Karsten Müller

Karsten Müller, born 1970, has a world-wide reputation as one of the greatest endgame experts. He has, together with Frank Lamprecht written a book on the subject: “Fundamental Chess Endgames” in addition to other contributions such as his column on the website ChessCafe as well as in ChessBase Magazine. Müller's ChessBase-DVDs about endgames in Fritztrainer-Format are bestsellers. The PhD in mathematics lives in Hamburg, where he has also been hunting down points for the HSK in the Bundesliga for many years.

Recent news

Endgame Magic with Mihail Marin

1/21/2020 – First the work then the fun, Karsten welcomes back repeat Endgame Magic guest GM Mihail Marin. Live at 14:00 UTC (15:00 CET; 9:00 AM EST) and on-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!

Finding a way

1/21/2020 – Apparently simple pawn endings are often, in fact, surprisingly tricky. In the diagrammed position, is there a way for White to win convert his extra-pawn?

Endgame Magic with Sipke Ernst

1/14/2020 – Karsten's first GM guest of the year is Dutch GM Sipke Ernst. Live at 9:00 UTC (10:00 CET; 4:00 AM EST) and on-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!

Slalom

1/14/2020 – Stalemate can cause trouble. Black can win in the diagram, but not straightforwardly.

Endgame Magic: Best endgames of 2019

1/7/2020 – Wrapping up the last year, Karsten dedicates this show to a review of the best endgames of 2019. Live at 13:00 UTC (15:00 CET; 9:00 AM EST) and on-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!

An amazing knight

1/7/2020 – Sometimes knights appear slow and sluggish. But knights can also be nimble, swift and very versatile. To wit, see how this valiant steed in the diagram below does battle against a veritable hoard of black pawns.

Passed pawns push ahead

12/31/2019 – Endgames with bishops of opposite-colour are often difficult to win. In the diagram position White is a pawn down but can still save the game.

Not dim: a bishop on the rim

12/24/2019 – Endgames with bishops of the same colour are often a draw. Not as often as endgames with opposite-coloured bishops, but they are still difficult to win. In the diagram position White is a pawn down but can still save the game.

The art of stalemate

12/17/2019 – "All rook endings are drawn", is a well-known witticism that contains more than a grain of truth. One reason for the drawish tendencies of rook endings is the fact that even a single pawn often draws against the enemy rook.

The many faces of opposition

12/10/2019 – In chess, opposition means that the square around the kings has corners of the same colour. However, all four (or two) corners must have the same colour. Then the side which is not to move has the opposition.

Endgame Magic with Roeland Pruijssers and Nico Zwirs

12/3/2019 – Today Karsten welcomes GM Roeland Pruijssers and IM Nico Zwirs. Live at 14:00 UTC (15:00 CET; 9:00 AM EST) and on-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!

The last pawn

12/3/2019 – The endgame K+R+B against K+R is a theoretical draw. Therefore, the better side should take good care of its pawns before this endgame is reached.

Bodycheck

11/26/2019 – In pawn endings it is often crucial to stop the enemy king from getting to good squares. Here, the "bodycheck" is an important device that is good to know and to remember.

Endgame Magic with David Howell

11/21/2019 – Today Karsten welcomes GM David Howell, who's visiting Hamburg and popped in for an impromptu visit. Live at 14:00 UTC (15:00 CET; 9:00 AM EST) and on-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!

Catching pawns

11/19/2019 – Knights are versatile but slow. Sometimes they even have difficulty catching a single pawn.

Endgame Magic with Harikrishna

11/13/2019 – Today Karsten welcomes Indian GM P Harikrishna, the current world number 27, and a 2700-rated Grandmaster. Can Karsten stump him? On-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!

In a choke

11/11/2019 – In a pure endgame a rook is usually much better than a bishop but winning often still requires good technique.

Endgame Magic with Karsten Mueller and Padmini Rout

11/6/2019 – Today Karsten welcomes Indian IM Padmini Rout. Live at 13:00 UTC (14:00 CET, 8:00 AM EST) and on-demand for ChessBase account holders. Don't have an account yet? You can register a free 90-day account to watch!
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