Boroljub Zlatanovic: The Practical Endgame Bible

Thinkers' Publishing, paperback, Englisch, ISBN: 978-9464-201-74-1, 496 Seiten, 2023.

Guidelines for the Fundementals of the Endgame.

Foreword from Kiril Georgiev:

In his new book, The Practical Endgame Bible,  Boroljub Zlatanovic is reviewing a variety of endgame strategies. The various moves (good and bad), critical moments, future strategy for both sides are well explained and emphasized by the author. It includes topics such as “The Center", "Exchanging Pieces", "The Active King", and "Activity and Harmony". I really like that the book is focused on human thinking and explanations and not just on plain computer analysis. The book is great for starting and professional Players alike.


It is a well-known fact that endgames are the basis of chess. Simply, you must know endgames, for instance to be able to build a good plan in the middlegame (and even in the opening if you are a true master). Good opening theory knowledge and the decision-making process and planning in the middlegame would just not be enough if you do not know how to convert in the endgame. This is why all serious chess education from its beginning must start with the endgame. Of course, one starts with trivial and simple endgames, to be later upgraded with typical ones. However, after reaching a certain level it is necessary to investigate endgames much more deeply - to pay attention to more universal and complex elements, ideas and principles. Not surprisingly some universal principles (such as activity, harmony,
controlling the open file etc.) are valid not only in the middlegame but they still keep an important role in the endgame!

There are many books devoted to basic endgames, even from the Middle Ages. Principles of typical endgames (such as keeping the rook behind a passed pawn, not
setting pawns on the same colored squares as your bishop’s, distant pawns being more dangerous than central ones etc.) are well known too. But what about "complex endgames"? I have in mind endgames with at least two pieces on each side; well I don’t find them often nor sufficiently well-explained in the past! It is exactly this fact (together with my passion and great endgame experience) that has motivated me to write this book (many friends simply call me “Endgame Wizard” ).

Over two decades of working as a coach has confirmed my opinion that endgames are the biggest problem for young players. Today, in the computer era with a lot of
information easily provided, youngsters all over the world rather play blitz, or solve some tactical puzzles in a manner that is "the faster the better" (or even spend time
on some other chess disciplines). All of this neglects the basis of Chess - the importance of endgames! It is not uncommon that everyday you can be witness to some strange endgame misunderstanding, even at the top level.

This is why I consider some of my favorite endgame books based on logic as the best I've ever read – I learned the endgame from some of the best endgame players
and authors. And this is why I want to fill that gap in chess literature and to share my devotion, ideas, principles, opinions with you! I hope you will enjoy this material
and I am pretty sure you will broaden your endgame horizons.

The material is separated into 15 chapters that I found essential to cover all the ideas that I had in mind. Logically, I started with more important principles (like the
center and activity of the king) which will be widely used later in the book as well. The most specific principles are analyzed at the end. So, for this reason I suggest
that you should not skip examples.

Enjoy and welcome!
Boroljub Zlatanovic, November 2022

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