I just purchased Silman's book, and I have to agree with Dave. It's a
great help to the weakest area of my game: planning. I'm quite
impressed and I would definitely recommend everyone (who doesn't
already have it) to go buy it. It's well worth the US $20 I payed for it.
(or check your library if they don't mind you checking it out again
every three weeks for a year!). My next purchase, I think, will be MCO
14th ed. (I've got an old 12th. ed.)
Any other recommendations? Especially books that cover similar
topics, such as planning, etc.
Oh, and have you ever read Dr. Euwe's "Judgement and Planning in
Chess" (I think that's the title, or if not it's very close)?
--Rein
Sorry if this is too long of a post, it's my first.
I loved "How to Reassess your chess". I read it at least a year ago
and I am re-reading it now. Since then Silman has some better books
that cover the same basic material. "The Reassess your chess
Workbook" does the same thing but more concisely and the
Workbook is more interactive. Also, a great book is "The Amateur's
Mind" by Jeremy Silman. This book not only covers the imbalances
but the psychology of chess and carrying out your plans in the face of
an attack. You see how low rated players handle GM positions
incorrectly and you hear the reasoning. A lot of times they
see "ghosts" and react to threats that could be ignored. The other two
books actually appear to have been proofread as well. I was tempted
to mark up his first one with a red pen and send it back!
Another book I highly recommend is "Art of Attack in Chess" by
Vladimir Vukovic. This book was revised by John Nunn and is in AN.
Although not as plainly written as the Silman books it is an eye
opener. After you have a solid positional advantage this book will
help you recognize your chance to "cash in" with an exiting mating
attack. It also is a great book to help you calmly defend what may
look like a crushing attack. It will help you determine if the attack is
sound or unjustified.
R/S
Brian
28yrs old
Washington, DC
P.S.
I am looking to get into some well thought out games. I
am in a few good ones but some of the games I am in seem almost
like random moves. I was expecting to take some lumps and learn
some new openings. I am happy to win but if after the game I
haven't learned anything did I really win?
Coincidence! Just now I finished reading John Watson's reviews at
TWIC and came across this book, as well as Silman's two
other 'masterpieces'... 'The Amateur's Mind' and 'How to Reassess
your Chess - Workbook'. I've got all three, but have only just browsed
through them. Looks fine and the reviews (also from Randy Bauer at
Chessopolis) are unanimous: best buy for a decade or more.
It might interest you, Rein, that I e-mailed Jeremy Silman last week
as in which order to study these 3 books. His reply astonished me a
bit...
1. How to Reassess your Chess (only up to page 28)
2. The Amateur's Mind (completely)
3. Go back to How to Reasses for the rest of the book
4. How to Reasses your Chess - Workbook
Jan
You know, I have always been very impressed by people who are
polylingual. I myself know just a bit of German, French, and Estonian
(similar to Finnish) in addition to my american English. Have you ever
thought that the ability to learn multiple languages easily -- and the
flexibility of thought that it implies -- might imply a natural talent or
ability in games like chess?
Sort of off topic, I know, but I created the topic so therefore I can do
anything I want... ;-)
--Rein
everybody is born with that ability. Two languages are not more
complicated that two games or two cooking recipies. Only a bit more...
The ability to learn languages decreases very fast, however, and I
am talking about 5 to 10 years. After that it becomes study and hard
work. Like learning to swim at 40.
Relation with chess? Language and chess, yes. Multiple languages? I
doubt.