Endgame Training

Everyone knows Carlsen is the best endgame player. He can produce wins from equal or almost equal position.

For the intermediate and advance players, how can we train our endgame skills? Endgame books are available, but how can we practice what we read?  Suggestions are very much welcome.

Endgame books have theoretical positions and sometimes exercises taken from actual games (although if you need positions from actual games you can even use your own).

With either type, set it up with a 10, 20, or 30 minute clock and practice it with someone.  I've done this a few times in "dead" drawn endgames with a stronger player... and I've lost!  Which is always a very good lesson for me.

Unfortunately computers aren't very good at endgames.  But if the endgame is tactical or lends itself to calculation then computers can be a good partner.  This is a small percentage of endgames though.

Thanks Wafflemaster. Anymore suggestions?

I guess I started a boring subject. Next time I'll start the favorite subject... openings! 

I suggest you study one technique/concept at a time. You should know all the basic mates and understand all the important principles of king and pawn endgames, then move on to more complex endgames with pieces.

Here is a quick test with some very basic positions. You should know almost instantly what to play in these positions. What move should be played, what principles does it follow, and what should the game's result be?

Thanks MasterDuffer. Those are easy positions. Studying one concepts at a time should be my main focus. I studied randomly 

No problem, I deliberately chose those positions because they were easy. Any piece and pawn endgame can trade down to a pawn endgame which is why you need to know the easy stuff first.

If you have a good endgame book you can work through it, just don't read it too quickly; take time to think about each idea, analyse the positions, then practice.

Since EGTB is mentioned, Does chess engines know to mate in KBN vs K without EGTB? 

Find a sparring partner at a chess club who's good in the endgame and play them out with a clock that's what I did when I was younger.

If you can't find anyone to practice with you can use an engine to spar with you as a last resort.

i haven't yet read a book about endgames but intend to soon, for me the best way to learn more about them has been to play out seemingly drawn positions and not just agree to draws because material is equal.

Perhaps studying exchanges and pawn structure will vastly improve your end game, tactiful exchanges and a solid pawn line will help dictate your play in the end game. So that is deciding when to exchange, which pieces, how to get our piece to the desired position and setting up a final "sprint" with a solid pawn line. 

The most obvious and common answer is read a book concerning end game "philosophy", I actually recommend continuing to practice puzzles, end game puzzles, chess.com forums have a plethora! 

Anyone know a good android app where you can run through endgame scenarios?? Cheers.  

I add to suggestions on practice :

- Mobile app "Endgame Trainer" (at least on Android, free)

- And wonderful website "chessendgames.com" : it provides with many endgame practice options (technique practice, endgame challenge in 32 rounds, "save the queen" quest , etc...). The MOST complete endgame practice website i found so far ! (with free or premium membership)

If you know any other practice material available online or offline, PLEASE SHOUT.

Alberturkey and virtualsight 7 lomonosov tablebase is a good andriod tablebase though not completely free but u can practice few basic positions and even set-up few. Chessvideos.tv have few tutorials on endgames. Mandy711 as for KBN vs K mate engine without tablebase have ever failed, i was amazed to see to watch a 4 min engine game where Stockfish 7 failed to mate in 50 moves against fritz 13.