How to get better at endgames
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I've drawn to the Nelson bot twice despite being up a pawn or two, I rarely get a chance to encounter endgames while playing with real players due to the game ending before the endgame starts, any advice?
Nov 8, 2023
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#2
Hello mate, I would love to help you. If you want to improve your game of chess, i would love to help you! Shoot me a message
Nov 9, 2023
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#3
Follow these two basic principles:
1. Attack opponent's weak pawns
2. Push your passed pawns
Nov 9, 2023
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#4
Learning endgames starts with understanding the basics. It's like learning to read: you learn the letters, then what sounds the letters make, and then how they form words. To learn the basics of endgames, there are good books -- such as Silman's endgame book -- and good videos. You might want to look at NM Robert Ramirez on YouTube. He is a very good teacher. Go to his playlist on endgames. Make sure you have a good understanding of each lesson before going on to the next one, and before long you'll be much better at endings.
The same goes for Silman's book, or any other introduction to endgames. Make sure you really understand a position or lesson before moving on. Best of luck to you.
What puzzels are best for practicing this?
ChessMasteryOfficial wrote:
Follow these two basic principles:
1. Attack opponent's weak pawns
2. Push your passed pawns
Where are these "basic principles" from? Both of them are very suspicious, as they have way too many exceptions.
Instead, a useful principle: "Activate your king".
Nov 10, 2023
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#8
First of all it is important to know what endgame is the most important one, it‘s not the rook endgame, it‘s the pawn engage where only pawns are left. Learn first these and then start looking at the other ones. I really recommend the book averbakhs endgames
@1
"I've drawn to the Nelson bot twice despite being up a pawn or two" ++ 1 pawn should win
"the game ending before the endgame starts" ++ Tactics decide most games < 2000.
"How to get better at endgames" ++ Practice and study. You can play openings that lead to early queen exchanges to get more endgames, e.g. the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation, or the Ruy Lopez Berlin Defence, the French Exchange Variation, The Caro-Kann Exchange Variation, the Petrov Defence. You can study endgames from endgame books (Averbakh, Silman, Dvoretzky, Müller & Lamprecht), from grandmaster games e.g. https://en.chessbase.com/post/european-club-cup-2023-endgames , and from the 7 men endgame table base. Start with 3 men like KP vs. K, then 4 men like KBN vs. K, then 5 men like KRP vs. KR, then 6 men like KRfg vs. KR, then 7 men.
The most important endgames are rook endings, not pawn endings. The reason is that the side at a disadvantage often can avoid pawn endings. That is why rook endings occur most.
Nov 10, 2023
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#10
There are 6 principles that you need to follow, 1 push passed pawns 2 activate your king 3 attack weak pawns 4 Attack your opponents king 5 support your pawns 6if you are losing then get a stalemate. Follow these in every endgame. Regards winner sp.
Nov 10, 2023
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#11
tygxc hat geschrieben:
@1
"I've drawn to the Nelson bot twice despite being up a pawn or two" ++ 1 pawn should win
"the game ending before the endgame starts" ++ Tactics decide most games < 2000.
"How to get better at endgames" ++ Practice and study. You can play openings that lead to early queen exchanges to get more endgames, e.g. the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation, or the Ruy Lopez Berlin Defence, the French Exchange Variation, The Caro-Kann Exchange Variation, the Petrov Defence. You can study endgames from endgame books (Averbakh, Silman, Dvoretzky, Müller & Lamprecht), from grandmaster games e.g. https://en.chessbase.com/post/european-club-cup-2023-endgames , and from the 7 men endgame table base. Start with 3 men like KP vs. K, then 4 men like KBN vs. K, then 5 men like KRP vs. KR, then 6 men like KRfg vs. KR, then 7 men.
The most important endgames are rook endings, not pawn endings. The reason is that the side at a disadvantage often can avoid pawn endings. That is why rook endings occur most.
You have a point, but Grandmasters will agree with my statement. For more information look at this post: https://www.chess.com/article/view/most-important-chess-endgame
Nov 10, 2023
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#12
tygxc wrote:
@1
"I've drawn to the Nelson bot twice despite being up a pawn or two" ++ 1 pawn should win
+1 Pawn is generally drawn if all the Pawns are on the same side of the board. Exceptions are exactly that... exceptions.
If you are up a Pawn then trade pieces, not Pawns, and try to ensure that some Pawns remain on both wings.
By studying master games and endgames.
Capablanca is thought of as an excellent edgame player so his games should be good to study.
”Silman’s Complete Endgame Course” is good and I have studied the chapters meant for my rating level and the one a little above my rating level. I will need to go through it again, but I have already learnt a lot.
Also a new book I just started going through is ”Practical Chess Endings” by Irving Chernev. Seems like an excellent book so far.
Nov 10, 2023
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#14
Habanababananero wrote:
Capablanca is thought of as an excellent edgame player so his games should be good to study.
Capablanca was one of the best.
Fischer was such an expert at the K+B+Pawns vs K+N+Pawns endgame that it came to be called "the Fischer endgame".
blueemu kirjoitti:
Habanababananero wrote:
Capablanca is thought of as an excellent edgame player so his games should be good to study.
Capablanca was one of the best.
Fischer was such an expert at the K+B+Pawns vs K+N+Pawns endgame that it came to be called "the Fischer endgame".
I also got this book called ”Capablanca’s Best Chess Endings” by Chernev. Probably will be a good one, but it will have to wait a little while before I finish a couple other books I am working through right now.
I am getting to the point where I enjoy studying master games more than I enjoy playing my own blunder-fests. That is probably good, because I think I will eventually learn a lot this way.
Also I have been on a break from chess.com Live games (for a week or so) in order to study, do tactics puzzles and not lose games before my first ever FIDE-rated tournament tomorrow. I get frustrated too easily sometimes, so I thought it is better to just study and go into the tournament with a fresh mind and feeling confident instead of losing a meaningless online game and feeling down.
I also realize there was no reason for me to write this, or for anyone to care, but whatever.
Ah, mastering endgames in chess, are we? That's where the real battle begins! Now, if you're looking to channel your inner Bobby Fischer, here's a little guide to help you out: 1. Study the classics: Bobby Fischer was a master at playing and analyzing the endgames from the greats. Grab some books or watch online videos on endgame techniques by players like Capablanca and Alekhine. Their wisdom will surely rub off on you. 2. Get pawns-ed: In endgames, pawns become absolute powerhouses. Learn how to use them effectively and create pawn majorities on one side of the board. Bobby Fischer loved those pesky little things, so they might just become your new best friends. 3. King is right: Remember that in the endgame, your humble king becomes an active participant. Show it some love and guide it towards important areas of the board. It's like taking your monarch for a nice evening stroll (but with a whole lot more strategy involved). 4. Simplify and conquer: As the game progresses towards the endgame, look for ways to exchange pieces and simplify the position. Fewer pieces on the board mean more opportunities to seize advantage and outshine your opponent like a true grandmaster. 5. Practice makes perfect: Endgames are all about technique, my friend. So, roll up your sleeves and delve into solving endgame puzzles or playing practice games with a focus solely on endings. The more you practice, the better you'll get at navigating those tricky mazes. Remember, gaining expertise in endgame tactics takes time, dedication, and lots of laughter along the way when you make silly mistakes (which we all do). So go ahead and channel your inner Bobby Fischer onto that chessboard, my friend. Good luck!
I am a big advocate for reading Basic Chess Endings by Ruben Fine. sit down with a board and peices and play through every move cover to cover.
the best endorsement that I can give the book is that Pal Benko felt the need to memorize it!
@12
"+1 Pawn is generally drawn if all the Pawns are on the same side of the board. "
++ +1 pawn in the middle game is generally won as you can steer towards a won endgame and steer clear of drawn endgames.
Pawn endgames with an extra pawn are generally won, even with pawns on one side of the board.
Knight endgames the same. Bishop endings with an extra pawn and same color bishops are generally won, but harder. Opposite colored bishop endings are generally draws even +1, +2 or more pawns, with exceptions. Bishop vs. knight are generally won with an extra pawn, but are hard.
Rook endings with 5 vs. 4 pawns on one side are generally won. 4 vs. 3 or 3 vs. 2 or 2 vs. 1 are draws.
Rfh vs. R is a draw and is a safe haven despite 2 pawns down.
Queen endings are tricky, as king safety is important. It is often better to have a passed pawn than being a pawn up.
