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Subject: Re: Collector's Corner.. losers corner

Author: Uri Blass

Date: 22:35:03 01/29/06

Go up one level in this thread


On January 30, 2006 at 01:17:54, Graham Banks wrote:

>On January 30, 2006 at 01:05:04, Uri Blass wrote:
>
>>On January 30, 2006 at 00:21:55, Graham Banks wrote:
>>
>>>On January 29, 2006 at 23:38:25, Thomas Mayer wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi Steve,
>>>>
>>>>well, I have several interests in the dedicated units. I also want to use them
>>>>to improve my chess a bit. Also for testing issues I play from time to time a
>>>>game myself against them. The result of tonights session can be seen here:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.quarkchess.de/games/brainmephi.htm
>>>>
>>>>I did try to comment a bit on my thoughts etc. during the game. (I played with a
>>>>real wooden board, maybe I will add some pictures later - this is my first try
>>>>to publish a game anyway)
>>>>
>>>>Don't be too harsh about my playing capabilities, this was really a painful
>>>>game... :) I wonder what anyone would recommand to me to improve my game...
>>>>
>>>>Greets, Thomas
>>>>
>>>>P.S.: If interest in such stuff exists I would repeat this from time to time,
>>>>the commenting was fun and I think I learn myself something.
>>>
>>>
>>>Hi Thomas,
>>>
>>>I found a very useful book to improve your chess was "Test Your Positional Play"
>>>by Bellin and Ponzetto.
>>>
>>>After an initial section talking about the static and dynamic features based on
>>>pawn structures, it then explains how to take advantages of weaknesses in the
>>>opponent's position or how to create such weaknesses.
>>>
>>>You are then given 30 minute exercises whereby you are given a position with
>>>three choices of plan. You're expected to decide which plan is best. The point
>>>behind each plan is given.
>>>
>>>You then look at the solution page which not only explains which plan is correct
>>>and why, but also exposes the flaws in the other plans.
>>>
>>>The book is basically like a test whereby you get allocated points for your
>>>choices.
>>>I found it even more motivating to compete with a friend of roughly equal
>>>strength who also owned a copy.
>>>
>>>This book will improve your chess immensely as it covers the aspect of chess
>>>that most players below 2000 ELO tend to struggle in, that is constructing a
>>>useful plan.
>>>
>>>Regards, Graham.
>>
>>I believe that the main problem of weak players is doing tactical mistakes.
>>A book like that may be more productive for strong players and not for weak
>>players.
>>
>>Uri
>
>
>Players around 1600-2000 ELO would benefit most. I would have been 1700-1800 ELO
>at the time I studied this book.
>
>Another useful exercise is to read a best games book without a chessboard in
>front of you. Try to visualise the moves and variations given between each
>diagram. The whole point of this is to increase your visualisation skills.
>This was an area of weakness for me and probably explains why I never exceeded
>2000 ELO over the board, yet was able to play at 2300-2400 ELO in correspondence
>chess.
>
>Graham.

visualisation is also area of weakness for me and I cannot play a single game
blindfold but this reason is not enough to prevent players to get above 2000
over the board.

I believe that even players who cannot play blindfold can get above 2300 if they
only train enough in chess but I was always lazy to do it and it is the main
reason that I am not at that level.

I simply have not enough knowledge about chess and I believe that being able to
calculate long lines in the middle game is not very important and it is more
important to have good evaluation and good knowledge of openings.

I got israeli rating of 2103 in the last year but I had simply a good luck and
my level is probably only 2000-2050.

My rating today for 1.1.2006 is 2091 but I am going to lose more rating after my
last israeli league games that are still not included in the rating calculation.

Uri



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