Studying chess is about finding patterns and learning from examples that illustrate those patterns best. This e-book focuses on patterns based on material left on the board - bishops of opposite color and rooks. It explains the ideas of bishop endgames alone, and then shows how the strategy changes when rooks are also present on the board. The level of a reader who could benefit from this book the most is between 1600 and 2200 ELO. However other chess players should also be able to learn from it because this topic is not often discussed in chess literature, yet can improvement in playing such simplified positions can dramatically increase one's chess strength. The format was specifically designed for e-readers. Most chapters have examples from practical games of chess champions of the past and present, such as Botvinnik, Kasparov, and Carlsen, followed by puzzles for the reader to solve. That should reinforce newly learned concepts and help get a better sense of the combination of pieces (bishops and rooks) discussed throughout the book. There are also questions for the reader to answer at the key moments of the games. To see solutions for puzzles and questions - just go to the next page. Instructive mistakes by lower rated players are also demonstrated throughout the chapters.

This ebook is intended as a follow up to the ebook about endings with each side having a rook and a bishop of opposite color - 'Bishop endgames - Do the opposites Attract?'. The idea behind these series is the approach that Nimzowitsch used to call "a radioactive method" - selecting a rather narrow topic, and by learning a lot about it, understand chess much better in general. This book looks at endings with rook + knight Vs. rook + knight. This material balance occurs quite frequently in tournaments, and some classical ideas and endgames have become well-known. Nonetheless, there is some lack of discussion of this topic in chess literature. The book covers both the strategic themes, and gives the reader a chance to practice their tactical skills. Mikhail Botvinnik was well known for his great technique in this type of endings; the book includes several relatively unknown examples from his career to illustrate the typical ideas, but also games by other famous players such as Korchnoi, Morozevich and Anand are featured.

A break is generally an unexpected or sacrificial pawn move that can serve multiple purposes, including, but not limited to: Opening up files or diagonals - Directly attacking opponent's king - Gaining space - Freeing up a square (e.g. as an outpost for a knight) - Undermining opponent's pawn structure/chain - Creating a passed pawn Inspiration for this book came from reading Vladimir Kramnik's collection of games, which featured a special section on the pawn breakthroughs. Later studying the games of Mikhail Botvinnik, Carl Schlechter, the author also spotted their great ability to play with the pawns. In the book, the chapters are presented starting with Schlechter and ending with Kramnik, to reflect the development of chess thought. Sacrificial pawn breaks are very common in chess and happen in a wide variety of positions, from sharp opening theoretical positions - to seemingly calm endgames. The challenge in writing this book was not in finding examples, but rather in constraining from adding more and more illustrative games. That means that once you study this topic, you should be able to frequently use the acquired skills in many of your tournament games, making this knowledge of great value for a practical player. The book is filled with dozens of training questions so that before seeing the move played by the grandmaster - the reader can practice their skill and come up with an answer on their own. To see the solution to a position - just go to the next page in your e-reader.

The perfect, and necessary, addition to any personal chess library, Pandolfini's Chess Complete is a comprehensive, accessible reference. National Master Bruce Pandolfini has covered every aspect of the game, from chessboard and pieces to history and strategy, and has responded to virtually any possible question or situation that could arise.

Studying chess is about finding patterns and learning from examples that illustrate those patterns best. This book focuses on patterns based on material left on the board - bishops of opposite color and rooks. It explains the ideas of bishop endgames alone, and then shows how the strategy changes when rooks are also present on the board.The level of a reader who could benefit from this book the most is between 1600 and 2200 ELO. However other chess players should also be able to learn from it because this topic is not often discussed in chess literature, yet can improvement in playing such simplified positions can dramatically increase one's chess strength.Most chapters have examples from practical games of chess champions of the past and present, such as Botvinnik, Kasparov, and Carlsen, followed by puzzles for the reader to solve. That should reinforce newly learned concepts and help get a better sense of the combination of pieces (bishops and rooks) discussed throughout the book. There are also questions for the reader to answer at the key moments of the games. Instructive mistakes by lower rated players are also demonstrated throughout the chapters.Compared to the ebook version published in 2013, the 2017 paperback edition has been expanded and updated with latest examples from top level tournaments played in the last four years.The author, National Master Roman Jiganchine, has been a chess coach of many Canadian junior players, with his students having won many Canadian championship youth titles in various age groups. He has contributed to printed chess publications in Canada, Russia, and the United States.

The first section of [this] book discusses classical themes, such as pawn majorities, the centre and structural weaknesses. Watson then moves on to discuss new concepts, including the willingness of modern players to accept backward pawns in return for dynamic play, the idea of a good 'bad' bishop, knights finding useful roles at the edge of the board, and the exchange of sacrifice ideas that became prevalent with the post-war Soviet world champions. ..." --