How to Study the Chess Endgame
In chess, the endgame is the most difficult to master and the most important. If you know endgame theory intimately, you can influence the course of the game from the very beginning. Knowing what you're doing, though, can be easier said than done. Studying the endgame is the only way to truly begin mastering the game.
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Things You'll Need
- Library access
- Internet access
- A chess board with all of it's pieces
- Two or more friends who are at least as good as you at chess
Instructions
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Study books detailing chess endgame theory. These will show you positions you should strive to have your pieces in before getting to the endgame. This will enable you to influence the game from the beginning to get your pieces where you want them.
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Study chess websites dealing with endgame theory. Many of the positions in the endgame will need to be memorized before you can begin to understand how to get into them intuitively.
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Play against your friends. They should be as strong a player as you or better.
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Talk to your friends as you play. Talking out loud about what you are doing can help you internalize the steps you need to follow. Once you have internalized the endgame moves, you can begin to set up the endgame whenever you choose to.
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Watch chess tournaments, paying close attention to piece movement. Skilled players will begin to set up the endgame with the first move.
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Tips & Warnings
A successful chess player always thinks ahead of the current move, anticipating his opponent's moves. Control your pieces so that your opponent must react to you, not the other way around.
Memorize the positions that make for a successful endgame so you can move into them instinctively.
