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

Endgame Magic #302: More Endgame highlights from the Norway Chess Tournament

6/24/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #302, Karsten Müller continues to show endgame highlights from the Norway Chess Tournament. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Strong rook, strong pawn

6/24/2025 – In the diagram position White is winning because his h-pawn is far advanced and strong. What should White do to make the h-pawn count?

A strong duo

6/17/2025 – Queen and bishop can be powerful - which White proved in the diagram position. What did he do?

Endgame Magic #301: Endgame highlights from the Norway Chess Tournament

6/16/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #301, Karsten Müller shows a selection of endgames from the Norway Chess Tournament. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

The Luftloch

6/10/2025 – In the diagram position it is Black to move. She has a strong passed pawn on the e-file, but her back rank is weak. Is there a way to secure an advantage for Black?

Endgame Magic #300 - with Karsten Müller and Kostya Kavutsky: Highlights from the TePe Sigeman Tournament

6/2/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #300, Karsten Müller and his guest Kostya Kavutsky look at endgame highlights they discovered in games from the TePe Sigeman Tournament in Malmö. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Hiding away

6/3/2025 – In the diagram position White has dangerous passed pawns but has to find a way to overcome Black's resistance. What should she do?

A strong knight

5/27/2025 – When knights are strong, they can be very strong. In the diagram position it is White to move and win. What should he do?

Endgame Magic #299: Highlights from the Bundesliga

5/26/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #299, Karsten Müller looks at highlights from the German Bundesliga, arguably the world's strongest national team event. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Precision required

5/20/2025 – Pawn endings are often tricky and require precise calculation. In the diagram position it is White to move and win. What should he do?

Endgame Magic #298: Highlights from the Women World Championship, Part 3

5/19/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #298, Karsten Müller continues to analyse endgames from the Women's World Championship match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi. Defending champion Ju Wenjun won the match 6.5-2.5 and impressed with her endgame skills. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Endgame Magic #297: Highlights from the Women World Championship, Part 2

5/13/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #297, Karsten Müller continues to analyse endgames from the Women's World Championship match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi. Defending champion Ju Wenjun won the match 6.5-2.5 and impressed with her endgame skills. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

The power of passed pawns

5/13/2025 – In the diagram position it is Black to move - how should he parry White's check and how should he use his pawns to defeat White's bishop?

Bishop vs knight

5/6/2025 – In the diagram position White is a pawn up but still has to find a way to win. What should he do?

Endgame Magic #296: Ju Wenjun vs Tan Zhongyi

5/5/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #296, Karsten Müller analyses endgames from the Women's World Championship match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi. Defending champion Ju Wenjun won the match 6.5-2.5 and impressed with her endgame skills - but in the second game of the match these skills failed her. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Cutting off the enemy king

4/29/2025 – This weapon can be used by the attacking and the defending side. In the diagram position Black used it to hold the draw. How?

Endgame Magic #295 - with Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler: Endgame highlights from the European Women's Championship

4/28/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #295, Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler look at endgames from the European Women's Championship in April - Teodora Injac from Serbia won. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

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?
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