Originally posted by petrovitchI know it's kinda off-topic but I can't find the thread about this, so:
Join our club: Personal Chess Training. We have lots of students and teachers volunteering their time to help others. It is much easier to study when you are paired with a teacher, and you are less likely to drop out. That's what makes chess so hard to study. You study for a while, then become either bored, or come to a point where you don't understan ...[text shortened]... then you have someone behind you that is willing to work with you and push you to get better.[/b]
can you please tell me how to join this Personal Chess Training Club?
I've been looking for some guidance and as there are no good chess clubs near my home, this would be awesome...
Originally posted by Rank MaterialistGM Roman Dzindzichashvili goes the next step beyond Jeremy Silman's How to Reassess Your Chess in 2 videos dedicated to the modern understanding of My System by Nizmozowistch. I whish I had all of his videos, but they are very expensive. I can so, though, that at least the first of these videos is well worth the money. The second I didn' think was as good as the first. But they did follow the general outline of My System.
Awesome. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for, petrovitch. Reminds me of Jeremy Silman's list of imbalances, which I try to keep in mind while I play but should probably also try to use in post-mortem analysis.
I actually discovered your training site a few weeks ago and found it pretty intimidating. I appreciate your invitation a ...[text shortened]... ation. Perhaps no method of analysis is as good as reviewing one's games with other players.
Watch all of the podcasts Chess Killer Tips, and there are a lot of videos at www.chessvideos.tv that are very good also. These are free.
I would like someone to create a database of all free chess videos on youtube and rank them by topic and rate them (maybe a 5 star system). I've watched a lot of good ones, and there are lots of really bad ones there too.
I guess I could create such a database if anyone is willing to contribute. If you find any free chess videos that you would recommend then drop me a line at
http://www.personalchesstraining.com/main.php?request=feedback
and I'll see what I can do. If the topic is good enough I'll hand it over to rhp.
Originally posted by Meneer DriesClick on the word "Clubs" in the top right position of the top bar menu on redhotpawn.com
I know it's kinda off-topic but I can't find the thread about this, so:
can you please tell me how to join this Personal Chess Training Club?
I've been looking for some guidance and as there are no good chess clubs near my home, this would be awesome...
This is a good thread. I've been looking for a better way to analyze my games because I do the same "throw it on Fritz" routine, but this doesn't really help my own analysis which helps me to improve. I think it's a good idea to go over your games first and wright down your analysis (either in a notebook or on a computer). Then after you go through it, analyze with Fritz to look for variations that you didn't see in your analysis. This way, since you already analyzed, you should be more familiar with the positions, and when Fritz shows a variation, you can actually learn from it, or you can see where your personal analysis was wrong, and therefore learn where you are making mistakes. I got this idea from reading Kasparov's book: "How chess imitates Life." He talks about learning your thinking process in order to find what need to be improved.
Since I'm a lower rated player who just got back into chess, I thought that analyzing my own games would be useless. But given the guidelines found in this post, and from books, it really is the best way to learn. The most important thing you can get from it is learning your thinking process, which is why it would be good to write down your ideas when you made key moves, either good or bad. Then run it on Fritz, or even better have someone go over your written analysis.
I'm going to try it out for a while as see how it goes; at least it should be fun.
Originally posted by passedpawn22hi, i find this incredibly interesting, when you say thinking process does this mean your consideration of candidate moves, for example why we should consider moving a piece to such and such a square and what this does for our position, increase mobility, flexibility, set trap, create imbalance etc or/and perhaps some calculation of a sequence of moves which will lead to some advantage, materially, positional etc or is it a process of checks that we go through in a methodical fashion like the lists mentioned in above posts? - regards Robbie😀
This is a good thread. I've been looking for a better way to analyze my games because I do the same "throw it on Fritz" routine, but this doesn't really help my own analysis which helps me to improve. I think it's a good idea to go over your games first and wright down your analysis (either in a notebook or on a computer). Then after you go through i
I'm going to try it out for a while as see how it goes; at least it should be fun.
Originally posted by TheBloop
26/04/05 Thread 23051
FOUR KEY QUESTIONS
(AFTER EACH OPPONENT MOVE)
1. What is the THREAT?
a. Was my opponent’s last move a check or capture?
b. Does it threaten a check or capture on the next move?
c. Does it attack or pin any of my pieces or pawns?
d. Does it threaten to improve the position of any of his pieces or pawns?
e. Is there a positional threat? (e.g. occupying an outpost, doubling Rooks on open file, securing a Rook on the seventh rank, creating a passed pawn, isolating or doubling any of my pawns?)
f. Does his last move portend and prepare any long-term threats (e.g. a Kingside attack)?
g. Try to determine the purpose of your opponent’s last move.
2. What has CHANGED?
a. Does my opponent’s last move create any new weaknesses with tactical or positional possibilities for him or me?
b. Is he concentrating his forces?
c. Has he pinned or unpinned any of his or my pieces or pawns?
d. Are any pieces, pawns, or important squares in his or my position now unguarded, or inadequately guarded?
e. Has he created, removed, or attacked any vital guards?
f. Is the protection of weak points in his or my position still adequate?
g. Has his last move left any pieces en prise?
h. Created any weak pawns?
i. Exposed or restriced his King?
j. Created a vulnerable bank rank?
k. Learn to Recognize what has CHANGED with each move
(AFTER EACH OF YOUR MOVES)
1. Does this move IMPROVE MY POSITION?
a. If defense is not required and no immediate tactical or attacking opportunities exist, try to IMPROVE YOUR POSITION by:
i. Activating dormant pieces
ii. Opening key lines for attack
iii. Seizing outposts
iv. Contesting open files and diagonals
v. Doubling Rooks on important files
vi. Posting a Rook strongly on the seventh rank
vii. Shifting pieces toward the major attacking sector, or
viii. Increasing the scope of blocked or immobile pieces
2. Is this move SAFE? (I guess this should be asked BEFORE you make your move - the Bloop)
a. If I make the contemplated move, does my opponent have any move which can hurt me (cost me material or position) immediately or soon?
b. Will my King and all of my pieces and pawns be adequately defended?
c. Would my opponent have any dangerous checks or captures?
d. Would my move create any weaknesses?
e. Would (or could) my move lose material?
f. What is my opponents best reply to my contemplated move?
g. Would it refute my move?
h. Which side would stand better after my opponent’s best reply to my move?
i. Avoid playing moves which help your opponent
Also look for TACTICAL AND POSITIONAL STRENGHTS AND WEAKNESSES on the part of both you and your opponent:
· Tactical Strengths Include:
1. Batteries (doubled/tripled pieces acting along a file, rank or diagonal toward an enemy piece or vital square
2. Pins on enemy chessmen
· Tactical weaknesses include
1. Exposed King
2. Vulnerable back rank
3. Unguarded pieces or pawns
4. Pinned pieces and pawns
5. Pieces in a line
6. Pieces vulnerable to Knight fork
7. Pieces with no retreat
8. Overworked defenders
9. Unstable defenders
10. Vulnerable vital guards
Frequent Tactics
1. Superior force
2. Pins
3. Skewers
4. Knight forks
5. Double attacks
6. Discovered attacks
Less Frequent Tactics
1. Overworked defenders
2. Vital guards
3. Removing defenders
4. Deflecting defenders
5. Sacrifices
6. In-between moves
7. Vulnerable back rank
8. Interference
9. No retreat
10. Trapping pieces
11. Desperado
12. Zugzwang
13. Queening combinations
14. Underpromotion
· Positional Strengths Include:
1. Control of center
2. Center pawn on our fourth rank vs. enemy pawn on his third rank
3. Superior development
4. Greater space control
5. Strong outpost
6. Control of open file
7. Doubled Rooks
8. Rook(s) on the seventh rank
9. Control of open diagonal
10. Half-open file
11. Bishop pair
12. Bishop vs. Knight
13. Mobile pawn wing
14. Offside pawn majority
15. Advanced pawn chain
16. Advanced pawn wedge
17. Advanced pawn
18. Passed pawn
19. Protected passed pawn
20. Outside passed pawn
21. Better King position
22. Available tempi
· Positional Weaknesses Include:
1. Restricted King
2. Open lines toward the King
3. Cramped position
4. “Bad” Bishop
5. Isolated pawns
6. Doubled pawns
7. Backward pawns
8. Hanging pawns
9. “Holes” in pawn structure
10. Weak-square complex
(of course, all of this thinking can only be done in correspondence games, so it's ok for our purposes).
Originally posted by Rank MaterialistI agree with the comments about analysing yourself before using computer assistance. A big benefit of game analysis is to improve your analysis abilities and not just highlight where you went wrong. Computers only aid the latter and encourage laziness.
When you do use computer analysis, use “infinite analysis” with multiple lines showing rather than just the best line - I show the top 3 moves. Sometimes the evaluations are very close but the 2nd or 3rd choices are more playable from a human perspective. i.e. the 1st choice may indeed be too “computer like” and too hard to fully understand. Better with a suggestion that you can grasp
Be aware of “standard” versus “progressive” analysis…
A “standard” comment would be something like “I noticed too late that he could fork my rooks”. It’s the sort of mistake that you’re aware of before the game even ends; the “I should have known better” type mistake. Of course, you still need to pay attention to these - look for types that happen frequently and train yourself to minimise them.
“Progressive” analysis is where you try to find something new. Something that makes you think “I’d never have considered that before”. This requires an open mind, imagination and curiosity. This is an attempt to “break the mold”; to stop automatically making the same moves today as you would have chose yesterday. Remember that during analysis you’re not going to lose any games, so experiment more. For example, some people castle too automatically. Instead, be prepared to consider… what if I delay… what if I castle the other side… or even keep my king in the centre. At the very least, you’ll give more justification to your initial decision. But sometimes you’ll also discover new ideas and ways of thinking.
Trying using “snap shots”. e.g. on move 15, write down all the good and bad things about the position, for both colours. Then, for move 25, do the same. Compare what has changed, and then look at the moves inbetween to see how these changes came about. e.g. on move 15, maybe your king was safe and your opponent’s pieces relatively inactive. But by move 25, your king is under a dangerous attack. Identify the moves that helped bring about the change. By-the-way, my move numbering is only for example; pick sensible “milestones” within the game.
After completing your own analysis, use a database to search for games that have similar pawn structures to your own. Pawn structures often dictate typical strategies. It’s useful to compare how masters play with the same structure. But of course, pay attention to differences in how the pieces are placed, etc. – don’t just assume that plans always apply. You still need to think specifically.
Originally posted by Varenkathose are very good advices. I'll certainly try the snapshot method.
I agree with the comments about analysing yourself before using computer assistance. A big benefit of game analysis is to improve your analysis abilities and not just highlight where you went wrong. Computers only aid the latter and encourage laziness.
When you do use computer analysis, use “infinite analysis” with multiple lines showing rather than jus ...[text shortened]... placed, etc. – don’t just assume that plans always apply. You still need to think specifically.
How do you search for games that have similar pawn structures to your own from a database? (I mean, games not only with the exact same position, but similar pawn structers or piece positions etc?)
I have chessbase 9.0, and I realize I don't use it in its full potential.
- Joined
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Originally posted by diskamylIf you open up a database then go to filter then do the pawn structure you want without pieces etc and maybe without all the pawns. Then I think theres an option to click for "simlar" or "just containing" something along those lines. I'll have to check once I get home 🙂
those are very good advices. I'll certainly try the snapshot method.
How do you search for games that have similar pawn structures to your own from a database? (I mean, games not only with the exact same position, but similar pawn structers or piece positions etc?)
I have chessbase 9.0, and I realize I don't use it in its full potential.
- Joined
- 07 Jan 08
- Moves
- 34575
Originally posted by Rank MaterialistYou're rated higher than I am and I've gotten quite a bit so far out of the endgame work with PCT. My latest win was (in my estimation) only a victory because I had worked with PCT and I thought I had a much better feel for how to exchange out, get a pawn advantage, and bring about a win. I'm not going to win every game from here on out and I don't expect to; however, I'm finding that I'm analyzing my lost games differently. I'm not trying to translate a book or computer program, I'm trying to look deeper into my games and see what is going on, really try to see how I can get to a winning endgame.
Awesome. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for, petrovitch. Reminds me of Jeremy Silman's list of imbalances, which I try to keep in mind while I play but should probably also try to use in post-mortem analysis.
I actually discovered your training site a few weeks ago and found it pretty intimidating. I appreciate your invitation a ...[text shortened]... ation. Perhaps no method of analysis is as good as reviewing one's games with other players.
I'm reading the books and doing study on all aspects of my game. The progress is small, but it's progress instead of me getting frustrated at myself because I'm not 'getting it'. PCT has been very, very helpful toward my goal of getting better. You might give it a try - what's to lose? If you don't care for it then you just move on to a way of progressing that works for you. 😉
Originally posted by petrovitchyeh i watch o a lot of alexandra kosteniuk's killer tips videos and they are very useful, stay away from PE's chess cast though, the tactical ideas are god in some of the games but the monotonous commentator doesnt sound like he has ever played chess
GM Roman Dzindzichashvili goes the next step beyond Jeremy Silman's How to Reassess Your Chess in 2 videos dedicated to the modern understanding of My System by Nizmozowistch. I whish I had all of his videos, but they are very expensive. I can so, though, that at least the first of these videos is well worth the money. The second I didn' think was as g ...[text shortened]... back
and I'll see what I can do. If the topic is good enough I'll hand it over to rhp.