Is endgame study important?

that was full of truth.

It's important to know the very basics, i.e. how to checkmate with all the different pieces, how to calculate simple King and pawn positions, etc.

Endgame study can be turned into tactical puzzles; they are often times the same thing. Tactical puzzles can be taken from any part of the game. It's important to solve endgame tactical puzzles and know the basics otherwise you'll blow some games in an embarrassing fashion, i.e. blowing a two pawn lead, or losing when you're up a Knight, etc. because you don't know how to close out games in which you earned a winning position through superior tactics.

The first thing I learnt in chess (after the basic moves) was how to draw against a single pawn endgame (the king opposition). I was actually shocked, because I thought a single pawn advantage was enough to win ( at least that's what they said about top seeded games). So I figured there more to chess than I thought. Then I started studying rook endgames, The Philidor and Lucena positions and then realized that if a single rook can create so much counterplay, imagine having two rooks plus a queen plus bishops and knights and pawns as throwing knives!!! So I started to work my way backwards and finally realized how strong 1.e4 is!!! :)

Responding to the title of this thread:

I recently posted a thread involving an endgame (which turned out to be rather simple) that I found myself in, and was badgered by a few members for not having the wits of a first grader whom would be able to figure it out!

So, I suppose endgame study is relavent.

I think it is probably most helpful for situational things like K+P vs K. Otherwise, I'd say tactics in general, how to use pins, forks, skewers, etc. would be a good thing to study as it helps in all phases of the game.

If there are 2 good players on the same level, they will probarely get themself to the end game, the winner will the one who knows the end game better.

thanks for lots of info.

After joining Chess.com in 2008 and now it's 2024, I think it's best that I start with end games. I now regret it and should've started back in 2008.

Opening s come and go. . .

End games last forever . . .

😊

A good combination will result as the following:

A. Winning attack against the enemy king.

B. Material advantage

C Favorable Endgame

If you aren't good in endgames, you have two options only.

Yes. If a player isn't good at endings then all the advantages they've accumulated during the game won't pay off. & I'm pretty sure if u average all the serious tournament games for all of history (total # of moves) at least half the game is the ending, maybe more than 50%.

Meh I mean it is important but it is boring to me.

I am good at it but I would avoid it. I prefer explosive and more difficult middle games because it is more fun.

yes. It is absolutely important to study endgames, especially lost endgames turning into a draw or a win, or winning an endgame and trying to keep it winning

Yes

Endgames are very important. If you understand the potential of an outside passed pawn, the ways in which bishops are superior to knights in the endgame, the value of a good versus a bad bishop, the weakness of isolated pawns, etc. then it becomes easier to play the middlegame! You will know which pieces to exchange or to not exchange. You can use threats of reducing material to gain space in the middle game. The people who are downgrading the importance of the endgame clearly don’t understand endings. 

years ago, I gave lessons to a boy who had great promise. We started with the ending. I used Chernev’s Practical Chess Endings as the main reference. Only after dealing with endings did we move on to openings.

the comments here are great -- but my question to add--- is why worry about end game play or even study till it becomes a common thing to do -- my game is so bad that i never get to the end game part of the game --or i get timed out before i can move into that state -- so perspective is what we should be talking about what is the real first step in winning chess ???? thats what i need to know --

@LOSTATCHESS if you want to win a winning position, you have to study lots of endgames to win instead of draw. You will soon understand what is a draw. To win you must not draw---you must win. If you are bad at chess, i recommend doing lessons, puzzles, getting a coach, learning tactics, studying the lucena endgame, trying openings and their variations, looking at opening traps. The opening traps could be a sacrifice and then gaining the material back and making your opponent stuck while you develop your pieces. Also do rapid 30 min, so you can take your time and not play too fast while not worrying about time.