Sorry - I was offline the last days. So there is some delay.

First I have to correct myself, my memory was wrong. The recommendation comes from Stefan Kindermann, a well known GM at least in the German speaking chess community.

In the following I refer to the 3rd German edition of Dworetzkij's book.

Preface by Mark Dworetzkij(=MD) in summuary for the question of this topic, pp VII-XI

The basic idea is starting with typical mostly elementary positions. MD tested those in training sessions with players of different strength. So the book gives:

- Typical positions

Printed in big diagrams (I give some examples beyond so you can compare this with your book) commented with bigger letters.

- Endgame ideas

These ideas are written in the 3rd german ed. in grey and italicised. They are in the commends to all kinds of diagrams.

- Repetition of the learned

This is done via practical game examples and exercises from different sources.

- Analysis

Mostly relying on mistakes of earlier analysis showing.

- Order of the material

This is mostly traditional with some deviations from the traditional paths, b.e. Queen endings near pawn endings to judge some concrete pawn endings better.


Stefan Kindermann writes for the editorial office, p.XII:

Exercises are the best way to learn. The attitude is important. The positions chosen by MD are often difficult even for grandmasters. So it's not important to solve correctly but to work on the material to get some light bulb moments [correct English? - German "Aha-Erlebnis"].

Several study circles are useful. The book can accompagny the player on several levels of his chess career

In the first circle start with the big diagrams and the associated comments and the grey text of the book. Then study the small diagrams.

(End of summary)

To give you the opportunity to compare this with your edition beside the text I give here a short description of the first big diagrams:

Chapter 1 Pawn Endings

1.1 W: Kd5, Pd4 B: Kd7 - marked keysquares c6,d6,e6

1.2 W: Kb6, Pb5 B: Kb8 - marked keysquares a6,a7, b7,c7,c6

1.7 W: Kb5 Pa4,c4 B: Kb7 Pb6 - Black to move

1.9 Study Mattison 1918

1.10 Study Drtina 1907 (Dedrle 1921)

Chapter 5 - Different color bishops

5.2 W: Ke4 Bd2 Pe4, f4 B: Ke7 Ba4 - Black to move

I hope this gives you enough material to compare with your edition.

The thing about learning the Vancura position is that once you've learned it, you can use that knowledge to steer the game to that position. If you don't know it, it probably won't occur by accident. I've used the Vancura position several times to salvage draws in games.

dfan wrote on 10/21/15 at 19:28:21:


That's just what keeps me off buying and studying Silman's endgame book. The states youth trainer U14 and younger teaches the Vancura position directly after Philidor and Lucena. And if you do it right it is understandable for players under club rating average, which is 1500 btw.

And Karsten Müller recommends reading the Dworetski manual in a special way, which is good for all levels from 1200 on. In my edition of the manual it's the 222 large diagrams first, then the complete book.

@TO:

As I have picked up some endgame knowledge here and there I cannot seriously answer your questions. All the books of your selection are in my bookshelf and maybe that's the mistake. Probably you have to pick one, from my impression Müller or Dworetzki or Fine, and go through it from cover to cover.

Atm my endgame training is the Smyslow/Löwenfisch rook endgame book with going through it. Finally I found a studying method giving me more fun than simply going through the diagrams otb or reading.

So my opinion is: Take the book you like most. Find the method you like most. It's personal. (Even if Silman fits best to you, who am I to disrespect this?)

Sgambetto wrote on 10/21/15 at 16:10:02:

Silman's is a fine/worthy book although not among my favorites. I long ago sold my copy.
The truth is that the "best" endgame book is the one that you actually read.  It may come down to the texture of the pages or the size of the typeface being easy on your eyes.  I am by no means the first person to quote that sentence (i.e., "the best book is the one you actually read").  I first saw it at the Kenilworthian Chess Club website by Chess Expert and University Professor Michael Goeller.  There is a tendency to agonize over designing something "optimal" or "perfect"  when in fact i believe in emphasizing motivation and fun.  In chess like most disciplines it seems to me there is an intersection of tasks that are "fun" and tasks that are "nutritious" -- i would virtually always suggest concentrating study time at that intersection.  No one at this forum can tell you what to study because each person's enjoyment of chess is different.  yay!

Yes, I also like Nunn's Understanding Chess Endgames, it generally covers the most important positions without leaving many gaps (based on the book's no. of pages & its target group).

I have seen Euwe and Hooper's "A Guide to Chess Endings". Is Hooper's "A Pocket Guide To Chess Endgames" abbreviated version of Euwe's book?

Bibs wrote on 09/19/15 at 15:54:07:


This was recommended by GM Spraggett as a must for everyone's first book on endings, but that might be a sign of coming from a certain generation of Chess players.

I used Keres when I was a young kid (maybe 11-12, dunno). Yes, cover to cover, of my own accord. 
I found it clear and helpful. I have a positive memory of that read n' study.
Muller and Lamprecht and Silman are accessible.

So, I suggest Keres.

There are so many good endgame reference books available.

1. Encylopedia of Chess Endgames - Chess Informant

2. Comprehensive Chess Endings - Yuri Averbakh

3. Basic Chess Endings - Fine

4. Batsford Chess Endings - Speelman

5. Fundamental Chess Endings - Mueller

6. Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual

7. Nunn's Chess Endings vol 1 & 2

8. Theory and Practice of chess endgames (Endspieltheorie und Praktik) - Panchenko

9. Practical Chess Endings - Keres

10. 600 Chess Endgames - Portisch


Most of you own at least two or three of above books. Could you please compare and contrast these works?

1. How comprehensive is the coverage? Any major misses?

2. Quality of positions

3. Quality of explanations

4. Ratio of technical vs strategical endings

5. Ratio of simple vs complicated endings

6. Available as playable ebook?

7. If you have to study one of these books from cover to cover, which book would you choose and why?

Thank you!