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.

Karsten Müller is a young 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. See also How to Play Chess Endgames, with co-author Wolfgang Pajeken.

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.

Download a pdf file with a sample from the book.

Watch a YouTube video in which GM John Nunn presents a sample from this book.

"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

"...meticulously checked by computer program, correcting mistakes and some myths of the past. I wish the book had been around in the '60s, '70s or '80s when players could have learned endgames by adjourning them and consulting such a manual" - GM Lubosh Kavalek, WASHINGTON POST

"If you want to have more certainty about endgames in the future, this book is a good choice." - Stefan Bücker, Kaissiber

"...the authors have somehow managed to create that rare beast - a readable encyclopaedia. Although theoretical in nature and fairly comprehensive in scope, the authors have tried to keep the reader on side with verbal explanations where required, and exercises to keep the book interactive. Müller and Lamprecht give the impression of paying assiduous attention to detail over a long period of time, and with all the analysis computer checked, and proof-read and type set by John Nunn, you can be sure of a high degree of accuracy. I have found no mistakes so far, so there is not too much more to say. If you only have one endgame book, it should be this one." - GM Jonathan Rowson

"This book also serves as an excellent instructional text, with thorough and clear discussions of the principles, techniques, and ideas underlying the various endings. The text includes plenty of appropriate examples, and even has practice problems which help the reader assimilate the information. The book ends with a chapter of exercises for further practice, and another chapter summarizing the most important endgame strategies and principles. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend FCE." - S Evan Kreider, CHESSVILLE

"The explanations of concepts throughout the book are very good... the setout of the book is excellent quality, and all the positions have been checked using endgame databases. If you only want to buy one endgame book, make it this one. Very highly recommended." - Paul Dunn, AUSTRALIAN CHESS FORUM

"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." - Richard Palliser, CHESS MOVES, BCF WEBSITE

"A great book!" - GM Simen Agdestein, VERDENS GANG

"Includes a large number of puzzles - and don't be impatient when it comes to checking the solutions in the back. This is an exceptional book for the serious student..." - Bab Wilders, Nederlands Dagblad

"If you have serious aspirations in your chess career (or simply want to win a few more endings) you will find this an invaluable tool" - Alan Sutton, EN PASSANT

"...the one essential endgame acquisition for practical players in the foreseeable future" - David Gillespie, WEEKEND CHESS

"A splendid book if you wish to learn more about how to play the endgame. Highly recommended" - Soren Seagaard, SEAGAARD'S REVIEWS

"Covers all major endgames with well chosen examples... A fine comprehensive work with an excellent index which will simultaneously both inform and entertain" - J J Walsh, IRISH TIMES

"A book has emerged that looks to be the new standard for endgame evaluations... I recommend this book highly" - Cecil Rosner, WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

"This book can be used by both the beginner, looking up his own games trying to find out how to play those positions better, as well as a master trying to do the same thing but at a higher level ... a lot of great material to study in a very understandable format and a good system to test that knowledge afterwards." - Bill Whited, CHESS COUNTRY

"There have been some excellent endgame books published in recent years, but Fundamental Chess Endings is absolutely outstanding. It makes use of all the new knowledge generated by computer analysis, but is far from being a boring database printout. It is a reference work, of course, but it can also be used as a textbook, since there are ample verbal explanations and tips, and even exercises at the end of each section to help the reader practise and test his or her grasp of the previously presented material. As usual with GAMBIT books, the production values are very high: design, paper, cover, editing are all excellent. Verdict: this immediately becomes THE standard one-volume reference work on the endgame. It is outstanding in every way and should be in the library of every serious player. ***** - Phil Adams, CHECKPOINT

"The full range of endgames is covered together with the now customary exercises for the reader to solve. Most readers will use it as a textbook and I have referred to it on numerous occasions already in my correspondence games. As well as containing detailed analysis the book also sets out the basic principles of endings, and chapter 11, in which some general endgame principles are explained, is particularly valuable. Unlike many opening books this one will stand the test of time and will be as useful in 10 or 20 years as it is today. A valuable contribution to chess literature!" - John Pugh, CHESS POST

"Eminently readable, with a clear and attractive typeset, Fundamental Chess Endings is a magnificent achievement" - Jonathan Tait, BCCA

"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... " - Malcolm Pein, DAILY TELEGRAPH

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