I think i am more than a little naive....and certainly only in learning stage...but i have never read any books on chess - on speaking with some other players recently - only discovered the concept of an opening, middle and end-game...(stop laughing) 🙂
Consequently all of my opening are completely random - and i play on instinct and analysis in every match. I enjoy this - however i think that i need to understand some for structured openings - as most of my openings feel like i am drunk and fumbling to get my house key into the lock on the front door... 😉
a) i would be interested if anyone was too have a quick look at my style of play (my match history) and give me some indication as to my style of play - good? bad?
b) some advice on where my next avenue to read in order to learn openings
Cheers peeps...
CS
Originally posted by SmuttyI don't really have time to go over your games,but i i will say this...
I think i am more than a little naive....and certainly only in learning stage...but i have never read any books on chess - on speaking with some other players recently - only discovered the concept of an opening, middle and end-game...(stop laughing) 🙂
Consequently all of my opening are completely random - and i play on instinct and analysis in every mat ...[text shortened]... b) some advice on where my next avenue to read in order to learn openings
Cheers peeps...
CS
Don't worry about openings!!! You are far far far FAR, better off just reading a good, instructional book on chess. Not an opening book, middle or end game book (though if you have to choose one of them, go for end game every time!)....just a good book on chess in general. No opening book is going to do you any good if you haven't got the basics covered (im not saying you don't have them covered, just that openings are developed with certain positional and strategic objectives. If you don't have the technique to understand these ideas, you're just going to loose in the middle game instead).
How long have you been playing? A cursory glance at your W/L ratio tells me you've been playing a while. One good book would be enouph to put 2-300 points on your rating, easily.
How long have you been playing? A cursory glance at your W/L ratio tells me you've been playing a while.i learnt the basics when i was a kid enough to know the movements of each piece - but have not played a game since school - before joining this site. (am now 30)
For example - i only learnt of a move called "en passant" the hard way (in one of my recent matches).
Originally posted by SmuttyIdentify your most disappointing loss and I'll have a look at it for you.
I think i am more than a little naive....and certainly only in learning stage...but i have never read any books on chess - on speaking with some other players recently - only discovered the concept of an opening, middle and end-game...(stop ...[text shortened]... t avenue to read in order to learn openings
Cheers peeps...
CS
Edit: You have been warned.
Edit #2: ðŸ˜
Identify your most disappointing loss and I'll have a look at it for you.Thanks Mate - i appreciate this....
Two of my losses probably relate...
One was 965241 - which i was beaten in the style that i can understand & appreciate. Simply beaten...
The other (probably the more dissapointing) was 1009435 - which i knew was lost very early on. My position felt hemmed in the whole match with my opponents early moves. I was very frustrated by this match. (obvious with some of my mid-game bad moves)
I have since been trying to mimmick this (sytle?) of early set-up...
not sure if this is a good thing to do...?
There are numerous threads with good books for all levels. If i might recommend one which most people come across sooner or later, The classic, 'My System' by Aaron Nimzowitsch has empowered countless beginners since the 1920's when it was written. If you're only going to read one book, you couldn't really ask for a more useful book on the art of chess (all stages).
Originally posted by SmuttyQuite a few silly mistakes on your part:
The other (probably the more dissapointing) was 1009435 - which i knew was lost very early on. My position felt hemmed in the whole match with my opponents early moves. I was very frustrated by this match.
Horsey to side of board? Not usually a good idea. Especially if he's going to have to sit there twiddling his hooves for 16 moves before he's slaughtered.
Exposing King unnecessarily? And later taking him for walkies for no good reason? No comment.
Giving away a Bish for free? I'm afraid there's no room for generosity in chess.
Summary: Never get frustrated. It makes things worse.
Footnote: Read a book on chess.
Originally posted by Smuttylooking at a few of your games, some errors i see are very standard concepts which you should also avoid in the middle game and endgame. (i just wish i could succeed at this too!)
I think i am more than a little naive....and certainly only in learning stage...but i have never read any books on chess - on speaking with some other players recently - only discovered the concept of an opening, middle and end-game...(stop laughing) 🙂
Consequently all of my opening are completely random - and i play on instinct and analysis in every mat ...[text shortened]... b) some advice on where my next avenue to read in order to learn openings
Cheers peeps...
CS
i reiterate whaT HAS ALREADY BEEN ADVISED ABOVE ...do not worry about openings ... worry about the fundamental concepts and incorporate those concepts at all stages of your games.
hottest tip 1 - knights like to be in the middle.
hot tip 2 - pawns like to be side by side with other pawns.
If you are going to buy only one book, I would recommend Logical Chess Move by Move by Irving Chernev. This is an old book, but it is a classic for a reason. It explains the logic behind every move of each the games that it contains in easy to understand language. The opening lines are a bit dated, but the opening principles are as sound today as when they were written. This book will give you an explanation and a demonstration of many rules of thumb that you really need to know. That being said, your best second book would be a good tactics primer, Like Winning Chess Tactics by Yasser Seirawan. Tactics are where you will realize your greatest benefits in terms of chess study. If you want free, go to chesskids.com for some free tutorials that are written for kids, but the lessons are of value to anyone who has not mastered the basic material. Oh, and whenever you play someone at least 200 points stronger than you, and get wiped out, ask them for some pointers on where you went wrong. Most chessplayers don't mind helping someone else out, and it strokes their ego a bit to ask😉.
Good luck,
BLR
I'm not so keen on the "if you read only one book on chess..." type recomendations because you should really read more than one book. The best advice is to read the book that will help you out most now, and from what you've said my opinion is that you should seek out either "Chess for Dummies" or "Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess". I know these two are excellent, though there may be others along the same line that are good too. The point is these are designed to be first chess books.
Hiya,
For general advice on each phase of the game have a look at
http://www.chessville.com/instruction/instr_gen_collection_wisdom_intro.htm
There are so many resources available on the net for beginners, that a book would probably be superfluous, for now anyway. Familiarise yourself with tactical terms like fork, pin, skewer, deflection, interference, etc, a good book to help you with this is Test Your Chess IQ(A.Livshitz).
Tip: find out why chess players think the centre squares (d4,d5,e4 and e5) are important.
Hint: investigate how a piece's position on the board affects it's scope.
🙂