11. Why Endgames Are Underrated (And How I Learned to Love Them)

Title: Why Endgames Deserve More Love—and How They Saved My Rating

Let’s be honest: endgames can seem boring compared to flashy sacrifices in the middlegame. I used to rush through the final phase, only to lose “won” positions. Then I read an endgame tip that changed everything: King activity is crucial.

So I studied a few basic endings—king and pawn vs king, opposition, and Lucena positions. Slowly, I started squeezing out wins from dead-equal games. Now? I actually look forward to reaching the endgame. It feels like a quiet battlefield where calm calculation wins over chaos.