get stalemate.

Thanks for your replies. The putting analogy is actually quite apt; I play golf too, and I find it more fun to practice anything other than putting. 🙂 Drive for show, putt for dough; openings for show, endgame for dough?

Thanks also for the specific suggestions on courses on endgames. Are there any others people would suggest?

Originally posted by Van Groot
Thanks also for the specific suggestions on courses on endgames. Are there any others people would suggest?