Karsten Müller

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

Recent news

King to the rim?

9/2/2025 – Knights on the rim are said to be dim, but what about kings? In the diagram position, can White’s king head for the h-file to convert his extra pawn, or must he find another path to victory?

Endgame Magic #309: Karsten Müller und Arne Kähler share endgame highlights

9/1/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #309, Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler talk about the British Championships in Liverpool, where Michael Adams won his ninth national title. Karsten and Arne present endgame highlights and share stories from the tournament. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

The king invasion

8/26/2025 – Endings with opposite coloured bishops are often a draw. To create winning chances it is often helpful to create dangerous passed pawns. How can White do so in the diagram position?

Endgame Magic #308: Karsten Müller und Arne Kähler share endgame highlights and stories from Dortmund

8/25/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #308, Karsten Müller and Arne Kähler look back to the tournament in Dortmund. They present endgame highlights and share stories from the tournament. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Good to know

8/19/2025 – Cutting the enemy king off is a typical and useful technique in rook endgames. How did White use this technique to win the diagram position?

Endgame Magic #307: Highlights from the US Senior Championship

8/18/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #307, Karsten Müller shows endgame highlights from the US Senior Championship, including a study-like win in an endgame bishop vs knight. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Pin and win

8/12/2025 – “Pin and win” may be a well-worn saying, but it still carries plenty of truth. Keeping it in mind can help you spot tactical chances — as White did in the diagram position. Can you find how he wins with a pin?

Defending difficult positions

8/5/2025 – In the diagram position, Black seems to be in deep trouble: he is two pawns down, and it's hard to see how to stop the white pawns. However, there is a way. In the game, Black failed to find it - can you do better?

Endgame Magic #305:

7/29/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #305, Karsten Müller shows endgames from the Freestyle Tournament in Las Vegas.| You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Tactics!

7/29/2025 – Tactics are important in all phases of the game, and it pays to remain tactically alert even in endgames, when only a few pieces and pawns remain. In the diagrammed position, it is White to move and win. What should White do?

Building a fortress

7/22/2025 – In the diagram position, which is from a game Alina Kashlinskaya vs Mariya Muzychuk, Cairns Cup 2025, Black is an exchange down and on the verge of defeat. But she can save herself by building a fortress. What should she do?

Endgame Magic #304: Recent Rook endgame Highlights

7/21/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #304, Karsten Müller shows two recent rook endgames.| You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

A good knight

7/15/2025 – Gukesh knows where to put his pieces. In the diagram position he had to find a way to stop Black's pawns. He did so and went on to win one of the most discussed games of the year. What did he do?

Endgame Magic #303: Highlights from the Uz Chess Cup in Tashkent

7/14/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #303, Karsten Müller shows a selection of endgames from the Uz Chess Cup. Guest tonight: Arne Kähler| You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Passed pawns can be powerful

7/8/2025 – In the diagram position White is a rook down, but he still has a way to draw the game. What should he do?

Endgame Magic #303: Highlights from the Uz Chess Cup in Tashkent

7/7/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #303, Karsten Müller shows a selection of endgames from the Uz Chess Cup. Guest tonight: Arne Kähler| You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

Endgame Magic #302: Highlights from Cairns Cup

7/1/2025 – In the Endgame Magic Show #302, Karsten Müller shows a selection of endgames from the Cairns Cup. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

A study in a practical game

7/1/2025 – Endgames studies often contain a surprising, unexpected idea that seem to be paradoxical. The diagram position is from a practical game that ended in a draw. However, White had a study-like way to win. Do you see what he should have done?
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