tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post114119179789040717..comments2024-01-29T13:41:11.764-05:00Comments on Blunder Prone .... Imagination, Inspiration and Improvement: Brain... missing in actionBlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-1141339159245261042006-03-02T17:39:00.000-05:002006-03-02T17:39:00.000-05:00Welcome aboard!PSWelcome aboard!<BR/><BR/>PSPawnsenseihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11462179351936551265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-1141316756603288002006-03-02T11:25:00.000-05:002006-03-02T11:25:00.000-05:00I always HATED to study openings. Now, I find it ...I always HATED to study openings. Now, I find it rather interesting. I think this is why: first I finished my tactics circles and got reasonably competent in that part of the game. Now, I'm studying a lot of strategy and position play (mainly using Chess Mentor supplemental problem sets). I've started to win more and when I lose, it's mostly been due to lack of opening knowledge (although I still can get beat strategically and in the endgame). So, when I lose and I know it's because I screwed the opening up, I go back to my opening reference books and re-study the ideas as well as the moves sequences (to understand how the plan moves are prioritized). This has seemed to help, and it also has made my opening study more interesting.CelticDeathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08038723918435574366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-1141238259752269372006-03-01T13:37:00.000-05:002006-03-01T13:37:00.000-05:00Well, I vowed tomyself to finish the maze ( 7 circ...Well, I vowed tomyself to finish the maze ( 7 circles) before I do anything drastic like change my opening... especially 3 days away from an event I plan on heading to.<BR/><BR/>Years ago I used to play the Najdorf Dragon.... but that was back in the 70's ...I clueless and augmenting my reality WAY too much back then ;)<BR/><BR/>I may gear up for the World open.BlunderPronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-1141236754105256742006-03-01T13:12:00.000-05:002006-03-01T13:12:00.000-05:00BP,Yes, it's me... the "other club member" in your...BP,<BR/><BR/>Yes, it's me... the "other club member" in your post. I think your first move is the problem! It's a hard thing to do, but the Knights need to take up more tactical openings if they're going to use their swords. The Caro just is too slow (so is the French). Any openeing that lets white get away with d5 and g4 in the first few moves has got ot be bad. :)<BR/><BR/>Play the Dragon! Yeah, there's tons of "theory" (whatever that is...) and there's lots of ways to avoid it, but it's just too fun. Most of the "standard ideas" are tactical and a lot of fun to uncork (e.g. anytime a ...Rxc3 exchange sacrifice is available, you just play it, game over!)<BR/><BR/>"Winning with the Dragon 2" by Chris Ward is excellent. The first 10-15 pages are just ideas and themes, the rest is all annotated games. Great stuff; not necessary to memorize, just fun to watch.<BR/><BR/>Until we meet again,<BR/>-MattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-1141192147043084382006-03-01T00:49:00.000-05:002006-03-01T00:49:00.000-05:00Boy, we all know what brain: MIA feels like. I thi...Boy, we all know what brain: MIA feels like. I think I spent most of the 90's like that ;)<BR/><BR/>Anyway - I just wanted to say that after reading yours and other various posts I decided I too would blog my experience in aiming for chess improvement ('mastery' is probably too lofty a goal for me at this point!). <BR/><BR/>Don't let the bad days keep you down. Hopefully this blog experience will help us encourage each other through the rough spots -S. Uristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14875549977434372719noreply@blogger.com