Late to the (End)Game

Hello,

Current, I'm being "carried" by my core strength - tactics.  However, lately, my rating has hit a level where I'm getting into a lot more endgames.  And unfortunately, if I'm not up a piece, I'm just not winning the endings that I should.

Any suggestions for a book or two to work through? (or maybe alternate media - like a DVD-ROM?)

The good (or maybe bad) news is that I'm not sure what level of book I should be reading.  On the one hand, I've never read anything related exclusively to endgames.  On the other hand, I'm not new to the game.  My CC rating here is about 1750.  I don't have an official OTB rating, but I play about 50/50 against players at a local chess club in 15-min games, and their long play ratings range from 1500-1800 CFC.  So I can hold my own, its just that I feel that endgames are my weakest link, and its a link that should be strengthened - to improve further.

Thanks in advance for your advise!

There is a Silman book that deals with endgame ideas for every level. I can't vouch for its quality but you could look up reveiws.

Interesting.  I looked it up your suggestion of Silman's book on amazon - seems like lessons go up in difficulty based on rating levels?

best book I know is "Endgame Strategy" by Mikhail Shereshevsky, translated by Ken Neat. I think it is available on Amazon.

Yes, the the first couple of chapters start at lower players rating and goes up from there. I have gone through the first couple of chapters. Its very thorough and easily explained with a touch of humor in its writing style. I hope that helps you.

If we're talking books, for a student new to endgame study...

To begin:

Jeremy Silman - Silman's Complete Endgame Course (2007)
Jesus de la Villa - 100 Endgames You Must Know (2008)

Either one of these is a good start, teaching only the must-know endgame technical wins - both of these books make an effort not to overwhelm, in what is an overwhelming subject. I actually lean toward Jesus's book but I don't think you would go wrong reading both as an exercise is knowledge reinforcement - there is some overlap but not all.

Must read:

Mikhail Shereshevsky - Endgame Strategy (1981)

Further reading:

Edmar Mednis - Practical Rook Endings (1995)

A very large percentage of endgames are rook endgames. This book is only 70 pages in length.

Irving Chernev  - Capablancas Best Chess Endings (1978)

If you want to master endgames you must study Capa.

Why no love for Bruce Pandolfini?

Thank you for the advise thus far!