Originally posted by WriterAnathemaAt your level you should study the endgame first and thoroughly master and familiarize yourself with the elements of Chess the middle game and the opening must then be studied in direct relation to the endgame in this way you'll draw the connection and see the game as a unified whole.
I'm a beginner (no games completed here but 1350 on Yahoo chess and 1400 on chess.emrald.net), and I'm looking to improve my game (1800 is my goal for now), namely in the opening. What's the best way to study and learn an opening adequately, or what's a good way for to learn openings in general?
It's the right way to learn if you want Chess to make sense to you and become a very good Player.
Originally posted by greenpawn34actually this muppet dosent even know the difference between correspondence chess where one has the leisure and time to consult books and data bases and blitz where he can hassle his 'bozos', into making tactical errors due to the time constraints, how are the two related? are we to conclude also from his ill willed and completely baseless comments that all who post are in his own words 'naff', simply because they choose to post on the site for the benefit and enlightenment of others, he may, in his own world be a good tactician, how will he fair against someone with a long term strategy, positional understanding, good calculation and an opening repertoire, can he himself dispense with the theory borne from hours of research and study of games by better players than himself. I truly feel sorry for these guys, give them a grandmaster game to follow, and when the master slides his rook over in a quite and unassuming fashion to a seemingly inconsequential square, how will he interpret the move if viewed simply from a tactical point of view? that's right he will be lost, lost to the beauties and subtitles of chess in a self induced stupor of laziness and meglomania!
I think you have all succeed in completely baffling this poor lad.
Never before had I read such naff and conflicting advice.
Mate don't listen to this nonsense.
Games are not won in the opening - they are won in the middle game.
Become a good middle game player (tactics).
I beat these bozos all the time at blitz from really bad openings
bec ...[text shortened]...
what you are talking about - really you don't.
('cept for LOUSEY he was nearly right)
Originally posted by AristolleI have a question about this, what if one is going for a style of play and a strategy based on a direct and uncompromising attack on the king, perhaps sacrificing pieces etc. how will knowledge of the endgame help us in a position like this ? should we not decide before hand which strategy we should we employ, i.e. a direct attack on the king or a strategy based on endgame principals, surely the two cannot be effectual, kind of like, if one fails then i will try the the other?
At your level you should study the endgame first and thoroughly master and familiarize yourself with the elements of Chess the middle game and the opening must then be studied in direct relation to the endgame in this way you'll draw the connection and see the game as a unified whole.
It's the right way to learn if you want Chess to make sense to you and become a very good Player.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieWe share a similar first reaction to his post which displays the bravado I'd assciate with someone whoose had a few more beers than they can handle....but if you visit this website and click on changler cornered (in the top left corner of the body) you can read his bit and you may be enetertained sufficiently to forgive:
actually this muppet dosent even know the difference between correspondence chess where one has the leisure and time to consult books and data bases and blitz where he can hassle his 'bozos', into making tactical errors due to the time constraints, how are the two related? are we to conclude also from his ill willed and completely baseless comments ...[text shortened]... to the beauties and subtitles of chess in a self induced stupor of laziness and meglomania!
http://chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandler.php
Whatever you do; don't play Blitz; it WILL mess you up, because you get use to play fast and not to think through.
Regarding openings, I think, it all depends on your style of play (closed & open) just keep in mind if you choose a popular opening say the sicilian for example it has been very well studied and there wont be any element of surprise.
good luck
Quote:
"actually this muppet dosent even know the difference between correspondence
chess where one has the leisure and time to consult books and data
bases and blitz where he can hassle his 'bozos', into making
tactical errors due to the time constraints."
Charming.
The sad fact is I played correspondence chess for years (1977-1989)but stopped when
computers got good. Why waste stamps playing against someone else's computer. (don't say it never happens).
As to the other well thought out remarks regarding my chess
playing ability - no harm done. I won't get involved in a slagging
match with a fellow chess player. We are a minority, let us not quarrel.
I'm afraid that I really do understand mysterious Grandmaster Rook
moves and all the other joys of the game.
But you are right about me looking for the tactic first.
Is that not what all good players do?
Chess is 99% tactics.
I stand by my original post. The lad asked for help and
received conflicting advice. You really cannot start
suggest openings for someone to play until you have seen some of their games.
Do they understand the opening principles?
Do they understand the concept of a gambit and tempo?
Are they shoving pawns above creating weaknesses?
It's like someone coming on here and asking what you think
of their dancing.
Bad advice at an early stage of starting out can take years
to correct. I simply advised the guy to not listen to you Bozo's
and go his own way.
(now when I get beat at 5 minute chess some sign off 'Bozo'
I love it - I really do.)
Actually most of us 'good' chess players (and that include some of
you guys - I've looked at your some of your games) found out
by ourselves using the 'suck and see' method to improve.
Can anybody out there, so free with their advice on how to improve,
honestly say they learned anything from a complete stranger with a
keyboard?
There is no secret opening, no fantastic book and no noticeboard
that will give you success and further your enjoyment of the game.
It's down to the individual and how much they want to put in to it.
I saw a recent posting about the Holloween opening.
(I played this once OTB against an IM - I lost. Back then it was
called the Muller Gambit. 5...Ng6 was played.)
One lad was asking are there any DVD's or books on it!
Why not sit down at a board and work it out for yourself.
An opening book is just a collection of someone's else's first 9-15 moves.
And DVD's... What DVD did any good player use pre-Kasparov?
Embrace new technology but don't depend upon it.
I should have added on my original post.
Join a club, show your games to a strong player and CHECK for yourself his advice.
Right I'm off to thrash you Bozo's at 5 minute chess -
see you on the blitz screen.
Originally posted by robbie carrobieI don't think a 'direct and uncompromising attack on the king, perhaps sacrificing pieces' is a good approach. There should be some justification for your attack; either 1) the attack is correct, you can see you will regain your sacrificed material or win more or checkmate the opponent or 2) you are most certainly going to lose if you don't try an all out attack.
I have a question about this, what if one is going for a style of play and a strategy based on a direct and uncompromising attack on the king, perhaps sacrificing pieces etc. how will knowledge of the endgame help us in a position like this ? should we not decide before hand which strategy we should we employ, i.e. a direct attack on the king or a s ...[text shortened]... s, surely the two cannot be effectual, kind of like, if one fails then i will try the the other?
A great deal of attacks on the king don't lead to mate anyway but to material gains or material losses.
You'll then have to exploit your extra material or try to draw being down material so it would be a good idea to know some endgames.
You are correct.
You cannot decide before a game that you will play an ending
or carry out some kitchen sink attack.
You have to read the middle-game that appears and act accordingly.
The other lad is also right. 5 minute chess is bad for you if you
take it too seriously. It means nothing.
But it's good fun - sharpens up the tactics and teaches the unwary
about traps.
Anything under 5 minutes is silly chess - fastest mouse wins.
Originally posted by Mahoutits that fiery mixture of Scots/Irish blood which is apt to boil at the least slight and seeming injustice. It was his completely condescending attitude that riled me, the content of what he actually was saying i dismissed as the work of some megalomaniac, a view which i still hold to be self evident from his own words, however one must respect the man's bravery and genuine concern for the welfare of the original querier.😛
We share a similar first reaction to his post which displays the bravado I'd assciate with someone whoose had a few more beers than they can handle....but if you visit this website and click on changler cornered (in the top left corner of the body) you can read his bit and you may be enetertained sufficiently to forgive:
http://chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandler.php
A meglomaniac - I have no idea what that means.
Sounds good though. I'll keep it.
I'm looking at the lads games after his original posting.
He is doing OK.
One premature attack game (game 4950191) which he lost
And he learned something because game (4950198) he actually
beats back a premature attack with some fine mid-game play.
Here is a lst of the openings he was TOLD to play before I chipped in.
French
English
King's Gambit
Queen's Gambit
Sicilian
King's Indian Attack
Pirc
The Scotch
King's Indian Defence
Caro Khan
London System
Slav
He was then told to play Blitz games.
and not to play Blitz games.
Thought I'd bring an end to all this free advice before
the lad jumps into a river or gives up chess.
Anyway Sir, I see we are both Dylan fans.
You might recognise this.
Opening books con you into thinking you are the one,
that can do what's never been done,
That can win what's never been won,
Meantime your grade slides down around you.
(sorry Bob).