My game has suffered recently, but I am more determined than ever to improve…so the following quote should help me on my way:
Settle on your objective is the rule. Such an objective may be a pawn or a point. Which one, it matters not. But aimlessly drifting from one to another, this will expose you to a strategical disgrace.
Aaron Nimzowitsch
I need help in trying to compile which attributes chess players need in order to master an existing class level (from Class E to Expert+)based on their rating.
For example Irina Mikhailova has cataloged these attributes and states that a player rated ~2100 should know the following:
At this stage a chess player must have a successfully tested opening repertoire which includes 2 openings as White and 2 openings with the black pieces. The chess player must master tactics (60-70 per cent of a success rate solving problems of an intermediate difficulty), acquire a firm knowledge of the basics of chess strategy, ie. How a position’s evaluation is developed and what are its components, familiarize with about 15-25 common plans from the chess classic examples, know typical chess endings: evaluation, plan of play and standard tactical methods for approximately 250 endgame positions. It is necessary to acquire the skills of working with a computer and with chess software.
Knowing what knowledge is critical at each class level, can help improving chess players focus on those elements of chess knowledge that will bring the most benefit.
08.15.2007
Play Standard Game
Played and analyzed my G/60 ICC ST Tourney game
08.16.2007
Study Strategy
Reviewed through page 24 of Chess Strategy for Kids don’t mind the title…the book is highly recommended by Dan Heisman, and it ensures that you have all your chess fundamentals in place.
Key Points
Everything in chess can be explained in terms of three basic ideas:
Based on those ideas when selecting candidate moves 5 good questions to ask are:
Solve Endings
Did Endgame module 1 of Personal Chess Trainer’s endgame module (40 exercises). I had not planned on using PCT, but it has a good amount of endgame puzzles, and it uses pattern recognition as a teaching tool which is a positive.
Monday
Study Endings (30 min)
Solve Tactics (30 min)
Tuesday
Play (ST Tourney on ICC G/60) (up to 2 hrs)
Wednesday
Analyze my game (1 hr)
Study Openings (part of game analysis)
Thursday
Study Strategy (30 min)
Solve Endings (30 min)
Friday
Solve Strategy (annotated master game review with Stoyko exercise at critical points) (1hr)
Solve Tactics (30 min)
Saturday
Play G/30 (up to 1 hr)
Analyze game (30 min)
Sunday
Solve Tactics (optional) (30 min)
Resources
Strategy: Logical Chess Move by Move
Endgame:Silman’s Complete Endgame Course and Pandolfini’s Endgame Course
In an earlier post about creating a chess notebook, I overlooked the obvious: using this blog as my online chess improvement notebook.
I can post my daily training regimen, as well as benchmark my progress as I go along. Hopefully, this will help others get ideas as well as help me in maintaining a log of my training activities as well as to get feedback via comments.
The best thing I can do for my chess is to improve my thinking process, which is one of my greatest weaknesses. Below are some of the reasons why it my thinking process just plain stinks.
That’s it for now, I’ll add more in time. Feel free to leave comments on how you can improve your thought process.
I have come to the realization that there comes a time in every improving players game where we try to apply all we have learned yet we end up losing more games than we win. The improving player needs to realize that reading more chess books, learning a new opening or practicing obscure endgames is not going to improve their game.
The improving player’s game will be better served by simplifying their chess and going back to basics. Here are five things we can do that should lead to improved results:
1. Improve your thought process. Make sure you look for checks, captures and threats on every move, and always consider what your opponent is trying to accomplish and what move they would make if it would be their turn instead of yours.
2. Improve your ability to analyze. Consider at least three half moves before making a move. If the position leads to a forced tactical continuation, and you are unable to calculate until the position is quiet, then choose a ‘safer’ strategically based move that will require less analysis and calculation.
3. Do not force the situation and instead play for small advantages. Ensure that there are no weaknesses in your camp, while at the same time scanning for weaknesses in your opponents side.
4. Calculate several candidates before making each move, and always expect that your opponent will play the best move. Remember that once you found your move, try to look for a better one (unless you are in time trouble).
5. Play less blitz games. Blitz is the number one reason we develop bad habits which hurt our thought process. Blitz causes us to not analyze and think the position through. Play longer games (at least G15/5) instead of blitz, these longer games will allow you to work on your thought process and analysis skills. Once those bad habits have been eliminated, you can then return to blitz play as a much stronger player.
The Program
The following system is geared towards adult beginners with an ELO rating of 1200-1800. It is a modified version of Irina Mikhailova’s schedule which she used at the Petrosian Chess School. [1]
I have left the schedule flexible so that it can be modified based on the time you have to dedicate to chess study. For my own use, I plan on devoting 1 hour to chess at least 6 times per week for a total of 6 hours of chess study per week. If you want to add more time, simply multiply the hours per block. For example, I am using 30 minute blocks, so 1 block of study endings is equivalent to 30 minutes. If you want to devote more time simply multiply 1 hour X block for each theme.
Below are some of the differences between the original Mikahilova schedule and this version:
• Less emphasis on opening study.
• Spread across more days, but fewer hours of study per day. This is a 6 day program and the original was a 4 day program.
• Is geared towards a lower rated working adult.
• Strong emphasis on endgame studies, and contains a study endings theme which the original version did not.
• Strong focus on tactics training as the original.
• Incorporates the shortcut version of Michael de la Maza’s Seven Circles training.
• Time has been allocated for analyzing your games.
• Solving strategy session revolves around going over annotated master games.
In a nutshell, this program contains 4 of the things most chess coaches say are critical to improvement:
1. Going over annotated master games.
2. Repetition of tactical puzzles to burn in pattern recognition.
3. Playing slow games of G/30 or greater.
4. Analyzing your games, to find out your mistakes and preventing their reoccurrence.
Another benefit of the program is that it also grants structure and maximizes your chess study time.
Study Schedule
When performing the modified 7 circles training, I recommend that you use the difficulty level method, and begin with the level 10 puzzles. The first cycle will take you through the first 200 puzzles, which will range in difficulty from 10-20. You then begin the next cycle with puzzle 201, etc. I tried to keep the time per puzzle to 20-50 minutes since my block time is 30 minutes.
Seven Circles Shortcut
If you follow the schedule it should take you approximately 4 weeks to finish 1 cycle of 200 puzzles and 1000 puzzles in approximately 20 weeks.
Resources
Tactics: CT-ART 3.0, Chess Tactics Server
Study Endings: Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, Just the Facts by Lev Alburt
Solve Endings: Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, Personal Chess Trainer.
Solve Strategy: Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953
Study Strategy: Reassess your Chess by Jeremy Silman, My System by Nimzowich
Reference
[1] http://www.convekta.com/softscho/l1/lesson_3.html
[2] http://www.chesscafe.com/text/skittles148.pdf and http://www.chesscafe.com/text/skittles150.pdf
Purdy maintained that the best way to get better at chess was to play over annotated master chess games. Below is Purdy’s method for going over chess games:
1. Take the side of the winner (or either side if the game was a draw).
2. Cover the moves with an index card, and when it’s your turn to move select a move based on the position on the chess board.
3. Uncover the move, and compare it to your move. Review the annotations and understand why the text move is better than the move you selected.
Must read advice for any adult player looking to improve their game.