Smyslov_Fan wrote on 09/01/10 at 13:19:03:
No. Or even better: It depends a little of the definition of endgames.

But personally I think it's possible to give an answer to the question because exchanges may lead to different endgames. 

Depending on playing strength I would recomend Müller and Pajeken about Pawn endings at first. Secondly a complete engame course covering the stuff of Keres - Practical endings or Awerbach - any of his 1 tome endgame courses or De La Villa - 100 endgames you must know or a similar book. Thirdly G. Flear about nqe's is worth a reading.

Is this really an endgame question?

Hi!

What books (and what topics) to study if one can't decide which endgame position (on the two diagrams below) is more preferable for black? 

a)


or

b)


(P.S.: I also have to think hard to find a plan when I have hanging pawns in _the middlegame_.
Which book covers that?)

Bowen wrote on 03/20/10 at 04:11:55:

Study of endgames and their practical application are two different things.
So, first release the tension in your mind, that you must remember them over the board.

The exact application depends on many factors. In a sportive session you have to deal with tiredness, stress, pressure on the bladder in time-trouble etc.

Maybe it's important to get a feeling how to play endgames, and if you remember the exact order of moves it's fine, and if not, well no problem.

My problem with endgame books is, "Which one will I study that is written in a manner that will allow me to remember how to play a specific position one or two years from now when I finally encounter it over the board?"

I have played through several endgame books, learned much, remembered some.

Zatara wrote on 03/14/10 at 20:18:40:

I have no idea. Silman's endgame book is the one I constantly recommend to people. If someone's already read another endgame book, then they probably don't need it, but it's the best available book to be anyone's first endgame book, and it should take anyone to at least 1800, at least.

I've had a similar dilemma recently and I think what is best for you now is to get Shereshevsky's Endgame Strategy book (see Alias' post above). With your technical background you will be able to follow quickly the variations given and hence focus on the strategy elements. I have not read Muller's book (only the sample pages available on the net), but it also looked dry to me.

The endgame has not only a technical part, there is a lot of deep strategy as well.

gewgaw wrote on 03/04/10 at 21:24:14:


Sorry, I meant sequester.

gewgaw wrote on 03/04/10 at 16:13:07:


Wow, three days is impressive. It is a lot of material to really adsorb. What did you do? Sequest yourself?

gewgaw wrote on 02/12/10 at 22:22:32:


"Improvement starts at the edge of your comfort zone", I remember someone said.

I agree (at least) one good book on technical and (at least) one on practical/strategic endings is ideal.

Technical: 
Howell and Rosen sounds like a great suggestion by chk! I don't have Howell myself but everyone raves about it. Rosen I use constantly for repetition. If you're thinking further ahead you could get Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual straightaway and just start with the essential stuff (in blue ink).

Strategic: 
Shereshevsky is a bit advanced maybe. Soltis is an engaging writer (as long as it's not an opening book); try "GM Secrets: Endings" and "Turning Advantage Into Victory in Chess".  I also like Speelman's "Endgame Preparation".

Tactical:
Maybe not strictly necessary, but a favorite subject of mine. Bán: "The Tactics of End-games" and the multi-lingual booklet "Endspiele für Fortgeschrittene" by Dobrinetzki are good basic introductions.

I suggest 2 short and not extremely technical books (imo OK for people >1600 ELO):

a) Essential Chess Endings: The Tournament Player's Guide by James Howell. Not boring at all, it is based on examples from practical games and will give you a good ground on the basics (I've seen it recommended here at ChessPub and that's how I picked it). At the end of each chapter it has 8 exercises. I recommend to progress slowly with this book if needed and possibly re-read and practice with a PC some of the examples/defences. As you begin to practice some of these endgames in your games you will also begin to remember the theory. But even if at first you forget the theory, you will at least have a decent plan.

b) Chess Endgame Training by Bernd Rosen. This is a practical book based on exercises (by theme, e.g. pawn endgames). It is about the same level with the other book and you can think of it as an extra 30 exercises per Howell's chapter. If you are searching for fun there is no better way to do it than through practical exercises on the endgame - but you need first to know the basics of theory (Howell). Moreover, while giving the results to the exercises, Rosen takes also some time to explain the key aspects of the theory behind the moves/plans.

Of course I expect that you will work hard on this (trust me!) fun & interesting subject and that you will use 100% of your tactical sense & calculation abilities in order to solve as many exercises as possible.

You will also start winning more games 

Is there anybody out there, who worked through a chess endgame book? If there`s someone, could you reveal me, how did you do it? I´ve Mueller´s "Fundamental Chess Endings" and I know I´d improve, if I work it through, but the book is better than any sleeping pill: one page and I got tired and due to my obliviousness I even forget the single page I read .
Any recommendations?