Fiancho Chess

Beginner to intermediate level

Endgame Essentials

The endgame knowledge every player needs: king and pawn endings, basic rook endings, and the key theoretical positions, set out step by step. Each topic ends with training positions where you practice converting the win or holding the draw.

Level
Beginner to intermediate
Format
.zip with a PDF workbook and PGN files
Study
Self-paced, self-study
Delivery
Instant download link by email and on screen

Self-study material. This course is a written workbook with PGN files. There is no video, no live instruction, no coaching, and no feedback on your games.

Full contents

What the course covers

The workbook is organized into the parts below. Each part explains its ideas first, shows them in annotated examples, and then gives training positions with worked solutions.

  1. Endgame principles

    King activity, passed pawns, and how the value of the pieces changes once the queens are off the board.

  2. King and pawn endings

    The square of the pawn, the opposition, key squares, outflanking, and races between passed pawns.

  3. Basic rook endings

    Active and passive rooks, cutting off the enemy king, rooks behind passed pawns, and the standard methods for the attacking and defending side.

  4. Key theoretical positions

    The essential won and drawn positions in rook and pawn endings, including the bridge-building method for winning and the third-rank defense for drawing.

  5. Converting an advantage

    How to turn an extra pawn or a better king into a win, step by step, without giving the opponent counterplay.

  6. Training positions

    Positions where you must find the winning or drawing technique, each with a fully worked solution.

Inside the workbook

Preview pages

Illustrations of representative pages, showing how the workbook is laid out: a training position, a worked solution and a section from the explanations.

Preview of a training position page: white to moveA workbook page showing a chessboard diagram, white to move, with the task: Can the white king catch the pawn?FIANCHO CHESSENDGAME ESSENTIALSTRAINING POSITIONWhite to moveabcdefgh87654321Can the white king catch the pawn?The worked solution follows in the solutions section.
Training positionA board diagram with the task stated underneath, the way every training position is set out.
Preview of a worked solution page: The square of the pawnA workbook page with a small diagram and the worked solution. 1.Kd3! The king steps into the square a4-a1- d1-d4, so it is in time. 1...a3 2.Kc2 a2 3.Kb2 The pawn falls on the next move. The rule If the king can step into the pawn’s square, it catches the pawn.FIANCHO CHESSENDGAME ESSENTIALSWORKED SOLUTIONThe square of the pawnPOSITIONWhite to moveTHEMEKing against pawn1.Kd3!The king steps into the square a4-a1-d1-d4, so it is in time.1...a3 2.Kc2 a2 3.Kb2The pawn falls on the next move.The ruleIf the king can step into the pawn’ssquare, it catches the pawn.
Worked solutionThe full solution line with the defensive tries and a plain-language explanation of each step.
Preview of an explanation page: The oppositionA workbook page from the explanations. When the two kings stand on the same file with one square between them, the side that does not have to move holds the opposition. In king and pawn endings this often decides whether a pawn promotes. Key idea: If you can take the opposition, the enemy king usually has to give way and let your king advance. Spare pawn moves matter too: a single tempo can hand the opposition back to the other side.FIANCHO CHESSENDGAME ESSENTIALSEXPLANATIONThe oppositionWhen the two kings stand on the same filewith one square between them, the sidethat does not have to move holds theopposition. In king and pawn endings thisoften decides whether a pawn promotes.KEY IDEAIf you can take the opposition, theenemy king usually has to give way andlet your king advance.Spare pawn moves matter too: a singletempo can hand the opposition back tothe other side.
From the explanationsAn explanation section introducing an idea, with a key point set apart for quick review.

Who it’s for

  • Players who reach endgames but are unsure of the standard techniques.
  • Players who want to learn the key theoretical positions properly, one at a time.
  • Anyone who prefers to study endgames from a written workbook at their own board.

Who it isn’t for

  • Players looking for a deep reference on rare or complex endings.
  • Complete newcomers still learning how the pieces move.
  • Anyone looking for video lessons or personal feedback. This is a self-study workbook.

The download

What’s in the .zip

One download holds the whole course. Open the PDF in any PDF reader and load the PGN files into any chess software or online analysis board that opens PGN files. The FAQ explains how to open both.

  • PDF workbookThe explanations, board diagrams, training positions and fully worked solutions, organized by chapter.
  • PGN filesEvery position and line in the course, so you can load them into any chess software or online analysis board that opens PGN files.

Delivery and refunds

Your download link arrives by email right after payment and is shown on the confirmation screen. Any purchase can be refunded in full within 14 days, no reason required.

Delivery PolicyRefund Policy