Practical Chess Endings by Keres

This is an essential practical book, for all chess players, from one of the world's greatest grandmasters. Rather than attempting to cover every theoretical possible endgame position, Paul Keres deals with the basic types of position into which all other endgames will eventually be resolved. He examines these in great detail and, in so doing, reveals the fundamental principles of the endgame and the main ideas for each player.

It is not by memorizing moves but by understanding the basic positions that a player, of whatever rating, will most improve his endgame play. For this reason, Keres does not simply point out the best move; rather he explains the positions in such a way that the reader's understanding will lead, almost automatically, to the best move.

Paul Keres who lived in Tallin Estonia is one of the greatest chess players of all time. From 1937 to 1965 he was a serious contender for the World Championship title, coming third in the 1948 World Championship Tournament. He had also been placed second in no less than four of the Candidate's' events. He was always an Estonian patriot, even though he had to keep quiet about it during the years of Soviet rule. His picture appears on both the money and the postage stamps of Estonia.