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Subject: Re: katachess, worth buying?

Author: Odd Gunnar Malin

Date: 15:45:50 02/05/03

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On February 05, 2003 at 17:37:47, Jeroen van Dorp wrote:

>On February 05, 2003 at 06:04:50, Odd Gunnar Malin wrote:
>
>>On February 05, 2003 at 05:19:10, martin beaver wrote:
>>
>>>i'm a rank amateur, rated around 1100. Is Katachess a useful training tool?
>>
>>Hi.
>>
>>I think it is essentiel for you to drill on basic tactics so this program would
>>help.
>
>
>The problem for lower rated players -both with Katachess as with CT-Art is a
>lack of explanation. If one is a wee bit stronger and know to name the patterns
>from say your basic chess tutoring books these drills are a great way to
>"practice theory".
>

I'm not sure I'm with you here. An 1100 player isn't a beginner, he knows a mate
when he see it. And to be clear we discuss tactics and not combinations.

It looked like KataChess (I only viewed the demo version) started with basic
tactics, so do 'Chess Tactics for Beginners' from Convekta. These tactics are
the same as you find in your suggested book (first 50 pages). Then the book (and
KataChess) proceed with combinations ala CT-Art, endgames and openings.
I didn't like the endgame and opening approx in the program (KataChess) and
therefore suggested another method for these.

If he prefer to work with books there are many basic books that can replace
these programs. On pure tactics, Simple Chess Tactics by Gilman comes to mind. I
think also Fisher made a biginner tactics book. Didn't also Polgar (the father)
publish (big and cheap) books on tactics. I only have the endgame book but it
has 4560 tests with diagrams for about 10$.

To buy too many books is also a danger, because I think the most important is
how he study and not that he try to grab over too much theorie.

One book that discuss training methods is 'Chess Training for Budding Champions'
by Jesper Hall. I have only read the original Sweedish version (träna schack)
but at least that one was a pleasure to read and gave inspiration to study.

Odd Gunnar



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