Author: Lawrence S. Tamarkin
Date: 13:18:08 11/14/99
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Many chess software programs are good for your chess, but can't replace the HUGE BIG project it is to get better at the game. I'll suggest (very briefly below), a study program for ambitious chess addicts, who want big improvement. 1. Get and read sequentially at least 10 of the best chess books (Probably better not to consult the computer yet) - here are a few. - There are many groups of 10, * Alekhines Best games * Cabablanca's Best Games (maybe the one edited by John Nunn is best) * My System, by Nimzovich (& Chess Praxis) * Zurich 1953 * My 60 Memorable Games, by Bobby Fischer * The Test of Time, by Garry Kasparov * Batsford Chess Endings, by John Speelman, Tisdal & Wade * Secrets of Practical Chess, by John Nunn * Chess Choice Challenge, by Chris Ward and John Emms * Test, Evaluate and Improve Your Chess by Kopec & Terre (and other chess quiz books, with testing) Now your read for some good chess magazines. New In Chess is the best of the paper ones. Chess Life is not topical, but has some good stuff in it anyhow. Computer stuff, Chess Base Magazine is outstanding - highly recommended. Chess Base training disk are excellent too. In fact just about anything Chess Base is worth it, so select prudently. Chess Mentor - many outstanding features Chessica - Chess Tutor, excellent playing program with good tutor included. CT-Art, Strategy, Studies, (These programs are all wrapped in a simular Gui), are all excellent programs. The upcomming, Mikhail Tal, 8th World Chess Champion, also looks like a winner. Other chess software too numerous to mention. An excellent playing program that you enter (to analyze your self and with the programs opening books), is essential), games into is essential. Top candidate are, Fritz (Hiarcs, Junior, Nimzo, and so forth) Rebel (Tiger, and Winboard up next, with Internet connectivity) Genius (W-Chess, M-chess, Nimzo, Shredder) Spend at least 4 hours per day (No distractions allowed at all with the above. Be sure to stay focused on only what your doing at the moment. If your reading, 'The Life & Games of Mikhail Tal', and you read some crazy sacrificial position that Tal did, don't input it into the computer playing program; it will definitely distract you too much from the enjoyment (instruction gained), from Tal's book. Divide your time carefully. It is essential to focus about 20 minutes on each item you are studying. It might even be best to divide the 4 hours over the course of the whole day. I have heard that some 'intelligence psychologist', have discovered that most people max out on learning after that time period. (it may vary). Get a team together; find 3 or 4 friends that want to improve their chess together. Preparation: Team up with chess friends who are approximately at the same current level you are. Team efforts usually help improve ones over-all results. Notable teams, Benjamin, Fedorowicz, Wilder. Renna, Shroer, Hertan, Kennedy (a little Tamarkin). Fun. It is necessary to have a lot of fun when improving your game. Every tournament should be both a challenge toward improving your game, but also, irregardless of result, a 'test center' for your previous training. I highly recommend the weekly rapids at the Marshall Chess Club (Friday nights at 7:30) as one of the most fun, less expensive, ($10 EF, $5 to members), ways to both build 'chess tactics muscle', and to have fun. All entry fee's are returned as prizes, and refreshment are served. 6-10 of the player's are regular competitor’s, and most of us are friends:) Anyway good luck. Clearly to decide to be a strong chess player, (without inborn great talent) requires an investment of Time, Money & commitment. But then, very few things worth doing in this life do not. Larry T. On November 14, 1999 at 12:33:07, Seth Hodgkins wrote: >I have downloaded the chessmentor demo and liked it for the most part. I thought >it was a little random in the types of problems it presented but maybe this was >to just give a taste of what it has to offer. I only started playing chess >regularly in the last year or so and I feel like I'm an addict. When I started >playing around with the demo it really pointed out that I'm not seeing the >things on the board I need to see in order to win and develop as a player. So >now I've got it in my head that a good way do develope my chess prowess is to >work through chess problems such as what ChessMentor provides. Do you agree or >not? I saw that one person wrote about studies 2.0 and how it was their >favorite. Do you have any feedback on thatas well? P.S. thanks for your prior >feedback I appreciate it.
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