Any good chess coach will tell you to study the endgame. Improving your knowledge of the ‘third
phase’ in a chess game will bring you many extra half or even full points. After the success
of his award-winning classics Chess Strategy for Club Players and Attacking Chess for Club
Players Herman Grooten has now written an equally instructive endgame manual. He teaches you
how to understand the themes of an endgame and find the right moves based on your
understanding. International Master Herman Grooten learned about endgames the hard way as
many good players have. Early in his career he realized there was a lot to be gained in this
undervalued part of the game. Building on his experience as a player and coach Grooten takes
an original approach to convey his message: the endgames are divided according to theme not
chess material. This is a novel but very effective way to learn the ins and outs since many
themes can occur with different material balances. The material is richly illustrated with
many examples from practical play as well as endgame studies which present the motifs in
their purest and most attractive form. The result is a lively and highly instructive guide to
the endgame.
