Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master

by Jeremy Silman

For over 100 years, the world's leading chess players and teachers have told their students to study the endgame. This book teaches the students what they need to know at their current rating level, and builds on that knowledge for each subsequent phase of the player's development.

Genres: Chess, Nonfiction, Games, Reference, Textbooks, Sports

530 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many chess opening and middle-game books but never did I read a book and instantly see its impact on my game. I realized after reading this book that endgame techniques are key. Right away I started winning games that I normally would have drawn, drawing games that I would have lost, and even winning lost endgames after an opponents mistake. The Philidor, Lucena and short-side defense positions are especially key and should be mastered by every student of the game.

[Martian · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a newbie at chess, or if you are a master at it, this is the book you'll want to see. I learned a lot of important things in this book.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with almost everything said in the previous review except: "...is the one and only endgame book you'll need as you move up the ladder from beginner to strong tournament player and finally to master."
Unfortunately, Silman didn't explained how to checkmate with the bishop+knight. Why? Let me quote him:
"I heretically decided not to include Bishop and Knight vs. Lone King because it's far from easy to master, and it occurs very rarely in over-the -board play. In fact, I only got it once in my entire career, while IM John Watson and IM John Donaldson never got it at all! Is such a rarity really worth the two or three hours it would take to learn it? I say no."
Here is another quote from Andrew Soltis:
"The Estimated Odds of Your: Playing Out K+B+N vs K This Year: 1 in 3,000."
Yes, it's easy to find players who never have to play such endgame - but I also now some mater-level players who HAD to play - and FAILED to deliver checkmate in 50 moves! Also, one of my students draw during the state-championship because his opponent didn't know the winning-plan, while my other student had to prove - and he proved! - that he knows how to checkmate.
So, while the probability to play this endgame is very - very low, the probability to look like a "patzer" chasing around the opponent's king in an ignorant way is 100%! Trust me, that friend of mine, a chess master who didn't checkmated his opponent (with a lot of time on the clock and 30 sec. increment) - he really didn't feel great after the game.

[Micmoc · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE real endgame book. Period. I love it although there are a few typos in the first edition.

[zed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am crap at chess. I spent a lot of money on books that I thought would at least make me competitive. Nothing worked. I think these chess books will all sit in a box gathering dust and one day I might get the urge to rejoin the local club and get butchered by 12 year olds so then may have a further look. (Generic review for all half finished chess books I will never finish)

FWIW I recall this one was of some use.

[DogfacePonySoldier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent examples and in depth analysis for every endgame. This is a great book to run through with a teacher who is able to explain the nuances and history of each position. The Chess Club of Atlanta has a great series where they run through the endgames and you can follow along with them.

[Nathan Weissbock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent because it is thoughtfully divided into chapters based on different Elo ranges, which makes the material feel more tailored and relevant. It goes beyond the usual advice about controlling the center or developing minor pieces, offering a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the game

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silman’s Complete Endgame Course

Silman’s Complete endgame course is a great book for going from beginner to advanced learning. It ranges from unrated to 2399 rating. It is complete with good tips, fun puzzles, and incredible solutions. This books vast puzzles and strategies make it all worth while.
This book is full of intriguing strategies that any reader could follow and use fairly simply and yet have it make a lasting impact. The puzzles vary in names from: “rook and king endgames” to “fox in the chicken coup”. The explanation of the algebraic notations make it easy to follow. Afterwards Silman includes tricky puzzles to make sure you get it.
After each section there are around 9 puzzles. each puzzle is tricky in its own way. they also vary in what's being asked so you get good at everything. This really makes sure you understand and remember every strategy.
I would recommend this to all chess players I like (minus: magnus carlson, gata kamsky, bobby fisher, anand, and other beyond talented chess player). I would not recommend this to complete beginners but as long as you have even a small bit of experience this book is for you.

[Gary Patella · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an opening junkie, I have always avoided studying the endgame. I've tried with other endgame books in the past, but the information was just not presented well in most of them.

Finally, after sitting on my shelf unopened for a few years, I started going through this book from beginning to end. It is truly an excellent format. It is divided by rating, but it is imperative that you read ALL prior sections (even the patzer rating sections). You build on previous knowledge, and there are rules and patterns that emerge.

There are a few downsides: no mate with knight and bishop given (I would've liked to see that explained as a concept), no queen vs. rook endgame, and sometimes the analysis of the sidelines is taken WAY too far.

Nevertheless, I believe this is the absolute best endgame book out there. The minor flaws are not going to take away from the 5 stars, because in comparison to other endgame books, this one goes above and beyond.

[AllTheLives ICouldEverLive · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to use as a starting point to study endgames as it covers the most raw/basic themes like the Lucena position, the Vancura position, pawn breakthroughs, quuen and pawn endgames, Knight and pawn endgames, double bishop mate and a lot more!

It's not a hard read and even though I'm rated about 1350 I knew and could understand most of the endgames from the "Class A" section.

If you're looking for more strategic endgame books that deal with evaluating complex positions and converting them, then I would NOT recommend this book.

I only gave 4 stars because I don't agree that this is the only book you will need to get to master level with endgames. As mentioned above, it's only good as a starting point to understand basic endgame theory.

[Adam Brockwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent choice for developing your endgame, but it lacks practice problems and more in-depth revision of some key principles e.g., Phildor position or distant opposition, which is odd for a book so exposition-heavy. I am not a title-rated player, so I cannot say whether the book can fulfill its promises and bring you to a 2200 elo endgame standard (I doubt it), but it certainly exposed plenty of gaps in my endgames.

Silman's Complete Endgame Course is engagingly written, witty, and methodical. Above all, the best part is that the chapters are accurately divided according to players' ratings; a feat uncommon in chess literature.

[Peter Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been doing puzzles/tactics and playing online blitz for most of my life. As a result, the endgame has been largely neglected. Finally decided to cover my weak spots by reading this book (stopped at the end of the class "A" section as some of the concepts went over my head).
I realized in hindsight that there were many games that I threw in seemingly innocuous positions due to a lack of understanding in opposite color bishop and pawns endings, rook endings, outflanking, triangulation, etc.
Overall, a truly humbling experience.

[Laurens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the only chess endgame book I'll ever need.

Instructive for people of different ratings.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kapitlen är uppdelade i ranking-band om 200 poäng. Jag hade tänkt att jag skulle skumma mig fram till mitt band (1800-2000) och mest göra testen i slutet av kapitlen. Isåfall hade de första 40% av boken varit överflödiga. Men redan i 1400-1600bandet upptäckte jag att jag hade sämre koll på Lucena och Philidorställningar än jag borde och fick sakta ner. Jag fortsatte sen efter mitt rankingband vidare och tyckte att det var väldigt givande. Många av de teoretiska slutspelen som kom efter var inte egentligen svårare att lära sig utan bara ovanligare.
Däremot så ökade kravet på räkneförmåga kraftigt när boken tog sig an praktiska slutspel (The Flowchart i 2000-2100 och sen hela de två sista kapitlen) men det var också dem jag snabbast fick användning för över brädet. Så även om du behöver kolla upp svaren på de flesta övningar så rekommenderar jag att gå igenom de sista två kapitlen för att utsättas för några praktiska slutspel.
För mig som spelare rankad mitt i bokens rankingband och helt utan tidigare strukturerade slutspelsstudier var det en perfekt bok för att lära mig grunderna.

[Chesspco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very great book to learn chess and progress quickly.

Let's remember that this is a manual on elementary endgames intended mainly for those who have never studied the subject (the author starts from the basics) and which is singular by its didactic approach : rather than the traditional material-by-material plan (pawn endgames, rook endgames, etc.), the American IM has preferred an approach by level : endgames for beginners (the basics mentioned above), average players, confirmed players, masters, by brackets (approximate, of course) of 200 elo points.

Very progressive, the book can be recommended to all those who are beginners in this field - but the more experienced players should know that they will not necessarily find much unknown material...

[David Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a really good book for beginners.

I like the structure of the book but it's a nightmare for beginners like me because it only gives you the initial diagram and gives you a list of chess notations to work from. I mean, come on... I'm a beginner, I don't know how to play blindfold chess and see the complications. It really needs an update in that department.

Aside from that issue, I suggest people using it as a search guideline and once you reach certain spots, you can look for tips on online resources.

[Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a budding chess player myself, this book is just amazing. I never enjoyed playing chess endgames before I read this book, but now I do. Tactics such as the opposition, and drawing a box to determine whether or not a king will reach a pawn before it promotes. The book is also neatly subdivided into sections, which is incredibly handy. The book is laden with tactics and tips, such as the Lucena position on page 122, and the Philidor position later in that chapter for rook endgames. Overall amazing book for any player.

[TjeerdFokkens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago when I was much lower rated. Rereading it now was a valuable experience and really showed the quality of this work. In terms of sheer content this book does not meet expectations one would have with a 500+ page book. But that's really the great thing about it. A good teacher teaches you only the things you need to know! The material is didactically very well presented and although experts probably need a bit more endgame knowledge, this book forms an excellent primer for that. Very nice and highly recommended.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silman’s books are the best chess education books out there! I especially liked how he laid this one out!He presented Chess endgames you should know based on what Chess class or rank you are or aspire to be. Great idea! Enjoyed working through the various tests at the end of each section too! Great stuff! Great author!😎

[Ken Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The endgame is one of the most important things to study as a chess player. As such, this book is superb. It takes you through all the stages from beginner to master. I cannot praise it enough. I certainly learned a lot.

[Sart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best chess endgame book for beginners!

[Pandeeswaran Bhoopathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read book for any tournament player.

[Meiyazhagan Meiyazhagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book on endgames. I use it to teach my high school chess team about how to win simple and complicated endgames. Great examples and concepts.

[Reaper21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book,specially for beginners and intermediate players.

[Tarmo Pungas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave me a good basic understanding of the endgame.

[Isaac Clemente ríos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sirve como punto de partida para comenzar a entender la estructura de los finales.

[JStanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of fun, this book.

[Cosmin Ionut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best endgame book by far imo

[Matthew Fultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will never “finish” this book, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working my way from the beginning through the Class A chapters and it has translated to several tricky wins in online games.