Answers.Body: <p>Highly readable book with useful information and how to handle these most common positions. You are asked to work out some of the ideas yourself:</p>
  
  <p><a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/9056916173" rel="nofollow">100 Endgames You Must Know: Vital Lessons for Every Chess Player</a></p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-21T13:06:44.763Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-09-21T13:06:44.763Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Priyome
Answers.Body: <p>The book I would recommend is "From Amateur to IM" by the British GM Jonathan Hawkins. Despite the title it is really all about playing the endgame.</p>
  
  <p>It sounds like it fits in really well with what you have been doing because chapter 1 deals with the KP v K stuff you just finished studying. It goes on to cover stuff like:</p>
  
  <p>1) Capablanca's Pawn Endgame (white king on g1, pawns on g2, h2 black king on g8, pawn on h7)</p>
  
  <p>2) Essential Rook Engames</p>
  
  <p>3) Bishop + Pawn(s) v Rook + Pawn(s)</p>
  
  <p>4) Opposite Coloured Bishop endings, how to win with extra pawns, how to draw with fewer pawns</p>
  
  <p>5) Minor piece endgames</p>
  
  <p>6) KRB v KR</p>
  
  <p>7) Minority Attack</p>
  
  <p>8) Extra pawn on the queenside</p>
  
  <p>This is mixed in with lots of stuff about plans in the endgame, steering the game towards endgame positions you have a good chance of winning, etc.</p>
  
  <p>I've only got about half way through and in looking through the book to prepare this answer I've just had the shock of seeing a whole chapter in the second half of the book dedicated to an opposite coloured bishop position (from Aronian v Bacrot 2005) very similar to one in which I quickly accepted my opponent's draw offer a few days ago. Did I blunder?</p>
  
  <p>On the one hand Hawkins' comment "For perhaps the first time in the game White had serious winning chances" was a bit of a blow. I was obviously much too ready to just shake hands. On the other hand this kind of position is so complex that it is worth a whole chapter and in the game itself after a lot more moves Bacrot made the mistake of resigning in a drawn position, so maybe I shouldn't feel so bad after all!</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-15T19:55:18.137Z
Answers.Text: I just picked up this book (after seeing some recommendations about it by IM John Bartholomew)... and in the first 15 min. of skimming the beginning, I already picked up some neat tidbits that have helped me win two online games I might not have otherwise.  I haven't had a chance to READ it... but if that's any indication, I'm going to be very happy with it.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ghotir
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-16T03:13:02.913Z
Answers.Text: I think that this book is excellent, but it is aimed at players with a rating closer to 2000 than 1000.
Answers.UserDisplayName: dfan
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-16T06:56:28.793Z
Answers.Text: Many thanks, @BrianTowers. Looks attractive, going by the glimpse of the contents you have listed. Just one concern. Does this book explain the how, where and why of all those concepts in plain English? I ask this because I'm easily overwhelmed by books that simply spew strings after parenthesized strings of variations in algebraic notation expecting the reader to decipher the rationale behind it all. If the author explains the logic and rationale in English, I think I will mark this as one of the books to buy in the next few days. Please confirm. And many thanks, again.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pradeep Puranik
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Answers.Text: @PradeepPuranik The explanations are excellent! Mixed in with the theory Hawkins does a lot of work on explaining the endgame plans you need. There is a lot more explanation than analysis. The book is also divided into 3 parts with several chapters in each part. The first part is "Thinking techniques" wherein he tries to explain the step by step logical approach you need when trying to win (or draw) an endgame position. This thinking technique then underlies the other two parts "Principles and essential theory" and "Endgame Exploration". There are also some exercises to solve.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
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Answers.Text: @dfan I agree the book is aimed at much stronger players than 1000 but if Pradeep has mastered KP vs K endgames then he is much stronger than 1000!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-22T06:37:38.310Z
Answers.Text: @BrianTowers Thanks for the confirmation about the book. And your confidence about my rating being higher brought a smile on my face. The main reason why I found the KP vs K endgame simple was the clear logical explanation I found in that wiki article. I haven't yet come across similar articles for other endgames. For instance, one Q vs R endgame article I read left me baffled with all the maneuvering involved. From this experience, I think KP vs K is the simplest endgame a beginner can understand if explained logically. I am shortlisting the book you suggested. Thanks.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pradeep Puranik
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-24T08:08:33.030Z
Answers.Text: The "From Amateur to IM" book by GM Hawkins has drawn criticism for not being as comprehensive or structured as other endgame books. It seems to be (I haven't read it, so this is from other reviewers comments, primarily on Amazon) largely a publication of in-depth analysis of a small number of games.  I prefer many short-to-medium length examples; I think it provides better coverage of the wide variety of positions that can come up, even in an endgame category as narrow as, say, opposite-colored bishops.
Answers.UserDisplayName: jaxter
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Answers.Text: @jaxter " It seems to be (I haven't read it, so this is from other reviewers comments, primarily on Amazon) largely a publication of in-depth analysis of a small number of games" That's exactly what it's not. There is much in depth analysis of many game fragments, mostly endgames, covering a variety of different endgame types, with the emphasis on winning plans and drawing plans. This makes it the kind of book, rare for an endgame book, which you can actually pick up and read, rather than just use as a work of reference.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
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Answers.CreationDate: 2016-09-25T17:39:35.970Z
Answers.Text: @BrianTowers Thanks for the correction, Brian. It sounds like a good (and more entertaining) complement to an endgame library that needs to include a decent endgame reference and a structured primer. Probably good for the 1700+ ELO group, since it really helps to be familiar with the basic principles of the most common endgames before trying to understand more complex positions. Based on your advice, I put it on my wish list! 
  Oh, and w/r/t the Aronian-Bacrot game, at least you didn't resign!
Answers.UserDisplayName: jaxter
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Body: <p>I'm an unrated player with some experience playing and studying various aspects of the game. If I had to give a subjective rating to myself, I would say 1000-1100. In all my quest for improvement, I have come across the suggestion, "Study end games first" multiple times, so I decided to start with that.</p>
  
  <p>In the last three days I spent quality time understanding KP vs. K end game study. Was fortunate to stumble upon a very good wiki article, which very logically and completely explained the topic. Now I'm clear with the key squares, opposition, sixth rank, square of the pawn concepts in these studies. I have even effectively worked out several exercises on this topic to my own satisfaction.</p>
  
  <p>That brings me to my current need. I would like to move ahead in logical phases, gradually adding more knowledge and experience to what I have already gathered, and without just jumping all over the place. So then, what would be the next rung of the logical ladder I should step on? What should I study next? And what study material could help me in an organized and phased manner of study?</p>
  
  <p>Many thanks in advance.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-11-21T09:01:42.600Z
Comments.Text: Does this answer your question? [(practical) Endgame resources: What's next after josh waitzkin's series in chessmaster?](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/35641/practical-endgame-resources-whats-next-after-josh-waitzkins-series-in-chess)
Comments.UserDisplayName: BCLC
Tags: <endgame><study>
Title: Suggestions for endgame study
ThreadText: # Suggestions for endgame study
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-15)
  
  I'm an unrated player with some experience playing and studying various aspects of the game. If I had to give a subjective rating to myself, I would say 1000-1100. In all my quest for improvement, I have come across the suggestion, "Study end games first" multiple times, so I decided to start with that.
  
  In the last three days I spent quality time understanding KP vs. K end game study. Was fortunate to stumble upon a very good wiki article, which very logically and completely explained the topic. Now I'm clear with the key squares, opposition, sixth rank, square of the pawn concepts in these studies. I have even effectively worked out several exercises on this topic to my own satisfaction.
  
  That brings me to my current need. I would like to move ahead in logical phases, gradually adding more knowledge and experience to what I have already gathered, and without just jumping all over the place. So then, what would be the next rung of the logical ladder I should step on? What should I study next? And what study material could help me in an organized and phased manner of study?
  
  Many thanks in advance.
  
  **Tags:** endgame, study
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [(practical) Endgame resources: What's next after josh waitzkin's series in chessmaster?](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/35641/practical-endgame-resources-whats-next-after-josh-waitzkins-series-in-chess)  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2016-09-15. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  The book I would recommend is "From Amateur to IM" by the British GM Jonathan Hawkins. Despite the title it is really all about playing the endgame.
  
  It sounds like it fits in really well with what you have been doing because chapter 1 deals with the KP v K stuff you just finished studying. It goes on to cover stuff like:
  
  1) Capablanca's Pawn Endgame (white king on g1, pawns on g2, h2 black king on g8, pawn on h7)
  
  2) Essential Rook Engames
  
  3) Bishop + Pawn(s) v Rook + Pawn(s)
  
  4) Opposite Coloured Bishop endings, how to win with extra pawns, how to draw with fewer pawns
  
  5) Minor piece endgames
  
  6) KRB v KR
  
  7) Minority Attack
  
  8) Extra pawn on the queenside
  
  This is mixed in with lots of stuff about plans in the endgame, steering the game towards endgame positions you have a good chance of winning, etc.
  
  I've only got about half way through and in looking through the book to prepare this answer I've just had the shock of seeing a whole chapter in the second half of the book dedicated to an opposite coloured bishop position (from Aronian v Bacrot 2005) very similar to one in which I quickly accepted my opponent's draw offer a few days ago. Did I blunder?
  
  On the one hand Hawkins' comment "For perhaps the first time in the game White had serious winning chances" was a bit of a blow. I was obviously much too ready to just shake hands. On the other hand this kind of position is so complex that it is worth a whole chapter and in the game itself after a lot more moves Bacrot made the mistake of resigning in a drawn position, so maybe I shouldn't feel so bad after all!
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: I just picked up this book (after seeing some recommendations about it by IM John Bartholomew)... and in the first 15 min. of skimming the beginning, I already picked up some neat tidbits that have helped me win two online games I might not have otherwise.  I haven't had a chance to READ it... but if that's any indication, I'm going to be very happy with it.  
  > **username_5**: I think that this book is excellent, but it is aimed at players with a rating closer to 2000 than 1000.  
  > **username_0**: Many thanks, @BrianTowers. Looks attractive, going by the glimpse of the contents you have listed. Just one concern. Does this book explain the how, where and why of all those concepts in plain English? I ask this because I'm easily overwhelmed by books that simply spew strings after parenthesized strings of variations in algebraic notation expecting the reader to decipher the rationale behind it all. If the author explains the logic and rationale in English, I think I will mark this as one of the books to buy in the next few days. Please confirm. And many thanks, again.  
  > **username_3**: @PradeepPuranik The explanations are excellent! Mixed in with the theory Hawkins does a lot of work on explaining the endgame plans you need. There is a lot more explanation than analysis. The book is also divided into 3 parts with several chapters in each part. The first part is "Thinking techniques" wherein he tries to explain the step by step logical approach you need when trying to win (or draw) an endgame position. This thinking technique then underlies the other two parts "Principles and essential theory" and "Endgame Exploration". There are also some exercises to solve.  
  > **username_3**: @username_5 I agree the book is aimed at much stronger players than 1000 but if Pradeep has mastered KP vs K endgames then he is much stronger than 1000!  
  > **username_0**: @BrianTowers Thanks for the confirmation about the book. And your confidence about my rating being higher brought a smile on my face. The main reason why I found the KP vs K endgame simple was the clear logical explanation I found in that wiki article. I haven't yet come across similar articles for other endgames. For instance, one Q vs R endgame article I read left me baffled with all the maneuvering involved. From this experience, I think KP vs K is the simplest endgame a beginner can understand if explained logically. I am shortlisting the book you suggested. Thanks.  
  > **username_6**: The "From Amateur to IM" book by GM Hawkins has drawn criticism for not being as comprehensive or structured as other endgame books. It seems to be (I haven't read it, so this is from other reviewers comments, primarily on Amazon) largely a publication of in-depth analysis of a small number of games.  I prefer many short-to-medium length examples; I think it provides better coverage of the wide variety of positions that can come up, even in an endgame category as narrow as, say, opposite-colored bishops.  
  > **username_3**: @username_6 " It seems to be (I haven't read it, so this is from other reviewers comments, primarily on Amazon) largely a publication of in-depth analysis of a small number of games" That's exactly what it's not. There is much in depth analysis of many game fragments, mostly endgames, covering a variety of different endgame types, with the emphasis on winning plans and drawing plans. This makes it the kind of book, rare for an endgame book, which you can actually pick up and read, rather than just use as a work of reference.  
  > **username_6**: @BrianTowers Thanks for the correction, Brian. It sounds like a good (and more entertaining) complement to an endgame library that needs to include a decent endgame reference and a structured primer. Probably good for the 1700+ ELO group, since it really helps to be familiar with the basic principles of the most common endgames before trying to understand more complex positions. Based on your advice, I put it on my wish list!  Oh, and w/r/t the Aronian-Bacrot game, at least you didn't resign!  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2016-09-21. Score: 1
  
  Highly readable book with useful information and how to handle these most common positions. You are asked to work out some of the ideas yourself:
  
  [100 Endgames You Must Know: Vital Lessons for Every Chess Player](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/9056916173)
  
  
  ---
  
  