Best chess endgames book?

Hello,

What's the best chess books related to endgames?

Thanks in advance.

100 Endgames You Must Know by de la Villa. The relevant stuff.

I'm really enjoying Silman's Complete Endgame Course at the moment.

Essential Chess Endings by James Howell.  If you can find it at a decent price.  A lot of explanation given with ideas.

Yeah, I'm gonna agree with Silman. I don't like his writing style, and I wouldn't recommend his other books, but there is no denying that the basic material is there.

What the National Master said, Silman's Complete Endgame Course is a good book

I don't believe there is a single best endgame book. It all depends on what you're looking for.

I've never been a fan of Silman's endgame book. Here are some alternatives:

For the absolute basics, check out Yuri Averbakh's Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Endings-Essential-Iuri-Averbakh/dp/1857440226 It really does live up to its name.

For learning how to play practical endgames, take a look at Rate Your Endgame by Mednis and Crouch http://www.amazon.com/Rate-Endgame-Cadogan-Chess-Books/dp/185744020X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393871980&sr=1-1&keywords=rate+your+endgame

I also like Beliavsky and Mikhalchishin's Winning Endgame Technique for similar reasons. Technique http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Endgame-Technique-Batsford-Library/dp/0805039058/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393872115&sr=1-1&keywords=winning+endgame+technique

Shereshevsky wrote a brilliant two volume work, Mastering the Endgame. He analysed the endgames from the perspective of the openings that created them. so, for instance, he would analyse Dragon endgames where one side had sacrificed an exchange. It remains one of the best ways to learn endgames I've ever seen. http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Endgame-Vol-Semi-Open-Pergamon/dp/0080377777/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393872187&sr=1-3&keywords=shereshevsky

Glenn Flear's three books on the endgame also really deserve to be mentioned. These are most directly like Silman's work, without the Silman "flair". 

He has a new endgame book out that I haven't read yet, but it certainly sounds like one to check out:

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Endgame-Play-definitive-endgames-ebook/dp/B00IG838CK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393872344&sr=1-1&keywords=flear+endgame

If you're looking for encyclopedic endgame information, Fundamental Chess Endings  by Muller and Lamprecht http://www.amazon.com/Fundamental-Chess-Endings-Karsten-Muller/dp/1901983536/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393872576&sr=1-1&keywords=fundamental+chess+endings and Bastford Chess Endings  http://www.amazon.com/BCE-Batsford-Endings-Jon-Speelman/dp/0713444207/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393872529&sr=1-1&keywords=batsford+chess+endings by Speelman, Wade and Tisdall are both excellent. Dovertesky's Endgame Manual  http://www.amazon.com/Dvoretskys-Endgame-Manual-Mark-Dvoretsky/dp/1936490137/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393872608&sr=1-1&keywords=dvoretsky%27s+endgame+manualis almost encyclopedic, but very challenging to read.

One last book to mention, that doesn't fit into any of the above categories but is well worth checking out (Literally! I have checked this one out from my local library several times!): Van Perlo's Endgame Tactics: A Comprehensive Guide to the Sunny Side of Chess Endgames. I see there is a new edition available this year! http://www.amazon.com/Van-Perlos-Endgame-Tactics-Comprehensive/dp/9056914944/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393872683&sr=1-1&keywords=endgame+tactics

@Smyslov fan, what a great post! Thanks, think I might be ready for Shereshevsky.

It depends on your level. For intermidiate players I think there are a lot great books, such as "100 endgames you must know" (althought I find it a bit advanced) and "Essential chess endings: The tournament's player's guide"

http://www.amazon.com/100-Endgames-You-Must-Know/dp/9056912445/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393875296&sr=1-1&keywords=100+endgames+you+must+know

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Chess-Endings-Tournament-Players/dp/0713481897

Really nice and helpful post !! Thank you a lot ! 

Guess Shereshevsky's Mastering the Endgame is out.  $450 for a 2 volume set is a bit out of my price range.  To be fair though you can pick up the set used for less than $100.  Maybe I should finish Silman first...

Hmm. No, I'm not going to sell mine. But at least his other Endgame book is available, Endgame Strategy. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857440633/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1R6Q5C9GJQN843ME98WD&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

Well, as a bit of history, I have a paperback copy of Reubin Fine's Basic Chess Endingscopyright 1941 and called by Botvinnik  "...the definitive work on the endgame."  I'm not sure I'd call it the best, but not much has changed in endgame theory.  Encyclopedic.

Another vote for Silman. I suppose it couldn't be considered 'best' because it covers fewer endagmes than the others, but in terms of organization and writing style I really like it. And, if anyone under 2200 actually remembers/understands how to play all the endgames covered in that book then he'd be in pretty good shape. 

@SymslovFan, what don't you like about it?

Vasily Smyslov Endgame Virtuoso

the best train side = http://chesstempo.com/

In the final analysis, the best endgame book is the one you actually use.

The best end book you will use during you whole chess life is . . .

"Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual" by Mark Dvoretsky