Hello everyone.
I am new to Chess and this site. I've known the rules of chess for a long time and played on occasion but lately I'm wanting to play more and more and when I am not playing I am thinking about playing. I'm starting to study strategies and things like that. So I am pretty much getting serious abou Chess. Anyways...
Instead of making a bunch of posts with one question each I figured I'd make one post with a bunch of questions.
Just some general stuff really.
1. How long did it take you to go from "i know the rules of chess" to "i can destroy people who just know the rules of chess"?
2. Are there any good documentaries/movies about chess that are worth renting or buying?
3. What are some of the better books to study? Or even just books about chess in general.
4. Is it acceptable for me to play a game and then post it here to get anazlyzed? So I have an idea of what I need to work on. Keeping in mind I am fairly new to this and my games could be full of mistakes.
Thanks.
Originally posted by Gortron1) i have no idea.
Hello everyone.
I am new to Chess and this site. I've known the rules of chess for a long time and played on occasion but lately I'm wanting to play more and more and when I am not playing I am thinking about playing. I'm starting to study strategies and things like that. So I am pretty much getting serious abou Chess. Anyways...
Instead of making ...[text shortened]... ing in mind I am fairly new to this and my games could be full of mistakes.
Thanks.
2) Searcing for Bobby Fischer, Lutzin Defence, the document of Deep Blue vs. Kasparov match
3) well...all chess books are good ones for beginner. but in general, beginners should avoid books which focus on openings only. they tend to be the least beneficial.
4) yes.
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- 16 Dec 04
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Originally posted by GortronTake a look at Irving Chenev's 'Logical Chess move by move'. I think that it caters well for beginners right up to more experienced people. It re-inforces important ideas in the opening, not really particular openings but general rules. The book runs through every single move for about 30 games (I think one of the two players in each game is a GM?). If you have time to play through the book using a real board then it should be a highly beneficial book.
3. What are some of the better books to study? Or even just books about chess in general.
Originally posted by 93confirmedIf he just knows the rules, I would start with something easier. Probably a tactics book of sorts.
I would highly recommend 'How to Reassess your Chess" by Jeremy Silman to start with. It's a very easy read and covers chess from the basics and on into tactics and strategy. I'd also suggest getting the chess workbook that is of the same name and by Silman.
Originally posted by zebanoI'd say I am a little beyond just knowing the rules. I've been studying the fundamentals of good openings and working on endgame scenarios. That is about where I am at.
If he just knows the rules, I would start with something easier. Probably a tactics book of sorts.
I've been looking at things like forking and skewering...what are those? tactics? or strategies?
Originally posted by GortronI'll play you if you like then put the notes in this thread afterwards. Rated or unrated, black or white (or both)🙂
I'd say I am a little beyond just knowing the rules. I've been studying the fundamentals of good openings and working on endgame scenarios. That is about where I am at.
I've been looking at things like forking and skewering...what are those? tactics? or strategies?
p.s Zebano's right, get Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics for example.
Originally posted by GortronThose are tactics. I currently need to study them heavily as I have been dropping pieces left and right. I actually took on more games to try and get through the slump, but I think that has backfired and made things worse. It's time for a break from chess so I can recharge my batteries.
I'd say I am a little beyond just knowing the rules. I've been studying the fundamentals of good openings and working on endgame scenarios. That is about where I am at.
I've been looking at things like forking and skewering...what are those? tactics? or strategies?
Originally posted by GortronI think the fastest way a total begginer can become stronger is by learning the basics:
Hello everyone.
I am new to Chess and this site. I've known the rules of chess for a long time and played on occasion but lately I'm wanting to play more and more and when I am not playing I am thinking about playing. I'm starting to study strategies and things like that. So I am pretty much getting serious abou Chess. Anyways...
Instead of making ...[text shortened]... ing in mind I am fairly new to this and my games could be full of mistakes.
Thanks.
Step 1: learn the following mates:
(all against a lone king)
K+Q
K+R
K+N+B
K+B+B
(and the basic opening mates, so you never fall for them🙂
fools mate
Scholar's mate
(and then the classics🙂
back-rank mates
phildors' mate
etc etc.
Step 2: learn the principles of the King+Pawn(s) endgames.
learn all about the "opisition", "Zugzwang", and certain drawing techniques (ie. how to draw K+P [wing pawn] endings)
step 3: learn tactics, and practice them.
learn what a pin, x-ray, skewer, double check, discovered attack, etc, etc are....
once you have studied these three things this should form an excellent foundation.
Try the chess tactics server : http://chess.emrald.net/ although it doesn't teach you the main tactical ideas: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks etc so it might be frustrating to start with. After an attempt at a puzzle here you can play through the solution though.
Also try www.chesskids.com - no apologies for recommending a site for kids - it's clear and step by step as are most of the books aimed at kids. It has useful chess links too.
I highly rate all of Yasser Seirawans books and the titles tell you whats in them. I'd recommend "Play Winning Chess" to get started and also consider his tactics and his endings books to move on to. Think of "studying" a book as it takes some time and commitment to work through them.
As promised...
Gortron v Squelchbelch
Game 3186683
(unrated)
1.e4 So, white opens e4. It’s worth mentioning that at novice level it’s thought to be best to select one opening move as white once you’ve found a preference. Opening for instance 1.e4 one game & 1.d4 in another is like trying to learn 2 completely different languages. Many players (even at the highest levels) adopt 1 particular 1st move over any other. Fischer famously said “with 1.e4 I win”
1…c5 I decide to play the most common reply & best effort for controlled counter-play – the Sicilian Defence. 1…e5 can lead to interesting, positive play from both, but is often too freeing for white as it allows him to play too many different pet openings
2.Nf3 usual response – white attacks the central square e5, defends d4 & anticipates a KS castle.
2…d6 defends c5 & the e5 square & opens the c8-h3 diagonal. I plan to fianchetto the dark-square bishop soon because it is likely to be blocked-in for quite some time otherwise
3.d4…cxd4
4.Nxd4…Nf6 standard stuff & looking like I can play my favourite Sicilian variation – the Dragon
5.Bd3 I expected Nc3. Bd3 defends the e4 pawn, but potentially loses a tempo if the bishop is moved again any time soon
5…g6 I suppose looking back 5…e5 was more positive, forcing the knight back & dominating in the center, gaining space & a further tempo
6.0-0 as expected after Bd3, white castles
6…Bg7 carrying on with my plan, I fianchetto the bishop to what turns out to be the crucial long dark-square diagonal & allow a KS castle of my own
7.Bb5+ white has moved the bishop twice in the opening already, losing time with a check that allows me to put my own bishop on a slightly better square & if it’s taken I can re-take with my queen or B8 knight, though the d7 square lends itself more to the queen
so,
7…Bd7
8.Qf3 defends the pawn again, but I was expecting the forcing 8.Bxd7. White could get over-extended defending if he’s not careful & has allowed…
8…Qb6 attacking Nd4 & the bishop if the knight is moved. I have good potential for dark-square control now, with the Bg7
9.Rd1 defending the knight
9…0-0 I castle my king to safety & un-pin my bishop which I expect to be taken, in which case I will re-take with my b8 knight & will have a compact position with plenty of options
10.c4? This defends the bishop but the pawn could be a target unless white plays b3, which would make the b5 bishop rather inactive
c4 is also a mistake because I’ve just seen the skewer on the Q & R with…
10…Bg4! a tactic which I should have spotted last move. White must now play Qd3, minimising the damage & putting the queen on the ½ open d-file
White looks stretched & suffers a queen/rook skewer:
Game example cont...
11.Qd3…Bxd1
12.Qxd1…Nxe4 removing white’s only central pawn & attacking Nd4 with Bg7 & queen. Now I’m concentrating on moving the annoying Bb5 & attacking the weak c4 pawn
13.Be3…a6 trying to shift Bb5
14.f3? in my opinion this dangerously weakens white’s KS, as well as potentially pinning the Nd4 against the king. While f3 attacks my Ne4, I get the chance to remove white’s most active piece
14…axb5
15.f4? amazingly, black decides not to take my Ne4 & pushes the pawn instead for no apparent reason
15…bxc4 I can un-double the pawns & open the b-file for my queen to threaten b2 then Ra1
16.Qf3?? This is a game-losing error. Now I can take the knight on d4 with my bishop, then the best I see for white is to re-take, then I take again with the queen, forking the king & b2 pawn.
If instead white un-pins the king with Kh1, then I can simply take the b2 pawn straight away with my queen. 16.Nc3 would have been a more obvious choice, looking to exchange knights & leaving the pawn on c3 defending the Nd4 & freeing a piece
16…Bxd4
17.Bxd4…Qxd4+
18.Kf1…Qxb2
19.Qxe4…Qxa1 pinning the knight. Now I’m thinking about trying to force the white king down the board with my queen & rook if I get the chance
About to try to reel the white king in: