Chess Endgame Books

Endgame Analysis: School of Chess Excellence 1
by Mark Dvoretsky

Re-vamped classic
Reviewer: A reader from Bronx, New York

     Dvoretsky had 7 books published in English (by Batsford) in the 1990's, in the following order- Secrets of Chess Training, Secrets of Chess Tactics, Training for the Tournament Player, Opening Preparation, Technique for the Tournament Player, Positional Play, and Attack and Defense.
    This book here, Endgame Analysis corresponds to Dvoretsky's first book titled Secrets of Chess Training, while the following book in this new series, Tactical Play, corresponds to Secrets of Chess Tactics. The new series is a revised updated re-issue of Dvoretsky's previously published works and can be strongly recommended to all players above 1700 ELO. Difficult yet rewarding, Dvoretsky was well known for his training methods in Russia and produced many fine young grandmasters, notably Yusupov.

Endgame Challenge
by John Hall

Make your endgame study fun
Reviewer: moknight from Kansas City, MO USA

    Most of the Chess world considers the endgame boring. And most of the Chess world never studies it. This book Endgame Challenge can make you an endgame master. Not only with the basic principles, but calculation and visualization too. Endgame problems do just as much as middle game problems do if not more. This fun book will make you work for the answers, but when you find them you'll be proud of yourself and the work you put into them. Find the beauty in the endgame and make the small investment. You'll be happy that you did.

Basic Endgame Strategy: Rooks & Queens (Road to Chess Mastery)
by Bill Robertie

Like Alburt stuff; good, but you know there's better.
Reviewer: A reader from Illinois United States

    Cardoza is the "McDonalds" of chess publishing. And like McDonald's there is something appealing about it, even when you know there is much better food out there. This book is like a Lev Alburt book in that it is a "page turner"; that is, you will go through one example and realize you ave finished 10 pages. This is a good feeling if you are sometimes frustrated by spending a week on one page of Dvoretsky. And Robertie is concerned about giving you useful practical advice. This is a good book, because the topic fits the bill: for endings, most of us want to remember a few vivid examples to get the idea. This book accomplishes its goal pretty nicely.

Endgame Secrets: How to Plan in the Endgame in Chess
by Christopher Lutz

Excellent Complex Work
Reviewer: A reader from Centennial, CO

   This work is an analysis of complex practical endgames that occured in tournament practice. These types of endgames are probably the best for improving your own play, as the simple theoretical endings found in BCE and FCE can only take your play so far. The work is fairly short on words, but I suspect this is done in order to help the author remain objective since the games under discussion are his own. This book expects you to think hard about the game, but will almost certainly improve your play. BTW, Silman and John Watson both suggest this book to students interested in improving their endgame skills.