Originally posted by Badwaterlol fair enough...endgames are boringly complex though. haha btw thanks for the links. they've been added to my favorites.
Learning all parts of the game is important. 😉
I've won a few games because I had an understanding of how to exercise an advantage in the endgame. Mind you, it's a patzer's understanding and I work to improve all the time, but without even a basic understanding I'm sure I would have lost those games.
do you think silman's complete guide or book to engames is a good one? I dont remember the exact title but i had seen it while browsing amazon.
Improving endgame play along with some minor tweaks in my game resulted in a 200 pt difference. I noticed that in certain games I was not winning due to my endgame skills. Now you don't want to face me in an endgame! I would say endgame is the most important in chess. Although it is hard to argue all parts are important. The reason endgames should be stressed so much is because 99% of your games will go into an endgame. I mean how often do you mate an equally rated opponent?
Originally posted by kmac27never thought about it like that...i just bought Silman's Complete Endgame Course.
Improving endgame play along with some minor tweaks in my game resulted in a 200 pt difference. I noticed that in certain games I was not winning due to my endgame skills. Now you don't want to face me in an endgame! I would say endgame is the most important in chess. Although it is hard to argue all parts are important. The reason endgames should be stressed ...[text shortened]... of your games will go into an endgame. I mean how often do you mate an equally rated opponent?
Hi Tim, ...it looks like we're about at the same level. So my recommendations (sp.?), as far as books , are Logical Chess Move by Move, by Chernev, and Giddens, 50 Essential Chess Lessons. They are similar "talky" game analysis books, that help a lot with the "why" of particular openings and themes. My favorite is still Chernev, even if it is a bit dated and dogmatic; at our level, I don't think that is much of a deduct. Do you analyze your games with Fritz or something similar afterward? especially your losses? That might help, and is probably your best resouce if you don't have access to a stronger player or instructor. Good Luck 🙂
www.improveyourchess.com is highly recommended by Metallica's top rated player User 272544 on Thread 72360 at page 9.
Originally posted by TimInIraqIt's a fantastic program. Forget that it lets you play against 8 zillion different levels of computer strength. It's worth it just for the "academy." IM Josh Waitzkin, of "Searching for Bobby Fischer" fame gives scores of hours of great lessons. If you watch the academy from start to finish and do the drills, you will come out of it a good chess player. You will not be "great." That takes work and practice and talent. But it's by far the best series of chess lessons I've seen. And, very interesting to boot.
purchased! what do you think about it though? idk anything about chess programs.
Originally posted by TimInIraqWith 8 months hard studying it's definitely possible to reach 1800 level. Instead of learning all kinds of openings and becoming expert at them, I'd suggest just focusing on one for now, as either white or black. Don't bother learning both colors. Main thing is reaching 1800 fast, so learn the ins and outs of just one. I'm just focusing on only English opening right now and I'm almost 1800 rated. I have two opponents I'm playing now, one is over 1700 and one is 1690 and I feel I have the advantage in both of those games, so I might be 1800 if I can beat them. And besides learning just one opening I'd also recommend studying most of your time on tactics. Because sometimes people go out of the book and then what are you going to do. If you don't have good tactics, you will usually always get beaten in the end, if you are playing a tough opponent. For my English opening game, too be honest i don't know it terribly well but I just keep learning more tactics, so my game improves. I stop falling for the same mistakes, as much.
So I want to take chess more seriously. I don't study games. I have only read about 150 pages(not thoroughly) of "How to Reassess Your Chess" by Silman. I don't know openings. Only what I've seen played against me or a few I've seen in the forums. I have about 8 more months in Iraq and would love to come home an 1800+ club player. I think I can reach it bu ne analyzing.
3. Programs or websites I should look into.
4. ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP.
Here is a good tactics website for you to use:
http://chess.emrald.net/
And if you don't like using internet for tutorials you can check out Susan Polgar's chess tactic/puzzle book:
Chess Tactics for Champions: A step-by-step guide to using tactics and combinations the Polgar way
[http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Tactics-Champions-step-step/dp/081293671X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228414687&sr=1-2]
p.s. Weyerstrass almost always (or always) plays English opening as white and he is undefeated. It's a good opening if you're interested.
Good book is "The Dynamic English" by Tony Kosten.
[ http://www.amazon.com/Dynamic-English-aggresive-players-traditional/dp/1901983145/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_pop_t ]
Good luck and thanks for serving our country! Go U.S.A. 🙂
Weyerstrass
[http://www.redhotpawn.com/core/viewpublicgames.php?isminiboard=on&uid=91723]
Many of the replies have it right-learn specific openings which are suited to your "book" that is e4 and if your opponent plays c5 play f4/Nc3, f4. If e5 find a game your comfortable with but deviate early against e4 how about the Pirc/Robatcsh defense similarly against d4, Nce, c4 chose like pawn structures such as the king's Indian, Ben-Oni, or some gambit.
Good luck.
I'd say its hard to learn just one opening in fact its impossible to only learn 1 opening and do good. Each opening can have dozens of openings played against them. e4 for instance can have e5 c5 d5 Nf6 c6 e6 and more. Lets just say chess is daunting. Pick one variation that you prefer against each of the lines and you will do a lot better. It looks like a lot of work? Yes indeed it is I suggest learning to play both sides of the sicilian it is by far the best oppertunity for each side to learn. Then learn lines against e5 you will see these openings probably 80% of the time if not more. As for d4 its a lot of theory to try and memorize and same with c4. c4 is reputable though korchnoi played it and hes a super gm.
Originally posted by kmac27I'm not saying that the Sicilian is bad, as I've heard that it often leads to imbalances and sharp play (which I guess can be good if you're trying to get better at tactics). But isn't the Sicilian also heavy on theory? I mean, it's by far the largest chapter in my MCO-14.
I'd say its hard to learn just one opening in fact its impossible to only learn 1 opening and do good. Each opening can have dozens of openings played against them. e4 for instance can have e5 c5 d5 Nf6 c6 e6 and more. Lets just say chess is daunting. Pick one variation that you prefer against each of the lines and you will do a lot better. It looks like a lo ...[text shortened]... ry and memorize and same with c4. c4 is reputable though korchnoi played it and hes a super gm.
Originally posted by kmac27i like to play the sicilian. granted i dont know the imbalances it is designed to cause and i prob stop following main lines after around move 5 im sure but it is always a fun game.
I'd say its hard to learn just one opening in fact its impossible to only learn 1 opening and do good. Each opening can have dozens of openings played against them. e4 for instance can have e5 c5 d5 Nf6 c6 e6 and more. Lets just say chess is daunting. Pick one variation that you prefer against each of the lines and you will do a lot better. It looks like a lo ...[text shortened]... ry and memorize and same with c4. c4 is reputable though korchnoi played it and hes a super gm.
wow i thought memorizing a few moves would make my openings better. i have lots of work to do. lol
Originally posted by TimInIraqRe #3, try Dan Heisman's web site. His Novice Nook articles are really good:
So I want to take chess more seriously. I don't study games. I have only read about 150 pages(not thoroughly) of "How to Reassess Your Chess" by Silman. I don't know openings. Only what I've seen played against me or a few I've seen in the forums. I have about 8 more months in Iraq and would love to come home an 1800+ club player. I think I can reach it bu ...[text shortened]... ne analyzing.
3. Programs or websites I should look into.
4. ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP.
http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Main_Chess/chess.htm
If I were trying to get to an 1800 club level in a short period of time (and I'm not, since I only play OTB for fun. Maybe someday I might get there, but I'm in no hurry), I'd concentrate on trying to become a tactical monster and improving my analysis skills. I think I remember Dan saying a number of times that until you hit about 1800 or so, the biggest factors in your rating are your tactical ability and how good you are at analyzing positions. I wouldn't completely ignore openings and endgames, but those areas aren't where I'd spend most of my time.
P.S. BTW, I'm curious to know why you want to return at an 1800 level. Don't you know that, even if you reach that goal, you'll still be unhappy? You'll only be making higher-level mistakes, and of course your goal will only shift to wanting to crack that 2000 level. 😉
Originally posted by Mad Rookthanks for the website and
Re #3, try Dan Heisman's web site. His Novice Nook articles are really good:
http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Main_Chess/chess.htm
If I were trying to get to an 1800 club level in a short period of time (and I'm not, since I only play OTB for fun. Maybe someday I might get there, but I'm in no hurry), I'd concentrate on trying to become ...[text shortened]... akes, and of course your goal will only shift to wanting to crack that 2000 level. 😉
you're right once i reach that then i will be unsatisfied but when i wake up everyday at 1800 i'll at least be alittle more satisfied than i am at 1500. lol but 1800 is my next goal. 2000 will follow right after that. haha
Originally posted by TimInIraqHa! Talk about coincidence! I was just listening to the latest Dec 4th rebroadcast of Heisman's "Ask the Renaissance Man". (It's a weekly Q&A broadcast.) Dan again briefly mentioned the importance of analysis and tactics up to an 1800 rating. He also briefly answered someone's question about playing the Sicilian.
thanks for the website and
you're right once i reach that then i will be unsatisfied but when i wake up everyday at 1800 i'll at least be alittle more satisfied than i am at 1500. lol but 1800 is my next goal. 2000 will follow right after that. haha
Here's a direct link to the wma file that you can download and listen to with Windows Media. (The latest broadcast stays at this link for a week and then will get replaced with a new one every Thursday night.)
http://www.chessclub.com/webcast/Heisman