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

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.

Keymer's queens

2/4/2025 – A queen is usually much stronger than pawns. But against far advanced passed pawns she has to be careful. In the diagram position, which is from a game between Vincent Keymer and Georg Meier, it is White to move and win. What would you do?

Endgame Magic #287: Bundesliga highlights

2/3/2025 – The German "Bundesliga" is arguably the strongest national league in the world, and many top players regularly travel to Germany to support their teams. In his Endgame Magic Show #286, Karsten Müller looks at endgame highlights from the Bundesliga, which played again last weekend. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Some rook endings are drawn, some are not

1/28/2025 – "All rook endgames are drawn" is a well-known witticisim that is often attributed to Tarrasch or Tartakower. It emphasises the drawish tendencies of rook endings. However, you still have to find the right moves. In the diagram position Black can draw with best play but in the game Black lost. Can you do better?

Pin and draw

1/21/2025 – Pure opposite colored bishop endings have a large drawish tendency. In the diagram position Black is a pawn down but can draw. How?

Mate ends the game

1/14/2025 – Despite the reduced material, mating attacks can still occur in endgames and should be kept in mind. In the diagrammed position, it is White to move, and he has a chance to attack Black's king and win. How?

Endgame Magic #286: Endgame highlights from the World Championship Match Gukesh vs Ding

1/13/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #286 Karsten Müller looks at endgame highlights from the World Championship Match Gukesh vs Ding Liren in Singapore, one of the highlights of the chess year 2024. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Tricky rooks

1/7/2025 – If two rooks fight against a queen, coordination and harmony are crucial. In the diagram position the rooks have to fight against the queen and two passed pawns. But Black can draw the game. How?

How a 12-year-old demystified Tal

12/30/2024 – It happened during a training session we arranged for three young talents in the ChessBase office. It was conducted by Dr. Karsten Müller, who is a leading endgame expert. Some time later, Karsten wrote an article in the (German language) Chess Calendar describing how the pre-teen Dommaraju Gukesh refuted a Tal brilliancy by the legendary Mikhail Tal. Here's an English translation of Karsten's article.
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