Originally posted by mazziewagIf you want just one book on the endgame, Dvoretsky's is the one to get. It covers everything you ever wanted to know about the endgame but were afraid to ask. 🙂
As suggested in the 'Endgame' thread, i have started this asking for suggestions of good endgame books.
Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual has already been recommended, any thoughts?
Originally posted by OrangeKingI agree that Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual is the best endgame book available. However, some concepts are explained better in Muller and Lamprecht, Fundamental Chess Endings. This book also covers elementary mates that Dvoretsky assumes his readers already know, such as RK vs K (mate in 17 from the hardest position).
If you want just one book on the endgame, Dvoretsky's is the one to get. It covers everything you ever wanted to know about the endgame but were afraid to ask. 🙂
Originally posted by WulebgrGood advice - I didn't even consider that the person asking might not know the more basic endgames.
I agree that Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual is the best endgame book available. However, some concepts are explained better in Muller and Lamprecht, Fundamental Chess Endings. This book also covers elementary mates that Dvoretsky assumes his readers already know, such as RK vs K (mate in 17 from the hardest position).
Originally posted by yelobI didn't really like Fundamental Chess Endings. I prefer books which are a bit more wordy. If you like going through huge numbers of positions, then this may be the book for you. It only has 2-3 pages on Basic Mates though.
Muller and Lambrecht as suggested plus my favourite one,from the same authors 'Pawn Endings'-total delight.
Jon Speelman's Analysing the Endgame and Endgame Preparation are
essential in my opinion
D
Originally posted by RagnorakTrue.
I didn't really like Fundamental Chess Endings. I prefer books which are a bit more wordy. If you like going through huge numbers of positions, then this may be the book for you. It only has 2-3 pages on Basic Mates though.
D
Pandolfini's Endgame Course may be the best for these elementary mates.
FYI,
Coming out in December 06 or January 07 is Silman's Complete Endgame Course: Beginner to Master by Jeremy Silman. I'm holding off on buying Dvorsky's book or Fundamental Chess Endings until I get a look at this.
I've heard that Dvorsky's book is great, but to be used only as a reference. It wouldn't work well as a lesson based book like the Pandolfini's simple endgame book.
Personally, I prefer a more lesson based book, but endgame theory is so vast that that might not be possible.
Anyway, I'm waiting to check out Silman's before I buy.
This position occurred in Game 2476497. My endgame book by Averback (K&Q v K&R) helped but in the end I was still struggling and it was a "blunder" in the end that got me the win.
Can anyone tell me the best way to force mate here (I believe it should be under 20 moves) - Black to move
Of course with hind sight I played my next move wrong following blacks R check the K should obviously go to e4 then e3 but having gone to e6 what is the winning method. Initially I thought it was easy but it was not.
These are my favorite endgame books:
"The Tactics of Endgames," by Jeno Ban:
http://www.amazon.com/Tactics-End-Games-Jeno-Ban/dp/0486297055/sr=1-1/qid=1161951779/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6399430-4374567?ie=UTF8&s=books
“Basic Endgames,” by Reuben Fine:
http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Chess-Endings-Reuben-Fine/dp/0812934938/sr=1-2/qid=1161951924/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-6399430-4374567?ie=UTF8&s=books
“Rook Endings,” by Smyslov and Levenfisch:
http://www.amazon.com/Rook-Endings-Tournament-Players-Collection/dp/0713458097
“Capablanca’s Best Chess Endings,” by Chernev:
http://www.amazon.com/Capablancas-Chess-Endings-Irving-Chernev/dp/0486242498/sr=1-20/qid=1161953517/ref=sr_1_20/102-6399430-4374567?ie=UTF8&s=books
Originally posted by Dragon FireMy tablebases say mate in 25 with best play by black. After 1... Rb7-b5+, then either 1. Ke5-e4 or 1. Ke5-f4. The variations get real messy from here, so I'd suggest using your tablebases if you have them, or using the online TBs at
[bCan anyone tell me the best way to force mate here (I believe it should be under 20 moves) - Black to move[/b]
http://www.k4it.de/index.php?topic=egtb&lang=en
Originally posted by Dragon FireKQ vs KR is one of those endgames where a number of difficult key positions occur along the path of perfect play. It is here that a human often fails to find the correct move and allows the defender off the hook. Many endgame books cover these key positions so I won’t post them (unless someone thinks this isn’t redundant posting). In general, I’m thinking of the positions where the defending king (say Black) has already been driven back but White finds it difficult to progress due to stalemate possibilities or the typical “rook on the 3rd rank” defence.
Can anyone tell me the best way to force mate here
So…
- be familiar with the key positions
- Zugzwang is an important factor in this ending, keep it in mind
- be prepared to calculate. Even when the defender doesn’t play perfectly (e.g. separates the rook and king at the wrong moment) it may require some significant thought to spot the winning sequence of e.g. queen checks. This is not an endgame to be played on “auto-pilot”; it’s tricky, and acknowledging it as being tricky is a necessary first step.