How to improve with endgame technique without a chess.com membership or coach?

Sort:
bilbo_rules
I can't seem to get better at the endgame no matter how many books I read or games I play. Does anyone know what I should do?
notmtwain
bilbo_rules wrote:
I can't seem to get better at the endgame no matter how many books I read or games I play. Does anyone know what I should do?

It looks like you mostly play bullet. You need more than one or two seconds to have a chance to figure out a lot of endgames.

What endgame books have you actually read? There are certain concepts you must have seen that should help you out. 

TalSpin

Find a good endgame book appropriate for your level, study it and play endgames vs a computer. Start with winning positions up a pawn and see if you can convert. Engines aren't forgiving, so it's a good way to practice

TalSpin

Find a good endgame book appropriate for your level, study it and play endgames vs a computer. Start with winning positions up a pawn and see if you can convert. Engines aren't forgiving, so it's a good way to practice

TalSpin

Find a good endgame book appropriate for your level, study it and play endgames vs a computer. Start with winning positions up a pawn and see if you can convert. Engines aren't forgiving, so it's a good way to practice

Williamfwm

How many books have you read? Don't just breeze through cover to cover. Set up a physical board in front of you, and try the examples as you go. Read a little every day. As you learn new concepts, reinforce them by going back over examples of the concept, and then apply those concepts (in slower time controls, where you can think about them). The key to learning is not just practice but "deliberate practice"; you need to slow down and absorb each little piece of information through repetition, and soon your learning pace will pick up.

BlueKnightShade
ciarli wrote:

endgame is the arrhythmia of chess or the arithmetic of it!

it lack tactics or the beauty of chess but it is true simple chess of what can happen in chess!

There is a risk of loosing endgames if you don't look for tactics, and there is a chance of winning end games if you do look for tactics. There is even a book named Endgame Tactics:

http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Van-Perlos-Endgame-Tactics-p3851.htm

swarminglocusts

I'm back to studying Jeremy Silman's endgame course. There are a lot of lower rated endings I am not learned with yet so I am finding it is a big weakness in my game. I'm going to study it like tactics, study a little bit each time I feel like it, 1x-2x per week, review them the next day and then play games for fun. I'm also finding if I study, review and then put the books down and play I have less stress, more fun, and I learn much more resulting in becoming a stronger player.

Chrisf1957

I would recommend the Tiger chess website for full membership £4.95 a month amongst many things you get a full course on Endgame strategy with practice PGN files which you can download into your favourite chess engine for practice I use HIARCs. He concentrates on 1 topic per week over 3 years, Admittedly that time scale is to slow for most people. But to crack fully say a mate with a knight and bishop against a king does require practice. 

yureesystem

Silman's endgame book is excellent, even at your level you will learn how to play the endgame properly; his explanation is very clear and easy to understand.

IMBacon22
bilbo_rules wrote:
I can't seem to get better at the endgame no matter how many books I read or games I play. Does anyone know what I should do?

1. Quit playing blitz/bullet.  How do you expect to improve when your playing 1 minute games?

2. Play longer time controls of at least G30, but preferably longer. 

3. Study Silmans Complete Endgame Course, and Jose de la Villa's 100 Endgames You Must Know.

swarminglocusts

I have learned through books for years. What I can say is books are sometimes hard to understand. I can explain concepts quicker than a book and you can get better faster. But yes books books are the way to go. A teacher has muddled through all of the facts and can explain the concepts with less convolution. I have about 5 books I want to finish in the next 4-7 years, we'll see if it happens and if it gets me where I want.

DrFrank124c

I have been using the endgame trainer on the chesstempo site.

IMBacon22
DrFrank124c wrote:

I have been using the endgame trainer on the chesstempo site.

Very good tool!

oregonpatzer

arves.org is a great site for endgame studies. 

oregonpatzer
[COMMENT DELETED]
MickinMD

Note that there is an endgame trainer at chesstempo.com. Since chess.com doesn't have one, I assume its ok to mention another site that does.

benonidoni

All of Karsten Muellers stuff. Fun to watch and at your level

incorrectname

see what u got wrong in the games you played with a chess computer and try to know why a move is better so you know what to do  next time