Capablanca, chess fundamentals

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
mmm, how very interesting! are people allowed to access these and use them in correspondence play or is it considered bad form?

At least here, it's considered bad form to use them during a game. That is, it's a violation of the TOS. (Drats! )

Originally posted by Mad Rook
At least here, it's considered bad form to use them during a game. That is, it's a violation of the TOS. (Drats! )

mmm, so its basically cheating, mmm, now what is the difference Rook my friend, from consulting one of these table bases and say putting an opening repertoire together using computer analysis before one plays and then consulting that? does it not amount to one and the same thing? please forgive me if i am showing my ignorance here.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
mmm, so its basically cheating, mmm, now what is the difference Rook my friend, from consulting one of these table bases and say putting an opening repertoire together using computer analysis before one plays and then consulting that? does it not amount to one and the same thing? please forgive me if i am showing my ignorance here.

Well, you got me on that one. I have no idea. Frankly, every time these kind of discussions arise about whether opening computer analysis is legal, my eyes glaze over and I lose interest. The most I'd ever bother doing would be to consult MCO for openings, and I suspect I'd be too lazy to do that most of the time.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Robbie.

You can actually skip the endgane stuff if you have faith in your
basic endgame knowledge.

I strongly disagree.
(However, the annotated games portion I STRONGLY agree with)


I must agree more with petrovitch's approach.


The principles that guide each area of the game, are learned from this
one beautiful point in the game. A man who fears endings, simply fears
his own demise. Learn them, practice them, work through them. In time
you'll become an animal seeking this point in the game, so you may
crush your opponents misunderstandings. You'll begin learning how to
punish the most difficult weaknesses. Furthermore, your middle-game
and opening knowledge will suddenly begin to grow, even without study.
The ending is the purest form of chess. Especially the Rook Endings.

Capablanca was regarded as one of the greatest to ever live.
He was also regarded as one of the strongest endgame players ever.


An interesting correlation.

-GIN

Originally posted by Mad Rook
Well, you got me on that one. I have no idea. Frankly, every time these kind of discussions arise about whether opening computer analysis is legal, my eyes glaze over and I lose interest. The most I'd ever bother doing would be to consult MCO for openings, and I suspect I'd be too lazy to do that most of the time.

Lol, your like me, originality is what is too be aimed for!

Originally posted by Nowakowski
I strongly disagree.
(However, the annotated games portion I STRONGLY agree with)


I must agree more with petrovitch's approach.


The principles that guide each area of the game, are learned from this
one beautiful point in the game. A man who fears endings, simply fears
his own demise. Learn them, practice them, work through them. In garded as one of the strongest endgame players ever.


An interesting correlation.

-GIN

why is it purest form my friend? how will our middle game and opening play grow? will it be the result of working towards and ending? how is this possible?

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
why is it purest form my friend? how will our middle game and opening play grow? will it be the result of working towards and ending? how is this possible?

It is the purest form, because the limitations of the material on the
board allow our minds to absorb the patterns of each piece. We can then
learn how they operate in space. We can more simply understand their
effect on time in the game (especially with pawns). We begin to see the
squares, and diagnals, and ranks, in which they become the most active.
Understanding these basic principles is a MUST to truly realize any
value of any position. Determining a move based on tricks can be great,
however understanding the underlying characteristics of each piece, and
each weakness, is far more worthwhile as an education. It is not very
often that such an education is completely tricked; and once more it
builds the basis needed to punish the weaknesses implied by such tricksters.

The continuous learning of how pieces coordinate in space. Breaking
down the most basic of patterns in your mind, and how to of course
attack that pattern in order to weaken it. Over and over, more and more
detailed. Smaller and smaller your mind's circles become, and then you
can accurately use your aggression, and combinations, to exert your will
across your opponents weaknesses.

Your opening play becomes stronger, because you begin to recognize the
deterioration of the position, and game across the "time" which takes place
to the ending. It's hard to explain, I suppose you become aware of what
type of positions will begin arising. More beneficial, is the new awareness
of the pieces coordination, in relation to the patterns you can soon begin
to recognize due to this study.

I notice quite often, that I'll take a slightly weaker position in a game
because I'm able to recognize an ending pattern which will arise based
on my previous work. I will always delight in leading myself to this place
as I know victory is all but certain. Their is no part of your game which
will not benefit the training endgame practice will provide. Where as the
training of tactics, openings, and even middlegame tricks will not ever
yield the results that ending training can.

-GIN

i recommended this post for its excellence!

the thing that appeals most about studying endings is that you don't have to set lots of pieces up again and again! 🙂

Originally posted by Nowakowski
I strongly disagree.
(However, the annotated games portion I STRONGLY agree with)


I must agree more with petrovitch's approach.


The principles that guide each area of the game, are learned from this
one beautiful point in the game. A man who fears endings, simply fears
his own demise. Learn them, practice them, work through them. In ...[text shortened]... garded as one of the strongest endgame players ever.


An interesting correlation.

-GIN

Well said. Correct, too. Wise words from Big Sky country!

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
i recommended this post for its excellence!

No you didn't 😀
lol.

but thanks for the kind words friend.


-GIN

Originally posted by petrovitch
Get a copy of Silman's Endgame Course and study it seriously -- that'll get you past 1800. Then study anything by Averbach or Dvortsky. Be patient. You may learn how to solve endgame problem in just a few minutes, but it takes much longer to learn to create these positions in your games. It is also a requirement to read Nimzowitsch's My System. Some ...[text shortened]... Download a copy of this study. It will help. http://personalchesstraining.com/endgame.pdf

Gee, reading one book will get you past 1800 OTB? How's that working for you, Kenn?

Originally posted by Nowakowski
[b]It is the purest form, because the limitations of the material on the
board allow our minds to absorb the patterns of each piece. We can t

Can't agree more. Wouldn't it be nice if we could spot that we have a theoretically won ending and quickly work towards?

I don't think people fear endings. They just find them incredibly dull compared to the bombastic tactics in the middle game and the orchestrated gyrations in the opening. Compare this to the incomprehensible bumbling around of the pieces in the endgame.

What a thread this has become, Robbie.

Originally posted by Goshen
Can't agree more. Wouldn't it be nice if we could spot that we have a theoretically won ending and quickly work towards?

I don't think people fear endings. They just find them incredibly dull compared to the bombastic tactics in the middle game and the orchestrated gyrations in the opening. Compare this to the incomprehensible bumbling around of the pieces in the endgame.

What a thread this has become, Robbie.

aye when the brothers of the immortal game chip in their combined knowledge and ideas, it certainly really helps. i wonder if that is the advantage of belonging to a chess club?

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
aye when the brothers of the immortal game chip in their combined knowledge and ideas, it certainly really helps. i wonder if that is the advantage of belonging to a chess club?

My personal thoughts on the benefits of a chess club (which I do not belong)
has always been (so I must suppose) that is creates a social value to the
study of the game. Something that is not present when alone. Suddenly
the games study becomes much more eloquent.

When going over games, suddenly your memories of positions have index's.
What do I meen?

Different endings, different patterns, different games, suddenly become a
piece of your memory attached to events, sounds, feelings. Things which
are much easier to keep together. When learning alone, you must learn
how to present these same qualities, in order to grow. Of course the
method of just impacting your mind over and over and over will work.
However it will not be as lasting, nor will it be so active.

When I study, I utilize music, images, even physical activity to break the
patterns across different parts of my mind. It doesn't make sense when
you try to read what I meen, however when you utilize it, you'll find it
works in a seemingly magical way.

-GIN