"the authors have somehow managed to create that rare beast - a readable encyclopaedia. ... If you only have one endgame book, it should be this one." - GM Jonathan Rowson
* More than 1300 chess diagrams * Comprehensive: covers all major endgames * Starts with the basics before moving on to more advanced material * Content rechecked with 6-man tablebases * Features both instructional and reference material * Written by two renowned endgame specialists * A winner of the British Chess Federation's Book of the Year Award
In a major event in chess publishing, two German endgame experts have produced a masterly one-volume encyclopaedia that covers all major endgames.
This is the first truly modern one-volume endgame encyclopaedia. It makes full use of endgame tablebases and analytical engines that access these tablebases; where previous authors could only make educated guesses, Müller and Lamprecht have often been able to state the definitive truth, or get much closer to it.
New time-controls involve competitive games being played to a finish in one session, so it is especially important that chess-players understand the key endgame principles. This book provides comprehensive assistance for any players wishing to study the endgame. In addition to a feast of detailed analysis, the authors emphasize the practical side of endgame play, describing rules of thumb, principles, and thinking methods.
Fundamental Chess Endings is both the ideal endgame reference work, and a book that can profitably and enjoyably be read from start to finish.
"The authors love the endgame phase of the game and this shows in the writing. ... Anyone reading it will seriously improve their game." - from the British Chess Federation Book of the Year press release
"Müller has established a reputation in the chess world in the past few years as a paragon of accuracy and objectivity in the realm of endgame analysis" - IM Malcolm Pein, Daily Telegraph
Karsten Müller is a grandmaster from Germany, who competes regularly in the Bundesliga and in international events. He finished third in the German Championship in 1996, and was runner-up in 1997. He is a noted authority on both practical and theoretical endgames.
Frank Lamprecht is also from Germany, and is an international master. He has been a chess trainer since 1983 and was also co-author (with Karsten Müller) of the highly acclaimed Secrets of Pawn Endings.
"A book has emerged that looks to be the new standard for endgame evaluations... I recommend this book highly" - Cecil Rosner, Winnipeg Free Press
"I have seen the future of endgame writing and research, and it is Fundamental Chess Endings. This huge book deftly serves as a reference work, a workbook, and a guide to database-driven further study on this all-too-often neglected part of the game. This book blew me away when I first started working with it - it should be required study for anybody wanting to improve his or her play. In conclusion, this is the best one volume endgame reference work available. It belongs in the library of every serious chess player. More than that, it deserves serious study; don't be sorry, your chess will be the better for it." - Randy Bauer, Randy's Reviews
"It is evident throughout that Müller and Lamprecht really want their readers to master their endings, and thus they constantly highlight key themes, and emphasise which positions simply have to be memorised. The coverage for each main different type of endgame concludes with puzzles, whilst there is a further chapter solely of puzzles at the end, which greatly helps readers to test their newly acquired knowledge. Overall this is an important one-volume endgame manual, which not only brings endgame theory up to date, but also provides all that the practical player needs to know about every type of ending." - IM Richard Palliser, British Chess Federation