EP 351- Steffen Nielsen: The author and award-winning endgame study composer on what makes a good chess puzzle, and whether endgame studies are good for your chess calculation.

Oct 10, 2023

58:20

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This week’s guest, Steffen Slumstrump Nielsen is one of the most accomplished chess endgame study composers in the world. Steffen’s new book, Endgame Labyrinths (co-authored with GM Jacob Aagaard) compiles what they consider to be the most instructive endgame studies of all time. It is a beautiful book filled with challenging and instructive studies. In our conversation, we discuss how Steffen came to be interested in the “subgenre” of designing chess puzzles, the components that make a good study, and who he believes to be the best endgame study composers of all time. Finally, Steffen shares some details on his creation process and offers recommendations if you would like to learn more about endgame studies. Links of the topics referenced can be found below.

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com. You can check our their new courses here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

And some of my favorites here:

https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/

0:00- How did Steffen discover the art of composing endgame studies?

0:04- How does Steffen work with engines when comprising a study?

Mentioned: Chessbase India feature on Steffen Nielsen:

https://www.chessbase.in/news/Giants-of-Modern-Studies-Part-I-The-Tactical-Thaumaturgy-of-Steffen-S-Nielsen-

11:30- What makes a good endgame study?

15:30- How useful are endgame studies for chess improvement? (potential break)

Mentioned: Episode 339 with WGM Anna Zatonskih

19:00- As an study composer, is calculation a strength of Steffen’s?