Description

This is where games are actually won.

200 endgame puzzles taken from real games, including king-and-pawn races, rook endings, promotions and positions where one accurate move makes all the difference.

Knowing the general idea of an endgame is one thing. Finding the right move in a real position is another. These puzzles are about the second part.

This book sits separately from the four level-based books. The positions range from straightforward to demanding, because endgame technique is worth practising at any level. It works alongside whichever of the other four books suits you best.

Each puzzle has its own page, with ruled space underneath to write out your move and your opponent’s reply in pencil. In endgames especially, putting the moves down on paper can reveal whether you have really understood the position correctly.

The solutions also identify the tactical and endgame ideas involved with labelled tags, with the terminology explained in the glossary. Over time, the aim is to recognise familiar patterns more quickly when they turn up in your own games.

Answers come after every nine puzzles, so they are never far away. The difficulty is shown with the answer rather than the puzzle, leaving you to assess each position for yourself. Every solution has been checked with Stockfish, a powerful chess engine.

Improve your endgame technique with puzzles you can solve anywhere.