To get the opposition means to achieve this standing of the kings one square apart with the opponent to move (that is, to place him in zugzwang); to fall into opposition means, conversely, to fall into zugzwang oneself. Going through this book will certainly improve your endgame knowledge, but just as important, it will also greatly improve your ability to calculate variations... What really impresses me is the deep level of analysis in the book... All I can say is: This is a great book. I hope it will bring you as much pleasure as it has me." - From the Preface to the First Edition by International Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard Although of course I had fully mastered this material when the book first came out, I always had it close at hand. Before my world championship matches and candidates’ tournaments, I always refreshed and reinforced these endings in my memory by glancing through this book. Of course, one need not study all these examples, nor must one solve all the exercises. But still, if you do, your knowledge of the basic theory will be more sound and reliable. Also, self-training develops one’s ability to calculate lines deeply and precisely; this skill is essential for every player. Here is what Vladimir Kramnik, the 14th World Champion, had to say in his foreword to the fifth edition:

All one needs is thorough knowledge of a limited number of 'precise'positions (as a rule, elementary ones) plus some of the most important principles, evaluations, and standard techniques. The question is, how to select the most important material from the thousands of endings analyzed in various handbooks? That is why this book was written: it offers the basic information you need as the foundation of your own personal endgame theory.

Customer reviews

In these times of anxiety, tension, and divisiveness it is great to see selfless cooperation to honor a legendary trainer and provide value to the chess community. Also, I always suggest extensive MIDDLEGAME study since this is truly the most complex and difficult aspect of the game, even for GM's. This is also done through using full games, in fact the same ones used for endings!

Starting with the white king at e4, the mate is delivered in somewhat different fashion: 1 Qb3+ Ka1 2 Qc3+ Kb1 3 Kd3! a1Q 4 Qc2#. The book came out in English in 2003, and was a smash hit as far as endgame manuals go, but more remarkably, a digital version especially adapted to ChessBase software was developed and released the very same year. It exploited many unique aspects of the format, that made the software version superior in more ways than one. Why review an item that is now about 12 years old, especially considering the book is now in its fourth edition? Quite simply because it has not only lost none of its magic, and is as brilliant today as it was when it was first released.His material matured over decades, and he extensively tested it in study sessions with countless students. You feel that in the book. On top of that it has a good mix of examples, explanations and a couple of anecdotes. This is our term for concrete positions – positions with a minimum number of pawns, which should be memorized and which will serve as guideposts again and again in your games. I have a PhD in Mathematics, and endgames are like pure mathematics with some geometry. They have a beauty and fascination of their own. If you find proof, the matter is settled. They do not follow the whims of fashion. Analysing the opening, on the other hand, feels more like statistical math and I have always liked pure math much more. Mark Dvoretsky; Artur Yusupov. Secrets of Positional Play: School of Future Champions 4. Olms. ISBN 978-3-283-00518-4. Kd4! (but not 1...Kd5? 2 Bd7 Bd1 3 Bc6+ and 4 d7) 2 Bd7 Bd1 3 Bh3 Ba4 4 Bg2 Kc5!= Thus, if the weaker side's king cannot get in front of the pawn, then the basic defensive principle becomes: king behind the king!

Kf4? Ke7! (it will become clear later why the king goes to this square, and not to f7) 2 Kf5 Kf7 3 e4 (3 Kf4 Ke6 4 Ke4 h4 5 Kf4 Kd5!-+) 3...h4! 4 Kg4 Ke6 5 K×h4 Ke5-+. Who stands better? White intends to play c2-c3, obtaining an outside passed pawn, which will secure him a decisive advantage (for example, after 1...c5? 2 dc+ K×c5 3 c3). The author’s solution to this study involves the opposition, which White seizes with his very first move. I am sure that those who study this work carefully will not only play the endgame better, but overall, their play will improve. One of the secrets of the Russian chess school is now before you, dear reader!" -- From the Foreword to the First Edition by Grandmaster Artur YusupovMark Dvoretsky and Artur Yusupov (1996). Positional Play. B T Batsford Ltd, London. ISBN 0-7134-7879-9. Many pawn endings are clearly defined tempo-battles. In these endgames, speed is everything: which pawn will queen first, will the king come in time to stop the passed pawn or get to the other side of the board in time. And there are other pawn endings in which a maneuvering war predominates, and in which zugzwang assumes paramount importance. 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 Going through this book will certainly improve your endgame knowledge, but just as important, it will also greatly improve your ability to calculate variations, What really impresses me is the deep level of analysis in the book, All I can say is: This is a great book. I hope it will bring you as much pleasure as it has me.From the Preface to the First Edition by International Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard We may add to our list of tragicomedies not just White’s gross blunder, but also his stubborn refusal to end resistance in a completely hopeless situation. Exercises Three Connected Pawns

Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > Sac, sac, mate! Solve tactical positions of your playing strength. Boost your calculation skills. Enjoy adrenalin rush with tactic fights!There is a new foreword by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and a new introduction by KarstenMüller. If a question mark is shown, the position can be used as an exercise. Most often, there is no special explanation of what is expected from the reader – he must make a correct decision on his own, because in an actual game nobody will tell you whether you should play for a draw or for a win, calculate a lot or simply make a natural move. Sometimes, however, a certain hint is included in a verbal question. Thanks to the threat of 4 a6, White wins a tempo and gets into the square of the h-pawn. 3 Kc7? h5 is hopeless. Still no ChessBase Account? learn more > My Games – Access your games from everywhere. Store your games, training material and opening repertoire in the cloud. Annotate, analyze and share.