The Complete Guide To Chess Endgames

Master Essential Endgame Techniques and Uncover the Beauty of Chess with Iconic Examples from Legendary Players

What you'll learn

Ability to understand the essential concepts of chess endgames.

Ability to recognize different endgame scenarios and the effective methods that are relevant e.g. "Shouldering"

Ability to distinguish between various endgame principles.

Ability to employ practical strategies for managing endgame complexity.

Ability to transition effectively from middlegame to endgame.

Ability to evaluate the interplay between endgame theory and practice.

Ability to master key endgame techniques through practical training.

Ability to utilize endgame metaphors like "The passed pawn is a criminal" to enhance understanding.

Ability to execute essential mating methods.

Ability to perform the "Shrinking Box" method in queen and king endgames.

Ability to compare the "Slow Method" and the "Shrinking Box" method in rook endgames.

Ability to perform bishop and king versus king checkmates.

Ability to understand advanced mating methods in knight and bishop endgames.

Ability to apply the "Rule of the Square" in pawn endgames.

Ability to use "Opposition" and "Distant Opposition" to win king and pawn endgames.

Ability to demonstrate "Triangulation" techniques to gain a positional advantage.

Ability to utilize "Shouldering" tactics to keep opposing kings out of critical squares.

Ability to analyze Reti's endgame study and understand its significance for the wonderful geometry of the chessboard.

Ability to execute and defend against pawn breakthroughs in king and pawn endgames.

Ability to apply theoretical knowledge in queen versus pawn endgames.

Ability to employ "Lucena Position" and "Philidor Defensive Position" in rook endgames.

Ability to navigate bishop endgames, including understanding the importance of bishop color.

Ability to handle complex bishop versus knight endgames and understand their strategic implications.

Ability to manage endgames involving both rooks and minor pieces.

Ability to utilize knights effectively in knight versus pawns endgames.

Ability to maneuver in queen endgames to exploit advantages and mitigate risks.

Ability to apply "Vancura Defensive Position" in practical games.

Ability to assess and exploit the strengths and weaknesses of opposite-colored bishops in endgames.

Ability to develop strategies for rook versus knight endgames.

Ability to understand and apply principles of "Frontal Defense" in rook endgames.

Ability to evaluate endgame scenarios where a knight and bishop face two knights.

Ability to employ endgame tactics involving rook versus bishop and pawn scenarios.

Ability to develop and execute strategies in queen and knight versus queen and bishop endgames.

Ability to negotiate the complexities of major piece endgames involving queens and rooks.

Ability to handle practical challenges in bishop endgames with same-colored bishops.

Ability to understand the dynamics of passed pawns in various endgame scenarios.

Ability to integrate historical endgame strategies into contemporary play.

Ability to assess the role of king activity in endgames effectively.

Ability to apply principles of pawn structure and dynamics in late game scenarios.

Ability to develop intuition for endgame transitions.

Ability to perform under pressure in critical endgame situations.

Ability to recognize and create zugzwang situations.

Ability to leverage minimal material for maximum effect.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of different endgame strategies.

Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical endgame situations.

Ability to appreciate the artistic and intellectual beauty of chess endgames.

Requirements

Know how the chess pieces move

Description

The Complete Guide to Chess EndgamesUnlock the secrets of chess endgames with "The Complete Guide to Chess Endgames," a comprehensive course designed for chess enthusiasts of all skill levels. Delve deep into endgame theory and practice through detailed lectures, practical examples, and historical insights.Course OverviewFoundations of Endgames: Begin your journey with introductory lectures on essential concepts, historical quotations from legendary players, and the enduring importance of endgame mastery. Learn why endgame skills are crucial and explore practical strategies for navigating complex endgame scenarios.Essential Mating Methods: Tailored for beginners and intermediate players, this section teaches fundamental mating techniques with queens, rooks, and bishops. Understand various mating patterns through step-by-step guides and engaging examples.Advanced Mating Configurations: Advanced players can delve into complex mating scenarios and the exquisite coordination of pieces like knights and bishops in rare endgame situations.King and Pawn Endgames: Explore the depth of king and pawn endgames, from the basics of pawn breakthroughs and opposition to advanced strategies and famous studies. This part of the course combines theory with practical examples for a comprehensive learning experience.Specialized Endgames: Dive into specific endgame configurations involving rooks, knights, bishops, and queens. Each lecture focuses on theoretical knowledge and practical play, enriched by famous historical games and studies that highlight key concepts and common pitfalls.Complex and Practical Endgames: Advanced players will find value in detailed explorations of endgame scenarios involving multiple pieces and pawns, covering a variety of material imbalances and strategic considerations.Resources: Access downloadable PGN files for further study and application of the concepts learned throughout the course.Key Features:In-depth Lectures: Each lecture expands your understanding, from basic principles to advanced tactics.Historical Games: Gain insights into the strategic thinking of chess legends through annotated games.Interactive Examples: Engage with move quizzes that challenge you to apply what you've learned.Comprehensive Coverage: From fundamental mating methods to intricate endgame studies, this course covers every aspect necessary to enhance your endgame prowess.Enroll in "The Complete Guide to Chess Endgames" today and transform your endgame from a phase of uncertainty to one of strength and confidence. Master the critical final phase of the game with this essential guide.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 What is the "endgame" phase of a game of chess?

Lecture 2 Interesting Endgame Quotations from past World champions

Lecture 3 Interesting Endgame Quotations from Nimzowitsch, Reti, Benko and Keres

Lecture 4 Quotations from Kotov, Shamkovich, Reshevsky, Mednis, Janowski, Tarrasch

Lecture 5 Why Study Chess Endgames?

Lecture 6 The Interplay of Endgame Theory and Practice

Lecture 7 Endgame Principles and Metaphors to cope with Endgame vastness

Lecture 8 Practical ways for coping with Endgame vastness

Lecture 9 Practical aspects of Endgame training and performance

Lecture 10 Why Endgame mastery endures over Opening and Middlegame theory in Chess

Lecture 11 The Skill of Middlegame to Endgame Transitions - Part 1 Examples

Lecture 12 The Skill of Middlegame to Endgame Transitions - Part 2 Examples

Lecture 13 The Skill of Middlegame to Endgame Transitions - Part 3 Examples

Lecture 14 Middlegame to Endgame Transitions - Part 4 - Capa. gets it wrong but wins anway!

Lecture 15 The relationship between Openings and Endgames

Lecture 16 Fun Endgame facts

Lecture 17 Course Conventions

Section 2: Essential mating methods (for those rated 0-1600)

Lecture 18 The importance of a "waiting move"

Lecture 19 Mating efficiently with Q+K vs King - "Shrinking Box" method

Lecture 20 Mating with R+K vs King - the "Slow method" compared to "Shrinking Box" method

Lecture 21 Mating with R+K vs King - The super-efficient "Shrinking Box" method - Example 1

Lecture 22 Mating with R+K vs King - The super-efficient "Shrinking Box" method - Example 2

Lecture 23 Mating with R+K vs King - The super-efficient "Shrinking Box" method - Example 3

Lecture 24 Mating with B+B vs King (rare but instructive piece coordination) - Example 1

Lecture 25 Mating with B+B vs King (rare but instructive piece coordination) - Example 2

Section 3: Advanced mating (1600+): Rarely comes up but nice to see piece coordination

Lecture 26 The classic 'W' Knight Manoever pattern to mate with Knight and Bishop

Section 4: THEORETICAL: King and Pawn Endgames

Lecture 27 Fun fact: King sometimes not needed - "Pawn Breakthroughs"

Lecture 28 The "Rule of the Square" : Example #1

Lecture 29 The "Rule of the Square" : Example #2

Lecture 30 The "Opposition" : Example #1 - White to move

Lecture 31 The "Opposition" : Example #2 - Black to move

Lecture 32 "Distant Opposition" : Example #1

Lecture 33 Where "Diagonal Opposition" vital to use - Example #1

Lecture 34 "Triangulation" AKA losing a move or losing a tempo

Lecture 35 One pawn freezes/fixes two pawns giving easy win

Lecture 36 "Shouldering" - Example #1- Keep opp. King out of key squares combined with plan

Lecture 37 "Shouldering" - Example #2

Section 5: Famous King and Pawn Endgame Studies

Lecture 38 Reti's famous Endgame Study

Section 6: PRACTICAL: King and Pawn Endgames

Lecture 39 89 Cs- Creating passed pawns on both sides of the board- Capa vs Conde

Lecture 40 Black plays the right move to get the "Opposition" - Cohnfeld vs Grundy

Lecture 41 166 Cs-Aggressive King in endgame creates numerous zugzwangs- Cohn vs Rubinstein

Lecture 42 106 Cs-Triangulation gets key position with opponent's move - Alburt vs Kasparov

Lecture 43 Key "Shouldering" move keeps K out of key squares - Rogers vs Shirov

Lecture 44 12 Cs-Missed "Distant Opposition" loses instead of drawing - Firouzja vs Carlsen

Section 7: THEORETICAL: Queen vs Pawn Endgames

Lecture 45 Example #1 - Black is able to draw by making use of stalemate

Lecture 46 Example #2 - Black cannot draw because King very useful

Lecture 47 Example #3 - Black has h pawn - White King very useful

Lecture 48 Example #4 - Black is able to draw with 'f' pawn - White King can't help

Section 8: THEORETICAL: Knight vs Pawn Endgames

Lecture 49 Example #1 - Knight is able to reach key squares to keep passed 'a' pawn at bay

Lecture 50 Example #2 - Knight is not able to reach key squares because of White K position

Section 9: THEORETICAL: Rook Endgames

Lecture 51 When Lucena Bridge is not needed - Example #1

Lecture 52 When Lucena Bridge is not needed - Example #2

Lecture 53 When Lucena Bridge not needed - Example #3

Lecture 54 Lucena Position - Example #1

Lecture 55 Lucena Position - Example #2

Lecture 56 Lucena Position - Example #3

Lecture 57 Philidor Defensive Position - Example #1

Lecture 58 Philidor Defensive Position - Example #2

Lecture 59 Vancura Defensive Position - Example #1

Lecture 60 Vancura Defensive Position - Example #2 - from Carlsen vs Aronian - 2014

Lecture 61 Frontal Defense Position

Lecture 62 "Shouldering" important in Rook and Pawn Endgames - Example #1

Lecture 63 "Shouldering" important in Rook and Pawn Endgames - Example #2

Lecture 64 "Shouldering" to secure a draw vs Rook pawn - Example #3

Lecture 65 "Outflanking" - Example #1 - Get past the enemy pawn to attack from side or back

Lecture 66 "Outflanking" - Example #2

Section 10: STUDIES: Famous Rook Endgame Studies

Lecture 67 The Saavedra Position

Section 11: PRACTICAL: Rook Endgames (single rook each)

Lecture 68 779 Cs- ICONIC Rook on the 7th Rank and aggressive K- Capablanca vs Tartakower

Lecture 69 163 Cs- Highly instructive breakthrough creates passed pawn- Capa. vs Eliskases

Lecture 70 440 Cs-Restrictive rook move Ra6 enables gradual progress - Rubinstein vs Lasker

Lecture 71 150 Cs- Bad transition into a lost rook and pawn endgame - Lasker vs Rubinstein

Lecture 72 22 Cs- White makes steady progress with extra 'd' pawn - Tarrasch vs Thorold

Lecture 73 43 Cs- Even Fischer can slip up in rook and pawn endgames - Fischer vs Benko

Lecture 74 223 Cs- Interesting dynamics of Rook and pawn endgame - Estrin vs Berliner

Lecture 75 10 Cs- R+P endgame struggle overprotecting passed pawn on b7 - Macieja vs Zapata

Lecture 76 55 Cs- One side has extra passed pawn - King aggressive - Polgar vs Topalov 2005

Lecture 77 148 Cs-Tales of the Unexpected - Backward 'd' pawn hero - Mattison vs Rubinstein

Section 12: PRACTICAL: Double Rook Endgames (two Rooks each)

Lecture 78 123 Cs- Lots of pressure including Minority attack used to win - Kan vs Capa.

Lecture 79 70 Cs- Short-lived double rook endgame goes to lost K+P ending - Capa vs Shipley

Lecture 80 153 Cs- Shutting down Q-side and Minority Attack on K-side - Capa. vs Janowski

Lecture 81 90 Cs- Doubled pawns give great plan on 'a' file to undouble - Carranza vs Capa.

Lecture 82 113 Cs- Double rook endgame conscious of isolated pawns - Capa. vs Kreymborg

Lecture 83 54 Cs- Black has "thorn pawn" making the win relatively easy - Stapfer vs Capa.

Lecture 84 102 Cs- Huge complexity- Improvements possible for both sides - Capa. vs Kupchik

Lecture 85 30 Cs- Mating threats play a key role as well as passed pawn - Shirov vs Topalov

Section 13: THEORETICAL: Bishop Endgames

Lecture 86 Example #1: Bishop on it's own just draws

Lecture 87 Example #2: Bishop of the wrong color for corner square

Lecture 88 Example #3: Bishop not color of Queening square but doesn't matter

Lecture 89 Example #4: Bishop of the right color as the corner square

Lecture 90 Example #5: An unwinnable situation in B+P vs B

Lecture 91 Example #6: A winnable B+P vs B - Bishop can be evicted

Lecture 92 Example #7: An unwinnable B+P vs B - Bishop cannot be evicted due to K position

Lecture 93 Example #8: A winnable B+P vs B with very precise initial move (Pawn is 'f')

Lecture 94 Example #9: A winnable B+P vs B with deflection resources needed (Pawn is 'g')

Section 14: PRACTICAL: Bishop vs Bishop of same colour endgames

Lecture 95 73 Cs- Made to look easy but huge complexity lies beneath it - Kevitz vs Capa.

Lecture 96 White's King heads for the center for flexibility - Bykova vs Rubtsova

Section 15: PRACTICAL: Bishops of opposite colour endgames - they can be drawish in general

Lecture 97 102 Cs- Black two pawns down overloaded after Bg7- Capa vs Teichmann

Lecture 98 185 Cs- Opposite colored bishop endgame helped by a4 - Nimzo. vs Capablanca

Section 16: PRACTICAL: Knight vs Knight endgames

Lecture 99 11 Cs-A fixed target was offered giving winning pawns - Andersson vs Salamanca

Lecture 100 130 Cs- Try one thing after another until something works! - Lasker vs Nimzo.

Section 17: PRACTICAL: Piece vs Pawns endgames

Lecture 101 280 Cs-Bishop vs 3 pawns-Care for note being left with 'a' pawn - Capa. vs Corzo

Lecture 102 178 Cs- Bishop overwhelmed by three pawns after Queens off- Capablanca vs Lasker

Section 18: PRACTICAL: Knight vs Bishop endgames AKA Bishop vs Knight endgames

Lecture 103 162 Cs- High precision ensures Knight covers squares and wins- Capa. vs Alekhine

Lecture 104 146 Cs-Knight is match for Bishop because of dark square targets- Capa vs Vidmar

Lecture 105 145 Cs- Bishop dominates the Knight and King goes to Q-side - Capa. vs Corzo

Lecture 106 168 Cs- Intricacy needed so calculating well is important - Capa. vs Reshevsky

Lecture 107 307 Cs- Bishop dominates knight and targets create zugzwang- Fischer vs Taimanov

Lecture 108 110 Cs- Even a pawn down, outside 'a' pawn gives advantage - Fischer vs Taimanov

Lecture 109 151 Cs- Tactical punishment if black tried to win key pawn - Fischer vs Unzicker

Section 19: PRACTICAL: Knight and Bishop vs Two Knights (lots of pawns)

Lecture 110 17 Cs- Liberate potential passed pawns aka "criminals!" - Sergeant vs Capablanca

Section 20: PRACTICAL: Bishop and Bishop vs Knight and Bishop (lots of pawns)

Lecture 111 82 Cs-Great technique shown not fearing opposite colored bishops- Capa vs Thomas

Lecture 112 138 Cs- Black's King gets to a great square and easily winning - Menchik vs Capa

Section 21: PRACTICAL: Rook vs Rook endgames (lots of pawns)

Lecture 113 111 Cs-Ideas including fragmenting pawns and King march help win- Capa vs Yates

Section 22: THEORETICAL: Rook vs Knight Endgames

Lecture 114 Example 1: Rook easily wins due to nasty pin

Lecture 115 Example 2: Knight can sometimes draw vs Rook

Lecture 116 Example 3: If Knight and King are far apart, we can sometimes win

Section 23: THEORETICAL: Rook vs Bishop endgames

Lecture 117 Example 1: An easy win because Bishop is not helpful to defend

Lecture 118 Example 2: Just a draw because the bishop is opposite color to corner square

Section 24: PRACTICAL: Rook vs Knight and Bishop endgames AKA Rook vs Bishop and Knight

Lecture 119 160 Cs- Rook really helped by two dangerous passed pawns - Capa vs Lilienthal

Lecture 120 153 Cs- Outside passed a pawn becomes big responsibility for NB - Canal vs Capa.

Lecture 121 19 Cs-Outside 'a' pawn created from b5 break- Knight dominates - Atkins vs Capa.

Section 25: PRACTICAL: Rook and Knight vs Rook and Bishop

Lecture 122 101 Cs-Black bishop passive and the White Knight has c4 outpost - Capa vs Allies

Section 26: PRACTICAL: Rook and Knight vs Rook and Knight

Lecture 123 19 Cs-Powerful positional sacrifice to exploit pawn majority - Merenyi vs Capa.

Lecture 124 120 Cs-Undermining a 'd' pawn - "restrain,blockade,destroy"- Capa. vs Rubinstein

Lecture 125 78 Cs- Black wants better rook endgame rather than NvsN - Steiner vs Capa.

Lecture 126 106 Cs- Black simplifies into a rook and pawn endgame - Duras vs Capablanca

Lecture 127 493 Cs-White's isolated 'd' pawn leads to torture of weaknesses - Lasker vs Capa

Lecture 128 75 Cs- Black's K loses flexibility and leads to bad Rook endgames- Capa. vs Reti

Lecture 129 52 Cs-Nice finesess including h6 to strand rook - Zhenevsky/Rabinovich vs Capa.

Section 27: PRACTICAL: Rook and Bishop vs Rook and Bishop (bishops opposite colour)

Lecture 130 A grinding game example - Black is stubborn to a point - Keres vs Lilienthal

Section 28: PRACTICAL: Rook and Bishop vs Rook and Bishop (bishops same colour)

Lecture 131 353 Cs- Elegant use of upsides of a Q-side majority- Marshall vs Capa.

Lecture 132 130 Cs- White infiltrates with King on g6 and creates problems - Capa. vs Kostic

Lecture 133 117 Cs- High levels of complexity linked with d5 pawn break - Morrison vs Capa.

Section 29: PRACTICAL: Queen vs Queen Endgames

Lecture 134 54 Cs- Where many would agree a draw, Capa finds tricks - Lisitsin vs Capa.

Lecture 135 42 Cs- "The Blunders are all there waiting to be made" - Otto Den vs Capa.

Lecture 136 27 Cs- White has extra pawn on Queenside and uses tactical g5- Naiditsch vs Leko

Section 30: PRACTICAL: Two rooks and Bishop vs Two Rooks and Knight

Lecture 137 193 Cs-Attacking coordination demonstrated in RRB vs RRN - Marshall vs Capa.

Lecture 138 86 Cs-Pawn sacrifice ties White up and Infiltration threat wins- Kostic vs Capa.

Lecture 139 12 Cs-Knight shows superiority to bishop - Black tied up- Petrosian vs Beliavsky

Lecture 140 414 Cs- Instructive probing, rook infiltration to 7th rank- Fischer vs Petrosian

Section 31: PRACTICAL: Two rooks and Bishop vs Two Rooks and Bishop (same colour bishops)

Lecture 141 187 Cs-White's bishop on g3 hemmed in giving advantage to Black- Winter vs Capa.

Section 32: PRACTICAL: Rook and Two Knights (RNN) vs Rook and Knight and Bishop (RNB)

Lecture 142 187 Cs- Back passed 'a' pawn vs central passed pawns - Capa. vs Bogo.

Lecture 143 187 Cs- Capablanca's famous Knight Wheel game - a5 target - Capa vs Yates

Section 33: PRACTICAL: Queen and Knight vs Queen and Bishop (lots of pawns)

Lecture 144 104 Cs- Complexity of Queen's dangerous for wealth of checks - Lasker vs Capa

Section 34: PRACTICAL: Queen and Rook vs Queen and Rook (lots of pawns): Major Piece Endgame

Lecture 145 434 Cs- Rook and Queen join forces on the back row for zugzwang- Capa vs Nimzo

Section 35: PRACTICAL: Queen and Rook vs Queen and Knight and Bishop (lots of pawns)

Lecture 146 105 Cs- Black stops perpetual checks and K safety critical- Marshall vs Capa.

Section 36: FUN THEME: Passed pawn related tactics

Lecture 147 243 Cs- Passed pawn blockaded but the fun is to unblockade it - Capa vs Villegas

Lecture 148 49 Cs- Nice piece sacrifice for two connected passed pawns - Capa vs Beynon

Section 37: PGN Downloads

Lecture 149 PGN Downloads

Section 38: Conclusions and Philosophical points

Lecture 150 Conclusions

Section 39: Bonus

Lecture 151 Bonus Lecture

Beginner to intermediate players who want to improve their chess the endgame phase of the game,Beginner to intermediate players who want to improve their endgame transitions from the middlegame,Beginner to intermediate players who want to practice their calculation and visualisation skills