Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual

by Mark Dvoretsky, Vladimir Kramnik (Foreword), Karsten Müller (Primary Contributor)

The Fifth Edition of a Modern Masterpiece

When it appeared in 2003, the first edition of Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual was immediately recognized by novice and master alike as one of the best books ever published on the endgame. The enlarged and revised fifth edition is better than ever!

Here is what Vladimir Kramnik, the 14th World Champion, had to say in his foreword to the fifth

"I consider Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual an absolute must for every chess professional, and no less important even for a club player… I always recommend this book… I consider it to be one of the very best chess books published in recent times and I am very pleased with the new enhanced edition…"

German grandmaster Karsten Muller, widely recognized as one of the best endgame theoreticians in the world today, has carefully updated the fifth edition with the help of American grandmaster Alex Fishbein. The incredible instructional value of the exercises has been preserved, and the blue text used in the first four editions has been replaced with text with a light grey background.

Here's what they had to say about the first

"Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual ... may well be the chess book of the year … [It] comes close to an ultimate one-volume manual on the endgame." - Lubomir Kavalek in his chess column of December 1, 2003 in the Washington Post

"Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual is quite simply a masterpiece of research and insight … Most of all, Dvoretsky's analysis is staggering in its depth and accuracy." - John Watson at The Week In Chess.

2003 Book of the Year - JeremySilman.com
2003 Book of the Year - Seagaard Chess Reviews

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction, Reference, Games, Textbooks

440 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2004

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about a decade ago. It’s on my list for a full reread. Dvorestky’s endgame manual is probably the most difficult and thorough endgame book out there and completely essential for any serious chess player. I don’t think it’s a suitable book for anyone under 2000.

[Mariano Cascio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most profound and detailed endgame book out there. Classic Russian school of chess, Dvoretsky is widely considered one of the best, if not the very best chess instructors for advanced players in the world. He demonstrates what one really has to know and master to play chess on a very high level.

[Thomas Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

deze is wel heel taai

[Nima Torkamannejad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic job by great Mark Dvoretsky. without any doubt this is best chess endgame book in history of chess and must read for any ambitious chess player who wants to be grandmaster someday. of course I was reading the latest (4nd edition).

[Akshay Basavaraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to learn endgames and improve your chess calculations. This is the book! Dvoretsky combines theory with practice problems whilst citing examples from famous games across the century. You can have a good opening, a decent middle game but, the endgame is all that matters.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dvoretsky was a legendary Russian trainer and my endgame technique improved dramatically after working through the book.

[Christian Miller-Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stands out most to me is how practical the material is. It’s not just theory for theory’s sake—Dvoretsky includes examples from real games, which helps you see how these endgame principles apply in actual competition. The "Dvoretsky’s Secrets" sections are pure gold, highlighting key positions and shortcuts that simplify complex scenarios. I’ve already started recognizing some of these patterns in my own games.

That said, this book isn’t a walk in the park. It’s dense and assumes you already have a solid foundation in endgames. For me, there were moments when I had to reread sections or set up positions on a board to fully understand them. But honestly, that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. If you’re willing to invest the time and effort, this book will transform the way you approach endgames.

[AbdElsatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A masterpiece and an essential resource for chess players of high levels who are serious about improving their endgame skills.
While beneficial for all levels aiming to improve, it might be overwhelming as a first endgame book for someone with very little endgame knowledge.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it, play it, sleep with it.

[MadNutella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely comprehensive, but requires a lot of studying

[Bo Oemig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeg har downloadet - ikke 3 men 4 version af skak slutspilsbogen direkte til min Kindle. Om det vil tage mig 1 eller 10 år at læse den, have fornøjelse af at læse den, er slet ikke så vigtigt. Det er ikke så meget en bog man læser fra start til slut men snarer en bog man slår op i når man vil studere et bestemt slutspil. Dvoreskys bog om slutspil regnes for bogen! Men selvfølgelig er der hundredvis af andre gode slutspilsbøger.

[Ashok Shrivatri · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks

[Raymond 8E]

good book helps improve your endgame to as good as possible