A Practical Guide to Rook Endgames [Paperback]

Nikolay Minev (Author), Yasser Seirawan (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2004

Rook endgames represent approximately half of all endings reached in master games, so, it's vital that chess players thoroughly familiarize themselves with this critical part of endgame study. Improve understanding and play of these most important endings, with these clear, comprehensive explanations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nikolay Minev is one of today's most respected chess authors and instructors. He lives in Seattle.

Product Details

• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Russell Enterprises (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888690224
• ISBN-13: 978-1888690224
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars concise, informative, June 13, 2007

By 

Mitch Baywatch (Brighton, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Practical Guide to Rook Endgames (Paperback)

This is a translation of an older book originally published in Bulgaria, I believe. It has three sections: tactics, strategy, and rook endgames in practice. The last part makes up about half the book and is the justification for buying it.

Flip through the pages, and it looks like Minev is showing the same position over and over. In fact, he shows many similar endgames, emphasizing how subtle differences affect the way they should be played. Most chess players know the Lucena position, but would you know what to do if every piece were moved over one file?

You can't expect a club player to memorize all the positions, but as you go through them, you begin to develop an instinct for how to play. When should I check from behind, and when from the side? What goes on the "long" side of the pawn, my rook or my king? How do things change once the pawn gets to the sixth rank? How about the seventh?

Rook endgames are fairly common, so you should study them fairly early in your chess career. I think this is ideally sutied to those rated, let's say, 1400-1700.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, April 28, 2010

By 

Parker Rose "Parker" (Casper, Wyoming) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Practical Guide to Rook Endgames (Kindle Edition)

Many players want to improve their endgame technique, but do not have the time or patience for the comprehensive intensity of Dvoretsky (Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual) or Mueller & Lamprecht (Fundamental Chess Endings).

It is said that rook endgames comprise about one-half of all endings. This is a terrific, compact review of all the basic principles, instructively presented and easily able to be absorbed. If you get no other book on the endings, get this one.

Parker Rose

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kindle version is very good!, November 22, 2010

By 

E. Meiners "pawnslinger" (Mesa, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Practical Guide to Rook Endgames (Kindle Edition)

I have just started going thru this book, downloaded it just a couple of days ago. So far, it is GREAT! The diagrams are clear and easy to see, the text and notation is very good on my ipod.