I have both. Silman's book is much easier to read and learn from, and it covers more material overall. There are one or two things that Pandolfini covers that Silman leaves out, but those are things that almost never come up in real games, which is why Silman chose to skip them.
--Fromper
Go with Silman's Complete Endgame Course. It's an awesome book, it explains everything you need to know for your strength level. It's a really nice book too, asthetically. Seriously, you'll love it. :)
So, does this imply that you would advise Pandolfini's for intermediate to advanced?
I think Pandolfini's book is for beginner to intermediate. I think what 'RetGuvvie98' was saying is that Silman's book does start right from the beginning. The book is laid out according to your rating, from beginners(unrated-999) to masters(2200-2399). He teaches you what he thinks you should know for your strength level. It's 520 pages long so it's pretty 'complete' I'd say, and it's fun to read. I have not read Pandolfini's book, but I feel like Silman's Complete Endgame Course is the best for all levels.
I have not seen Pandolfini's book, but I'd like to make a comment on Silman's book. I think a slightly more accurate title would be "Silman's Complete Endgame Technique Course." The book does a very good job covering the technical positions that you'll need to know to win games in which you get an endgame advantage. To me, this is endgame technique, which is only one part of the endgame.
A complete endgame course would cover technique and strategy. Endgame strategy would guide you in how to proceed in an equal endgame. Equal here is different than drawn.
I would still recommend Silman's book very highly. The techniques you can learn in that book are crucial to converting victories in the endgame stage. As someone pointed out it's a big book and covers a lot of material over a wide range of difficulty. It's very good at what it covers -- endgame technique.
I AM A BEGINNER, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY retguvvie98 to get
GM SILmans book and feel that he has the knowledge, experience and background to make that recommendation, I HAVE TO LEAN 100% TOWARDS Silman.
the endgame seems very complicated, I'VE ran across a site
for free personal chess lessons that if anyone is not aware of , I FEEL is
very benificial and its free. the site is www.personalchesstrainor.com
and its developed (I BELIEVE, BUT DON'T QUOTE ME), BY A MAN CALLED PETROVITCH
ALSO go to www.chessvideos.tv, HERE THEY HAVE A FREE ENDGAME SIMULATOR THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PRACTICE VARIOUS ENDING AND IF YOUR NOT SURE, IT HAS A VIDEO ON THAT PARTICULAR END GAME.
ALSO ON THIS SITE YOU CAN SEARCH FREE CHESS VIDEOS.
sorry for the caps, I'm not yelling, I just thought that it was easier to read,
it is for me now that I'M 60, Thanks for allowing me expound on some learning devices i have found interesting
I firmly believe that these forums on chess will be my bread and butter of learning
If I had only one endgame book to buy, and my choices were:
Pandolfini's Endgame Course
and
Silman's Complete Endgame Course
which should I choose?
Frank