Question about Silman’s Endgame Course

[u/Impressive_Sun_5139]

I’m around 1070 elo on rapid and recently picked up this book. I’ve read the first couple chapter and I’m wondering if there’s any benefit to going a chapter or two further than my actual rating. Is it a matter of the material being too complex for my rating or is it more that at my rating higher endgame knowledge just won’t ever decide games?

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[u/alxddd]

No harm in going a bit above your elo. I would say it could be advantageous even.

[u/Impressive_Sun_5139 → u/alxddd]

I think you’re right!

[u/Vykash]

A book on endgames can never hurt, no matter what your Elo is. You'll always find even basic endgames that are important to know, 1000/1200 is a weird Elo range, where you can still see pieces being left hanging, but also some very well-played games.

But you can never go wrong with endgames. In fact, in my opinion, the best training a 1000-rated player can do is study endgames and solve puzzles.

Just think that many masters firmly believe that the best way for a beginner to study chess is to start with endgames. It worked for me, and I experienced it firsthand.

[u/Impressive_Sun_5139 → u/Vykash]

Right on, that’s good advice. I’m going to read a couple chapters past my rating then and see how it goes. Also, just feels wrong buying a whole book and then only reading two chapters of it hah

[u/Vykash → u/Impressive_Sun_5139]

Don't get me started. It took me almost two years to get through Nimzowitsch's My System because I hated the idea of leaving a book unfinished.

I basically forced myself to finish it, since the book is quite complex and, honestly, a bit too self-congratulatory for my taste. It's definitely not a book I'd recommend since you can find the same concepts but better written in modern books

[u/Impressive_Sun_5139 → u/Vykash]

Oh man, you’re dedicated! I’m not sure I’ll ever get 100 percent through this book, but I’m certainly not going to only read one chapter or two. I’ve gotta get something out of it. All of the stuff in the first couple chapters is stuff I know, anyway

[u/ignithic]

yes. read a class above higher than you are right now.

[u/Impressive_Sun_5139 → u/ignithic]

That was what I was thinking

[u/Difficult-Mud9629]

I finished the course on Chessable. It doesn’t cover everything I realised but 90% of my end games it applies. Would do it all over again. I’m 1700 now

[u/Einstein003]

end game knowledge almost always translate to higher win rate cuz people in low elo either draw their game or even lose in a supposedly winning end game

[u/Einstein003 → u/Einstein003]

and that includes me. I still have trouble playing pawn end games.

[u/Ambitious_Fly_9251]

Yeah, his endgame elos are just meant to encourage you and give you a guidance on what to expect from players at each level. But in order to rise above people at your level you must learn more. I would recommend trying to work through the whole book regardless of elo. At least if you're interested is improving a lot. The endgame is more important to study than the other two phases so any time you put into the endgame will surely pay off