What it teaches
Grandmaster Lev Alburt, a three-time U.S. champion, and grandmaster Nikolai Krogius, also a trained psychologist, wrote Just the Facts! to give club players the endgame knowledge they actually need without the weight of an encyclopedia. It covers the essential theoretical positions, including key king-and-pawn endings, basic rook endings, and minor-piece and queen endings, with clear explanations of the ideas behind each.
Part of Alburt's comprehensive chess course, the book is designed for self-study and emphasizes understanding over memorization.
Who it's for
Club players from about 1200 to 1800 who want a solid, compact foundation in endgame theory. It is a good alternative or companion to Silman's course.
How to get the most from it
Study one ending type at a time and play each key position out on a board. Test yourself by setting up the positions from memory a week later. If you can play the winning side against a friend or an engine without looking at the book, the knowledge is really yours. Keep a short notebook of the positions you found hardest and revisit it before tournaments.
Key takeaways
- A compact set of endgame facts covers most practical situations.
- Understanding the idea behind a position helps you remember it.
- King-and-pawn endings are the foundation of all endgame knowledge.
- Self-testing turns knowledge into reliable technique.
Read next
Compare with Silman's Complete Endgame Course, then advance to 100 Endgames You Must Know.
