Good beginner endgame book?

I've read through some basic chess books, like Chernev's logical chess: move by move (awesome book), and Silman's complete book of chess strategy (which is more like a reference book than anything).  I've also spent some time with the tactics trainer, and I'm a consistent ~1550.  None of these things have explicitly taught endgame though, and if a game trades down to pawns and kings, I might as well resign.

Looking for a good, easy-to-follow endgame book with tons of pictures instead of paragraphs of moves.  I asked around in some of the live chess popular games, and was recommended:

Silman's complete endgame course, Seirawan's winning chess endings, Averbakh's chess endings: essential knowledge, and Nunn's understanding chess endgames.

What's your advice?

I have Silman's complete endgame book and I think it is great for the value ($16 I think on amazon?). If you've already read one of Silman's books then your aware of his presentation and writing style and can probably judge if you'd like it or not from your own experience. One of the biggest reasons I like it though is that he partitions the end game material by his suggested rating categories so you don't have to get over your head in the material if you don't want to (a class D player only need read the material up to class D, or C if they want to be "above the grade" in end game understanding as their rated peers of said rating category). It also has material good up to the master level which is what really adds to the value of the book in my opinion because it is as the title suggests, a complete end game book!

I have heard that Seirawan, Averbakh, and Nunn's works are also very good however I have not read any of those titles you mentioned so I can't personally vouch for them. I am a student though so I go with what seems like the biggest bargin for the buck which is one of the reasons I got Silman's book (also have his reassess your chess which I like a lot).

Karsten Mueller's "Fundamental Chess Endings" is also fantastic. He has a Chessbase DVD series out to go with it. However the videos may put you to sleep while you listen to his monotone/baritone explanations. If you can stay awake you will learn something. The concepts are very well explained and easy to follow.

"Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual" is probably one of the best books ever written. Requires work but anything good often does.

I like to contribute my two cents, if it is not too late…

1. Y. Averbakh, Chess Endings, Essential Knowledge

2. E. Znosko-Borovsky, How to Play Chess Endings (Note that this book is in descriptive notation)

After finishing these two books, I think you should be able to “find your own way”.

Silman for sure. It carries you from beginning to advanced player. I know you asked for beginner but it really does not get better than Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual IMHO. I am not sure I really agree with not learning from books like Dvorestsky because they are too advanced. Chess as a game does not get harder as you gain experience. Your competition gets harder.

If your the type to:
A) be playing Chess.
B) Buying books to get better and
C) can read the board and Chess notation

there really is no reason not to take advantage of the best from the beginning. I doubt you will not get the concepts, its really not hard to understand. It implementing the concepts that is challenging and that comes from playing and studying and having good books, tools and reference.

The big difference between beginner books and advanced books is that the beginner books are laid out in a way that is not overly imposing both in format and language while the advanced books are giving you a lot of information in a fairly dense format.

It's not like you are moving from High School Alegebra to college level Calculas when you pick up a more advanced book.

Far and away the most important thing to find out is whether its a good book or not. IMHO

I am just getting back in after 40 years out and I have not really started applying all the new Openings, Defenses, Midgame, Endgame etc... I am learning. I'm getting ready too because my lowly starting ELO is suffering. I started off buying the "Recommended" beginner books. BLAH...I then went out and got Nunn, Stilman, Dvoretsky, Aagaardvan der Sterren and their compatriots. I wish I had not wasted so much money on beginner books and had spent it on better "Advanced" books.

I have spent 3 months doing very little playing but ALOT of studying and going through PGN's, doing comparisons with Stockfish learning to use CPT and practicing against throttled Engines. In my VERY HUMBLE OPINION, it is a much bigger deal to learn how to study Chess than it is using beginner vs advanced books. If you have good and consistent study habits and methods you will have no problem understanding what the various IM's and GM's are talking about in their books. Just get good books and put in the time. Spend some time really researching and putting together a good study plan and schedule. Then stick to it.

I hope that helped some.

For most of us, studying endgames feels like practicing scales on a piano: not so much fun. If you are like that, starting with a thin book is very good because it is easier to pick up and study because you can hope to finish it soon. There are many but Averbakh is no mistake:

Y. Averbakh, Chess Endings, Essential Knowledge

Dvoretsky is an excellent manual for everyone. It is not organized like Silman where you start on page 1 and work systematically [although some do]. My suggestion is get Dvoretsky and when you play and endgame, look it up and study it there afterwards. Although the sections can be disconnected from one another, Each section is extremely clear.

Aside from those 2, I'll recommend 'Endgame Strategy'- a thin book that will almost immediately improve your winning rate, and Chernev's 'Greatest Endings of Capablanca' [or similar title], a super clear book that is a master class on how to win even endings.

After those you know what you need to study next.

On the other hand, if you are the kind of person who can start on p1 and go systematically thru a thick book, get Silman. For that purpose, it is the best! --Bill