Author: Albert Silver
Date: 07:16:00 07/26/01
Go up one level in this thread
On July 25, 2001 at 18:10:57, Jeroen van Dorp wrote:
>I think the program is excellent, much better in use than it's counterpart
>"Strategy".
>
I have to disagree with you. While I really think CT-Art is an excellent
tactical workout, I think Strategy 2.0 (1.0 had a sub-optimal GUI IMHO) adds a
new dimension to instructive program with its 'playing' options. Just like
CT-Art, it comes with a great many exercises, and of course, being a positional
instruction program it has lessons and so forth, but where it really shows what
computers can add to chess instruction IMO is with the playing positions.
Dvoretsky in one of his books, says that he has a number of special training
positions that he gives to his students to play out either against each other or
against him. Obviously the positions have certain key problems to be resolved,
hence the interest. Strategy has the same thing. After working a lesson in
backward pawns for example, and doing a series of exercises, there is a series
of carefully selected positions illustrating exactly that theme to play against
an engine. I've always thought that was very cool personally. It's a bit like a
language course. You can study the lessons, and do the exercises, but to really
speak, solving tons of exercises to perfection won't cut it. You have to
practice... speaking.
Albert
>It's a good program to help you train like in "400 points in 400 days", the
>ChessCafe link is on CTF, and much easier to use than tactical drillers like the
>polgar books (who are also very good, but not so easy top handle).
>
>You can develop a drill routine in which you excercise every evening for some 30
>minutes or so, repeating from the same category.
>If you want fun, choose random testing.
>
>I think for 1600 and higher players, not for beginners.
>
>The Elo (ELO in CT Art :( ) calculation doesn't say much. I think I am at 2100
>or so, which is a bit of an overstatement.
>
>Buy it! You'll like it.
>
>Also consider the ChessBase Tactics CD's by George Renko. But the interface of
>CT Art is better.
>
>J.
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