Now, it has been known that apart from tactics the next best thing to improve upon as an amateur [sub-2200 player] is the endgame. But of course, there have been truckload of books teaching endgames from practical standpoint to theoretical one. I have mentioned the choicest books on 'endgame training' and would like all of you to rate them. Of course it might be helpful for a person if some books have a recommended minimum / maximum rating range. [You don't want experts reading Chess for Dummies, now do you? :)]

So, here is the list.

a) Mastering the Endgame           -  Flear.

b) Basic Chess Endings                 -  Fine.

c) Fundamental Chess Endings     -  Karsten Muller

d) Endgame Manual                      -  Dvoretsky

e) Complete Endgame Course      -  Silman

f) Grandmaster Secrets/Endings   -  Soltis

g) Capablanca's best chess endings -  Chernev

I've tried to include most books that people might be familiar with barring very few exceptions. These are the most sought-after books on endgames, so I was hoping people in here would know them well than some unknown ones. Which book would you rather have and why? Or is there a book on this list that you regret having bought? Please do recommend any book, that you find exceptional but is not on this list! Thanks.

b) Basic Chess Endings                 -  Fine.

c) Fundamental Chess Endings     -  Karsten Muller

These are more like encyclopedias than instructional books. Good references, good for advanced players, not good for a first endgame book. Fundamental Chess Endings is newer and corrects several mistakes and oversights from Fine's book.

e) Complete Endgame Course      -  Silman

Probably the endgame book people should start with.

d) Endgame Manual                      -  Dvoretsky

Looks good. It's next on my reading list.

a) Mastering the Endgame           -  Flear.

f) Grandmaster Secrets/Endings   -  Soltis

Haven't read them.

g) Capablanca's best chess endings -  Chernev

Have it, haven't read it yet. From what I've seen by skimming through it, and from what others have said, this isn't an instructional book as in "this is how you play a K+P vs K endgame". Rather, it's a collection of Capablanca games with the annotations focussing on the endgame, giving examples of how Capablanca won in some tricky or unclear endgame positions. Good for inspiration and to see the genius of Capablanca in action, not good as a "how to play the XYZ endgame" book.

Which book would you rather have and why?

If you're only going to read one endgame book in your life, and you have to pick one from this list, I'd say take the Silman one. Fundamental Chess Endings is another I'd recommend: quite comprehensive, and an excellent reference.

Please do recommend any book, that you find exceptional but is not on this list!

There is one book many people recommend: Chess Endings Essential Knowledge, by Yuri Averbakh.

1) Basic chess endings: outdated!

2) Complete Endgame Course: good but there are some holes ( apparently Silman thinks mate with K+B+N vs K are infrequent and so didnt give the method in the book. that is absurd cuz it is one of the important endgames to learn. Imagine yourself being 2000 Fide and not knowing how to mate with a bishop and  knight!) This might've been corrected in latest edition but I haven't read the latest one.

3) Endgame Manual : Very good but in the earlier editions the diagrams and analysis were in light blue color (making it impossible to read and decipher!). Someone reported that they have rectified it but I havent seen it lately.

4) Mastering the Endgame : Decent for players upto 1800-1900.

5) Capablanca's Chess Endings : Very good ! but more about capablanca's game rather than instructive endgame strategy for all positions. Not for general study.

6) Fundamental Chess Endings : Hands down the best book on endgame, money can buy. Anyone from amateurs to masters can benefit. Instructive as well as a good reference book.

I have heard of the massive tome on endgame by Yuri Averbakh. He has written huge books on single aspect of endgames: Comprehensive Chess Endings: pawns , minor pieces, rooks, queen etc. If anyone has those books I am sure you won't have time to read any book on endgame nor would you need one, as according to the name the books are indeed comprehensive.

Fundamental Chess Endings and Endgame Manual are both equally good as far as I've heard. So I will buy at least one of them in the near future, if not both.

Practical Chess Endings by Keres gets no mention ?  Its a really good book and suitable especially for non-masters imo.

"100 Endgames You Must Know" by GM de la Villa is very user-friendly and practical. A good place to start, since he covers the basic endings very well.

I have Batsford chess endings, its a very thoorugh and well laid out book, easy to understand and covers everything you need to know. written by jon speelman who is very well known as one of the best endgame players of the 20th century.

Part of the problem is there are too many good endgames books and not enough people read them!

 

The Averbakh book Chess Endings Essential Knowledge is what I grew up with. Then I went to Reb's suggestion of Keres Practical Chess Endings--both are excellent. The de la Villa book is on my bed stand and looks excellent. I can not argue against Silman's book either. All of these are excellent ways to learn endgame play. They are not encyclopedic which is a different type of book. There are also some great books on endgame tactics ( van Perlo, Ban are two that come to mind)

You can not go wrong with any of these suggestions.

I am really just starting out in my chess playing hobby but Silman's complete endgame course has done more to improve my meagre rating than any other book, training method or teaching tool... etc.

Now if I can just GET to the endgame in a few more of my games I'm on to a winner!

Secrets of pawn endings is fabulous.