I have lots of chess books. I simply enjoy reading them, playing over games. HOWEVER it seems many young players don't even crack a book and do very well. Hikaru Nakamura, for example, present U.S. champion (2734), 17 years old says, "I really don't look at many chess books. Fischer's 60 Memorable games and one by Tarrasch. Now I just use my computer." Can it be that books are overrated when it comes to chess improvement? As a book lover myself, I hate to admit it, but there may be many paths to becoming a good player. Maybe playing over games on computer, analyzing as you go along is a more efficient path. Who knows for sure?
Originally posted by buddy2I defianately think books are better for beginners.
I have lots of chess books. I simply enjoy reading them, playing over games. HOWEVER it seems many young players don't even crack a book and do very well. Hikaru Nakamura, for example, present U.S. champion (2734), 17 years old says, "I really don't look at many chess books. Fischer's 60 Memorable games and one by Tarrasch. Now I just use my computer ...[text shortened]... over games on computer, analyzing as you go along is a more efficient path. Who knows for sure?
Sierawans series is an excellent starting point for someone diving into chess from the beginning.
I've bought chessmaster up to v8.0 and it's nice, but I don't think it can teach a new player the way a book can.
The why's and wherefores and such.
The question is: at what point do books become less helpful? For a beginner up to intermediate, I guess books can explain the why's of chess. But at some point players begin analyzing almost exclusively on computer, playing through recent games, keeping up on opening innovation. I wonder if a survey has been made of master players on their reading habits. Capablanca, I understand, had read almost no books before becoming champion. On the other hand, Fischer read voraciously anything he could get his hands on. But, as I said, for people starting out (normal people--not geniuses) books are indespensible.
Originally posted by buddy2"I have lots of chess books. I simply enjoy reading them, playing over games. HOWEVER it seems many young players don't even crack a book and do very well. Hikaru Nakamura, for example, present U.S. champion (2734), 17 years old says, "I really don't look at many chess books. Fischer's 60 Memorable games and one by Tarrasch. Now I just use my computer." Can it be that books are overrated when it comes to chess improvement?"
I have lots of chess books. I simply enjoy reading them, playing over games. HOWEVER it seems many young players don't even crack a book and do very well. Hikaru Nakamura, for example, present U.S. champion (2734), 17 years old says, "I really don't look at many chess books. Fischer's 60 Memorable games and one by Tarrasch. Now I just use my computer ...[text shortened]... over games on computer, analyzing as you go along is a more efficient path. Who knows for sure?
Naka had his dad, a chess master, teach him at an early age.
My chess teacher said naka played over a variation in the sicilian hundreds of times, backwards and foward, with fritz.
He uses software a lot, and thats ok too.
He may also be a natural talent. I think being in a chess family helped him at an early age.
Being exposed to chess from early on, only helped his skills.
For those not blessed with talent, and dad teachers, we need books.
I like books too, and like reading and collecting them.
My teacher suggest many chess books to study certain areas in chess. He also like books, and has read many.
He's also 2300, so books helped him too.
Dont get down because your not a GM yet. Keep hitting the books, and someday it will pay off.
Originally posted by buddy2Well those players have GM teachers that guide them through their chess growth. Nobody would need books in that case.
I have lots of chess books. I simply enjoy reading them, playing over games. HOWEVER it seems many young players don't even crack a book and do very well. Hikaru Nakamura, for example, present U.S. champion (2734), 17 years old says, "I really don't look at many chess books. Fischer's 60 Memorable games and one by Tarrasch. Now I just use my computer ...[text shortened]... over games on computer, analyzing as you go along is a more efficient path. Who knows for sure?
A normal chess growth (I mean of a normal person like us who plays for hobby and has to rely on books instead of GMs) is not a straight line, but rather something of a "stairs growth": there are moments when your chess strength jumps and moments when you don't get better at all, no matter what you do.
This is normal and people must not get depressed if their play does not get better for months. The study always pays in the long run, but sometimes we need that spark that makes things rolling.
For me there were two "sparks", two main things that helped me a lot to improve my chess strength (and get fide rating 2000):
1) stop smoking (jumped from 1400 to 1700)
2) "how to reassess your chess" by Silman (from 1700 to 2000 in 1 year, 3-4 tournaments, after studying it)
During the process, however, I must admit I always kept traininig on tactics, studying complete and well anotated games (informators, biographies, games collections etc.) and learning and training on basic endgames, even if it seemed that nothing was happening on my chess skills.
Originally posted by Uncle FredI'm confused. Why would quitting smoking help your chess game?
Well those players have GM teachers that guide them through their chess growth. Nobody would need books in that case.
A normal chess growth (I mean of a normal person like us who plays for hobby and has to rely on books instead of GMs) is not a straight line, but rather something of a "stairs growth": there are moments when your chess strength jumps ...[text shortened]... d training on basic endgames, even if it seemed that nothing was happening on my chess skills.
Originally posted by rbmorrisDon't know exactly the link between them, maybe a doctor could say something about that, but it is sure that it becomes much easier:
I'm confused. Why would quitting smoking help your chess game?
- not having psichical tension during the tournament game;
- to calculate variations.
That is, at least, my experience.