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Karsten Mueller’s endgame course has already taken its place amongst the modern classics in the study of the endgame. Whereas the first 4 DVDs of his series were systematically organised according to the distribution of material, Volume 6 continues the explanation of general endgame principles begun in Volume 5. The principles dealt with in this DVD are domination and prophylaxis, not being over-hasty, zugzwang and schematic thinking. Domination is the goal of methods involving restraint and restriction. Gradually keep on forcing your opponent on to the back foot – that is often the simplest route to victory. Strategies for the restraint of the individual pieces are demonstrated, with a lot of emphasis on keeping knights on a short leash. Prophylaxis is an individual and extremely important way of thinking. You spot your opponent’s ideas and plans early on, so that you can take counter-measures in good time. The principle of not being over-hasty is one that has to be observed not only in the ending. Let Karsten Mueller show you the conditions under which you should take heed of it and specifically how you should employ it. Zugzwang, on the other hand, is a typical endgame phenomenon. Important techniques such as triangulation and the battle for reserve tempi are dealt with in detail. Schematic thinking is one of the few areas in which the human being is still superior to the computer. But be careful! No amount of schematic thinking can ever replace concrete calculation, and every rule of thumb has its exceptions. This DVD will help show you what to watch out for. Video runnig time: 5 hours.

Rook endings are amongst the most frequently encountered endgames there are. And it is precisely the area in which the effort put into training is particularly quickly repaid in the form of half and full points, because the knowledge of even a few rules of thumb and methods makes life a great deal easier and provides a guiding light even in complex positions. The second DVD in Karsten Müller’s series on the endgame was concerned with theoretical rook endings and was structured according to the distribution of material, but this DVD focuses on the themes which are to be found in rook endings. This course also starts with the endgame of rook against pawn because this particular constellation frequently occurs and can be understood and easily learned with the knowledge of a few techniques such as the bodycheck, intermediate check and the cutting off of the king. When looking at equally common complex rook endings, emphasis is placed on basic techniques (e.g. the umbrella) and rules of thumb (such as “rooks belong behind passed pawns”). But Karsten Müller also wants to help you with the training of your intuition. After all, the real art of the royal game can best be seen in the recognition of exceptions to the rules.

Endings with rook and minor piece against rook and minor piece occur very frequently, even more often than rook endings. But there is not much literature on them. The new endgame DVD fills this gap. The four different material constellations rook and knight vs rook and knight, rooks and opposite coloured bishops and same coloured bishops and rook and bishop vs rook and knight are dealt with. The last configuration has been split into two chapters as those endings where the side with the bishop is better are completely different from examples in which the knight is trying to win. Furthermore, the endgame expert looks at a few positions with four rooks to discuss the extremely important theme of the correct rook exchange. In view of the different material constellations Karsten Müller explains many guidelines like e.g. „With knights even a small initiative weighs heavily“, „Opposite coloured bishops favour the attacker“, „Space advantage and a good bishop are important with same coloured bishops“, „Fighting against a knight the bishop prefers open positions and a fluid pawn structure, the knight wants to have full control“. But Karsten Müller also wants to help you to train your intuition. After all the real art of the royal game can be best seen in the recognition of exceptions to the rules. Video running time: 7 hrs. 38 min.

Endgame theory forms the basis for chess. This becomes painfully clear as soon as a player has reached a clearly won endgame, yet must fi nally content himself with a draw because he lacks the necessary know-how. Does this sound familiar? Then avoid such accidents and make endgames your strength – by building up a solid endgame technique. With this second volume of his endgame training series, grandmaster and endgame expert Dr Karsten Mueller from Hamburg continues to lay the solid foundations for the last phase of the game. After dealing with basic endgames from giving mate with the queen to the basics of pawn endgames in part I, part II is dedicated exclusively to rook endgames: rook versus pawn, rook and pawn versus rook, rook and rook pawn versus rook, rook and two connected pawns versus rook. Those who have always found studying endgames with chess textbooks too dry and tedious will enjoy this DVD with its comfortable training system and benefi t enormously – in brilliant endgames at the actual board. Complete video running time: 5 hours. Author: Since 1988 grandmaster Dr. Karsten Mueller from Hamburg plays for the Hamburger Schachklub in the Bundesliga and in 1996 and 1997 he fi nished third in the German Championship. As an internationally renowned endgame expert he is the author of the endgame column in the ChessBase magazine and the author of the Endgame Corner column on ChessCafe.com. His book „Fundamental Chess Endings“, which he co-authored with Frank Lamprecht and which was published in 2001 by Gambit is already considered to be a modern classic.

Magic of Chess Tactics Chess Tactics are the art of combat command. When tactics dominate concrete action is required immediately in order to put a plan into practice or to grab an opportunity. However in complicated positions and with determined resistance basic tactics are often insufficient and intuition, imagination and precision are necessary. The Magic of Chess Tactics DVD helps to develop these qualities and hereto offers a multitude of highly interesting, thoroughly analysed examples as well as detailed explanations and exercises.

How should systematic chess coaching be structured so that students are able to use their freshly acquired knowledge in their own games? Author Stefan Becker came to an astonishingly simple answer. The solution to every chess problem lies on the board. So it’s quite logical that we should ask our pieces what they think about their future. But what do these discussions sound like, and what happens if the pieces have different or conflicting interests? This DVD provides the answers to these questions and more by working through a number of selected masterpieces. Suddenly it becomes clear how world-class players come up with their brilliant ideas. Stefan Becker illustrates his concept, talking to the pieces, by taking the role of the player in a number of games. German Grandmaster Dr. Karsten Müller lends his voice to the pieces and tries to express their feelings, aims, plans, wishes and fears. Becker then demonstrates how this feedback, together with calculation and new questions, leads to the right decisions over the board. Becker’s didactic concept can also be used by teachers to explain the inner workings of chess to their students. Video length: 4 h 17 min.