Chess Endgames for Kids

by Karsten Müller

Most chess games are decided in the endgame. It is here where you reap the reward for your good play, or else use all your cunning to deny the opponent victory. Knowing just a few key endgame techniques will dramatically increase your confidence, as you will understand what positions to aim for and which to avoid.

Starting with the basic mates and the simplest pawn endings, this book provides all the endgame knowledge that players need to take them through to club level and beyond. Müller carefully guides us step-by-step through a fascinating range of endgame tactics and manoeuvres, helping us understand the underlying logic.

Throughout the book, many cunning endgame tricks are highlighted. You will have fun springing them on friends, family – or your opponents in serious tournaments. Chess Endgames for Kids makes learning chess endgames fun. But it is also a serious endgame course written by a leading endgame expert, and provides a firm basis for vital skills that will develop throughout your chess career.

Genres: Chess

128 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2015

Reviews

[Rtrv2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly good endgame book. Not as good as Silman's, but a much easier read than most books on the endgame. Each concept is illustrated with just one or two examples. Some of them are too brief. For example, I had to watch a video to understand the Reti R v P study. On the other hand, the brevity enables the author to cover a lot of material, and the book is quite readable without a chessboard. Nevertheless, some of the concepts were too difficult for me.

The book ends with a quiz with 36 positions, many of which illustrate useful tactical themes. I liked the quiz but I think I need to play the positions against a computer before I can claim to have got the hang of them.

Warning: The progression in difficulty in this book is extremely steep!

[David Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preamble/Confession:

I'm a 60 odd yo male and I've been playing competitive chess since 1977. Like many regular players I prefer playing to studying. Like many regular players I take satisfaction and pride in my huge, untouched, chess library.

In my (semi) retirement I have resolved to actually read some of my chess books. I'm currently devoting a minimum of 90 mins per week to this activity. I thought I would read my (shamefully) first ever endgame book, and humbly chose this one. It has been very humbling! It's an excellent, comprehensive and clear introduction, but this old head of mine has trouble retaining the various principles and techniques. I will return to this book, probably with the accompanying workbook by Grandmaster John Nunn, which I also possess.

Incidentally, whilst reading this book I estimated I had perhaps a further 8 or 9 other endgame books to read on my shelves. It was actually 19 books and 2 DVDs when I checked. I've even bought another since checking. But I've made a start....

Seriously, I would highly recommend this book.

[Agir(آگِر) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ژِیهات را صدا می‌زنم و می‌گویم بیا شطرنج بازی کنیم
می‌گوید: ماندوومه
ژِیهات برادرزاده‌ام است...همه‌اش چهار سالش است...اما می‌گوید خسته‌ام...شطرنج را با قوانینِ ثابتش بازی نمی‌کنیم...با قانون‌های ژیهات بازی می‌کنیم...قانونی که پیاده فقط یک قدم بر نمی‌دارد بلکه تمام صفحه‌ی شطرنج را به پرواز در می‌آید و وزیر و شاه نمی‌شناسد...همه‌شان را زمین می‌زند...اما او ماندوو است...و از همین چهارسالگی انگار بی‌خیال شده...شاید او هم فهمیده که در این بازی جایی برای ما نیست وقتی هر 64 خانه را همه‌چیزخورها پر خواهند کرد!!! لوئی فردینان سلین داد می‌زد که خطر زرد را جدی بگیرید، اما ما فقط به گوشه و کنایه‌هاش خندیدیم و باور نکردیم

[Joel Rockey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for kids, but helpful for anyone. I’ve used some of these examples in my own lessons.