Hi DaveKovacsPhil :)
I would recommend an excellent book called, "Silman's Complete Endgame Course - from Beginner to Master", by International Master Jeremy Silman.
The book is excellently written and very importantly is also divided up into sections for different playing strengths to learn. This means that it will not only serve you well at beginner level, but includes relevant new study sections to complement increases in your playing strength.
Oh, very good. I may have had that book when I was a teenager. I benefitted much in my teens from his REASSESS YOUR CHESS, which I am working my way through again now.
Just to add to your post as the topic came up in another post:
A book was mentioned by another member and is called, "Pandolofinis Endgame Course". I haven't read this book so can't really tell you if it's any good, but the other member said it is a good book and much cheaper than Silman's Complete Endgame Course apparently.
Of my early endgame books these are two of my favorite : http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Endings-Essential-Yuri-Averbakh/dp/1857440226
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Chess-Endings-Keres-Paul/dp/4871875091
I have two excellent endgame books that I am real happy with. 100 Endgames You Must Know by Jesus de la Villa. This book covers every basic ending including an excellent presentation of mating with knight and bishop. Lucena, Philidor positions, building bridges, etc. The other book is Dvoretsky`s Endgame Manual, which, there is some overlapping, but the chapters on rook and pawn endings are thorough and very well presented. I wouldn't want to be without either book. If you're on android, like I am, these and many more are available in e book format through the Forward Chess app. You can play through the moves on screen and it includes Stockfish 5. Also you can long press on a board position and copy it to other analyses apps like Analyze This, and Chess pgn Master. It helps to have a tablet for these e books.
As for best first endgame book, I will strongly suggest 2 books to be read and digested one after other. First go through Bruce Pandolfini's - Pandolofini's Endgame Course. Once complete go through Jeremy Silman's - Silman's Complete Endgame Course.
Both the books complement each other, marvelously. If possible go through each one of them atleast twice. As the saying goes, "Repetition is the mother of all learnings.
My kid has gone through both the books 3 times, it has made wonders in his game.
Cheers!
I agree with players recommend Silman Endgame, it one best book to start with, it is digestible and fun to go through and you will difinitely learn your basic endgame.
Pandolfini's Endgame Course was the one single chess book that I learned the most from and I've read oodles of them.
I won't disagree with any of the other recommendations (especially the basics section of 100 Endgames you Must Know), but I cut my own endgame teeth on Lev Alburt's Winning Chess Endgames: Just the Facts!, which seemed like a perfect introduction to me.
Hi all. As a modest club player (ECF rating about 1820) I love Silman’s Endgame course. I have many chess books and this is easily the most useful. I have the physical book and I used to have it for reading on my iPad with a chess book app. However, I think I’ve lost the relevant app! I can’t find the book in any of Chess Studio, Chess Viewer, Forward Chess or NewInChessBooks. Can someone help me find it please.
Update: I think the app was called e+chess. They have a website but the app has gone from the App Store. What a shame.
Hi all. I have been getting back into chess after a fifteen year hiatus. On Mondays, I try to devote myself to endgame studies, but haven't been able to find a good book to help me. I have WINNING ENDGAME STRATEGY by Beliavsky and Mikhalchishin, but it is a little too advanced for me (assumes knowledge of triangulation and knowledge of a lot of basic draws that I do not know). Its other weakness is it is just a lot of games and no real instruction.
I have mastered the Phildor and Lucena positions, even though they have never come up for me in a real game! I struggle a lot with pawn endings.
Anyone able to recommend a good "beginners" book on endings?