Hi everyone :)

My greatest problem is endgames. In fact, it's the most common reason for my OTB losses. I have little knowledge beyond the common mates. I guess I'd like to learn rook and pawn endings first, as they're so common, then some bishop ones perhaps. I have a chesstempo premium membership, so I can train any endgames I like (for example: K+N vs. K+2P) but they don't explain how I should play the position: they only test me on me knowing it.

I'm looking for an on-line free resource that would explain the principles of pawn and rook and pawn endgames, with a lot of text (or video commentary), not just variations. I like the chess.com endgame column, but it's still way too variation based for me. I need the moves explained. I wouldn't know at all the technique to draw a R+K vs. K+R+1P for the weaker side, I wouldn't have a plan. I need to learn the basics.

How do you train endgames? Is there a resource you could suggest? I'd be extremely thankful.

Googling for lucena position and well, philidor position might bring some results. Chesscafe has some serious material on endgames, but I think they are pretty advanced.

And as a humble suggestion, don't walk away from variations. In most cases, it's about precise variations, not verbal explanations.

Thank you so much! I found out I know how to win the Lucena (it does come up often), just didn't know the name. The Philidor is new to me. Searching for both revealed some great stuff:

• Silman's basic endgames
• Endgames lessons and challenges
• jrobi's channel
• blogpost about the Philidor
• another one

I looked at chesscafe, but it's more like practice, no explanation for those new to endgame study. I understand variantions are neccessary, but I often have trouble understanding the principle from them. Both is best.

I'll be using this as my reading list now. Again, thanks for your help philidor_position :)

Thanks Puchiko. I was lurkin in this thread waiting for some good answers and I saw your post :)