In this companion volume to Fundamental Chess Endings, Müller and Pajeken focus on the practical side of playing endgames. They cover all aspects of strategic endgames, with particular emphasis on thinking methods, and ways to create difficulties for opponents over the board.

Using hundreds of outstanding examples from modern practice, the authors explain not only how to conduct 'classical' endgame tasks, such as exploiting an extra pawn or more active pieces, but also how to handle the extremely unbalanced endings that often arise from the dynamic openings favoured nowadays. All varieties of endgames are covered, and there are more than 200 exercises for the reader, together with full solutions.

Major topics include:
* Basic Principles and Methods
* Activity
* Schematic Thinking
* The Fight for the Initiative
* Prophylaxis and Preventing Counterplay
* The Bishop-Pair in the Endgame
* Domination
* The Art of Defence
* Typical Mistakes
* Rules of Thumb

Grandmaster Karsten Müller is a world-renowned expert on all aspects of endgame play. He is co-author (with Frank Lamprecht) of the acclaimed Secrets of Pawn Endings and Fundamental Chess Endings. He finished third in the German Championship in 1996, and was runner-up in 1997.

Wolfgang Pajeken is a FIDE Master from Hamburg who plays frequently in the German Bundesliga, and other team and individual championships. He is also a chess trainer, organizer and arbiter.

Download a pdf file with a sample from the book.

"It is a treasure chest!" - Richard Brömel, Rochade Europa

"This book could soon become a modern classic!" - Martin Rieger, www.freechess.info

"A splendid and comprehensive book on endgames" - Gerhard Josten, Rochade Europa

"This constitutes a complete course on practical endgame play at the highest tournament level, and I know of no previous work like it." - Harald Keilhack, Schach

"Hamburg Grandmaster Karsten Müller rose to the Mount Olympus of endgame literature with Fundamental Chess Endings. ... His latest book, How to Play Chess Endings, with colleague Wolfgang Pajeken, is a sequel to that standard work." - Harry Schaack, KARL

"There are plenty of interesting snippets of games with carefully thought out comments. ... A real boost for experts on the endings." - IM Gary Lane, Australasian Chess magazine

"What I enjoyed most about this book is the readability of it. ... A good example ... is the chapter on 'fortress' positions - this is where the defender simplifies the position to a state when the defender only has to replay moves to gain a draw, and the side with the advantage cannot break through. This chapter can be read on many levels. ... The important thing to understand, as Müller and Pajeken make clear in the introduction, is that if you have never studied fortress positions then such a concept may not occur to you in a live game situation." - Munroe Morrison, Open File

"This book may really soon become a modern classic!" - Martin Rieger, www.freechess.de

"What I particularly like about this book is the clarity of thought that has gone into the explanations. Although the amount of actual text is kept to a minimum, what there is is a model of conciseness and clarity that other authors could learn from. A word of praise too for the translator, Phil Adams. As an ex-languages teacher myself, I understand the difficulties of producing readable translations of foreign works, and Phil has done an excellent job here." - Alan Sutton, En Passant

"This substantial work, by a German grandmaster and FIDE Master working in tandem, sets out to be a guide to the practical side of endgame play. In other words, it is not so much about the different piece configurations that occur in the endgame but a structured collection of the specific strategies needed for playing what is a radically different phase of the game compared with the middlegame. ... methodically written and comprehensive in scope ... The examples are from master play but the lessons to be learnt (and tested in exercises) are for everyone from intermediate or club player upwards." - John Saunders, British Chess Magazine

"How to Play Chess Endgames is something different. Authors Müller and Pajeken adopt a unique approach. Their aim is to teach basic endgame skills rather than theory. ... The authors introduce and illustrate their themes with well chosen examples and clear explanatory prose. Each chapter concludes with a series of exercises designed to test the student's mastery of the material. I can highly recommend How to Play Chess Endgames. With faster time controls and no adjournments the premium on good endgame skills has never been higher." - IM John Donaldson, www.jeremysilman.com

"If you're ready to roll up your sleeves, set up the pieces and willing to put some serious effort into your endgame understanding, pick up a copy" - Steve Goldberg, www.chesscafe.com

"Players who've finally decided to change their lifes, and want to start investing time and mony in endgames, can safely buy How to Play Chess Endgames (and won't need much else in the near future)." - Peter Doggers, www.chessvibes.com

"This is an A+ book. Brilliantly useful. Superb examples from everywhere. A long bibliography." - Bob Long, www.chessco.com

"The extensive bibliography clearly shows the impressive depth of research that went into creating this substantial and informative work; this is clearly a labour of love and definitely not the sort of book to be knocked together in a weekend or two (another habit that some opening books get away with, depending on the popularity of the opening in question). ... Opening a page at random rarely fails to reveal an instructive comment, presented as a perfectly digestible bite-sized chunk. ... This is a fine book and one which should give the reader many hours of pleasure. ... This is an inspirational and educational book, packed with excellent material. I am certain that chess players of all standards will find it a valuable addition to their chess libraries. - Sean Marsh, marshtowers.blogspot.com