Hi Deputy Daddy,
Join a chess club and play and play and play.
(I was once a member a of 3 clubs all the same time so I played
in different regional leagues and all their club championships etc...
And I played postal chess by snail mail.
Keep a score of the games, even skittles games.
BOOKS! (and what to get first....)
What bugs me about books for learners reviewed by GM's and IM's
who say it is good is: "How Do They Know?"
What we want to know is what book they read that made them good.
The only person who can give an honest review of a chess book for
the student...is the student in 20 -30 years time.
That out the way I can therefore only tell you what worked for me.
Chernev' most Instructive Games and his 'Logical Chess.' Players of my age
usually always mention these two books. They have a proven track record.
I can only give you that honest answer. I've heard other modern books are good
but I cannot put my hand on my heart and say "Yes...a good book." How do I know?
I always add: 200 miniature's by Du Mont which I went through first,
not by design, but because it was one of the first none beginner books I had.
The first two you can pick up almost anywhere, the latter is here:
http://www.chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandlerarticle.php?ChandID=4
and here:
http://www.chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandlerarticle.php?ChandID=3
No notes, just the bare score. Play through them and soon a whole
series of tactical ideas will emerge, weak opening play is punished.
in the most instructive way possible all the time asking yourself,
why this? why not this? how did that happen?
(if you get Logical Chess see if you can spot the mistake in Game One)
Hopefully you will get bitten by the "I want to play these combinations as well' bug.
It did for me and there is nothing else I can say about that. It worked for me.
If for any reason you come across something you do not understand,
come back here, there are a dozen of so good players who will keep you right.
You will an Endgame book - they basic theory of practical endings has not changed
for 100 or so years. You just need the basics. Practical Chess Ending by Keres.
When I got good (it happens) I discovered my endings were very scrappy
(a lot worse than they are even now. a lot worse.) and I was seeing more
of the, because I was meeting players and the games were lasting longer.
I got that book and it sorted me out. Again it's a what worked for me answer
but here any endgame book that gives the basics is good enough to start with.
Forget these fannies who tell you study the ending, at the moment you will
never see one.
The fannies will howl that Karpov said first study the endings.
Yes! but Karpov's first the endings quote is very much misunderstood.
The Russian approach.to beginners (which has been copied in many
English text books) is first master King & Queen/Rook v lone King mates
and how win or save a game in a KP v K endgame then drop endings and
get onto the openings and most important of all, the middle game.
The plan being armed with the basic's you now know enough that losing a
piece is bad because of trade downs into a simply lost ending and winning
a piece, you trade down to win the ending.
Of course there is much more to know and learn in the Middle game
that is the heart of the game. Where games are won or lost,
But if you do it without the endgame technique you will chase a King around
the board with a Rook not knowing what to do or lose a drawn KP v K ending.
That is how Karpov learned the game and he gave an honest one sentence answer to
the question 'What is the best way to learn Chess?, not the best way to get better at it.
I looked at a game.
One game is never enough, 10 - 15 OTBH games would be ideal but
I don't have the time so based on one game (which is unfair, I have a few
stinkers on here which taken one by one would make look like an idiot. )
But I saw three pawn moves and a reluctance to assume the initiative.
You have put on some kicking boots on, at the moment you
are going into a street fight wearing pink fluffy bedroom slippers.
Deputy Daddy - EMB145CAPT RHP 2016
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bc5 5. e3 {All good so far, this move allows Ne2, castles and d4.} 5... Qe7 {This is designed to prep 0-0-0 and hold back White from playing d4..} 6. Nge2 Nb4 7. O-O {Black can play Nd3 and Nxc1. It's OK for White though I prefer d3, castles a3 and d4 plans.} 7... Qf8 {This odd move is to give the Bishop a bolt hole on e7, Black is expecting you to play d4 here. 7...c6 was a better move.} 8. d3 {8.Too timid. 7.d4. Black did not intend to take it as it opens the e-file he was going to play 7...Bd6 then 8. c5 Be7 9.dxe5 White has a winning position.} 8... d5 {Black lashes out from an undeveloped position this is good news for White.} 9. cxd5 Bf5 {Trying to develop with a gain of tempo but all it has done....} 10. e4 {....is lose a central pawn. The good news (and always try to look on the bright side of any position ) is that sucking the pawn to e4 has taken the sting out of a d4 by White} 10... Bd7 11. h3 {I'd have said OK here if the plan was Kh2 to unpin the f-pawn and bang in f2-f4 . But it's not, it's just a pass the buck move....} 11... h5 {...and encouraged Black to have a pop at you..} 12. a3 Na6 13. Bg5 {This could have turned out very good.. Were you going to play Bxf6 and open up a file v your King. (I hope not) I prefer 13.d4 the centre is yours, roll it over him.} 13... Nh7 14. Bd2 g5 {Here he comes, it's good old fashioned caveman stuff but he is doing something. If he sits and waits White will get organised and 'hopefully' start pushing.} 15. b4 {Good start hitting him, his position is all cramped up on the Queenside you can force more weakness's there....} 15... Bb6 {...and the a6 Knight out of the game.} 16. Qb3 {16.Na4 and get that DSB off the board. Not sure What the Queen is doing on b3.} 16... Nf6 {Saccing a pawn to open up a file v your King.} 17. Bxg5 {Yes. Two pawns up with the better position and you have a nice reply to...} 17... Qg7 18. Bxf6 {That is what he wanted. 18.Bh4 (the nice reply) would have broken his heart.} 18... Qxf6 {Black has the makings of an attack But it will require some slack play by White for it to work.} 19. b5 {A silly move. Where did you expect the Knight go after this?.} 19... Nc5 {Thanks White, I had no idea how I was going to get the Knight back into the game.} 20. Qc2 {Black can now go on the big offensive with 20...h4 21.g4 Bxg4 22.hxg3 h3.} 20... O-O-O {Too automatic. 20...h4 was the move.} 21. h4 {This should have been played instead of 19.b4. Now Black is not going the chance to play h4.} 21... Rdg8 {This looks very attractive for Black but White should handle it with the minimum of care.} 22. f3 {Suicide. 22.Kh2 takes the weight off the e2 Knight who is holding the g3 pawn. 22.a4 with a5 ideas was also on.} 22... Nxe4+ {Black now jumps all over White.} 23. d4 {23...Kh2 or 23.Kh1 then Rxg3 and Qxh4.} 23... Nxc3 {23....Nxg3 is also very good and winning.} 24. Nxc3 exd4 25. Na4 Bxb5 {Puts a pawn in the bank but never followed it up correctly. 24...Rxg3 again is very good.} 26. Rfc1 {That is no good 26.Nxb6+ first. then Rf2.} 26... d3+ {Sloppy. 26...Bxa5 was far better. I think Black may have missed that this move....} 27. Nxb6+ {.....was a check and he thought he was winning a Queen.} 27... Qxb6+ 28. Kf1 {28.Qf2 and the game goes on but after 28.Qf2 Rxg3 it is Black that has the winning position.} 28... dxc2+ {White resigned.}
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I want to get better can someone please help break this game down
05 Dec '16 22:15
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