'And the rest is a matter of technique' is an annoyingly common phrase used in chess literature. The implication from the author is that the task of converting a typically winning position into a full point or converting a drawing position into half-a-point is relatively straightforward. However, as all of us practical players realise, it's not always a simple as this, and many hard-earned points are wasted through 'a lack of technique'.

In this valuable book Jacob Aagaard aims to solve this perennial problem. He arms the reader with several endgame weapons that every strong technical player has in his toolbox. These include important skills such as schematic thinking, domination, preventing counterplay, building fortresses and utilising zugzwang. These tools are illustrated in deeply analysed games containing numerous different themes. A serious study of this book will ensure that the reader need no longer need fear the word 'technique'!

• Ideal for club and tournament players

• Includes all the principal tools of technique

• Written by an experienced endgames expert

List of Content

005 Bibliography

007 Acknowledgements

009 Chapter One: The Endgame

011 What is the endgame?

012 Keep your strongest piece active!

015 Chapter Two: Seven Technical Tools

015 1) Schematic thinking

025 2) Weaknesses

025 The basic definition of a weakness

026 Basic pawn weaknesses

029 Potential weaknesses and the creation of weaknesses

033 Hooks

042 Pawn islands

050 Doubled pawns

053 3) Domination

064 4) Do not hurry, and the prevention of counterplay

070 The prevention of counterplay

075 5) Passed pawns

090 6) How to arrange your pawns in the endgame

098 7) Freaky aspects of the endgame

100 Zugzwang

107 Stalemate

111 Fortresses

113 Attack on the king

119 Absurd examples

126 Chapter Three: Advanced Ideas

127 Broadening

129 Tying the knot

135 Good knight vs. bad bishop

145 When bishops are stronger than knights

157 Pure bishop endgames

162 The advantage of two bishops in the endgame

170 Technique as a way of playing

177 Complex examples