12/8/2020 – Of course, it is usually good to promote a passed pawn as fast as possible. But chess is simply not that simple, and sometimes haste indeed makes waste. The diagram position is an example. Why is it a mistake to queen the pawn immediately? And what is a better move?

12/1/2020 – Pawn endings often require knowledge and precise calculation. And sometimes a (temporary) retreat is the best (and only) way to make progress.

11/24/2020 – Some endings are simple: you have a passed pawn that wants to push ahead and therefore your king also pushes ahead to support the pawn or enter the enemy's camp. But things are rarely that easy. In the diagram position White's pawn wants to push ahead and White's king can also push ahead to support his own pawn or to attack the black pawns on the queenside. But is that really the way to save the draw?

11/17/2020 – Connected passed pawns can be very dangerous - in the middlegame but of course also in the endgame. However, as dangerous as connected passed pawns may be, sometimes they need a little help from their king. Do you see how the white king can effectively support his pawns in the diagram position?

11/10/2020 – Rook endings have drawish tendencies and often being one or even two pawns up is not enough to win. However, rook endings are also complicated enough to offer both sides a lot of opportunities to go wrong and good chances to win or draw if the opponent does not find the best moves.

11/3/2020 – Rooks are of course stronger than bishops, and there is a reason why giving up a rook for a bishop is called exchange "sacrifice". But of course there are many positions in which a rook is not stronger than a bishop. In the middlegame and in the endgame. The diagram shows one example. Can you find way to save the position for Black?

10/27/2020 – Sometimes keeping distance is a good idea but in chess isolated pawns are usually weaker and more vulnerable than connected pawns. The diagram position is a good example. What did Black play?

10/20/2020 – Rook endgames have drawish tendencies. One reason for this is the fact that the rook of the defending side can often harass the enemy king with a series of checks. However, if the king is too close to the rook, this ressource usually fails.

10/13/2020 – It is helpful to know a couple of theoretical endgame positions - they might come up in a practical game or knowing them might help you to win an important or less important blitz game. Centurini's draw is the most important theoretical position in the endgame bishop and pawn against bishop.

10/6/2020 – Knights are ideal to block passed pawns. However, in the diagram position White's knight on the rim cannot stop the black pawns. If Black is careful and proceeds with precision.

9/29/2020 – This middlegame-guideline also applies in the endgame if not only the bishops remain on the board. However, attacking the enemy king with only a few pieces can be tricky. How does White win in the diagram positon?

9/23/2020 – Who is better, the bishop or the knight? It depends. In the endgame, when both sides fight on both wings, the bishop is usually better than the knight. But not always. One such exception is the diagram position. Here, the knight is better than the bishop. But how does Black win?

9/15/2020 – Rook endings have drawish tendencies, and sometimes being one or even two pawns up is not enough to win. But despite their drawish tendencies rook endings can be very sharp and full of hidden tactics. Especially, if both sides have far advanced passed pawns.

9/8/2020 – Claus-Dieter Meyer and Karsten Mueller present the "Magical Endgames Fritztrainer", their third collaboration. Sadly, Claus-Dieter Meyer passed away in March 2020, but he finished his work on this DVD before, including notes and comments. Endgame expert Karsten Mueller analyses and explains important endgame techniques and presents a number of fantastic games. The volume concludes with helpful interactive exercises and is a treasure for everyone who likes the endgame and wants to improve in chess.

9/8/2020 – Endings with opposite coloured bishops are often drawish but can also be very exciting because material is less important. This again and again leads to surprising and aesthetically pleasing sacrifices.

9/1/2020 – Usually passed pawns should be pushed, but there is no rule without exception! What is Black’s best move in the diagram? Endgame specialist Karsten Müller demonstrates why one should always calculate carefully not to spoil a winning position in the final stages of the game.

8/28/2020 – The newest Master Class has arrived with Armenian Grandmaster Tigran Petrosian. The former world champion has left a huge legacy with his positional and strategical play. No wonder his nickname was “Iron Tigran” — he could defend positions better than almost anybody else! Dr. Karsten Müller, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Yannick Pelletier present high quality analysis and tactics training in the 13th instalment of the series. A must-have for your collection!

8/25/2020 – A bishop is often much stronger than a knight when passed pawns are trying to promote on two different flanks of the board. Endgame specialist Karsten Müller demonstrates the winning technique to convert this position into a win, and shows how reacting wrongly to a ‘spite check’ can completely change the evaluation in a single move.

8/18/2020 – The "bodycheck" is the most important pattern in the endgame rook against pawn. The term, of course, is borrowed from the game of hockey and it describes the situation when one king takes away an important square from the other king.

8/11/2020 – Due to the colour blindness of the bishop there are often fortresses in pure endgames. In the following case White can either reach the saving corner h1 or Ponziani's old fortress.

8/4/2020 – Far advanced connected passed pawns are often very dangerous in the endgame.

7/28/2020 – Pawn endgames always must be calculated carefully. | Endgame theory constitutes the foundation of chess. You realize this in striking clarity once you obtain a won endgame but in the end have to be content with a draw in the end because of a lack of necessary know-how. Such accidents can only be prevented by building up a solid endgame technique.

7/21/2020 – This is a crucial question in chess. After all, once pieces have been exchanged they can never return. There are times when you need to keep them on the board, and others when you need to part with them at once. Yet another instructive lesson by endgame specialist Karsten Muller.

7/14/2020 – Usually an extra bishop can easily draw against two pawns. But if the two pawns are supported by their king things might get tricky for the defender. Especially if his own king is too far away to help.