I think that Dvoretzky's book is designed as a reference, not a tutorial. As such, I find it useful even for my level. For example, I can totally handle the chapter on pawn endings.
Which endgame manual?
Sort:
IMBacon wrote:
... how many posts do we see on a daily basis from people that barely know how the piece move and they are asking: "What is an aggressive opening to play?" "Im rated 1000 OTB. Im studying Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual" "I know the <insert opening here> 20 moves deep. How come i keep losing?" ...
Don't see any in this thread.
"Don't see any in this thread."
Read enough of these forums and you will see the type of posts IMBacon describes repeated over and over again.
Feb 26, 2020
0
#25
Just got back to this post and am happy to see that it has exploded with comments! 
Based on what I am reading it seems that most of you recommend Silman's book or Jesus de La Villa's book. Given I am no master I think these books will suit me well and I will go with Silman's book. I tried his rook endgame lessons here on chess.com (the old ones, which have sadly been removed now) and have to say they were the best instructions I have seen. Easy to understand and lots of examples which seemed to build on each other by gradually introducing new concepts. I really don't mind if his writing is sometimes redundant as some book reviews mentioned, quite the opposite.
By the way, when I started out chess I found a lot of joy reading beginner level chess books. Everything was new and exciting. Now that I am more experienced and a better player the books are becoming less enjoyable (and more academic) and there isn't as much new things to learn. Endgames however is quite new to me, which really excites me at the moment. Apart from pawn endgames I know very little about rook endgames and I am looking forward to learn more about it!
Laskersnephew wrote:
… Read enough of these forums and you will see the type of posts IMBacon describes repeated over and over again.
Does it make sense to post claims about it, in the thread of NotYourAveragePlayer?
Feb 26, 2020
0
#27
Studying the endgame involves gaining two different types of knowledge. One is exact endings (e.g., the elementary mates, K+P vs. K, and the Lucena, Philidor and Vancura positions in R endings), the principles and often the precise moves of which you must know. The other is endgame techniques. These are primarily ways to seek the advantage, or neutralize the opponent's advantage, in endgame positions that have not been reduced to a more basic ending.
An excellent book for learning endgame techniques is Karsten Müller's "How to Play Chess Endgames." Unfortunately, it is out of print and used copies are available only at obscene prices ($75 and up). It is, however, available on Kindle for $10. This was written as a sequel to Fundamental Chess Endings, and includes topics such as schematic thinking, the fight for the initiative, the bishop pair in the endgame, and domination. I have the Kindle version and am finding it to be an outstanding learning tool.
Feb 26, 2020
0
#29
NotYourAveragePlayer wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
I have the Mueller book. It was still more than i wanted, or needed.
Silmans book was perfect for me!
How would you compare Silman's book with Muller's book in terms of accuracy. I like that Muller's book seems to be covering almost all eventualities with lot's of examples. On the other hand sometimes find their conclusions a bit vague and the material is not very engaging.
Let me first qualify my statement this. I have never truly studied a chess book in its entirety. I have used them more for referencing things that came up in my games. But! I have used Silmans book quite a bit, and i have used Muller's book based on the advice of my former coach IM Valeri Lilov.
Just my .02, but this is the order i would study them.
1. Silmans book.
2. de la Villas book.
3. Mullers book.
Those 3 should and will give you a very solid endgame foundation.
IMBacon wrote:
NotYourAveragePlayer wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
I have the Mueller book. It was still more than i wanted, or needed.
Silmans book was perfect for me!
How would you compare Silman's book with Muller's book in terms of accuracy. I like that Muller's book seems to be covering almost all eventualities with lot's of examples. On the other hand sometimes find their conclusions a bit vague and the material is not very engaging.
Let me first qualify my statement this. I have never truly studied a chess book in its entirety. I have used them more for referencing things that came up in my games. But! I have used Silmans book quite a bit, and i have used Muller's book based on the advice of my former coach IM Valeri Lilov.
Just my .02, but this is the order i would study them.
1. Silmans book.
2. de la Villas book.
3. Mullers book.
Those 3 should and will give you a very solid endgame foundation.
Sounds good IMBacon!
Feb 26, 2020
0
#31
SeniorPatzer wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
NotYourAveragePlayer wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
I have the Mueller book. It was still more than i wanted, or needed.
Silmans book was perfect for me!
How would you compare Silman's book with Muller's book in terms of accuracy. I like that Muller's book seems to be covering almost all eventualities with lot's of examples. On the other hand sometimes find their conclusions a bit vague and the material is not very engaging.
Let me first qualify my statement this. I have never truly studied a chess book in its entirety. I have used them more for referencing things that came up in my games. But! I have used Silmans book quite a bit, and i have used Muller's book based on the advice of my former coach IM Valeri Lilov.
Just my .02, but this is the order i would study them.
1. Silmans book.
2. de la Villas book.
3. Mullers book.
Those 3 should and will give you a very solid endgame foundation.
Sounds good IMBacon!
I get off a good one every now and then :-)
"... Some recent books that I enjoyed and can recommend include: … Silman's Complete Endgame Course …" - GM John Nunn (2010)
I like Reuben Fine`s Basic Chess Endings.
Basic Chess Endings represents an almost incredible effort by Reuben Fine in the pre-computer age. Just imagine all the research, copying and transcription involved! But it's more a reference book than a tutorial.
"... The only real problems with [Basic Chess Endings] are the errors and the fact that it is now very dated. ... the book is now in algebraic notation and the layout has in some ways been improved. ... Perhaps the greatest disappointment ... lay in the failure to correct many of the errors in Fine's book. ... I don't think it is acceptable in the 21st century to produce an endgame book without computer- and database-checking. ... the book can be recommended for Fine's groundbreaking general explanations. Just don't expect complete accuracy or up-to-date endgame theory." - GM John Nunn (2006)
If one decides to go for this, one might want to make sure that one gets the algebraic version, but beware: It is close to 600 pages.
Fine's Basic Chess Endings was the first book I had to learn endgames. I was studying hard back then but I still found the book to be long, dry, and tedious. It's good point is it really shows you how to get the job done. I've probably forgotten most of it. I don't know the market these days but here must be many better, more modern books out there.
IMBacon wrote:
SeniorPatzer wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
NotYourAveragePlayer wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
I have the Mueller book. It was still more than i wanted, or needed.
Silmans book was perfect for me!
How would you compare Silman's book with Muller's book in terms of accuracy. I like that Muller's book seems to be covering almost all eventualities with lot's of examples. On the other hand sometimes find their conclusions a bit vague and the material is not very engaging.
Let me first qualify my statement this. I have never truly studied a chess book in its entirety. I have used them more for referencing things that came up in my games. But! I have used Silmans book quite a bit, and i have used Muller's book based on the advice of my former coach IM Valeri Lilov.
Just my .02, but this is the order i would study them.
1. Silmans book.
2. de la Villas book.
3. Mullers book.
Those 3 should and will give you a very solid endgame foundation.
Sounds good IMBacon!
I get off a good one every now and then :-)
I also agree with IMBacon's suggestion.
I have read the Silman endgame book up to 2000-2200. And I am currently working on 100 endgames you must know at Chessable. I have the JB video included. By far better than only the book since JB shiws more in depth and more examples. Specialy the knight endings makes more sense with video.
The Silman book is more basic and it's clear that the author of 100 endgames takes for granted that you know some endgames from before.
Since it looks like you are a 1800 + and probably knows alot from before I would go for the 100 endgames and repeat it at the Chessable settings, so it will be hammered into your head.
The Silman book takes it more by rating, with the 100 book I am currently working on only rook endings, and after that bishops. So you can learn it more in depth at one thing, if you choose to the same.
Free stuff.
https://www.chessable.com/basic-endgames/course/6371/.
https://www.chessable.com/essential-rp-vs-r-endings/course/90/
And this is based on 100 endgames you must know.
https://www.chessable.com/endgame-bootcamp-with-john-bartholomew/course/33597/
Feb 28, 2020
0
#40
2Late4Work wrote:
Free stuff.
https://www.chessable.com/basic-endgames/course/6371/.
https://www.chessable.com/essential-rp-vs-r-endings/course/90/
And this is based on 100 endgames you must know.
https://www.chessable.com/endgame-bootcamp-with-john-bartholomew/course/33597/
Great stuff!
… Van Perlo's Endgame Tactics ...
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Van-Perlos-Endgame-Tactics-78p3851.htm
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/theres-an-end-to-it-all
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234128/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review555.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/996.pdf