Karsten Müller

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

Recent news

Knights are tricky

4/22/2025 – In the diagram position it is White to move and win. He is a pawn up, but has to keep an eye on Black's f-pawn - and should not forget that knights are tricky pieces! What should White do to win the game?

Endgame Magic #294 - with Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler: Endgame highlights from the European Championship

4/21/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #294, Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler look at endgames from the European Championship that was won by German Grandmaster Matthias Blübaum. German Grandmaster Frederik Svane finished in second place. In the course of the tournament, both showed their endgame skills. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Small army, strong attack

4/15/2025 – Mate ends the game - a good reason to look out for mating attacks, even in position with only a few pieces left on the board. In the diagram position Black played 76...Rh1?, a mistake that allowed White to end the game in fine fashion. How?

Endgame Magic #293: Highlights from the American Cup

4/14/2025 – In his Endgame Magic Show #293, Karsten Müller looks at endgame highlights from the American Cup. In one of the endgames picked by Karsten, Abhimanyu Mishra showed his defensive skills and his endgame knowledge. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

A good knight

4/8/2025 – In a fight bishop against knight, the knight usually wants to keep things under control while bishops like dynamics. In the diagram position it is White to move and win. What would you do?

Endgame Magic #292: Endgame highlights from the Bundesliga

4/7/2025 – In his Endgame Magic Show #292, Karsten Müller looks at endgame highlights from the German Bundesliga, arguably the world's strongest national league. Enjoy! | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Passed pawns - criminally dangerous

4/1/2025 – "The passed pawn is a criminal who should be kept under lock and key" is a famous quote by Aron Nimzowitsch. In the diagram position, White has failed to keep the passed pawn on c3 under control. Black to move and win!

Endgame Magic #291: Endgame highlights from the Chess Festival Prague

3/31/2025 – In his Endgame Magic Show #291, Karsten Müller presents endgame highlights from the Challengers Tournament of the Chess Festival Prague 2025. Enjoy! | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Esipenko's king

3/25/2025 – Attacks do happen in endgames and often the attacking king joins in. In the diagram position it is White to move - what should he do?

Endgame Magic #290: Endgame highlights from the Bundesliga

3/24/2025 – In his Endgame Magic Show #290, Karsten Müller presents endgame highlights from the German Bundesliga, arguably the world's strongest national league. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Small army, strong attack

3/18/2025 – Sometimes, even a few pieces are enough to create a powerful mating attack. In the diagram position White is a piece up, but has to find a way to parry Black's attack. Any ideas?

The better king

3/11/2025 – The activity of the king is often a crucial factor in endgames. In the diagram position it was Black to move and he used his better king to win the game. How?

Counterplay counts

3/4/2025 – Material is reduced in endgames, but attacks on the king still happen endgames. In the diagram position it is Black to move and draw. How?

Capablanca's Rule

2/25/2025 – In endings with bishops of the same colour it is often good for the attacking side to put their pawns on squares of the opposite colour. This gives the king room to maneuver and the enemy pawns can be attacked. As Black demonstrated in the diagram position - what would you do?

Outposts

2/18/2025 – Knights often need outposts to defend against bishops. In the diagram position Black's knight has no safe outpost and this allows White to win. How?

Endgame Magic #289: Endgame highlights from 2024

2/17/2025 – In his Endgame Magic Show #289, Karsten Müller looks back to 2024 and presents a highly subjective selection of endgames that have impressed him in the last year. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

The umbrella

2/11/2025 – Rook checks are an important defensive technique in rook endings, and it is good to know ways to defend against this rain of checks: one way is to hide behind the enemy pawns using these pawns as an "umbrella". Can White use this technique to win the diagram position?

Endgame Magic #288: Endgame highlights from Wijk

2/10/2025 – In his Endgame Magic Show #286, Karsten Müller looks at endgame highlights from the Tata Steel Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, which Praggnanandhaa won after defeating World Champion Gukesh in a dramatic tiebreak. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.
Scroll down to reload more
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.