MagnusCarlsen’sbrilliantendgameplayisoneofthekeyreasonsforhissuccess.TheWorldChessChampioncanwinpositionswhichlookdrawntoanybodyelse.Andmorethananyotherplayer,heisabletosavebadendings.ForthissecondvolumeofMagnusCarlsenEndgameVirtuoso,InternationalMasterTiborKarolyihasselectedCarlsen’sbestendgamesfrom2018-2022,whereasthefirstvolumecovered1999-2017.ReviewingthesenewgamesandexplainingwhatMagnuswasdoing,theauthorwasthoroughlyimpressed.EvenCarlsen,whoin2017wasalreadythebestendgameplayerofalltimewithAnatolyKarpov,hadmanagedtoimprovehisskillsfurther.Carlsenhasitall.Hecanfinddeepideas,playverytechnically,andisexceptionallywell-versedinstrategicandtacticalendgames.TheauthorisconvincedthatthisnewselectioncontainsevenbetterandmoreinstructivegamesthanVolumeone.Karolyiexplainsthegeneralideasinthegamesandgivesconcretevariations.Exploringtheseannotatedendgames,youwillsoongetagoodsenseofwhatishappening.YouwillfindoutthatCarlsendoesnotrushunlessitisnecessary.YouwilllearnhowCarlsenincreasesthepressureandusesallavailableresources.Andyouwillseethatsoonerorlater,hisopponentswillstartplayingsecond-bestmoves,feelinguncomfortable,followingupwithsomedubiousdecisions,and,finally,cracking.EndgameVirtuosoMagnusCarlsen-Volume2isahighlyinstructive,inspiringandentertainingbook.ItwillhelpyouappreciateMagnus’endgamemagicandimproveyourskillsinthisimportantgamephase.
