by Karsten Mueller and Wolfgang Pajeken, 352pp. (2008 Gambit)

In this companion volume to Fundamental Chess Endings, Mueller and Pajeken focus on the practical side of playing endgames. They cover all aspects of strategic endgames, with particular emphasis on thinking methods, and ways to create difficulties for opponents over the board.

Using hundreds of outstanding examples from modern practice, the authors explain not only how to conduct 'classical' endgame tasks, such as exploiting an extra pawn or more active pieces, but also how to handle the extremely unbalanced endings that often arise from the dynamic openings favoured nowadays. All varieties of endgames are covered, and there are more than 200 exercises for the reader, together with full solutions.

Major topics include:

• Basic Principles and Methods
• Activity
• Schematic Thinking
• The Fight for the Initiative
• Prophylaxis and Preventing Counterplay
• The Bishop-Pair in the Endgame
• Domination
• The Art of Defence
• Typical Mistakes
• Rules of Thumb

Grandmaster Karsten Mueller is a world-renowned expert on all aspects of endgame play. He is co-author (with Frank Lamprecht) of the acclaimed Secrets of Pawn Endings and Fundamental Chess Endings. He also writes a very popular monthly column on the endgame at ChessCafe.com.

Wolfgang Pajeken is a FIDE Master from Hamburg who plays frequently in the German Bundesliga, and other team and individual championships. He is also a chess trainer, organizer and arbiter.