First entry of the new year, and it is time to review my Chess goals and resolutions. So far, I’m happy with my progress, and the new training program I am following is finally giving me guidance and improvement.
This week was the 2nd and final week of the first cycle of Phase I of the Extreme Chess Training Program which I began on 12/21/09. Next week I start on Phase II, which focuses on the endgame. I am going to use the end of 1 full cycle of ECT, which is 45 days to play a tournament and do a progress report. I will also post more information on the program upon my completion of my first 45 day cycle.
Monday 12/28 – Chess Trainer at chesstempo.com. Increased standard rating from 1717 to 1725 1hr and 81% accuracy which is much higher than my 57% average.
Tuesday 12/29 – Played rated game on FICS & reviewed game afterwards.
Wednesday 12/30 – 2 Stoyko Tactics puzzles from Imagination in Chess using Tactics Checklist . Spent 39 minutes on 1 puzzle! Total training time was 1hr.
Thursday 12/31 – New years eve, sneaked in 15 minutes of unrated tactics at chesstempo.com.
Friday 1/1 – Did Speed Tactics from Bain’s Tactics for Students. Exercises 93 through 197 with 95% accurracy. Also, to makeup for Thursday I played a standard game against Fritz 5.32 1 ply (Playing against engine due to Internet issues).
Saturday 1/2 – Core Tactics from Chess Training Pocket Book. 76% accurracy.
Sunday 1/3 – Open day – Solved Step 3 tests of Step Method scoring 80%, 70% and 72%. Also did 20 minutes of Tactics Trainer using chesstempo improved rating slightly from 1725 to 1727. Total training time 1 hr.