Books for Endgame Studies

Sort:
Avatar of joseph1000000

Please list book(s) -and their author(s)- concerned with endgame studies starting with basic endgames such as: R Vs R+p(s), R Vs R+B, R Vs R+N, ....etc. The more comprehensive the  book the better. 

Please stay on topic. I appreciate your contribution beforehand. 

Avatar of kindaspongey

Maybe you can find what you want here:

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7627.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7647.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7648.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7697.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7706.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7809.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7887.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7931.pdf

Avatar of joseph1000000

 

Who else! Lol

I wish you would name just a few books . I  have limited internet access.  Can not click on the links. Thanks. 

Avatar of joseph1000000

Some people start learning chess by practicing simple endgames. For example,  how to checkmate with a Q. +K Vs K,  two Rs + K Vs K.....etc. Specially if the learner is of young age,  this approach does make sense. 

What do you think?

Avatar of OldPatzerMike

Silman's endgame book starts with the very basics and builds up from there in a logical progression. I wouldn't pay strict attention to the way he breaks endgame knowledge into specific rating classes, but his general approach is quite good. Working through the book from the beginning, making sure you understand every position before moving on, is a sure way to improve in endgames.

Also very useful for anyone who already has a decent understanding of endings is Averbakh's "Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge" and Keres's "Practical Chess Endings". There are more advanced works also, such as Dvoretsky's manual.

Avatar of kindaspongey

"... I'm convinced that [Silman's Complete Endgame Course] will take its place in history as one of the most popular endgame books ever. It has already caught on with the average player in a big way, confirming Silman's status as the king of instructional writers. He writes in a clear and casual style, and time and again has shown the ability to reach those who feel intimidated by the lofty approach that a grandmaster will often take. ... Silman ... defines what he thinks is necessary to know at specific rating levels. For example, the beginner or unrated player needs to know ... Silman's idea is to wait until you climb in strength before you worry about more advanced material. Then, as a Class 'E' player (that's 1000-1199), one must learn ... Silman's book emphasizes to the student that the important thing is to master the strictly limited material at hand, rather than get confused by endings that won't help your results at that level. Perhaps even more importantly, Silman is able to use his teaching experience and talk to his readers in a way that they can handle, in a friendly manner and without condescension. ... I'll also repeat the point that David Ellinger in ChessCafe makes: '[This ...] demonstrates who this book will truly serve best: anybody who coaches chess. For me, as a perpetually near-2000 player who does part-time coaching, I’ve got in my hands a great resource that will have something for every student, no matter the rating.' ..." - IM John Watson (2007)

http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/theres-an-end-to-it-all

Avatar of kindaspongey

"... Aimed primarily at beginners, Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge [by Yuri Averbakh] aims to ... briefly and clearly [explain] the basic concepts of endgame play, using well-chosen examples and avoiding complexity. ..." - Steve Higgins

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101138/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review373.pdf

Avatar of kindaspongey

"... before discussing the specifics of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual [henceforth 'DEM'], a word of warning is in order. I must emphasize that this is a terribly advanced work that I don't think is a very good way for the average player to study the endgame. The majority of the examples are complex and position-specific, and neither the average student nor even strong masters will follow or play over most of the hundreds of positions that are given extensive analysis, not to mention the subvariations derived from those positions. Even when introducing 'the basics', Dvoretsky's approach is often more complex than is necessary for an average student, and in any case such a thick book will seldom be used for the sake of elementary instruction. The majority of the other material is frankly very difficult. So take note: I don't want to be blamed, in praising this book, for your purchasing something that you find intimidating, relatively dull, or otherwise unsatisfying. That said, if you are up to a real challenge and have a great deal of time to devote to reading and playing over examples you will inevitably derive great value from this work. ..." - IM John Watson (2005)

http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/the-end-game-comes-before-we-know-it

Avatar of kindaspongey

"In this series of fourteen endgame books, FIDE Senior Trainer Adrian Mikhal-chishin, FIDE Trainer Efstratios Grivas and IGM Csaba Balogh combine their experience as trainers and as practical players ... The main concept of each book [in The Modern Endgame Manual series] is to provide theoretical knowledge which can be used in practical games. ..."

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7627.pdf

Avatar of joseph1000000
OldPatzerMike wrote:

Silman's endgame book starts with the very basics and builds up from there in a logical progression. I wouldn't pay strict attention to the way he breaks endgame knowledge into specific rating classes, but his general approach is quite good. Working through the book from the beginning, making sure you understand every position before moving on, is a sure way to improve in endgames.

Also very useful for anyone who already has a decent understanding of endings is Averbakh's "Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge" and Keres's "Practical Chess Endings". There are more advanced works also, such as Dvoretsky's manual.

 

As usual thank you for the inputs.  I will look up all of these one by one. All of these are well recommended by others as well. 

Avatar of joseph1000000
kindaspongey wrote:

"... before discussing the specifics of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual [henceforth 'DEM'], a word of warning is in order. I must emphasize that this is a terribly advanced work that I don't think is a very good way for the average player to study the endgame. The majority of the examples are complex and position-specific, and neither the average student nor even strong masters will follow or play over most of the hundreds of positions that are given extensive analysis, not to mention the subvariations derived from those positions. Even when introducing 'the basics', Dvoretsky's approach is often more complex than is necessary for an average student, and in any case such a thick book will seldom be used for the sake of elementary instruction. The majority of the other material is frankly very difficult. So take note: I don't want to be blamed, in praising this book, for your purchasing something that you find intimidating, relatively dull, or otherwise unsatisfying. That said, if you are up to a real challenge and have a great deal of time to devote to reading and playing over examples you will inevitably derive great value from this work. ..." - IM John Watson (2005)

http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/the-end-game-comes-before-we-know-it

 

You give too many details for me to be able to respond to or digest. Most of the names I hear are by now familiar.  Some not. 

Occasionally I am not sure who you are quoting. But that is my fault not yours. 

Avatar of joseph1000000
kindaspongey wrote:

"In this series of fourteen endgame books, FIDE Senior Trainer Adrian Mikhal-chishin, FIDE Trainer Efstratios Grivas and IGM Csaba Balogh combine their experience as trainers and as practical players ... The main concept of each book [in The Modern Endgame Manual series] is to provide theoretical knowledge which can be used in practical games. ..."

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7627.pdf

 

Damn! 14 books! That alone is going to bankrupt me for sure.  But if you bring it up then it must be worth it while. 

Avatar of joseph1000000

SILMANS COMPL.ENDGAME COURSE: From Beginner to Master

Great read one of the first chess books I went through. I would rate it as beginner  to higher end intermediate  with some tricks for advanced players as well, easy to read and informal with examples.

 

I have heard lots of good recommendations for him as well. But have not read any of his books yet. 

Avatar of OldPatzerMike

To add to your potential financial burden, I will add two books that I forgot to mention before: 100 Endgames You Must Know, by Jesus de la Villa, and Fundamental Chess Endings, by Karsten Müller. 

Avatar of joseph1000000
kindaspongey wrote:

"In this series of fourteen endgame books, FIDE Senior Trainer Adrian Mikhal-chishin, FIDE Trainer Efstratios Grivas and IGM Csaba Balogh combine their experience as trainers and as practical players ... The main concept of each book [in The Modern Endgame Manual series] is to provide theoretical knowledge which can be used in practical games. ..."

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7627.pdf

 

Are these books in 14 volumes or separate books?

Avatar of joseph1000000
OldPatzerMike wrote:

To add to your potential financial burden, I will add two books that I forgot to mention before: 100 Endgames You Must Know, by Jesus de la Villa, and Fundamental Chess Endings, by Karsten Müller. 

 

Your inputs are valuable to me.

Avatar of joseph1000000
joseph1000000 wrote:
SILMANS COMPL.ENDGAME COURSE: From Beginner to Master

Great read one of the first chess books I went through. I would rate it as beginner  to higher end intermediate  with some tricks for advanced players as well, easy to read and informal with examples.

 

I have heard lots of good recommendations for him as well. But have not read any of his books yet. 

 

I mistakenly made two copies of the same thread.  Please do not be surprised. 

Avatar of kindaspongey
joseph1000000 wrote:
kindaspongey wrote:

"In this series of fourteen endgame books, FIDE Senior Trainer Adrian Mikhal-chishin, FIDE Trainer Efstratios Grivas and IGM Csaba Balogh combine their experience as trainers and as practical players ... The main concept of each book [in The Modern Endgame Manual series] is to provide theoretical knowledge which can be used in practical games. ..."

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7627.pdf

Damn! 14 books! That alone is going to bankrupt me for sure.  But if you bring it up then it must be worth it while. 

My guess is that the books are not worthwhile for someone who is not a very serious chess player. However, you did write: "... The more comprehensive the book the better. …" Consequently, I thought I would try to give you some idea about what happens if "comprehensive" becomes the number one priority. By the way, the quote is from the "Editorial Preface" in the first book.

Avatar of kindaspongey
joseph1000000  wrote:

… Are these books in 14 volumes or separate books?

I suspect that I do not understand your question as the answer seems to me to be: both. Thus far, I think that only eight of the books have been published.

Avatar of kindaspongey
joseph1000000 wrote:
kindaspongey wrote:

"... before discussing the specifics of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual [henceforth 'DEM'], a word of warning is in order. I must emphasize that this is a terribly advanced work that I don't think is a very good way for the average player to study the endgame. ... That said, if you are up to a real challenge and have a great deal of time to devote to reading and playing over examples you will inevitably derive great value from this work. ..." - IM John Watson (2005)

http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/the-end-game-comes-before-we-know-it

You give too many details for me to be able to respond to or digest. ...

I suspect that it would be somewhat more difficult to digest the actual Dvoretsky book.