Takeaways on Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master
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Sep 22, 2025
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#2
Oct 20, 2025
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#3
I read Jeremy Silman Complete Endgame Course.
I was once discussing a chess position with a grandmaster. And because I read that book, I actually knew something about chess endgames he wasn’t 100% sure on.
That moment made it worth the price of the book, right there!
😆😆😆😆
I checked this book out from my local library, but it may not be for me. Most of the book seems to be sentences like "Black's Queen continues to torment White's King" or "One poor Bishop can't hope to face off against a mighty Queen!" The book is over 500 large pages and uncomfortably bulky and heavy to hold. I know Silman is respected and I like the end-of-chapter tests, but I'm thinking of returning this and checking out Keres' or Euwe's endgame book from a nearby library instead.
B-Kt2 wrote: I checked this book out from my local library, but it may not be for me. Most of the book seems to be sentences like "Black's Queen continues to torment White's King" or "One poor Bishop can't hope to face off against a mighty Queen!" The book is over 500 large pages and uncomfortably bulky and heavy to hold. I know Silman is respected and I like the end-of-chapter tests, but I'm thinking of returning this and checking out Keres' or Euwe's endgame book from a nearby library instead.
While I don’t know If my information will fix the “bulky and heavy to hold” issue it should certainly make a clarification regarding the large nature of Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master. This book is designed to provide an endgame course to a variety of different levels of players.This means that while the book may seem large ,it is not so for any(or at least a large majority of)player(s),due to the books chapters being divided according to level.
So,just read the chapters up too(and perhaps a chapter or two past) your level.
More advanced readers should note that while officially the books level goes all the way up the ranks through master,Jeremy Silman has stated himself that the books level goes covers everything a player has to know up until a rating of 1900.And a personal recommendation is that any player rated above 1800 should read onwards and finish the book.
Good luck!!
While I don’t know If my information will fix the “bulky and heavy to hold” issue it should certainly make a clarification regarding the large nature of Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master. This book is designed to provide an endgame course to a variety of different levels of players.This means that while the book may seem large ,it is not so for any(or at least a large majority of)player(s),due to the books chapters being divided according to level.
So,just read the chapters up too(and perhaps a chapter or two past) your level.
More advanced readers should note that while officially the books level goes all the way up the ranks through master,Jeremy Silman has stated himself that the books level goes covers everything a player has to know up until a rating of 1900.And a personal recommendation is that any player rated above 1800 should read onwards and finish the book.
Good luck!!
Thank you for sharing. It's always worth reading through different POVs
Nov 5, 2025
0
#7
B-Kt2 wrote:
I checked this book out from my local library, but it may not be for me. Most of the book seems to be sentences like "Black's Queen continues to torment White's King" or "One poor Bishop can't hope to face off against a mighty Queen!" The book is over 500 large pages and uncomfortably bulky and heavy to hold. I know Silman is respected and I like the end-of-chapter tests, but I'm thinking of returning this and checking out Keres' or Euwe's endgame book from a nearby library instead.
At least your library has chess books. Most where I live are cultural deserts if they haven't already closed. Andrew Carnegie must be spinning in his grave. On-Line is the only real purchase place or over priced bookstores, thank God for second hand book shops. I have Silman's End Game course and find it very useful. But it is only one of many great chess manuals. Buying Capablanca Move by Move at Christmas.
The book: Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master
Disclaimer: As I write my takeaways from the book, it is best that the readers should buy Silman's book if you are more interested. Of course, I will be posting my takeaways still and would want to provide my experience and understanding to what this book might become. I will not be specifying anything that might ruin the prestige of SIlman's book and I will try my best to really provide an insight and to rather formulate a concept or idea that would captivate your interest on reading his book.
Silman's Takeaways 1
On introduction, Silman wanted to introduce chess endgames that would adjust the focus of beginners to a path of linearity. Meaning, beginners will have a straight path where they won't be lost in the woods finding what's best for them, it is best that they follow a guide that will give them a boost from 0 to 100. According to Silman, beginners should be accounted for on increasing their tactical acumen that would substantially help them acquire such knowledge that is required to perform consistency on executing basic fundamentals of chess endgame.
In addition, Silman wanted to give all players hope and confidence and I would personally add that he wanted to let the players know that everyone, including the chess masters, started from scratch. Respectfully, Silman indicated on his introduction that in order to fully nurture the game's beauty, the players should give love and dedicate their time and effort passionately.