Author: Albert Silver
Date: 10:43:29 07/23/04
The issue of chess training with software is an interesting one. By now, there
are many programs that cater to all needs and levels. By this I don't mean the
usual Fritz and company with hints and dumbed down levels, which certainly help,
but specially designed programs that tutor one in a specific aspect of the game,
such as middlegame strategy, tactics, or endgame technique.
They are all designed to hopefully bring that holy grail of chess mastery within
reach, and satisfy our playing ambitions. The question is will they deliver,
which programs and how to use them in a structured methodology.
A proven roadmap has been written and published by GM Irina Mikhailova, a
trainer for the T.V. Petrosian Chess Club in Moscow. The T.V. Petrosian Chess
Club has a special relationship with the Russian chess software maker, Convekta
(http://www.convekta.com), makers of Chess Assistant, and receives the various
training software it produces for testing and training purposes.
She plotted out a detailed training program using the training software in order
to take the students from a 2200 rating to IM level (2400+). Her program was
successful and she wrote up her methodology *in detail* and the programs used.
There are two write-ups, one specifically on tactical training using CT-ART 3.0,
(a program that teaches tactics with some special pattern-recognition teaching
tools), in which she details how to study, when, how much, and the results
obtained:
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Testing results on intermediate stages of training
CT-ART 3.0 Start ELO Resulting ELO
Yevelev V. 2220 2433
Kurenkov N. 2210 2401
Gabrielian A. 2330 2447
--------------------------------------------------
The full article is at http://www.convekta.com/softscho/l1/lesson_2.html
She then elaborates in greater detail (some 10-12 pages worth) on using other
programs in order to achive the initial 'baseline' (2200 Elo):
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"Training and trials, 'base line' before the initial ELO rating (2200) is
achieved.
The very initial stage we call conditionally our 'base line'. The aim at this
stage is to acquire a playing skill of approximately 2200 ELO. 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."
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followed by the 2-year goal:
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The 2 year training schedule's tasks are more complex than those of the 'base
line' stage. Its main goal is to achieve an ELO rating of approximately 2400,
which corresponds to IM level. A young chess player must incorporate 3-4
openings into his/her repertoire as White and an equal number as the player of
Black. They must master the tactics (90 per cent correctly solving tests of a
high complexity with the theme of the tests unknown). Also to understand a wide
palette of strategic devices - how the relationships of the elements of a
position evaluation vary depending on the pawn configuration or on the alignment
of forces on the board; know more then 100 typical plans from classical games;
master elementary knowledge on chess endings: evaluation, plan of play, standard
tactical methods from approximately 600 endgame positions; master methods of
play in endings and the so-called 'simple' positions. He/she must acquire good
skills at using the PC and with the chess DBMS (Data Base Management Systems),
and with new learning and playing programs.
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The full article (the translation is a bit iffy, but clearly understood) is at:
http://www.convekta.com/softscho/l1/lesson_3.html
Hope you find it as interesting as I have. Personally, I made a copy for myself,
and will be translating this to Portuguese to post at my club.
Albert
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