Books that helped Andy Woodward convert winning positions
Converting a winning position is one of the toughest skills in chess. Many players build an advantage only to see it slip away at the final stage. This article looks at how Andy Woodward mastered this crucial aspect of the game. From solving endgame studies at a young age to relying on classic chess books, Andy built strong technique, calculation, and patience. These skills played a key role in his Tata Steel Challengers 2026 win. This article offers valuable lessons for players at every level. Photo: Lennart Ootes
The art of converting winning positions
One of the most common frustrations in chess is not getting a winning position but failing to finish it. Many players struggle with the final phase of the game. They built it patiently only to slip away in time trouble. What should have been a full point becomes a draw, or worse, a loss! That's why converting a winning position is one of the most demanding skills in chess. A player has to have a deep understanding of techinique. In recent times, Andy Woodward has shown a remarkable ability in this aspect of the game.
A key reason behind Andy’s strength lies in the way he trained from a young age. He has spoken about how solving puzzles and, more importantly, endgame studies played a major role in shaping his understanding of chess. Around the time he was rated 1600, he began solving studies regularly. This habit significantly improved his pattern recognition and calculation. He became confident in handling complex positions and capitalizing on opportunities.
One thing that helps me the most is solving lots of endgame studies. Earlier in my career, it was a part of my daily routine. It helped my pattern recognition, especially knights. The ability to spot tactical patterns and implement them was probably developed with studies. - Andy Woodward.
Alongside practical training, Andy has relied heavily on books to build a strong technical foundation. The following books have been particularly influential in his development:
Domination in 2545 Endgame Studies by Genrikh Kasparyan
Comprehensive Chess Endings by Yuri Averbakh
Queen Endgames books
Silman's Complete Endgame Course by Jeremy Silman
Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games by László Polgár
Rock Solid Chess (Volume 1, Volume 2 & Volume 3) by Sergei Tiviakov and Yulia Gökbulut
The Art of Attack in Chess by Vladimir Vuković
Perfect Your Chess by Andrei Volokitin
These books focus on endgame technique, decision-making, calculation, and positional understanding, all of which are important for converting winning positions. The impact of this foundation is clearly visible in Andy’s games today, and these same resources can offer valuable guidance to any player looking to improve their ability to finish games successfully.
You can check out the full interview here:
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:59 - Andy Woodward is here
1:35 - Andy's secret to recent success
2:16 - Is Andy focusing fully on chess
2:58 - Winning Tata Steel Challengers 2026
4:18 - Andy's support in Wijk Aan Zee
4:40 - Andy's relationship with Kasparov
5:57 - Andy's permanent trainer
6:33 - Where does Andy live in the USA
7:10 - GM Harshit Raja connection
7:49 - Andy's playing style
9:00 - Rd.1 loss with Bibisara
15:58 - How to recover from Rd.1 loss
17:24 - Mother's support
18:12 - Puzzle Battle Champion
19:02 - Good at simple Tactics
19:20 - Rd.2 win against Eline Roebers
26:40 - How did Andy get so good tactically
29:00 - Routine at Wijk Aan Zee
30:36 - Andy's mom cooking for him
31:45 - Round 3 win against Liu Miaoyi
36:10 - How is Andy so very Empathetic, Kind and Modest
38:19 - Andy's best friends in chess
39:20 - 4th Rd. win against Max Warmerdam
43:25 - 5th Rd. win against Vedant Panesar
48:20 - Rest day and 4.0/5 score
49:05 - Rd.6 win against Carissa Yip
56:30 - Rd.7 draw with Aydin Suleymanli
59:20 - Rd.8 win against Faustino Oro
1:03:15 - Rd.9 win against Daniil Yuffa
1:06:20 - Skill of Converting winning positions
1:07:40 - Andy's book collection
1:15:30 - Rd.10 loss to Ivanchuk
1:23:00 - Rd.11 win against Maurizzi
1:26:51 - Insane calculations
1:33:45 - Rd.12 draw against Velimir Ivic
1:36:57 - Rd.13 win against Erwin l'Ami
1:46:15 - Final words
1:46:55 - Tata Steel Masters 2027
1:48:08 - Next tournaments
1:48:50 - Sponsorships
1:50:50 - A chess professional?