What is new about the present book is that it only examines an exact position. Such positions form the skeleton of all works on the endgame already published, but no one of these authors is able to resist the temptation to proceed further, from the simple to the complicated. So they deal with problematic positions, where what is required of a player is not only exact knowledge, but also stamina, fighting, spirit, will–to–win and so on. Thus you have here a collection of the 600 most standard (exact) endgame positions.
Jose Raul Capablanca, the third World Chess Champion, said, “In order to improve your game, you must study the endgame before everything else.” Because of the fifty-move rule in chess, it is essential to know how to checkmate your opponent quickly in the endgame.
You also need to know how much material you or your opponent needs to deliver checkmate. This knowledge can help you transition to a drawn endgame even if you are material down.
