Book Description
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 important information from these databases and presented it in the form of guidelines and specific key positions, which can be more readily digested by the human mind. With most competitive games nowadays being played to a finish in a single session, this knowledge may prove invaluable over the board. Since the first edition of this book was published, the databases for many six-man endings have been created, resulting in some surprising and paradoxical discoveries. The coverage has therefore been expanded to include the most interesting features of these endings.
Customer Reviews:
Endgame Student.......2006-01-11
I would strongly recommend this book. Most of the more serious chess books discussing the endgame make for difficult reading and this is no exception. That's not meant as a criticism, just an observation. Having said that, I have made it a personal mission to solve the Q v. R endgame on Chessmaster and this book has the most detailed discussion of that particular endgame I could find. (It also contains R v. N, which is also in Chessmaster.) Indeed, whereas other books like Fundamental Chess Endings by Muller and Lamprecht or Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual might devote a page or two to that ending, Nunn devotes 30 pages. The book covers only 12 main endgames, but it covers them exceptionally well. For those endgames, I'd recommend this book over any other book I've seen. It has two additional chapters entitled "Other Five-Man Endings" and "Six-Man Endings" but these are nowhere near as thorough as the first twelve chapters.
Square-dance of 4 and/or 5 pieces. (Not pawn.).......2005-10-14
This is the second book or 3-volumn set that Dr. John Nunn annotates from Dr. Ken Thompson's 4- and 5-piece endgame database. As the title suggests there is no pawn in this study. This book is the most interesting one among all three. There are lots of piece permutations.
Unlike the Rook ending book, this one does not have the practical tips at the end of every sections. The reason is most of the presented positions are practical ones that could happen in real games, while the R ending contains many test and study positions. Nonetheless, after giving a short generalization of a position is "mostly" win or draw, Nunn provides us many standard set-ups to look for when we are the offensive or defensive ends. For examples: in the R vs. B ending, he categorizes the defending King position as: a) in the center, b) in good corner, c) in bad corner and d) on the edge of the board.
The first 3 sections cover the 4-piece endings, a major piece versus the lesser piece. (R vs. B, R vs. N, and Q vs. R.) The two simple set-ups, Q vs. B and Q vs. N, are not presented because they are "simple", straightforward and covered in other books. Curiously, against an expert player about 2 years ago, I got a Q vs. her N; I could not force the win! I did not know how to position the K and Q; her N-fork was always a threat.
The next 4 sections are the battles between the correspondent major pieces, where the strong side has the assistance of one minor piece. (Q vs. Q + B, Q vs. Q + N, R vs. R + B, and, R vs. R + N.)
The next 5 sections are where the Q tries to outshine the combinations of 2 less pieces. (Q vs. R + B, Q vs. R + N, Q vs. B + N, Q vs. 2B, and Q vs. 2N.) The first two are generally drawn unless the Q can force checkmate or win unprotected pieces early. In the last three, normally the Q can win rather easily unless the defending side can force some tempi and build a fortress immediately. It's good to memorize these set-ups in case of emergency.
The last thinly section covers two interesting endings. First is Q vs. 2 major pieces (Q vs. 2R, Q vs. Q + R, and Q vs. 2 Q.) The first type is usually drawn. In the last two, the weaker side could force stalemate if the stronger side is not careful. The next endgame type is the R vs. two pieces. (R vs. 2R, R vs. B + N, and R vs. 2B.) The 2R usually wins. The B + N combination sometimes could hold back the Q by building a fortress; therefore the R can win in only a very special case. On the defensive end, the R can always gives himself up for a minor piece to avoid any later regret. To end the book, Dr. Nunn gives a humorous position where both on the B's are on the same color, mutually protect each other. Usually, it means that the R can't take any B, but in this special case the R wins.
Customer Reviews:
Minor Piece Endings: The Final Verdict........2005-10-15
This is the last book or 3-volumn set that Dr. John Nunn wrote using Dr. Ken Thompson's 5-piece endgame database. Each side has a minor piece and the stronger side has an extra pawn. The goal is to see if the P could be promoted or not. The defender's job is "simple", gets rid or blocks the P.
I think this type of endings is more practical and simpler than the other two. It's practical because it happens more frequently. It's simpler because the mobility of the minor pieces is more limited than the major pieces. This causes broader and deeper variations for other type of endings. To make up for this, the special move of the N creates many interesting saving patterns.
In Averbakh's Essential Chess Endings, he mainly considers when the P has reached the seventh rank. Here Dr. Nunn gives the complete analysis for the position of the P from the seventh back all the way to the second rank. Except the cases of the a-P and when the P reaches the seventh rank, many other positions are somewhat related. The defender has some tempi to re-organize his defense.
Unlike the first two books where Nunn provides us general set-ups and themes (and practical tips at the end for the rook book) to understand the standard positions, this one does not have the practical tips tips and general set-ups. I guess he chose to do so because the theme is obvious, stop or kill the P.
Also noticeable is that about half of the positions from the studies and compositions, the other half is from practical and database endings. Maybe this is because the limited mobility of the minor pieces makes the variations narrower. It's easier to check for the accuracy of the studies and compositions. Even so, if the compositions have many interesting points, Nunn will give the authors due credits. But if they have errors, Nunn also honestly says so.
Like the first two books, this book is good for academic research. Dr. Nunn receives 5 stars for writing about 1000 pages of 4- 5-piece endings. It takes a lot of hard work and patience. After this, it's very surprising if anyone dares to visit this topic again. It's also curious to see how many players could memorize and perfectly play these types of endings in real games.
unless you're really, really serious.......2002-10-16
This is an excellent coverage of single pawn minor piece endings because it's exhaustive. The explanations can be difficult: this should not be the first, second or even third endings book you take on! But if you simply enjoy the fundamental chess endings and have been through most of them already, then this has a lot in it for you. Nunn's explanations, although they can be difficult, really are helpful.
typical nunn quality.......2002-01-10
excellent detail, but very narrow focus. only covers endings with one pawn on the board, and one piece each side. with the advent of endgame databases, is this book worth buying anymore? but it is well done nonetheless.
Average customer rating:
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BCE: Batsford Chess Endings
Jon Speelman ,
Bob Wade , and
Jon Tisdall
Manufacturer: B.T. Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Chess
| Board Games
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| Entertainment
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General
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ASIN: 0713444207 |
Book Description
The definitive single-volume guide to chess endings, this is the ideal companion to Batsford Chess Openings 2.
Customer Reviews:
Ending or beginning?.......2000-03-26
If you find chess quite interesting, and you are fed up with opening theory, and want to study the endgame, this is the book for you! Here is all the endings you ever need to study; pawns vs pawns, bishop vs knight+ etc.etc So if you are thinking of buying a endgame book, don't think, buy Batsford chess endings at amazon.
Customer Reviews:
You need to work hard - the result - Wonderful !.......2003-01-06
This is not a book that promise You the quickest way to master the Endgame, but with hard work and good discipline You will get Your REWARD ! It would be an insult for this extraordinary
Master of playing chess to sell cheap ideas. Paul Keres did understand this very well ! His book is very efficient and it's up to You to make it amusing by getting the Best out of it. Step by step You will notice Your progress.
A good result after hard work is always amuzing !
arielmar2001 - Ingemar Ariel LINDGREN
Outstanding.......2002-12-03
I can't understand how a 2089 player can say this book is no good. Keres was one of the strongest players in the world and as a teacher, chess annotator and author was unsurpassed. His games are among the most impressive and technically accurate. All his books are of very high quality, and this one is NO exception. This book is complete, methodical, clear and the section on rook endings in outstanding. Anyone who reads this book conscientiously will reap handsome dividends. Keres's book is NOT for the TOTAL beginner, but for someone who has a rudimentary notion of endings, i.e., a beginner who has read books like Learn Chess, Vols., I and II by Alexander, for example, which introduces the notions of the endgame. After that, this book is ideal.
Keres was a master of the endgame, and this book shows it through and through. I highly recommend it. Once mastered it will raise your rating by at least 100 points.
Systematic and instructive.......2002-05-14
As a FM who first read this book when I was pre or early teens, I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer who found this dull. Rather, this great master of attack goes through a number of pawnless endgames, pawn endgames, and those where each side has no more than one piece. There are many basic positions as well as examples from practical play. For endgames with more pieces, go to Fine's "Basic Chess Endgames" or for more advanced material try Shereshevsky's "Endgame Strategy". But for an introductory endgame book, this is pretty good.
The book by the same name by Chernev is not so practical, comprising endgame studies, which doesn't mean it's not pretty good anyway.
A very good endgame book by a great player.......2002-04-10
This book has improved my endgame knowledge and understanding. Long before there was Jeremy Silman's book (Essential Chess Endings)which is a great book in t's own right there was this great book by Keres. This book provides basic endgame positions and plenty of positions that occurred over the board as well as a few studies. Make no bones about it this book is very thorough in it's teaching of the endings and the basic ideas needed to understand and play these endings well. Don't be lazy READ IT!!! Take your time and slowly digest what Grandmaster Keres has to teach and you will be rewarded. Although I am not even of master level this was one of the first books I read on the endgame. I have a friend who I've been playing for years and I've consistently beaten him in endgames that should have been drawn and drawn plenty of games that should have been won by him. Also he hasn't been my only victim. I have drawn and won many games with players of class B to expert strength because they did not understand how to win certain types of endings. I think anyone who reads this book can only improve in this phase of the game.
Useful As A Reference For The Endgame Fanatic.......1999-07-11
Even now, as a 2089 rated player, I still do not care for this encyclopedia of endgames. It definitely makes endgames seem dry, dull and incredibly difficult. Not for novices. If you can find Silman's interesting and educating "Essential Chess Endgames," try that instead. I had the misfortune, ten years ago when I learned the game, of having only this to study endgames. I've only recently gotten over my dislike of endgames. Good luck getting much practical use out of this textbook.
Average customer rating:
- good for kids
- INCREASES YOUR RATING BY 200
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Queen and pawn endings (Batsford chess books)
IU Averbakh
Manufacturer: Batsford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
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ASIN: B0006CQ5B0 |
Customer Reviews:
good for kids.......2004-11-24
great for kids it doesnt do much but its better thn lots of books like. I also recommend CA-ART program its awesome
INCREASES YOUR RATING BY 200.......2004-11-23
this book is rumored to increase your rating by 200 points. my chess coach says that this is true and has tried it on people. get this book if u want a rating jump.
Customer Reviews:
Execellent book! But how practical is it?.......2005-10-13
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.
If you really want to know.......2002-06-18
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.
Another great book by John Nunn.......2001-12-31
Half of all endings in chess consists of rooks and pawns. This book will improve your overall chess results. Just like a lot of endgame books, this book is an absolute essential due to the fact that the endgame determines whether you can win, lose or save a draw.
Another authoritative book by Nunn.......2001-05-13
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.
Useful Book for Players.......2001-04-20
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.
Book Description
Trying to trade stock, bond, commodity and currency markets without intermarket awareness is like trying to drive a car without looking out the side and rear windows—very dangerous. In this guide to intermarket analysis, the author uses years of experience in technical analysis plus extensive charts to clearly demonstrate the interrelationshps that exist among the various market sectors and their importance. You'll learn how to use activity in surrounding markets in the same way that most people employ traditional technical indicators for directional clues. Shows the analyst how to focus outward, rather than inward, to provide a more rational understanding of technical forces at work in the marketplace.
Customer Reviews:
Must Read.......2006-04-13
This is a book that everyone should read. Even if you don't trade this is a great book about economics and will help anyone to understand what moves the markets and why. There are numerous charts in this book comparing different markets to each other in a plain easy to understand format. As a technical book goes this one is easy to comprehend will give the reader a much greater knowledge of the markets and the economy in general. As a trader myself this is one of the best books out on this subject I know of and one of the best books I have read on trading period. As an example a few years ago lots of economists were talking deflation. If you had of read this book you would have known that we were not heading into a period of deflation but inflation. What is presented in this book is not an exact science but will give the reader insight to what the future economic situation will be.
If you liked this book, you'll love his new book...........2004-01-09
Those who were reluctant to accept the benefits of intermarket analysis after reading Intermarket Technical Analysis (1991) will find making the paradigm shift much easier after reading his latest book published in February 2004 called Intermarket Analysis. Murphy has the benefit of some monumental market events in the last three decades to demonstrate his case and he uses them to great effect.
As John pointed out in an interview for Stocks & Commodities magazine I did with him in December 2003, it was his original goal to write the quintessential intermarket book but then found the topic so involved that each chapter could have become a book. There is just so much to discuss. Attempting to cover anything but a small snippet in a review is sheer folly. It is also impossible to do the book justice.
Markets have become so interdependent in the last decade, a correlation that continues to strengthen with time. If those who suffered financial ruin between 2000 and 2002 had read Intermarket Technical Analysis, how many of them could have avoided huge losses and even profited from what occurred? We will never know for sure but is it a risk they anyone can afford to take, especially when considering that the cost of avoidance (cost of the book) is less than $50? For those serious about making money in the market and keeping it, his new book, Intermarket Analysis is an absolute must!
Matt Blackman - Technical writer/review and regular contributor to Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities Mag, Traders Mag (Europe), Working Money, Traders.com Advantage, SFO Magazine
The textbook on market forecasting.......2003-11-05
You'll learn a lot from this book. Most investors sit obsessively focused on the market averages. They'll cut on their TV and see the ticker on CNBC be in the green and feel elated or else they'll see it red and get worried. Murphy's book will show you how a study of the bond, currency, and commodities markets along with an analysis of the stock market will help you see the big picture and get a better feel for where the economy and all of the markets are going. The past 3 years has proven to us that just because the stock market has a rally doesn't mean we are on the verge of a big economic boom or a new bull market.
Murphy demonstrates how each of these four sectors interact with one another and the business cycles and if you can grasp the lessons he teaches you then you'll have a clearer understanding of what drives the financial markets. Once you understand these cycles you will be able to forecast the intermediate term trend of the markets. It really isn't that complicated.
The only negative about this book is that it reads like a textbook. It takes a theory of how these markets rotate with one another and demonstrates it with example after example. It takes work to get through the book, but the payoff is well worth it. In fact the lessons in this book are critical to anyone who wants to become a successful investor. In today's environment of rapid boom and bust in which market timing is critical they are more important than ever. Even though it is 10 years old, this is the best book on the subject.
Covers insights many miss.......2003-06-01
This book and its concept dwells into the area of the financial markets and how they affect each other. Its theory meshes with various other market theories in that if one market goes up, another may respond differently. This is one of the handful of books i would recommend to anyone beginning to get serious about the financial markets. I first picked this up in a state library, much to my amazement it was brand new and never borrowed, much like a lot of the information in it.
Badly needs updating & poorly executed.......2002-11-18
This book is old (1991) and does not cover the important
facet of sector rotation or how to intrepret this book into a meaningful stock play. Murphy in this book does not even hint at it, thus allot of this information is not truly useful. The concept is superb but the execution quite flawed.
Instead get the other Murphy book:Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Methods and Applications OR Martin Pring's new edition to his updated Complete Technical Analysis. Even Murphy's chapter in New Thinking in Technical Analysis: Trading Models from the Masters
was better than this book, despite its short 25 page conciseness.
Funnily his video on this topic DOES update the book and cover Sector Rotation so Murphy obviously is aware of the oversight.
This book is boring with no payoff. There is too much repitition with no real payoff (sector rotation); if you are truly interested in this important field of study look elsewhere.
Book Description
An in depth look at the tremendous potential of this vital market with expert advice from one of the foremost authorities. The foreign exchange market is the world's largest and fastest growing financial terrain. Despite its high trading volume, it is also a market little understood and little regulated. This definitive resource brings the universe of foreign exchange within reach of every investor. The revised edition includes complete comprehensive coverage of the euro and the latest historical and economic changes in the market.
Cornelius Luca, a renowned authority on international investing, draws on the insights of leading experts in diverse fields of specialty to explain every crucial aspect of foreign exchange. He provides investors with an arsenal of trading weapons, many on the cutting edge of technology. Demystifying the intricacies of these markets, the book includes:
Analysis of the mechanics of the market, the major players and markets, the pertinent risks, corporate trading, and methods of trading execution.
A thorough overview of foreign exchange instruments and major option strategies, with clear explanations of why currencies are traded and how to forecast currency behavior. An in-depth look at the three types of analysis: fundamental, technical, and econometric. Featuring 200 charts and graphics, TRADING IN THE GLOBAL CURRENCY MARKETS is an indispensable guide to a daunting yet promising financial playing field.
Customer Reviews:
Notionistic.......2006-08-26
The book contains a lot of undigested info on trading in currency markets, failing to explain much of the things it illustrates.
Those who rate above 3 probably did not read through.......2005-09-05
The structure is good, topics are comprehensive, style is concise.
The problems,
The book seems did not proof read carefully. There are many typos, very confusing.
Especially in the second part, which is about technical analysis, it does not explain details when they are needed. And it lacks proper explanations for figures. Some figures do not match patterns he described.
This guy, Luca, seems to be famous. He is maybe good at trading himself and he is able to write a good book, but he just did not put himself into it.
Tradeoff in practicality for information.......2005-04-23
This book turned out to be quite different from what I was expecting. By the cover, I thought it would be about finding a brokerage account, and then getting set up to trade away. To my surprise it was more of an educational textbook than a "do it yourself" guide for individual investors.
However, this book contains a lot of interesting information about foreign exchange and how it works. It discusses the history of foreign exchange, factors that influence it, terminologies used by traders, and the different means that currency is traded. The primary focus is the multimillion-dollar trades put forth by large firms. It serves as a good reference and a good supplement to other readings about finance/economics in general. Since it covers a wide range of topics and somewhat glosses over them quickly, I suggest reinforcing with other more specific books on economics.
The good points are that it contains much useful information for educating yourself in the foreign exchange area. The downside is that it is not a practical guide for people interested in getting their dollars converted to Euros by this evening.
Background, but not greatly practical.......2005-02-16
Luca has written what is essentially a text book for the foreign exchange market. That is good in that he provides a survey of the market, its history, how it works, etc. If you want to learn about the market, this book contains the information you desire. It reads like a textbook, though. If you want something to help you actually trade the market, look elsewhere.
Well informed author but poorly written book.......2005-01-11
The author clearly has had experience in the foreign exchange market, but the writing style is so poor that very little useful information is presented. The book reads like an economics text book from the 60's. If you are hoping for a book that will give you specific pointers on spot trading the forex market, this will disappoint. However, if you want to get a broad history and background on foreign exchange, this book is will be helpful.
Book Description
Completely updated third edition-insights into the lucrative foreign exchange markets for both beginner and expert traders.
A renowned authority on international investing brings the complex machinations of the foreign currency markets vibrantly to life. Cornelius Luca clearly and concisely analyzes the various currencies, market forces, and emerging technologies-and illuminates them all with real-world examples and graphics.
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Secrets of Rook Endings
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Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual
Secrets of Chess Endgame Strategy (Chess College S.)
Secrets of Attacking Chess
