Clever Practical Endgames

What this book teaches

100 short endgames in 10 techniques: sacrifice, waiting move, capture hunt, maneuver, encirclement, confinement, blockade, discovered attack, control, chain bind.

Unlike Simple Winning Endgames: here you win by a technique, not because you have more material.

Ask: what job does this chapter’s technique do on the board?

What you will get

• A kit of short endgame techniques for when the game is nearly over
• Waiting moves and binds — you do not always capture
• Not confusing practical endgames with mate-pattern drills

Step 1 — The chapter already names the technique

① Does this technique restrict a piece, or open a line? ② What is happening to their king or main piece? ③ If you ignore the chapter’s technique, is the obvious capture worse?

The chapter is a hint. You still have to see why that technique is needed.

Step 2 — A slow move can be the good move

① Waiting move: they have no good move — don’t break your own net. ② Sacrifice / bind: calculate both if they take and if they refuse. ③ When done, name the technique and remember the shape.

If you captured and the job was over — you probably missed the idea.

What order to study?

Go through the 10 chapters in order, ten positions each:

• Sacrifice, waiting move, capture hunt — the idea is clear
• Maneuver, encirclement, confinement, blockade
• Discovered attack, control, chain bind — later

A few shapes per type. You need not memorise every move.

Three things when you solve

1. Calculate first. Open the line only when stuck. 2. Ask: what does this technique do — restrict, open a line, or leave them with no move? 3. 100 positions is not many. A few techniques you remember.