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e4. c5

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MartinS

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I have three weaknesses, my opening game, my middle game and my end game.
So, starting at the begining.
I have a couple of books on openings - both recommended by Dave - Modern Chess Openings by Firmian and The Ideas Behind The Openings by Fine.
Could someone please help with how you find the strategy behind these and what the following moves of the strategy are.
Firmian's book is 734 pages and I'm blowed if I know where to start to find them.

Help would be appreciated

Martin

bbarr
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Originally posted by MartinS
I have three weaknesses, my opening game, my middle game and my end game.
So, starting at the begining.
I have a couple of books on openings - both recommended by Dave - Modern Chess Openings by Firmian and The Ideas Behind The Openings by Fine.
Could someone please help with how you find the strategy behind these and what the following moves of the strat ...[text shortened]... es and I'm blowed if I know where to start to find them.

Help would be appreciated

Martin
Well it may not be wise to start your study of openings by focusing on the Sicilian. It is one of the most theory heavy defenses. But if you insist, I would recommend Nunn's book "Beating the Sicilian" as a start. It is clear and instructive if you feel comfortable working through games, and the intro's give some good general advice. The sections on the Najdorf and Scheveningen are better than the one on the Dragon which is fairly sparse.

S
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Originally posted by bbarr
Well it may not be wise to start your study of openings by focusing on the Sicilian. It is one of the most theory heavy defenses. But if you insist, I would recommend Nunn's book "Beating the Sicilian" as a start. It is clear and instructive if you feel comfortable working through games, and the intro's give some good general advice. The sections on the Najdorf and Scheveningen are better than the one on the Dragon which is fairly sparse.
Beating the Sicillian 3 by Nunn and Gallagher is great and I highly recomend it...the Schevenigen section with the Keres attack helped me to actually beat Knightmare NJ.

Also look at "The Complete c3 Sicillian"

That is actually a very good opening and a way to stop a theory heavy person from what they want to do.

Hey Martin...glad you got those books...and thanks for the name drop 😀 Anytime you want to play let me know

Dave🙄

MartinS

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Thanks bbar and Dave - but HOW do you find these moves. Do you simply have to spend a lot of time researching. I know Rome wasn't built in a day and that knowledge takes time but I cannot work out how to find some of the strategies in these books.

BTW Dave - we talked a few months ago about a lesson; I'd love one. Please challenge - I have exams in 10 days ( I decided to do two intense courses at what they sarcastically descibe as summer 'school'😉 so I may be a bit slow at first, but I would appreciate your help and advice.

Thanks again bbar (sorry, don't know your name) and Dave but I still could do with a bit more advice.

Regards

bbarr
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Originally posted by MartinS
Thanks bbar and Dave - but HOW do you find these moves. Do you simply have to spend a lot of time researching. I know Rome wasn't built in a day and that knowledge takes time but I cannot work out how to find some of the strategies in these books.

BTW Dave - we talked a few months ago about a lesson; I'd love one. Please challenge - I have exams in 10 d ...[text shortened]... (sorry, don't know your name) and Dave but I still could do with a bit more advice.

Regards
Well this isn't really the place to work through particular openings, but if there is some line you'd like to go through, then feel free to send me over a game. If you'd like to set up a position in advance and then discuss during the game how particular strategies are to be carried out, then that would be fine. Whatever the case, it will help me if you could be more specific about what you find confusing. Also, I've heard that Dave is good at helping people find openings that particularly suit their style of play, so he would be an excellent resource; especially at this point in your studies. About the Sicilian: while it is a good opening for throwing particular people off balance, it is not an opening you can expect to be sucsessful with at a high level if you have a merely rudimentary understanding of the theory behind it.

MartinS

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Thanks bbar
Regarding my "style" - would it help if I said that I prefer an "aggressive" opening, I don't seem to have the brain power to spend hours on one specific game/tactic.
- I'm the - 'go in with all guns blazing and sort out the mess afterwars" type of player , or does this mean I'm not really suited to the game and should take up ice hockey instead . Joking of course, but trying to illustrate my style

S
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Originally posted by bbarr
Also, I've heard that Dave is good at helping people find openings that particularly suit their style of play, so he would be an excellent resource; especially at this point in your studies.
This is actually one of the better things I offer...I have yet to find any other teacher that can really delve into how a person is and then know what they should be playing to coincide with their personality. t's really not that hard...or maybe I just have a talent for spotting that...I mean look at tenebr8...1400's to solid 1700's with just a little help and advice from me...and of course alot of hard work by him. I put him on the track of the KIA and he just kicks ass with it

I looked over that "hilarious" thread Bennett and it seems that you know quite a bit about psychology...we really have to sit down and go over what I have learned and maybe you can even help me totally perfect my method of teaching 😀

But yes Martin i will send you one over and I definetly think you ought to play Bennett as well...he is pretty damn awesome and can help in areas that may overlook or not cover. I am a good teacher...but second observations are always good.

Thanks for the compliment Bennet 😀

Dave🙄

bbarr
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I looked over that "hilarious" thread Bennett and it seems that you know quite a bit about psychology...we really have to sit down and go over what I have learned and maybe you can even help me totally perfect my method of teaching 😀

I would like really like that Dave. On here or or in person, I'd enjoy catching up. Feel free to send a game over at your convenience, I have some extra points around here somewhere...🙂

MartinS

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Thank you both.

I look forward - with great trepidation - to our games.

Thank you

Regards

Martin

bbarr
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Originally posted by MartinS
Thank you both.

I look forward - with great trepidation - to our games.

Thank you

Regards

Martin
I see you've created our game, cool. How would you like this to proceed?

MartinS

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Originally posted by bbarr
I see you've created our game, cool. How would you like this to proceed?

MartinS

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Originally posted by MartinS
Haven't got the quoting bit sorted out yet.
Regarding your comment about the "proceedings"

You just tell me how I've stuffed each move and hopefully I'll learn.

Regards and Thanks

ChessNut
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About learning new openings or just getting better at one you already play I'd have to recommend you search for 'Randy Bauer' on your Internet Explorer and check out his Chess Tip on his homepage. He goes over strategies for learning an opening / defense that I think is very good. 😉

MartinS

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Thanks ChessNut - I'll look it up.

S
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Originally posted by ChessNut
About learning new openings or just getting better at one you already play I'd have to recommend you search for 'Randy Bauer' on your Internet Explorer and check out his Chess Tip on his homepage. He goes over strategies for learning an opening / defense that I think is very good. 😉
Randy Bauer.

Not recommended.

Dave

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