OK, so just wondering how to improve my games (mostly OTB). I went through the games where AlphaZero won, and it won on sacrificing pieces and getting positional advantages. Positions I wouldn't have looked at even being remotely possible.
So are there any books out there which would improve my positional games? I had a game where I thought I was 'winning', I calculated winning a pawn (which put my game at drawish position). But after analysis on the computer. It said another move to improve my position was better.
So I feel my positional analysis is rather weak. So any advice on improving this would be great.
"Techniques of Positional Play: 45 Practical Methods to Gain the Upper Hand in Chess" by Valeri Bronznik
When will the movie come out?π Seriously, this person clocks in at 2265 Fide, and it says IM, and 51 years old so he has lost a number of games lately. Would he still be a good teacher?
Originally posted by @boardreader OK, so just wondering how to improve my games (mostly OTB). I went through the games where AlphaZero won, and it won on sacrificing pieces and getting positional advantages. Positions I wouldn't have looked at even being remotely possible.
So are there any books out there which would improve my positional games? I had a game where I thought I was 'w ...[text shortened]... So I feel my positional analysis is rather weak. So any advice on improving this would be great.
You could save yourself a lot of money by studying these. Lot's of good info here.
Originally posted by @sonhouse When will the movie come out?π Seriously, this person clocks in at 2265 Fide, and it says IM, and 51 years old so he has lost a number of games lately. Would he still be a good teacher?
Yes, he would, I think. In practically everything, the best players rarely make the best coaches, and the best coaches were rarely the best players.
The ability to perform at the board on the clock is a particular skill set, and at best only tangently related to coaching.
Originally posted by @paul-leggett Yes, he would, I think. In practically everything, the best players rarely make the best coaches, and the best coaches were rarely the best players.
The ability to perform at the board on the clock is a particular skill set, and at best only tangently related to coaching.
The naturally gifted make the best players.
Those who had to struggle to get better and understand what it took to get better make the best coaches.
The naturally gifted usually can't understand how people can't understand something so simple for them.
Originally posted by @mchill This is generally true, although I would suggest that the naturally gifted (who work hard at improving) make the best players.
Originally posted by @boardreader OK, so just wondering how to improve my games (mostly OTB). I went through the games where AlphaZero won, and it won on sacrificing pieces and getting positional advantages. Positions I wouldn't have looked at even being remotely possible.
So are there any books out there which would improve my positional games? I had a game where I thought I was 'w ...[text shortened]... So I feel my positional analysis is rather weak. So any advice on improving this would be great.
You have to be very careful when sacrificing pieces for what you think is a positional advantage.There may be a move your opponent can make that you have missed which will spoil your analysis and leave you a piece down.
Originally posted by @mchill This is generally true, although I would suggest that the naturally gifted (who work hard at improving) make the best players.
Originally posted by @eladar Do you not think Morphy studied his craft and planned his possibilities before he unleashed them?
Or do you think his genious was by the seat of his pants with no thought other than during his games?
I think Morphy and Capa were intuitive players since they did not really have access to the best coaches and such, learning by the seat of their pants, no internet, no engines. I don't think they were Fischers, studying hour after hour, notating the best games and such. I think Morphy was a lawyer and would have had to put all his effort into getting his law degree at a time when Bobby was studying the hell out of his games and others to the exclusion of EVERYTHING else. There was ONY chess in Bobby's life, not so with Morphy.
Originally posted by @sonhouse I think Morphy and Capa were intuitive players since they did not really have access to the best coaches and such, learning by the seat of their pants, no internet, no engines. I don't think they were Fischers, studying hour after hour, notating the best games and such. I think Morphy was a lawyer and would have had to put all his effort into getting his l ...[text shortened]... rs to the exclusion of EVERYTHING else. There was ONY chess in Bobby's life, not so with Morphy.
Notice I did not claim they worked out puzzles and tactics based on compilations of other games. I said put in thought and likely created their own puzzles. They developed theories and put them into practice. They may have been inspired by other players.
In other words they created works of art, but how many artists create their best art without at least some revision and thought?