Which are the best openings to reach endgames?

zizgz zizgz #1 Feb 1, 2017

Currently I'm investing a lot of my efforts on endgames and I'm trying to direct the decision of
my games to the endgame, avoiding as possible complicate middlegames. From my practice, I
think playing 1d4, as white, and 1e4 e5, as black, are a better try for this purpose, than playing
1e4 or the sicilian as black, for example. Against 1d4 I play the bogo and the nimzo and often we
reach a endgame. What do you think?

kingsrook11 kingsrook11 #2 Feb 1, 2017

Why would you reduce the fascinating game of chess with all its pieces and possible
permuatations straight to an endgame? If that is your approach to chess then why play with all
the pieces? In fact, why play chess?

zizgz zizgz #3 Feb 1, 2017

repac3161 wrote:
Why would you reduce the fascinating game of chess with all its pieces and possible
permuatations straight to an endgame? If that is your approach to chess then why play with all
the pieces? In fact, why play chess?

I' not avoiding middlegames (I can't), I'm just trying to reach a playable endgame without much
complications, if possible. It's a valid strategy as any other, I believe

zizgz zizgz #4 Feb 1, 2017

urk wrote:
Isn't that what Capablanca did, always had an eye for the endgame?
exactly, urk. What openings do you think are best for this goal?

kingsrook11 kingsrook11 #5 Feb 1, 2017

zizgz wrote:
repac3161 wrote:
Why would you reduce the fascinating game of chess with all its pieces and possible
permuatations straight to an endgame? If that is your approach to chess then why play with all
the pieces? In fact, why play chess?

I' not avoiding middlegames (I can't), I'm just trying to reach a playable endgame without much
complications, if possible. It's a valid strategy as any other, I believe

Play your middlegames satisfactorily and you will reach a playable endgame. Reducing all the
pieces off straight to a playable endgame sounds like dull simplifying chess to me, and I would
have thought most people.

zizgz zizgz #6 Feb 1, 2017

repac3161 wrote:
zizgz wrote:
repac3161 wrote:
Why would you reduce the fascinating game of chess with all its pieces and possible
permuatations straight to an endgame? If that is your approach to chess then why play with all
the pieces? In fact, why play chess?

I' not avoiding middlegames (I can't), I'm just trying to reach a playable endgame without much
complications, if possible. It's a valid strategy as any other, I believe

Play your middlegames satisfactorily and you will reach a playable endgame. Reducing all the
pieces off straight to a playable endgame sounds like dull simplifying chess to me, and I would
have thought most people.

ok, you made your point, but you must agree that there are openings which are better for this
purpose. Sicilian or 1e4 e5, caro-Kan, French? It's not just a question of simplification, it's
choosing your openings to suit your style. Thank you

Morphysrevenges Morphysrevenges #7 Feb 1, 2017

I think this is a great approach ziz.

I did it myself many years ago and almost immediately gained several hundred rating points (well
over about a year of OTB play).

You will find out how poorly most non-professional players are at the endgame in particular.

I heard someone say once that most chess players play the openings like masters (cause they
have memorized), the middlegames like experts, and the endings like beginners.

I think there is alot of truth in that statement.

anyway, I don't the book title but I Think GM Mednis wrote a book called from the opening to
endgame or something close. his idea was to present exactly such a repertoire.
one opening I used to play with that goal in mind was the Ruy Lopez exchange variation.

once you practice that pawn structure a few times with nothing but pawns and kings on the
board, you realize white has a big endgame plus. so then your goal becomes to get to that
ending by slowly exchanging pieces.

zizgz zizgz #8 Feb 1, 2017

Thank you for your opinion Morphy. I think the exchange variation of the Ruy Lopes is great, but
wiht other e4 openings, like the sicilian is more difficult (but you can always choose a closed
sicilian). Anyway, I prefer playing 1d4 and I think this suits me best to achieve this goal. Also
against 1e4 I play e5 and although there are many tricky lines, I try to achieve good prospects for
an endgame. I will check that book.

zizgz zizgz #9 Feb 1, 2017

Morphysrevenges, what did you play against 1e4?

zizgz zizgz #10 Feb 4, 2017

Do you have more ideas about concrete openings or lines to reach a good endgame. Any
thoughts?

TheGreatLlama TheGreatLlama #11 Feb 4, 2017

If you're looking for good endings, the Caro-kan is the easiest way to play. In so many lines all
black needs to do is remove queens and he's suddenly +/=

AC1312_terciopelo AC1312_terciopelo #12 Feb 4, 2017

Against 1. e4, the Berlin is notorious for this very purpose. The Scotch Four Knights main line also
leads to an endgame quite often in 15 or so moves IF white doesn't pursue a kingside attack...
even then it's mostly a draw by perpetual. Against 1. d4, QGD is the most solid and the
endgames are usually dead equal, meaning you have enough scope to push for the win. Btw, if
you play 1. d4, what plans do youhave for getting to an ending vs the Grunfeld? As a black player
of it, I don't know any lines by white which does that.

ThrillerFan ThrillerFan #13 Feb 4, 2017

zizgz wrote:
Currently I'm investing a lot of my efforts on endgames and I'm trying to direct the decision of
my games to the endgame, avoiding as possible complicate middlegames. From my practice, I
think playing 1d4, as white, and 1e4 e5, as black, are a better try for this purpose, than playing
1e4 or the sicilian as black, for example. Against 1d4 I play the bogo and the nimzo and often we
reach a endgame. What do you think?
If you are looking to reach the endgame quickly, I wouldn't recommend the Nimzo-Indian.

The Slav and the QGA tend to reach endings far quicker. For the Slav, the Dutch Variation (6.e3)
often leads to quick elimination of pieces, and common is Q, R, and 1 minor piece each. Against
the Central Variation, the Bishop Sacrifice line typically leads to a minor piece (sometimes
Knight, sometimes Bishop) and 4 pawns for White against 7 pawns for Black, along with the
Kings of course.

Rogue_King NM Rogue_King #14 Feb 4, 2017

I think 1. e4 is best to try for endgames. In the open positions pieces can get traded very easily.
1. d4 is known to be more closed, and as a result pieces stay on the board longer, perhaps why 1.
d4 has a slightly higher winning percentage in the database. Not to mention you may even have
your opponent go straight for a berlin, which is just an endgame. Goodluck!

kponds kponds #15 Feb 5, 2017

as white: -Ruy Lopez exchange -Sicilian - you don't want to push for an endgame as white in the
sicilian, just do something else here. some alapin lines may be an exception. -french tarrasch
-caro kann panov Botvinnik endgame variation black vs e4: Berlin or petroff black vs d4: QGD
Lasker or maybe some QGA or Slav lines.

teletolumby teletolumby #16 Feb 5, 2017

In response to E4 I reach a quick endgame by playing the Philidor defense. I don't know if that
would happen as often at your level but queens come off the board really quick in this variation.
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 dxe5

triggerlips triggerlips #17 Feb 5, 2017

There was a book by mednis from the opening to the endgame

https://www.amazon.com/Opening-Into-Endgame-Edmar-Mednis/dp/1857441249

All about openings where you could miss out the best bits