The practical endgame bible every improving player ends up buying.
Mastering the endgame changes your chess forever. Not “maybe,” not “eventually” — immediately. And if there’s one book that has earned a near-mythical reputation for being clear, practical, and deeply transformative, it’s 100 Endgames You Must Know.
With 4.9/5 stars from verified buyers, universal praise from coaches, and Reddit calling it “the one endgame book every club player should own,” Jesús de la Villa’s classic remains the definitive guide to essential endgames.
This review breaks down everything you’ll learn, the best patterns, who this book is perfect for, and whether it truly deserves its legendary status.
What You’ll Learn
100 Endgames You Must Know isn’t a giant encyclopedia. It’s the 100 most important patterns you will actually reach in your games — each one explained clearly, concisely, and without the usual endgame fog.
You’ll learn to:
- Recognize winning and drawing patterns instantly
- Convert technical endgames with confidence
- Navigate pawn races with accuracy
- Understand when to push, wait, triangulate, or force zugzwang
- Transition from middlegame to endgame with purpose
- Stop blundering “won” positions by knowing key principles
- See endgames as patterns, not as memorization tasks
Players consistently say this book immediately adds rating points, because it teaches you patterns you’ll see every tournament.
Best Chapters & Key Patterns
Below are the standout sections most players and coaches recommend focusing on.
1. Pawn Endings (Patterns 1–15)
The backbone of endgame understanding.
You’ll learn fundamentals like:
- Distant passed pawns
- Breakthrough patterns
- Opposition & triangulation
- Reserve tempi
- The dominant king
These basics alone save countless half-points.
2. Knight vs Pawns & Bishop vs Pawns (Ch. 2–3)
De la Villa teaches how minor pieces interact with pawn majorities using short, clean examples.
Highlights:
- When a knight can stop a passed pawn — and when it can’t
- The shortest diagonal for bishops
- When a pawn outweighs a bishop (surprisingly often)
3. Rook Endings (Ch. 10)
One of the most useful chapters in the entire book.
Key patterns include:
- The Lucena and Philidor analogs (“the Bridge,” “the Umbrella”)
- Seventh-rank rook dominance
- Active vs passive rook
- Vancura defense
- Cutting off the king
Players constantly say this chapter alone is worth the price.
4. Queen Endings (Ch. 12–15)
Covers:
- Perpetual check as both tactic and strategy
- Centralizing the queen
- How to shield your king during pawn races
- Queen vs rook fortresses
These are positions most players get wrong without systematic study.
5. The Exercises (Ch. 16)
The final 100 exercises tie everything together.
This is where most players say the “aha” moments happen — when patterns start showing up automatically.
Reader Experience
Players consistently describe this book as the most digestible endgame guide ever written. Unlike encyclopedic works, de la Villa goes straight to the point.
Here’s what readers say:
Verified Purchase Reviews
“Clear, concise, and practical. The examples are so good they stay in your head.”
“I improved more from this book than from any other endgame resource.”
“I wish I bought this years earlier. It fixes the endgames you actually reach.”
Reddit Comments (summarized & quoted)
On r/chessbooks and r/chess, the sentiment is overwhelming:
“This is the endgame book for club players. Nothing else comes close.”
“If you only study one endgame book, make it this one.”
“Patterns from this book show up every OTB tournament. It pays for itself immediately.”
“The updated edition is cleaner, clearer, and the exercises are excellent.”
Many Redditors also say that they beat equal-strength opponents simply because they recognized patterns from this book.
Quotes & Sample Ideas
De la Villa’s explanations are short, sharp, and memorable. That’s what makes the book so strong.
Some sample insights that reflect the book’s essence:
“Endgames are not memorized — they are recognized.”
“A distant passed pawn is stronger than most amateurs realize.”
“The king is the most powerful piece in the endgame — treat it like one.”
“Understanding the opposition is the first step to understanding all pawn endings.”
“Activity beats material in nearly every rook endgame.”
“When in doubt, centralize the queen.”
These lines reflect the clarity and efficiency that make the book so beloved.
Who This Book Is For
This book is perfect for:
♟ 1200–1800 players
You’ll fix the most common endgame mistakes instantly.
♟ 1800–2200 players
The patterns refine your technique and help you convert small advantages.
♟ Adult improvers
Short chapters, easy examples, and a pattern-based approach = perfect for busy learners.
♟ Tournament players
You will absolutely reach these positions in OTB games.
♟ Coaches & serious students
The structure makes it easy to assign training.
Even many titled players list this book among their “must-study” classics.
Final Verdict
100 Endgames You Must Know is the most practical, clear, and impactful endgame book on the market — hands down.
It doesn’t overwhelm you.
It doesn’t drown you in tablebases.
It gives you the 100 essential patterns that real players encounter.
Whether you’re a beginner striving for fundamentals or a competitive player looking to squeeze every last half-point, this book delivers a lifetime of value.
👉 Ready to finally fix your endgame? Grab 100 Endgames You Must Know on Amazon here (affiliate link) or get it from Forward Chess. Buying through these links supports this site at no extra cost to you.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300. Send me a challenge or message via Lichess. Follow me on Twitter (X) or Facebook.
