Product Description

In a major event in chess publishing, two German endgame experts have produced a masterly one-volume encyclopaedia that covers all major endgames.

This is the first truly modern one-volume endgame encyclopaedia. It makes full use of endgame tablebases and analytical engines that access these tablebases; where previous authors could only make educated guesses, Müller and Lamprecht have often been able to state the definitive truth, or get much closer to it.

New time-controls involve competitive games being played to a finish in one session, so it is especially important that chess-players understand the key endgame principles. This book provides comprehensive assistance for any players wishing to study the endgame. In addition to a feast of detailed analysis, the authors emphasize the practical side of endgame play, describing rules of thumb, principles, and thinking methods.

Fundamental Chess Endings is both the ideal endgame reference work, and a book that can profitably and enjoyably be read from start to finish.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57414 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

From the Publisher
Gambit Publications specializes in chess and has an unrivalled reputation for originality and editorial excellence. The company is owned and staffed entirely by leading chess masters and grandmasters.

About the Author
Karsten Müller is a young grandmaster from Germany, who competes regularly in the Bundesliga and in international events. He finished third in the German Championship in 1996, and was runner-up in 1997. He is a noted authority on both practical and theoretical endgames.

Frank Lamprecht is also from Germany, and is an international master. He has been a chess trainer since 1983 and was also co-author (with Karsten Müller) of the highly acclaimed Secrets of Pawn Endings.

Customer Reviews

excellent - it really works
It really works, because the details of chess endings are presented clearly.

The chief help for me, a beginner, is the visual aid in the diagrams. There are stars to mark Key Squares, circles to mark critical squares, numbers to mark corresponding squares, different kind of "lines" drawn on the board to show you the advantageous positions (like the Troitsky line).

In the simple mates, King , bishop and knight v. King, the path of the knight is drawn on the board to make for accuracy; the three phases of the mate are explained in great detail, so you can follow its complexity well on your own board, and learn it (I took a day to learn to master this difficult mate).

It is a stimulating book, expounding master's knowledge in a clear way - I did not say "simple", because you will have to work at the examples; the examples are well explained.

There are plenty of exercises, with annotated extensive solutions, to challenge your acquired knowledge A good bibliography refers to classics like Averbakh's series of study on the endgame in five volumes in Russian and in six volumes in German!!

It even touches, although only fleetingly, on the theory of corresponding squares.More could have been written on this interesting visual approach, but space is limited.

The book is compiled with the aid of computer technology for accuracy, BUT, and it is a big but, this is a human book, not a dry manual. It is a fascinating study (albeit a study, and this implies work, the result of which you should see fairly quickly). Already from the few pages I have begun to study, I have seen myself thinking in a more combinational way.

Buy this book if you are a chess lover, it will help you. This is directed to beginners and intermediate players.You will not find it boring.

(Were you not to like such a comprehensive text, they mention another good reference. although more simplified, it is : "Essential Chess endings" by James Howell. B.T.Batsford, 1997 - the latter could serve as a summary of the book reviewed)

Get It! And become strong! It is worth the price!(Algebraic notation, of course)

Brilliant for endgame
This is a great book. If you're interested in endgame study it's all here, clear and easy to understand.

If you're not into endgame study but want to improve your game (i.e. win more) this book will help you do that as well because you don't have to read everything. Your playing style may result in just a few types of endings, and you can easily find study material here specifically for the endgames you're likely to play. This also means this book can be useful for the whole of your chess playing life as your style changes.

Must have chess book for ANY chess player!
This book will certainly make a huge impact in your play. It is absolutely great to be able to trade pieces in the midlegame when you know that the ensuing endgame is won for you and your opponent does the same because he does not see this! It is also very valuable to know certain theoretically drawn positions in order to avoid them when you have the edge, or seek them when you don't.

This book has all that plus a LOT more, you will find every "commonly" reached endgame and a clear explanation (with plenty of variations) on the right way to play it. You should study this book no matter what your level of play is ad you will get a clear edge against your opponents that have not done so!