by GM Ley Alburt and GM Nikolay KrogiusPupasned Dy: ‘Chess Information and Research Center For oneriog information, pcase see page 412, ‘istoutin tn the book trae by: ‘WoW, Norton, $00 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY sun. Ealing & Design (Outtxcel! Corporation Al Laverence, President Art Director Jami L, Anson ‘Art Consultant Lev Maximov Eadtorial Consultants Jonathan Crumiller, lan Kantor Peter Kurzdorier Cover Mark Kostabis painting "Red Hianded™ Drawings Jami L. Anson Photos courtesy ‘The Choss Cafe ‘wrwechessca.com US. Chess Federation www.nschess. org Bill Hook Computer Analysis: ‘ChessBase USA ‘wiv chessbaseusa.com © Copyright 2000, 2001. Lev Alburt and Nikolay Krogius All rights reserved {5m 1-889323-06-3 ‘Unrary of Congress Gataog Card Mamne: 9.066852 wos76s4z21 Printed in the United States of Aresia, ing, without forever flipping pages back and forth to find the relevant diagram, and without trying to keep a |2-move variation in your head, We've tied to produce Just the Facts! Winning, Endgame Knowledge in One Volume ina way that makes it enjoyable for you to get the most eu ofthe unique instruction it contains. Lots of dia- trams make it easier. And look for color-coded diagrams snd “break-out” that all your attention to the most mpor- tant positions and ideas. These will be especially worth revisiting and even commiting to memory. {A special note on notation and ranks. Just the Facts! uses the now universal algebraic notation. Tm the text, owever, when we discuss general rules—such as roks belonging on their seventh rank or the king being fet off om its fourth rank—we fall back on the English descriptive tradition of relative perspective. This techn is so widely used in both conversation and writing tht it ‘will come naturally to readers, adit obviates the use of tedious and confusing repetition ("The second rank for White, orth seventh for Black,” et) For more on notation, see volume | ofthe Comprehensive ‘Chess Course Yeow: le to read a chess book without squnt-Introduction “dt the facts, am Detective lo Friday ofthe popular 1950s Dragnet television eres, to counteserime witnesses temp a srs rom the essential points of the cose ve taken our cue from Jack Webb's famous Foragnet detective, In a hurry 10 solve a case, he wanted witnesses 10 give him quiekly "Just the facts" We know tha's what you want when you st down to spend your precious free time 19 improve your chess. Providing "just the facts" ofall the endings you're likey to encounter in lifetime of chess was a considerable chal Tenge, It required the eam of famous player, weiter, and teacher OM Lev Alburt and renowned endgame expert and trainer GM Nikolay Krogius. Their decades of bot cham- Pionship-level play and teaching on all levels, and their ‘een interest in producing the most helpful material poss- ble, fed to uniquely effective approach “The endgame isthe las ap in the race for ches victory. In another spots analogy, CS Purdy calle the ending the *puting” of chess. Joe Friday might ave said it was the pemetator's cour conviction that served as the epilogue of every episode of Dragnet. Whatever the metaphor, its clear tat, depending on your endgame knowledge, you can tither enjoy the vietory your hous of concentration in the ‘pening and middlegare have eared you, or you can spoil {tall Ifyou know some basic ideas and techniques, you fam even save some “lost” games, Such climaxes and anti- climaxes happen over and over in every chess tournament “The best news is that your endgame play can improve dea- rmateally in a very short ime—with the proper help. And areal knowledge of endgame play will never go out of fachioa, Here you have the essential ideas, principles and positions. Jus? che Fact! will serve you well through ‘any, many yeuts of chessboard bates Just the Facts! Winning Endgame Knowledge in One Volumes the final volume of the Comprehensive Chest CCowrse, a series tat has eared a special stats with chess players. Each ofits books has been a widely prised best seller since first publication. That's because each book is ‘careful distillation and explanation of hundreds of years of master practice and teaching The entire series focuses on making the most effective use ‘of your time. Only the important ideas are ineluded, No sidetacks down theoretical curiosities, No long, unex- plained lines that leave you seratching your head and look Ing at your watch. No asides that will lead you to a Jack Webb Stacato-like “Just the facts!" See page 412 ofthis book to order volumes of the course ‘After the hard work and high expectations, we'te very ‘oud thatthe seventh World Chess Champion, Vassily ‘Smyslov, could write: "The right endgame knowledge is the magic key to chess mastery. Just the Facts! gives you ‘tha key” At nero, Bvt Bins Foomer Execute Dic ofthe US. Chass Foderton