Endgame: The Final Touch - Chess Forums

sree64

Mar 14, 2018

0

#1

Endgames give a finishing touch to the game. Is it more important to study endgames or middlegames?

Middlegames are also important.

kindaspongey

Mar 14, 2018

0

#2

"... The game might be divided into three parts, i.e.:- 1. The opening. 2. The middle-game. 3. The end-game. There is one thing you must strive for, to be equally efficient in the three parts. Whether you are a strong or a weak player, you should try to be of equal strength in the three parts. ..." - Capablanca

"... This book is the first volume in a series of manuals designed for players who are building the foundations of their chess knowledge. The reader will receive the necessary basic knowledge in six areas of the game - tactcs, positional play, strategy, the calculation of variations, the opening and the endgame. ... To make the book entertaining and varied, I have mixed up these different areas, ..." - GM Artur Yusupov

sree64

Mar 15, 2018

0

#3

Good quotes. So we need to balance all three parts or focus more on one part?

kindaspongey

Mar 15, 2018

0

#4

My guess would be that the answer depends on the abilities and circumstances of the individual. If one's games indicate a special need, it might make sense to put emphasis on that area, but I would also guess that other areas should not be neglected for long. Of course, one needs to be playing games in order to have a sense of one's needs.

sree64

Mar 16, 2018

0

#5

cottonsock wrote:

It’s not much use , being good in the endgame, if you’re
Opening, and middle game are not up to scratch, cos you’re
chance of reaching an endgame, are remote .

Most games reaches till the endgame. If we are a pawn up we convert the material to a win during the endgame.

sree64

Mar 16, 2018

0

#6

BobbyTalparov wrote:

cottonsock wrote:

It’s not much use , being good in the endgame, if you’re
Opening, and middle game are not up to scratch, cos you’re
chance of reaching an endgame, are remote .

This is entirely inaccurate.

Studying endgames not only helps you with the endgames you study, but also helps your calculation skills (which translate into the middle game) as well as helps you identify ways to save lost games.

I agree.

sree64

Mar 16, 2018

0

#7

BobbyTalparov wrote:

sree64 wrote:

Endgames give a finishing touch to the game. Is it more important to study endgames or middlegames?

Middlegames are also important.

There is a saying (I cannot recall where I read it): "An inaccuracy in the opening will almost never cost you a game; an inaccuracy in the middle game might cost you a pawn; an inaccuracy in the endgame will cost you the game" (paraphrased).

Do not neglect your tactical and positional studies (aka your middle game), but studying endgames will help you 1) close out won games (often the hardest thing to do is win a won game), 2) save a lost game, 3) help you realize when you can simplify a middle game position into a winning endgame position. Additionally, studying endgames correctly helps with your calculation skills.

I agree with this too but for me a lot of games i lost by making a mistake in the opening. What about that?

kindaspongey

Mar 16, 2018

0

#8

"... I feel that the main reasons to buy an opening book are to give a good overview of the opening, and to explain general plans and ideas. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... If the book contains illustrative games, it is worth playing these over first ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)

"The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)

"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf

sree64

Mar 18, 2018

0

#9

kindaspongey wrote:

"... I feel that the main reasons to buy an opening book are to give a good overview of the opening, and to explain general plans and ideas. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... If the book contains illustrative games, it is worth playing these over first ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)

"The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)

"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf

Openings are best studied using the computer. But endgames need to be studied by books.