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Secrets of Rook Endings
An expanded edition of the book that first revealed the truth about the most fundamental rook endings
“I am sure that in fifty years' time Secrets of Rook Endings will be regarded as one of the great classics of the twentieth century. It is as close as any book can ever realistically come to perfection on its subject.” - GM Julian Hodgson, British Chess Magazine
The first edition of this book ushered in a new era in chess publishing. It was the first book based on computer-generated position databases that are guaranteed to provide the actual result of a position.
However, this book is no computer print-out. It takes a human ‘oracle’ to extract the useful information from this mass of data and to identify new principles to help the rest of us appreciate the key practical points. Dr John Nunn, top-class grandmaster and renowned theoretician, performs this role admirably. He has identified where previous theory has been overturned, and where there are important new results. Dr Nunn was also the first to reveal the general importance of the many ‘reciprocal zugzwang’ positions.
Dr John Nunn has been one of the world’s leading grandmasters for nearly twenty years and regularly competes in both grandmaster tournaments and domestic events. He has won four gold medals in chess Olympiads and in 1988-9 finished sixth overall in the World Cup. His books have won the British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award twice – and counting! His first book for Gambit, Secrets of Practical Chess , was an instant bestseller.
“Nunn's systematic approach as well his educational recaps, tips and generalizations help the reader to understand what is actually going on and make this book an essential tool for anyone who wants to improve his or her endgame skills. ... John Nunn has once again produced an excellent book which I can wholeheartedly recommend for the serious student. It is worth every penny - and more.” - Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe
“Nunn's excellent explanations and the huge amount of interesting material sustains the reader's interest. Rook and Pawn v Rook endings frequently occur, and so knowledge of them is quite invaluable.” - Richard Palliser, Hull Chess Club Magazine
“I am sure that in fifty years' time Secrets of Rook Endings will be regarded as one of the great classics of the twentieth century. It is as close as any book can ever realistically come to perfection on its subject.” - GM Julian Hodgson, British Chess Magazine
The first edition of this book ushered in a new era in chess publishing. It was the first book based on computer-generated position databases that are guaranteed to provide the actual result of a position.
However, this book is no computer print-out. It takes a human ‘oracle’ to extract the useful information from this mass of data and to identify new principles to help the rest of us appreciate the key practical points. Dr John Nunn, top-class grandmaster and renowned theoretician, performs this role admirably. He has identified where previous theory has been overturned, and where there are important new results. Dr Nunn was also the first to reveal the general importance of the many ‘reciprocal zugzwang’ positions.
Dr John Nunn has been one of the world’s leading grandmasters for nearly twenty years and regularly competes in both grandmaster tournaments and domestic events. He has won four gold medals in chess Olympiads and in 1988-9 finished sixth overall in the World Cup. His books have won the British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award twice – and counting! His first book for Gambit, Secrets of Practical Chess , was an instant bestseller.
“Nunn's systematic approach as well his educational recaps, tips and generalizations help the reader to understand what is actually going on and make this book an essential tool for anyone who wants to improve his or her endgame skills. ... John Nunn has once again produced an excellent book which I can wholeheartedly recommend for the serious student. It is worth every penny - and more.” - Carsten Hansen, ChessCafe
“Nunn's excellent explanations and the huge amount of interesting material sustains the reader's interest. Rook and Pawn v Rook endings frequently occur, and so knowledge of them is quite invaluable.” - Richard Palliser, Hull Chess Club Magazine
- GenresChess
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1993
14 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
John Nunn
139 books44 followersJohn Denis Martin Nunn is an English chess grandmaster, a three-time world champion in chess problem solving, a chess writer and publisher, and a mathematician. He is one of England's strongest chess players and once was in the world's top ten.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 20, 2022
First, from John Nunn's introduction:
"The publication of the 1st edition of this book in 1992 represented an innovation in chess literature. Based on the Ken Thompson computer databases, the ending R+P vs R was presented in a new light, based on the perfect knowledge of the 'Silicon Oracle'."
Now, for whom is this book?
Well, everybody wants to be good in the rook endgames - and to study them as little as possible.
To get a really good feeling of how to play the rook endgames one needs to go through all 573 examples+exercises. Yes, it takes time - but it's definitely worthwhile.
For players with limited time, each section ends with a paragraph of 'Practical tips'. There one can find the positions which have the greatest relevance for the over-the board play.
Again, here is what Nunn says:
"Learned endgame knowledge is at a premium in a quick-play finish. When you are tired after a long battle, working out a complex endgame against the clock is often impossible; if you don't already know what to do, then you are in trouble."
Indeed, I was watching (as arbiter) the game Huschenbeth vs Zueger (2012) when Black failed to reach the diagram 110 (White: Kb7, Rb5, a5; Black: Kd7, Rc1), a common drawing position - although it doesn't look promising for the weaker side. Indeed, as Nunn pointed out, the defender's task would be greatly eased if he knew this 'target' position.
"The publication of the 1st edition of this book in 1992 represented an innovation in chess literature. Based on the Ken Thompson computer databases, the ending R+P vs R was presented in a new light, based on the perfect knowledge of the 'Silicon Oracle'."
Now, for whom is this book?
Well, everybody wants to be good in the rook endgames - and to study them as little as possible.
To get a really good feeling of how to play the rook endgames one needs to go through all 573 examples+exercises. Yes, it takes time - but it's definitely worthwhile.
For players with limited time, each section ends with a paragraph of 'Practical tips'. There one can find the positions which have the greatest relevance for the over-the board play.
Again, here is what Nunn says:
"Learned endgame knowledge is at a premium in a quick-play finish. When you are tired after a long battle, working out a complex endgame against the clock is often impossible; if you don't already know what to do, then you are in trouble."
Indeed, I was watching (as arbiter) the game Huschenbeth vs Zueger (2012) when Black failed to reach the diagram 110 (White: Kb7, Rb5, a5; Black: Kd7, Rc1), a common drawing position - although it doesn't look promising for the weaker side. Indeed, as Nunn pointed out, the defender's task would be greatly eased if he knew this 'target' position.
Displaying 1 of 1 review