Chess books for Christmas???

Originally posted by @vandervelde
I got one for birthday when I was a kid, one from Dimitrije Bjelica for beginners, but my grandmother thought it will spoil me and that I wasted too much time on chess, so she had stolen it and either threw it into the garbage or gave it to someone, I never found out.

Originally posted by @mchill Back in the 80's and 90's I used to be one of the guy's at the chess club with 2-3 old Informants in my briefcase w/ handwritten analysis in them, I even used a 3X5 card box to keep game collections of openings I favored. They helped, up to a point, but study as I may, my rating was roughly the same as it is now. Maybe I'm just too cheap to open up my wallet. 😀

Obviously not everyone has the same aptitude and ability.

Originally posted by @unfriendlygiant
Obviously not everyone has the same aptitude and ability.

Originally posted by @64squaresofpain
Every year people ask me what I want for Christmas,
and every year I usually just reply "I dunno" because I'm either
a) happy enough with my life to not want anything additional, or
b) quite unimaginative and dull [hidden]looking at my games, this is most likely![/hidden]

However this year my reply has been extended somewhat to:
"I dunno... h ...[text shortened]... re I've ever seen the first one...

Anyway, who else is getting a chess book for Christmas? 😀

Originally posted by @eladar
Obviously. Many people say they try to get better but can only break 1000.

It is also possible that a person can try to study but have no clue what they are supposed to be seeing. This is what a good coach is for, to help the blind to see.

Of course limitation on ability only allows so much growth but still there is usually room for growth.

Anyway, who else is getting a chess book for Christmas? 😀

Originally posted by @mchill
The idea of a coach is a good one. I'd like to crack the 1700 barrier and move ahead. Any good coaches that give lessons via the internet?