100 Endgames You Must Know by Jesus de la Villa ???

100 Endgames You Must Know by Jesus de la Villa

Any opinions of this as a first Endgame study ?

RussBell describes it as "relatively advanced and thus more suitable for the experienced, intermediate level player and above". 

In the introduction of that book (page 11) it says:
"at this stage (2000 FIDE) we should move to the second phase [of endgame study] ... I intend to devote this book to the second phase..."

So it is not intended as a first book of endgames. 

In the same introduction, the author mentions Philidor and Lucena positions as belonging to the first phase of endgame study (ie: before the phase his book focuses on), and something I read recently (I think it was in one of Dan Heisman's books but I can't find the exact section right now) Heisman mentions being ~2100 FIDE when they lost a game due to not knowing the Philidor position. Their point was not that they should have known that position, but that it occurs so rarely in games below that level that they were able to reach that rating without knowing the position.

Which is my my long-winded way of saying it's not written to be an introductory endgame book, and would not be a good choice. Stick with the Pandolfini or Silman ones.

Thanks again mate.

Another dollar saved.

No problem. 

And while it might seem that I am stalking your posts, it's just that I agonized over the same questions a couple of months ago (what books should I study? What order should I study them in? and so on).

Yep, definitely not stalking

Hahaaa,  Stalk away.  I don't mind sharing the crazy....

It's better to start with Silman's Complete Endgame Course as your first Endgame book. I've read it more than half way and it's really good. The material is presented well and it's a book that will be useful forever as you progress further in skill/rating.




I will say though, that when you first start out it's not that important to study endgames. But you have to know basic checkmates patterns and so forth, once you have some of that down you should focus on opening and middle game PRINCIPLES and most of your time should be devoted to tactics and pattern recognition.

i got this last week. 75% complete played a few live games since i got on chessable. i feel like it was money well spent. getting booked up on chessable is my priority over playing rated games. couple games per day and hours on chessable is how im spending my week of vacation in lockdown lol

I think the book is really good if you know the basic endgames, even though there is some great content on the basics in the book as well. You can find basic endgame info online for free anyway.

How fast are you working through the book? At 1000 rated you should probably do something simpler. But I guess if you enjoy it and such it's your choice.

Any book by a man named Jesus should be considered

Cept for the one with the Zombie

I have lost track of which "this" you mean. Are you talking about "100 endgames" or the Silman Endgame course?

Dan,. That one wasn't me, hahaha.

I've already ordered the silman book.

im talking about the 100 endgames that john bartho is involved in. and yes iv been working through it quick. but i keep up with my reviews. i watch every second of the videos to understand the concepts. like i said im on vaca this week and theres not much to do with the rona stuff going on. also chipping away at a caro kann LTR and wesley so's 1e4 short an sweet. next up will probably be the checkmate patterns manual

wat moet je doen?