Go back
1400-1600

1400-1600

Only Chess

Vote Up
Vote Down

Tactics. 5/5 blitz. What else?

Vote Up
Vote Down

Hm...I wouldn't put 5/5 blitz in there - in blitz it is usually "good enough" moves that count and not the "best" possible that count. Tactics are important so that you do not give away positional advantage or miss the moment to transform it into material. Endgame is always a good place to work on since it requires proper planning - aimless moves are quickly punished, and many of the games following the book pass in an endgame anyway.
So: tactics, basic positional principles and endgame would me my pick.

Vote Up
Vote Down

I like positional study and end game study at this level.

Read My System and a good end game manual. Fine's BCE in my day, probably something better out there today.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Also, using the analysis board, try examining every move you feel could be a possible response to each of your moves before you play them - not only will your range of plans improve but you will make less outright blunders.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Red Night
I like positional study and end game study at this level.

Read My System and a good end game manual. Fine's BCE in my day, probably something better out there today.
A more complete and practical book than "My System",IMO, would be "How to Reassess Your Chess" (rev. 3rd ed.) by IM Jeremy Silman.

One of the best single-volume endgame books is also a Silman offering: "Silman's Complete Endgame Course."

"Basic Chess Endings" is a great reference work, even though it has many errors in it.