I really suck at King and Pawn endgames. what should I do?

Sort:
espiritukent
what are some good books for studying King and Pawn Endgames? any tips?
GMPatzer

1. Buy a membership at chess.com and learn the basic pawn endings

2. Buy a basic endgame book Silman Endgame Course or Just the Facts

3. Setup position against yourself and strong players in club and ask why?

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
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review594.pdf

https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/silmans-complete-endgame-course/

For just pawns, one could look at Starting Out Pawn Endgames.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093408/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review476.pdf

benonidoni

Karsten Mueller has an excellent endgame book you'd like. Really well done with =+- pictures as you look at the board. Fairly inexpensive also.

kindaspongey

Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf

peepchuy
espiritukent wrote:
what are some good books for studying King and Pawn Endgames? any tips?

 

There are already some book recommendations, but you also need some practice.

Against a chess engine, set up only the kings and pawns (all of them) on their initial square. Your task is to draw with either colour.

Next, same exercise, but now remove one black pawn. You play white. Your task is to win all these eight positions.

Preferably, use some relatively slow time control.

 

SeniorPatzer

David Macenulty has a book for kids about King and Pawn Endgames.  It's written at a good level.

RussBell

excellent coverage of K+P endgames...

Endgame Workshop by Bruce Pandolfini....

https://www.amazon.com/Endgame-Workshop-Principles-Practical-Pandolfini/dp/1888690534/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EME5DZODPTDH&keywords=endgame+workshop+principles+for+the+practical+player&qid=1558784018&s=books&sprefix=Endgame+workshop%2Cstripbooks%2C202&sr=1-1

Tip - the key to most K+P endings is OPPOSITION.....learn everything you can about it.

kindaspongey

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708095144/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review701.pdf

RichColorado

Best advice is win before the end game!

DENVER

MikeRush61

End games also require a different level of patience..

 

GANHEII

start also sucking at other endgames

AussieTeen

If anyone needs a coach PM me,i am happy to assist those in need of improving their overall game

kindaspongey
SchaakVoorAlles wrote:

Forget books that aim to sell in large numbers by trying to seem friendly to beginners (and do not be swayed no matter how much  John Watson praises them). ...

"... Some recent books that I enjoyed and can recommend include: … Silman's Complete Endgame Course …" - GM John Nunn (2010)

https://www.silmanjamespress.com/shop/chess/silmans-complete-endgame-course/

opticRED


So far so good,.....

ThrillerFan

Silman's Endgame Course is the best endgame book for those under 2000

Fundamental Chess Endings is the best endgame book for those over 2000

MaxLange-simulator

Just sacrifice Ironman to win the Endgame. Easy peasy.  

kindaspongey

"... In my own teaching to average players I am still using Mueller and Lamprecht's Fundamental Chess Endings, which has a wonderful balance between Encyclopaedic coverage (I can find almost anything), examples that can be shortened at most points, and clear explanations that bring together endings of the same sort. … a teacher's guidance is preferable, ..." - IM John Watson (2005)

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

http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Fundamental_Chess_Endings.pdf

kindaspongey

"... I think that players especially in the range from 1600-2200 will learn something and get a very good workout if they try to solve all the exercises. (This doesn't mean that players outside that range shouldn't get it, only that the maximum benefit will probably go to those rated between 1600 and 2200.)"

http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2015/5/5/a-short-review-of-joel-benjamins-liquidation-on-the-chess-bo.html

https://www.chess.com/blog/smurfo/book-reviews-quotliquidation-on-the-chess-boardquot-and-quotthe-english-attack-against-the-ta

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9080.pdf