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I want a good endgame book to learn the basic principles from but I also want a book that I can grow with. I don’t want an encyclopedia but a readable book. I’m considering Reuben Fine’s Basic Chess Endings because I quite like his The ideas behind the chess openings. Another option is Averbakh’s Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge which has received good reviews on Amazon.com. Is Muller’s and Lamprecht’s Fundamental Chess Endings a book for a relative beginner also, or is it only for the advanced player?
Originally posted by joenFine's book (recently revised by GM Pal Benko) is an excellent reference work, but I wouldn't recommend trying to read it from cover to cover unless you have an awful lot of time on your hands.
I want a good endgame book to learn the basic principles from but I also want a book that I can grow with. I don’t want an encyclopedia but a readable book. I’m considering Reuben Fine’s Basic Chess Endings because I quite like his The ideas behind the chess openings. Another option is Averbakh’s Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge which has received good review ...[text shortened]... mental Chess Endings a book for a relative beginner also, or is it only for the advanced player?
The most basic endgame book that I know of is NM Bruce Pandolfini's "Endgame Course."
I learned a lot from the slightly more advanced "Practical Chess Endings" by Irving Chernev.
I emailed Silman to see what he had to say about this book, and it sounds awesome. Here is what he said to me:
Dear Mr. Rotella,
My new endgame book is different than any other book on the subject: it
offers guidance and a complete endgame study plan from beginner to master.
The title is SILMAN'S COMPLETE ENDGAME COURSE: From Beginner to Master
It's paperback, around 520 pages, and offers material that needs to be known for players in every rating group, and for those that wish to rise to the next group. The Master section has more strategic material, much like Shereshevsky's book. The book ends with a section on CHESS FOR FUN, which looks at endgame tactics, dominated minor pieces, and a whole chapter on the 5 greatest endgame players of all time.
Nowadays prices on chess books have skyrocketed, with Gambit charging $26.95 for a 200 page book, and other companies charging 25 bucks for books under 200 pages! Though my new book is huge and beautifully designed, I demanded that the price be kept down since I really think it will prove important to any true student of the game. Thus it will sell for $24.95
The final typesetting touches are being done now, and I'm hoping to send it off to the printer in a few days. Look for it to be available in mid
January.
If you do get it, please let me know what you think.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Silman
There were 5 books by Yuri Averbakh (not sure if that is what the name is spelled like) each dedicated on different type of endgames: pawn, rook, bishop, knight, queen. It had many positions and strtegical plans explained for different situations. Of course, these books were written well before engines started exploring the endgames, so there may be mistakes/inaccuracies. Nevertheless good books as they contained many universally valuable principles.
EDIT: Also any books by H. Kasparyan on endgame studies are also very enlightening about some of the more subtle ideas involved in the struggle for advantage.
Originally posted by ilywrinI have all of them and they are good but they didn't help me force that win in the K&Q vs K&R ending I gave earlier because I found it hard to get into a position from which he gave forced winning lines and although the principles were clear and unambiguous achieving the win was still extremely difficult. I guess this is where tablebases come into their own but tablebases don't help OTB and are not allowed here, of course.
There were 5 books by Yuri Averbakh (not sure if that is what the name is spelled like) each dedicated on different type of endgames: pawn, rook, bishop, knight, queen. It had many positions and strtegical plans explained for different situations. Of course, these books were written well before engines started exploring the endgames, so there may be mistakes ...[text shortened]... so very enlightening about some of the more subtle ideas involved in the struggle for advantage.
Originally posted by slugworthYeah, I'm starting to change my mind about this book. I've been going through it more recently and find it more readable than I originally did (i.e. less boring) and it definitely gives the reader the basic endgame knowledge that is essential to become a strong endgame player.
I second Pandolfini's endgame book. It's very readable. Baby steps
first! There a lot of 2000+ OTB who could learn from this book. Forget massive database type books. Your eyes will glaze over and you won't remember the concepts.
Originally posted by Dragon FireWell, the only general piece of advice in such kind of endgames is to seek a position where if the side with the inferior material is to move it would lose (zugzwang), then find a way to reach this position so it is their move (transfer the move).
I have all of them and they are good but they didn't help me force that win in the K&Q vs K&R ending I gave earlier because I found it hard to get into a position from which he gave forced winning lines and although the principles were clear and unambiguous achieving the win was still extremely difficult. I guess this is where tablebases come into their own but tablebases don't help OTB and are not allowed here, of course.
Of course, there are numerous pitfalls and one should always be wary not to reach a theoretical draw. When I have more spare time I will look at the endgame you posted and try to identify a workable plan.
Originally posted by ilywrinYour profile - Bd7! right?
Well, the only general piece of advice in such kind of endgames is to seek a position where if the side with the inferior material is to move it would lose (zugzwang), then find a way to reach this position so it is their move (transfer the move).
Of course, there are numerous pitfalls and one should always be wary not to reach a theoretical draw. When I have more spare time I will look at the endgame you posted and try to identify a workable plan.