| View Larger Image | Secrets of Rook Endings | Paperbackby John Nunn (Author)
| List Price: | $25.95 | | Price: | $22.18 | | You Save: | $3.77 (15%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Paperback | | Publisher: | Gambit Publications | | Edition: | 2ndnd Edition | | Page Count: | 352 Pages | | Publication Date: | October 01, 1999 | | Sales Rank: | 913,748th |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
The first edition of this book ushered in a new era in chess publishing. It was the first book based on computer-generated position databases that are guaranteed to provide the actual result of a position. However, this book is no computer print-out. It takes a human 'oracle' to extract the useful information from this mass of data and to identify new principles to help the rest of us appreciate the key practical points. Dr John Nunn, top-class grandmaster and renowned theoretician, performs this role admirably. He has identified where previous theory has been overturned, and where there are important new results. Dr Nunn was also the first to reveal the general importance of the many 'reciprocal zugzwang' positions.* The complete truth about the ending Rook and Pawn vs Rook * One of the most important and controversial chess books of the twentieth century * An essential addition to every serious chess-player's library * A new expanded editi! on |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 6 reviews)
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Excellent follow-up customer service by D. Trestor (Martinez, CA United States)  4 Stars
December 16, 2008
Excellent follow-up customer service. I told them I hadn't received my book; they sent out (another?) one OVERNIGHT at no charge to me! Now that's good customer service.
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Execellent book! But how practical is it? by Hoa H (Los Angeles, CA)  5 Stars
October 13, 2005
Thanks to Dr. Ken Thompson's work, we have the standard 5-piece (also some of other simple) endgame database. Based on Dr. Thompson's database, Dr. John Nunn prepared a 3-volumn book-set that covers "almost all" 5-piece endings. Rook and Pawn versus Rook is the first of the set. Using the symmetric property, they are able to cut the workload to 25%. By writing from the white's point-of-view, who has material advantage, the work is cut by half; then by mirroring the Q-side and K-side, only work for the P on the Q-side is sufficient (another 50% reduction). The final positions are: a) white can promote the P (win), b) white wins black R (win), c) black can eliminate white P (draw) (and force trading R's.) The study starts with the P on the 7th rank to see if it's a win or draw. Then the P retreats one step to 6th rank, and continues all the way to 2nd rank.
A few years ago, I know only one R and P ending (Lucena position) and about four general rules:
1) Rook on the seventh is worth one (or even two) P-sacrifice.
2) Active Rook is important in the endgame.
3) The side with material advantage has "more" chance to win if he can cuts off the defending K.
4) The defender should get his K in front of the P; otherwise he has "less" chance to draw.
"More or less" are relative terms here. In this book, Dr. Nunn provides the "absolute truth" about this type of endings.
His work in this book is outstanding (5 stars). I wonders who could remember most of the analysis he gives in the book. He mentions that even Kasparov might have trouble to play this with such precision. So, how practical is the book? I don't see how the average players can see the practicality of this book (I can't), except for the practical tips Nunn gives at the end of every section. That's a good place to start. If we want simpler study, then Averbakh's Essential Chess Endings is another good start. My C- and B-players don't care much for simple endings; they like to play with pieces. This is where I have a little edge on them. The analysis from Nunn's ending set provides a good means for post-mortem discussion.
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If you really want to know by Wyote (Seoul) 5 Stars
June 18, 2002
This book is the absolute and final truth on rook and pawn vs. rook endgames. Another book will never need to be written. If you really want to know the truth on these endgames, then this is truly the book for you.It's not as bad to read as a previous reviewer claimed. Of course, if you want to study rook endings more generally or less deeply, then this isn't the book for you. "Surviving Rook Endings" probably is--and it is a really good introduction. If you have any doubt, then you almost certainly want "Surviving" rather than this one.
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Another authoritative book by Nunn by Raymond Simmons (Damariscotta, ME USA) 5 Stars
May 12, 2001
I reccommend this book to any serious chessplayer. Nunn gives the low down on all rook versus rook plus pawn endings. Firstly, the information in this book is 100% accurate since a computer created the database. Any serious chessplayer would normally be looking for none other than the truth and in rook endings this is hard to come by. Secondly, Nunn demonstrates a fantastic concept known as reciprocal zugzwang. It turns out, assuming white is up the pawn, that in most positions, white to play wins while black to play draws. In a reciprocal zugzwang position, white to play draws and black to play loses. Hence, unlike normal zugzwang position where one color has a waiting move, reciprocal zugzwang positions offer neither color a waiting move (the easiest example you'll ever see is white- ka8 rb8 pa7 black- kc7 rc8). Lastly, the setup of this book is good too. Nunn starts with positions with the pawn of a7 and works his was to a2 (for obvious reasons). He then tackles b, c and d positions in the same way. To conclude, I did want to say that while this book contains all the information you'll ever need to know about this particular ending, the information will not seep into your brain from under your pillow. You will need to put in an obscene amount of time to get from cover to cover.
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Useful Book for Players by A. Ali (Minneapolis, MN USA) 5 Stars
April 19, 2001
This book is often touted as being the final word on K+R+P vs. K+R. I agree with this contention but I have to say that this book is more than a reference work. The basic methods of play are elucidated here as in no other text. Even the famous "Rook Endings" by Smyslov and Levenfish devotes only 47 pages to K+R+P vs. K+R. Other books just give Lucena, Philidor and some general methods of play. Anyone playing a rook ending has to constantly keep in mind the possibility of simplification to a simpler rook ending. Consequently, the material covered by Nunn serves as the building block for a rigorous study of rook endings in general. The book offers unparalleled insight and understanding. John Nunn, in the three books he has written on endings, constantly strives to translate computer results into ideas and insights palatable to the human mind. Every student of the game should have this book on his shelf.
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SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
| Secrets of Pawn Endings
by Karsten Muller (Author), Frank Lamprecht (Author), Marc Becker (Translator), John Nunn (Translator)
A Gambit re-issue of the definitive modern work on pawn endings, written by the same authors as the award-winning Fundamental Chess Endings. This book provides a thorough course in endings with just kings and pawns, from the simple to the highly complex. Armed with this knowledge, the reader will also be able to tackle other types of endgame with greater confidence and certainty. Many interesting and beautiful positions are included, and there are test positions for the reader to...
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| Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual
by Mark Dvoretsky (Author)
A modern classic. The first edition of Dvoretsky ‘s Endgame Manual was immediately recognized by novice and master alike as one of the best books ever published on the endgame. This second edition is revised and enlarged "now over 400 pages "covering all the most important concepts required for endgame mastery. Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual...may well be the chess book of the year...close to an ultimate one-volume manual on the endgame. -- International Grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek in...
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| Secrets of Pawnless Endings
by John Nunn (Author)
In this follow-up to his highly successful book, "Secrets of Rook Endings" John Nunn turns his attention to endgames without pawns. These occur surprisingly often in practice and are extremely tactical in nature. This book unites man and machine in the searh for ultimate answers. The computer databases created by Ken Thompson, formerly of Bell Laboratories, can state with certainty the correct result of any position with five pieces or fewer. John Nunn has extracted the most...
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| Fundamental Chess Endings
by Karsten Muller (Author), Frank Lamprecht (Author)
In a major event in chess publishing, two German endgame experts have produced a masterly one-volume encyclopedia that covers all major endgames. This is the first truly modern one-volume endgame encyclopedia. It makes full use of endgame tablebases; where previous authors could only make educated guesses, Muller and Lamprecht have often been able to state the definitive truth, or get much closer to it. New time-controls involve competitive games being played to finish in one session, so it is...
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| Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master
by Jeremy Silman (Author)
For more than 100 years, the world's leading chess players and teachers have told their students to study the endgame. Now, for the first time, a revolutionary, richly instructive endgame book has been designed for players of all levels. Silman's Complete Endgame Course, by famed writer and player Jeremy Silman, is the one and only endgame book you'll need as you move up the ladder from beginner to strong tournament player and finally to master. Designed to "speak" to a player...
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