Pandolfini's Chess Challenges: 111 Winning Endgames

by Bruce Pandolfini

Here are 111 instructive, quirky, surprising, and fun tactical chess problems to improve anyone's game, created by renowned chess teacher Bruce Pandolfini. Designed to promote creativity and imaginative play, all the problems are endgame miniatures, with seven or fewer pieces on the board. Every solution has two parts, the setup and the requisite tactic, each of which also reveal broader lessons on general game play. Points are awarded with each solution, so players can track their progress as they work through the book. Answer pages offer descriptions and explanations of the winning procedure employed. Problems are organized thematically, to reinforce the lessons they impart

Genres: Chess

237 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2007

About the author

Bruce Pandolfini (born September 17, 1947) is an American chess author, teacher, and coach. A USCF national master, he is generally considered to be America’s most experienced chess teacher. As a coach and trainer, Pandolfini has possibly conducted more chess sessions than anyone in the world. By the summer of 2015 he had given an estimated 25,000 private and group lessons.

(Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Mihai_Elrond · Rating 5 out of 5]

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to turn to online platforms for quick tactical training in chess. You solve puzzles rapidly, get instant feedback, and move on. Simple, right? Well, not quite. In this 21st-century race we call life, finding moments of calm and focus is increasingly rare. For real improvement, many chess experts recommend slowing down. Coaches advocate for more traditional training methods: working with a physical board, pen and paper, and engaging in longer games with more than 30 minutes on the clock. In this context, a well-crafted tactics book can offer far greater benefits than speed-drills on the internet.

Pandolfini's Chess Challenges provides a perfect example. The book features 111 tactical problems specifically focused on endgames—arguably the most critical phase of any chess game. True to the author's word, no puzzle includes more than seven pieces on the board. The layout is simple and effective: each puzzle is presented on one page, followed by the solution and explanations on the next. It's a clean, intuitive format that fosters deeper thinking.

I particularly appreciate the way the author has organized the puzzles by difficulty, providing suggested time limits for each. "In addition to degree of difficulty, scores are also based on time," as Bruce Pandolfini notes. Unlike many online chess sites or programs (I use both), this book rewards not just finding the correct move but also the ability to analyze key variations—encouraging more thorough, strategic thinking.

For players with an ELO rating under 1500-1600, this book is an invaluable resource, offering focused, practical training without the distractions of modern technology (I use DND - do not disturb for my smart devices when I train). I wish more chess books were as good and as friendly as this one.

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. These problems, while mostly easy, were very pleasant. The key move was often surprising and strange. Most of the problems were very elegant. A lot featured decoys, zugzwang, obstruction, and underpromotion. There were a couple of mistakes in the book (that can be verified with a chess engine or endgame tablebase), and I wasn't a fan of the scoring system. For example, sometimes you were awarded points for finding moves that _weren't_ solutions, which is not a prerequisite for solving a problem. But I didn't keep track of scores anyway.

[Slow3635 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. These problems, while mostly easy (for an intermediate/advanced player), were very pleasant. The key move was often surprising and strange. Most of the problems were very elegant. A lot featured decoys, zugzwang, obstruction, and underpromotion. There were a couple of mistakes in the book (that can be verified with a chess engine or endgame tablebase), and I wasn't a fan of the scoring system. For example, sometimes you were awarded points for finding moves that _weren't_ solutions, which is not a prerequisite for solving a problem. But I didn't keep track of scores anyway.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent little book. It has proven edifying and useful for me.

[Desiree Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I usually do a couple puzzles before bed. By the time I get to the end, I start at the beginning again having forgotten the solutions, but improving each time.