tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-230753622024-03-17T22:02:52.969-05:00Blunder Prone .... Imagination, Inspiration and ImprovementRantings of an enthusiast.BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.comBlogger316125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-37099614967268767722021-01-30T14:57:00.002-05:002021-01-30T14:57:30.341-05:00Tripping over my shoelaces <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDzFJwfF6ZzkUVmbTn02S2qkGs0bkFfYipXSobnJD1SzYYqtSOqyHd8lviU-tDxQTPkCzou8tiL-cVYDBRG19BwsDx5lZizQhFcWJmkqc_suSybiRjfHDGewWjpP3RZGUK8AyFA/s1280/maxresdefault+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDzFJwfF6ZzkUVmbTn02S2qkGs0bkFfYipXSobnJD1SzYYqtSOqyHd8lviU-tDxQTPkCzou8tiL-cVYDBRG19BwsDx5lZizQhFcWJmkqc_suSybiRjfHDGewWjpP3RZGUK8AyFA/w400-h225/maxresdefault+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve tried many different ways to learn openings. Brute
force rote memorization doesn’t work. I might have short results but in the
long run it is not a lasting thing for me because it soon becomes a jumbled
knot of branches. What I end up remembering is the move for another line and
end up in an inferior position rather than a stronger one for this line. Thus,
my analogy of tripping over the shoelaces at the start of the game. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Adding to the frustration is the fact that for the first few
moves, there are so many off the beaten path variations and traps to watch out
for that it’s next to impossible to keep track. Playing at the “class level” (non-master),
I encounter a lot of these non-mainline variations because I know… my opponent,
like myself doesn’t want to spend hours learning a main line response to an
opening that their opponent is all “booked up” on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, they game becomes a cat and mouse game of
can I trick them out of the book first into comfortable positions I remember. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over the years, I am finding a problem with that logic as the
branches can get trickier to recall if all you do is rely on memorization. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you have an eidetic memory, you are
like me and out of luck. Especially as you advance in age and you realize your
brain has become more of a leaky bucket. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rolf Wetzell’s book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Master-at-Any-Age/dp/0938650580">Chess
Master at any age</a>, talks about this and asks the question what comprises
chess skills in his chapter on Components of Chess Capability. He lists them as
follows (and I will paraphrase): <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Images of positions</li><li>Ability to visualize positions</li><li>Move Selection</li><li>Mental state (Attitude, Discipline and tenacity)</li><li>Physical state </li><li>Personal biases (favored pieces, positions, ability to be
flexible) </li><li>Genetics (memory and internal clock) </li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I won’t get into all these or debate them. I knew Rolf when
I used to go to the club and I picked up his book because of the hope in old dogs
learning new tricks thing. I also picked up at the height of the MDLM <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Chess-Improvement-Michael-Maza-ebook/dp/B006IRH624/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UWU0POXYLM8P&dchild=1&keywords=rapid+chess+improvement&qid=1612034127&s=books&sprefix=rapid+chess+i%2Cstripbooks%2C167&sr=1-1">rapid
improvement in chess</a> … or as I call Dante’s 7 circles of hell in tactics training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The method behind all that was to increase
the number of “images” into your noggin until you had it in motor memory to
play tactics automatically. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But here’s the thing, after countless hours and thousands of
tactical puzzles, over time, my leaky bucket was forgetting the bulk of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of the problem, with the rapid approach
was that I was mindlessly making moves without really putting any thought
behind it to “get through this set” as quick as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was purely brute force memorization and
only benefits short term effects. For anything longer lasting, I need more
mindful processing in addition to the piece movement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Back to the topic of openings and images of positions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to understand opening position branches
better rather than memorize “if he goes there, I go here”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shifted my tactical training for a slower
learning using more of an internal narrative, naming the type of position,
tactic or strategy going back to basics. I am not going for quantity but longer-term
quality for sustaining results. I decided to start a similar approach to
studying openings. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ll share in another post on what tool I am using and how
it fits in with the database activity and books I have later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for now, I am creating several short
stack puzzles using the first 8 moves only of my key repertoire and doing
repetitions in these and asking myself the following when I am struggling to
find the move:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What’s different from the previous branch?</li><li>What’s really needed in this position?</li><li>Can I still apply “main-line” ideas? </li><li>What positional triggers do I need to find my move? </li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Taking a more mindful approach to learning this as well as
iterative training to build up the capability seems to be helping me initially
in recent games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll elaborate next time
I as test this experiment out a little more. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-BP<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-67863279923958686182020-12-19T15:40:00.002-05:002020-12-19T15:40:41.992-05:00Memory versus skills<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Where did I put my glasses? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcQdCEyfavrqAefhkJPHNRGRyjdDvZLq3UVO3zxBOHjCCsPQHEvGoU2iGX5RWlqvWH9L8bKQqyzq7Euas63_q2dlGqZTt23AEUekJQX1FruYl9SjWh99Gv3aHG88jxd_rVX_jgw/s1280/WIN_20201219_15_27_17_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcQdCEyfavrqAefhkJPHNRGRyjdDvZLq3UVO3zxBOHjCCsPQHEvGoU2iGX5RWlqvWH9L8bKQqyzq7Euas63_q2dlGqZTt23AEUekJQX1FruYl9SjWh99Gv3aHG88jxd_rVX_jgw/w400-h225/WIN_20201219_15_27_17_Pro.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I found in preparation for the virtual WO, though I was
eagerly trying to engrain and develop skills at a deeper level, I found myself simply
falling back to relying on my inadequate and deteriorating short term memory
skills. I front loaded with “database training” on opening variations which ended
up being a futile effort as after move 4 or 5 the divergent paths of variations
played by my opponents, no matter how hard I “trained” ( read: attempted to
memorize too many variations) ended up mixing up move orders or just fell short
of really understanding the position. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know. Don’t memorize. Try to <i>understand</i> the opening
and its fundamental premise rather than memorization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had every good intention of doing just that.
Really, I mean it. I even got the very verbose Everyman series of openings I
was developing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem I have is
that as long as my opponent played along with the lines I was training for; I
was OK for maybe up to move 10. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
happy with that as I could switch to more long-term memory skills and use positional
judgement as flawed as they may be for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that’s not how it goes. Most of my games NEVER went down the lines I
was “trained” for and preparing for the deviations was strained. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the prep I did for the world open was not for loss. As I
am warming up for the Boston Chess Congress in a couple weekends, I am playing
online “cold” without any going over variations or practice. I want to see what’s
working and what’s not. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Litmus testing: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am playing some
Blitz ( G5), Rapid (G10) and Fast/Standard (G30). I evaluate each game
immediately following taking note of thought process, decisions, and where
memory versus skill was taking over. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Blitz for Breadth of opening understanding: <o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am using G5 to test
breadth of opening “confidence” and looking for the biggest holes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the post-game analysis, I look for the
divergence beyond what I “know” and whether I was on fuzzy memory or trying to
use positional skills ( time consuming). Here I am looking what I need to
understand at a more fundamental level from moves 4-8 as middle game set ups
are taking form. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Rapid for Breadth of positional understanding:<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I use the rapid time controls to test more of my ability to “think
on my feet” so to speak and see what’s still working and if I did indeed pick
up some concepts when I “deliberately trained” on positional evaluations earlier
in the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am seeing some fruits of
that labor take place as I seem to have a quicker positional evaluation meter
to pick ..semi decent moves…not necessarily the best but playable positions I
understand. This is better than where I was at the beginning of the year. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Fast/Standard for depth:<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here, I am looking for focusing on thought process and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>training my mind to be in “tournament mode”. I
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>evaluate if I even use a thought process.
I am still in the process of developing one that works for me and when to use
it in which part of the game. Transitions are always difficult and when to
stray from opening mode, to positional and analysis. What about safety checks?
I am still not regular with that and thus my avatar. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Skills lay in long term memory<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, my memory sucks. I blame having too much fun in the 70’s
and 80’s. Add to that the fact that I am getting older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to rely less on short term memory in
preparation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve blogged about
deliberate training <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/on-old-dogs-learning-new-tricks">here</a>
and on memory <a href="https://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/eidetic-imagery-and-total-immersion-in-chess">here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old dogs can learn new tricks. I know this. I
am constantly learning new skills for my profession though, it’s slower than
when I was in my 20s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What I find, when I am developing skills, is that the following
items seem <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to be needed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Focus</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">One at a time</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Right time of day</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Periodic breaks</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Repetition</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To touch on these briefly: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Focus</u></b><u>:</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is always tough for me as I am wired for distractions. I do know I have
it in me to hyperfocus and I see it especially when I am fully engaged in an
activity I that I really commit to (Playing in a tournament, guitar or something
in a creative spirit especially). To learn something new, I need to be engaged
completely otherwise the information gets sliced and only tidbits are retained
if any. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>One at a time:</u></b> On a similar note, I know I am
better at learning one thing at a time. I make this mistake a lot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meaning, I can’t set down to learn the fundamentals
of all my responses to 1.d4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in one
session. Rather, I need to say to myself, “This is the time to wrap my head
around the basics of move 4 variations of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the black side of the advanced Caro-Kann.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea here is to set a goal for my self
and a way to evaluate it. This is the essence of DELIBERATE PRACTICE. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Right time of day:</u></b> I know there are some times
of day when I am ripe for retention of facts and other times when I am too fatigued
to go any further. I might as well have read gibberish when I am at that level
of input because I will not retain a damned thing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Periodic Breaks:</u></b> The other thing I realized is
that learning is supposed to push you out of your comfort level. If I want to
get better at playing my instrument, playing the same stuff will not enable me
to learn new things. I have to get comfortable not being comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the practice of staying in practice as I
heard once before. Because of this comfort zone pushing, you need to do this in
intervals not much more than 30 or 40 minutes at a time or you reach a point of
diminishing returns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PLUS, taking a
break and thinking of something else gives your mind to process the information
which helps file it in the long-term memory cabinet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Repetition (and evaluation) :</u></b> Finally, like learning
a language, constant repetitive exposure to test the new skill is needed to
help reinforce and rebuild the neural paths struggling to retrieve the information.
This is in essence what I am doing above with the G5/G10/G30 playing. I use
this to evaluate the skills being called upon and reinforce that training if
needed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-2232685035866874192020-11-27T12:07:00.002-05:002020-11-27T12:07:32.022-05:00Because I am still Passionate about Chess….<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPU2Dfpnn42RLyfevolAeESZkg0zPY8SHdwiWJNrxz0EsA_Kw5lwHr0QmrQBNkxLsm87FyL5JpY8MljYmsga567S2ydSbHVvQ_sVYC0BQB-l_EDrTWGO2E-EMEvzuH3wMG9QQzhw/s2016/20201127_115811_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPU2Dfpnn42RLyfevolAeESZkg0zPY8SHdwiWJNrxz0EsA_Kw5lwHr0QmrQBNkxLsm87FyL5JpY8MljYmsga567S2ydSbHVvQ_sVYC0BQB-l_EDrTWGO2E-EMEvzuH3wMG9QQzhw/s320/20201127_115811_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It’s been a few months since my poor performance at the
Virtual WO this year. Life got busy and it was easy to put chess on the back
shelf. We’re on the cusp of Holiday season and I realize I hadn’t posted anything
since September! Honestly, with all the training
I was doing for the WO over the summer, I needed to take a break. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As this crazy year comes to an end, my work life puts me in
a position that really needs me to take time off. In that light, I am toying
with the idea of playing in the 27<sup>th</sup> North American Open which will
be on line: <a href="http://www.chesstour.com/nao17.htm">http://www.chesstour.com/nao17.htm</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and
expecting different results. In that light this is my tentative structure for
the next month building up to the event ( If I really decide).</li></ul><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Deep analysis of critical positions from my games
at the WO taking note of the thought process that lead me in a different
direction.</span></li></ul><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Not so frantic with the openings study </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">as I ALWAYS struggle with memorizing versus
completely understanding.</span></li></ul><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Play more slower games for strengthening the positional
understandings </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">and strategical elements </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">as this will be my GOAL… to develop a BETTER understanding
in these during games.</span></li></ul><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Plan to play a section higher than my comfort
zone.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I approached the summer’s WO tournament, what was my
main goal? Sure I wanted to win games but I started the year out taking off
some rust and working on a thinking strategy after looking at Kotov’s and Silman’s
ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I was trying to accomplish
was using a consistent thinking strategy for my games and I failed because I’m
finding thought strategies need to be more dynamic. I was too rigid, fell short
and fumbled. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These are some ideas I think I’d like to build up to and may
expand on my journey over the next few weeks.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">On openings:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">No deeper than Move 5 or 6 as variations and “anti”
variations really deflect my understanding. If I can really understand why the
first few moves are main-line and why early branches are made, I think I can
play to favor the underlying line if minor variations are played instead.</span></li></ul><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Getting to a playable middle game:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
Barring opening traps, minor variations, and anti-variations, getting to a middle
game strategy I can understand… or know enough to win or equalize. I’m starting
to have a few positions I understand better than others ( ei. Minority attack).</span></li></ul><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Knowing R+P endgames is essential</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">King and Pawn endgames as well and knowing when
Minor piece endgames are meant to be played to win.</span></li></ul><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Intangibles:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> My </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">physical health</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">… I’m
doing things to get heathier daily and it’s starting to pay off. </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Mental health,</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
taking breaks between learning to allow the process to set in long term memory
and challenge at the right frequency for deliberate learning, and </span><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Spiritual
health</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">, not beating myself up over a mistake, catching myself when I spiral
into an “I’m an idiot” internal dialog ( don’t listen to the committee of idiots
in my head).</span></li></ul><div style="text-indent: -24px;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay healthy and follow your passion. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-BP <o:p></o:p></p>BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-49375810302093293392020-09-07T13:48:00.001-05:002020-09-07T13:48:17.096-05:00Why Continue?<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMTQnpAgdcAjXFckvaSoGDAForqqNKi12KrUnoMC3GgmKMgIKRwZFoZEwCqGhi7D-WktjFRlcJUJOlRlrwlxmsrUNAgIZ1atVnRoYHRqw7PkuqFkQvIbqxnylGA8xkd7mbqvvuQ/s2016/20200702_094852_resized_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMTQnpAgdcAjXFckvaSoGDAForqqNKi12KrUnoMC3GgmKMgIKRwZFoZEwCqGhi7D-WktjFRlcJUJOlRlrwlxmsrUNAgIZ1atVnRoYHRqw7PkuqFkQvIbqxnylGA8xkd7mbqvvuQ/s320/20200702_094852_resized_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>I put what I felt was a lot of effort in preparing for this
year’s online version of the World Open only to have a performance that was
lacking any indication that my efforts were paying off. After 9 games, I
finished with a 3.5 score in a section that was within my ratings. Six of my
opponents were minors and one of those points was from a forfeit when my
opponent didn’t show.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chess knowledge and chess skills are two different beasts. Consistently
putting knowledge into practice, for every move I make, is a discipline that
separates me from reaching higher ratings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried training specifically for weaknesses
in my skill only to fall short in a “real” or “virtual real” setting. I’ll
admit it’s discouraging and not the first time I hit this wall. I’ve reached
periods where I’ve actually thrown away my chess set and sold my books in frustration.
This time, I took a reflective month off.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Observations:</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A couple things came to mind here:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I didn’t play up a section ( or two).</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It takes more “actual practice” in tournament
conditions to solidify knowledge to skills</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My first mistake was playing in a large tournament’s section
within my rating range. I didn’t go into it <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>expecting to win that section, rather I would
have been happen for a middle of the pack <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>4.5/9 games played score not the abysmal 2.5/8
played ( not counting the forfeit). With 66% of my opponents have a better neuroplasticity
along with a rating that had more momentum, yes, I got my butt handed to me.
Historically, when I play in “my section” at these events, I never fair well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Playing up is better because it removes the “performance”
pressure of shooting for a score indicative of where you feel you *should* land.
Wins are always a upset and losses are not as painful. Should of, could of,
would of,….. Will I learn this time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
other benefit of playing up is getting to play those opening lines a little
deeper as stronger players tend to stay truer to the mainlines or more common
lines than the “gotcha” cheap shots too often seen at the level I play. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I should have continued my practice regimen following my
results after the World Open, but I needed a rest. When … and I will get back
in this arena…I do come back, I will find a better balance of study and real
practice. The good news, I have found ways to do this with the virtual space and
the different timings. I also have a growing database and various notes of what
worked and what didn’t. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been fighting the same demons over and over. What to do
when faced with an odd opening move. How to sustain an efficient “safety” check
before moving so as not to generously blunder away material or the position. I
hindsight, I can say that while I getting better at these<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in most cases, all it takes is that ONE MOVE
where my guard is down and I regress to a weaker thought process. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>All good things…</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All good things either come to an end or come to those who
wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My crippling chess addiction is
too strong to throw it all away ( though my wife would be happy I suspect…
putting up with my ups and downs in this hobby). I’ll get back on the horse and remind myself of
the deliberate practice techniques, the various thinking processes I’ve
reviewed, and the joy I get in reviewing games and just uncovering more to
learn.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So what if my rating sucks. Here’s a surprise. I’m not doing
this for you. I’m not seeking you to respect my chess knowledge based on my
rating. Sorry, I respect myself without your validation. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll
have a few more wins under belt as an indication that I’ve managed to develop
another aspect of the chess skills always in need of a fixing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Until next time, </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">-BP<br /></span></p>BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-16259328563128939072020-07-31T10:33:00.002-05:002020-07-31T10:33:21.198-05:00Who is playing in the (online) World Open this year?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZb_EnLYXpksMf68ZKjmvadSHYbmqr2xCCQ4rsOuN7eI10fMJIlsNPGK4uVOvJKV2IDNyTn3YMHpF99jqDSrCLJTB3H35uQnfd7Vvf0JSrmGM9KFZ-hYLwikH-pdiNaBDClGiPg/s640/47725_446113955768_588980768_4934349_428492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZb_EnLYXpksMf68ZKjmvadSHYbmqr2xCCQ4rsOuN7eI10fMJIlsNPGK4uVOvJKV2IDNyTn3YMHpF99jqDSrCLJTB3H35uQnfd7Vvf0JSrmGM9KFZ-hYLwikH-pdiNaBDClGiPg/s0/47725_446113955768_588980768_4934349_428492_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I decided to throw my hat in the ring and signed up for the
9 rounds next weekend ( August 7-9). I wanted to put a short post out there
asking who might be attending this and how are you preparing?<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since March I was shifting gears from OTB to rapid time controls
and improving my blitz rating. I needed to down shift and get back to slow play
and practice focusing on thought processes and calculating as the 48<sup>th</sup>
World Open is G60 matches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, here’s my
short list of preparation: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>20% tactical studies</li><li>10% Opening reviews</li><li>40%<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>G30 online ( Focus on thought process) </li><li>30% Middlegame studies (Focus on
thought process) </li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Focus on thought process: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After studying Silman’s Imbalances,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kotov’s trees, Heisman’s “Is this move safe”
and Andy Soltis’ “inner game of chess”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
distilled this to recognizing when to calculate versus when a plan is needed and
evaluating positions as best as possible. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For now, I am trying to recognize when to calculate under the
following: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Out of opening book preparation</li><li>Sharp positions with a lot of dynamics
( Initiatives and development imbalances)</li><li>Combinational opportunities ( Unprotected
pieces, overworked pieces, double attacks)</li><li>Control of weak squares</li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sadly, I am so used to playing fast that I tend to recognized
when I should <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>calculate after I made a
move and played a “gut reaction” or a “feel good move”. Recognizing these
triggers now so I can better realign my thought process come WO48. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope to see you there. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-Blunderprone <o:p></o:p></p>BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-32178636148263199652020-07-02T11:36:00.001-05:002020-07-02T11:36:57.445-05:00How I gained 300 points in my online Blitz rating<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w6NJERCsY9Y-Ra4ywnhWLvAxEanVrY0wPfeNhTct2a2TCIsX9MJOJ2Vz5zS2TGhwemWIErd2GX-ke11l5MEobUC1b910si6az2yEhhwm0FD_6zjzT5DXWGOQEGHCuHB5g3TB2A/s482/300points.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="482" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8w6NJERCsY9Y-Ra4ywnhWLvAxEanVrY0wPfeNhTct2a2TCIsX9MJOJ2Vz5zS2TGhwemWIErd2GX-ke11l5MEobUC1b910si6az2yEhhwm0FD_6zjzT5DXWGOQEGHCuHB5g3TB2A/w500-h266/300points.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m a slow player, I still blunder and I forget to follow my
“thought processes” religiously, but yet, I was able to climb out of a 3 digit “area
code” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blitz rating to one approaching
the 4-digit <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>middle ages in a matter of a
few short weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/i-used-to-go-fast">I posted back
in April</a> about going slow to work on my OTB game. Times have changed. In
order to get some practice games in, playing online is the way to go in the days
of social distancing. Playing on line slow games always leaves me feeling suspicious
of playing against someone’s computer. So, I had to adapt to faster games. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like I said, I’m still an amateur and no where near master
level. However, I have an infectious passion for this game and love exploring
ways to improve my chess experience as I share about this here. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What I plan to touch on in this post: <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“Hot tub time machines” versus finding a club of
trusted peers with some action</li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Frozen in time</li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Set modest goals</li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Focused opening training</li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Going back to basics in tactics</li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->“En prise” </li></ul><p></p></blockquote><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Hot tub time machines<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMncoYwQwqk5ZJykIjzdiNd5oRQKfMUzg-L_PXHF46-jJSieyvdoeAhxq9jy6lYtBoHU91jBERRy4J8-55IaTVwcEfFwn93Zx56gFiO30VBP0GFYITAPNp8EtqF9RvYhy6yUD9gQ/s1800/hot+tub+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMncoYwQwqk5ZJykIjzdiNd5oRQKfMUzg-L_PXHF46-jJSieyvdoeAhxq9jy6lYtBoHU91jBERRy4J8-55IaTVwcEfFwn93Zx56gFiO30VBP0GFYITAPNp8EtqF9RvYhy6yUD9gQ/s320/hot+tub+time.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m not talking about the stupid 2010 movie. Playing live ARENA
blitz games is as confusing as falling into a hot tub with a magical knack for
throwing you back into the 1980’s. There are usually several hundred who sign
up, you join and SPLASH off you go. Is this studio 54 and who the hell am I
dancing with if you call this dancing? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
never really got into disco.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I use blitz arenas for experience and getting more
comfortable with the time controls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
being one who enjoyed G5 all that much, I needed to acclimate. But it’s a hot
mess, you never know who’s next and the quality of the games (your own mistakes
included) seem to vary player to player as there is no consistency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use the arena games to chock up experience and
COLLECT DATA. On Chess.com and other online chess communities, you can download
the PGNs into your database. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I started getting into online blitzing, I joined my
local chess club’s weekly Blitz tournament. I knew the players; I could even
look them up on chess.com and scroll through their archives and prepare. More
on that later, sorry if that creeps you out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I kind of know the playing strength from the OTB experiences. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem was that I was always on the bottom
of the ladder and kept losing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Frozen in time:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbJuJ0kw33GysuGxcNPrGummXDMMlDUvz9xXXwjJzmrf8pOLbczUsNGDDaAVdSF9FLGdxyUNkHLPLO5ZgPAXxut6m1mv0rYEsqgpdYrIv6JjdoFdyjMlVudwXZITCCoxTRhZhYg/s2016/20200702_094852_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbJuJ0kw33GysuGxcNPrGummXDMMlDUvz9xXXwjJzmrf8pOLbczUsNGDDaAVdSF9FLGdxyUNkHLPLO5ZgPAXxut6m1mv0rYEsqgpdYrIv6JjdoFdyjMlVudwXZITCCoxTRhZhYg/s320/20200702_094852_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My first hurdle was to overcome clock fright. It was taking
away precious processing time in my head. I’d look at the time remaining and
panic. I’d look back at the position, try to come up with a move but in my head,
I heard “tick tick tick”. I’d glance back up at the clock and bam! I’d lose either
on time or make the worst move possible. I found the experience <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>similar to the <a href="https://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/the-kotov-syndrome">Kotov syndrome</a>
except, instead of analysis paralysis being the main driver, it was excessive
time control anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way for
me to overcome this minor neurosis was with exposure therapy in the hot tub
time machines of the arenas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to
set my mind on not caring about the rating. Rather, I wanted to play through
games and not lose on time and use these games to learn from. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Set modest goals:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This brings me to my next concept. What I really wanted to
do was ultimately play better blitz games when I joined my club’s weekly event.
I set a goal of initially winning 1 game for that night. Notice how I didn’t
say “I wanted my rating to jump a gazillion points”. Overcoming my time fright
anxiety was a requirement and using the larger arena events to acclimate to
this was in order. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met my first goal. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Side note, I tried using the online bots… because… I hated “embarrassing”
myself to live players. I got over myself and suggest you do the same as these
bots didn’t really provide the training I was seeking. It was as “organic” as
playing human players. I prefer my opponents to be free-range and organic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Using all these experiences to collect the game data, I
started tracking those I lost on time versus losing by dropping pieces or not
SEEING A MATE IN 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time loses were
now more attributed to prolong decision making because of openings and middle game
transitions making me reassess my preparation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Focused Opening Training<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Easy now, don’t go hog wild here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However you do your opening prep, make sure
you focus on a few key points: <o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li> Only work on the most common variations from
your “data collection” phase</li><li> Start with the first 4 or 5 moves ONLY </li><li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Know your responses to the stupid “anti-variations”
that WILL come</li></ol><p></p></blockquote></blockquote><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I found it very unnecessary to go 11-15 moves deep into a
main line variation as in most games, by move 4 or 5 my opponent is through
some curve ball. If I don’t even understand the basics of my opening at move 4
or 5 to respond with confidence to a “minor variation” then maybe I need to
chose a simpler less complicated opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once I built up my confidence on the first few moves of the variations,
I was most likely to encounter, I found myself losing less on time and better
able to get to a playable middle game under blitz conditions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Iteratively, as I play more games, I review the lines played
( mostly minor variations off the main) and go deeper. I am now at the “8-10”
move threshold understanding for most of my repertoire. But my mind is a leaky
bucket, requiring repetitive reviewing and training to patch the holes. My longer-term
goal is to understand the major tabiya of each of my openings. There’s always
going to be something to work towards. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh… <i>and a rant</i>. I’m getting tired of the “<u>anti-blah
blah blah’s”.</u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a Caro-Kann player,
I see a common theme and I think some players are smiling and rubbing their hands
together when they throw a 2.Bc4 or some other odd ball minor variation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the Nxf7 sac or the Qe2 … I know these… I
can see your queen; I’ll eat your knight …I will hurt you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bottom
line, you better know these trappy variations as most times, you can walk out
and do rather well once the storm passes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHtEPkbJH4CZEFrZ4o69EQh2rT7ua_nIILtSuZ1c9tG2lkV5ZYgU1NoOt4kBeVU-ptPKCkJhrtNTVMnYskErxE7U-GO-y1RocHA7uoZnOArYIvY4auBXXHRZuKZdf9CNanrpkRw/s480/tenor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHtEPkbJH4CZEFrZ4o69EQh2rT7ua_nIILtSuZ1c9tG2lkV5ZYgU1NoOt4kBeVU-ptPKCkJhrtNTVMnYskErxE7U-GO-y1RocHA7uoZnOArYIvY4auBXXHRZuKZdf9CNanrpkRw/s320/tenor.png" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Going back to basics in tactics<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I used to be one of those Knights Errant who did the seven
circles of hell from Michael De La Maza. Look it up if you’re not familiar…
long winded story. The issue I mentioned before was not seeing simple mates or …more
embarrassingly, having a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>winning position
with a rook and king versus king and not being able to mate them before you
lose on time. That frosted me at first but also told me not to resign even when
behind as the clock can be your redemption! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rather than circling the seven circles of CT-ART, I needed a
more focused approach and one for blitz games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I found a series of Mate-in-one puzzles (however you choose) and did the
200 plus set iteratively for about a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This turned out to be my BIGGEST<b> BANG FOR THE BUCK!</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I climbed out of the area code rating and
reached the 1100’s in a matter of a couple weeks. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Caveat</u>: People cannot live on tactics alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was at a “comfortable” point in my opening
preparation but started getting too cocky with the tactics…like I did 10 years
ago after doing the MDLM circles of hell… and started playing unsound tactical
moves. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know, you may be thinking, <i>“But Blunderprone, isn’t
that what Blitzing is all about? Throw some crazy half thought out complications
at your opponent hoping that they waste time to see if it really is unsound?”</i>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You may be right, but I know I am not Magnus Carlson or some
other GM. In most cases, my complications are probably unsound. I had to dial
back my urge to play craziness (lets face it, thrill seeking is fun) and chant
to myself “NO COWBOY MOVES!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yee haw. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>En Prise! <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In most cases, these “cowboy moves” usually meant I was
leaving my queen or some other piece hanging. I found out; I have an unnatural
overconfidence in my queen’s ability to protect herself. I believed she’s such
a good fighter that I didn’t worry about her safety. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dialing back the gusto and swallowing some humble pie, I
needed to work on tactics that focused on just capturing pieces to help
recognize and refocus my mind back to piece safety. Dan Heisman also has a nice
book titled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HC4ZGI2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">Is
your Move Safe?</a> It has puzzles for every aspect of the game to get you
thinking less of “cowboy moves” and back to thinking of safety first!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzWm-Z2auBLSY5N1P1B_vFDDLof7wFNPNHiJatLNNpRfoyxEWgnpIR_h8MhyphenhyphenqVI4UVVuX2a-LKIW8XVuHuATcYXEuuj478UEqh5w6b3_yBq8fLpmwhTeKScBGWPWM_Ia2ergrIg/s500/heisman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzWm-Z2auBLSY5N1P1B_vFDDLof7wFNPNHiJatLNNpRfoyxEWgnpIR_h8MhyphenhyphenqVI4UVVuX2a-LKIW8XVuHuATcYXEuuj478UEqh5w6b3_yBq8fLpmwhTeKScBGWPWM_Ia2ergrIg/s320/heisman.jpg" /></a></div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dan Heisman is a wise man. He knows his audience and doesn’t
take the same condescending voice like Silman in some instance. To paraphrase Mr.
Heisman, <i>if you want to get good at blitz, you really need to get better at
slower games first.</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My rating is stuck in the 1200’s right now. I am looking at
refining my blitz preparation processes and see if I can get into the 1300 or
1400’s by end of summer. I’m finding a new club that offers a variety of
formats with some rated slow events. Yes, it’s back to turtle chess in-between
the hot tub time machines. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See you in the hot tub!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until next time and wishing you all the best, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blunderprone. <o:p></o:p></p><br />BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-57418697680903834242020-06-12T10:29:00.000-05:002020-06-12T10:29:04.204-05:00Building a training database<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5xztOcC5IiNKI1pJA-CJYJegtQHJo_Gw7-TXYUB89JrfdvHGIrjfBZh9eS6QC8mVRk-i6-NeBREXOuQ-_7eGYyg8jVwodnQ4m_N98hCUEfUmA9NwEGm9GxE-oxex81jr_tELAA/s553/TrainingIntro.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="553" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5xztOcC5IiNKI1pJA-CJYJegtQHJo_Gw7-TXYUB89JrfdvHGIrjfBZh9eS6QC8mVRk-i6-NeBREXOuQ-_7eGYyg8jVwodnQ4m_N98hCUEfUmA9NwEGm9GxE-oxex81jr_tELAA/w640-h478/TrainingIntro.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From my <a href="https://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/why-have-a-chess-database">last
post</a>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an intro to chess databases, a
couple folks were eager to learn how I set up my training database.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I’d share the steps I took and a
little on how I use it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple
questions I asked my self when setting this up were: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>How well do I know my repertoire in as either Black or White?</li><li>Which lines am I actually encountering in these openings I
chose to play? </li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The second question is really important as training for ALL
possible outcomes is like trying to boil the ocean. I suggest using the
database to help whittle this down as the outliers will come but the intent will
be to handle 80-90% of what you face and you can bolster your training with the
sidelines as they come in post mortem analysis. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Finding the common lines played within your own games<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe in another post I will walk through some steps on how
to build a repertoire data base. Chessbase has <a href="http://help.chessbase.com/Reader/12/Eng/index.html?creating_a_repertoire_database.htm">some
tutorials.</a> There are videos out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1Y45R02Ok">there too</a>. Last time I
showed a simple step using the database’s statistical tools and coming up with
a pareto chart of common openings based on the ECO labels. It provides a quick
snap shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can even filter your data
base to games you played only with the Black or the White pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s
that chart again for reference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note,
B12 is a common line in my games with the black pieces. <o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIym0a_jYIMJmKei_tvshFZ3XuTdvzaY4zsD3iqJ573RCyUD-twEk1cl6qsrY9RlUHEq9u2b0B_OFVpycGfNI7a3UVv7P0Cy29t8AHfiOTwaF-NoFHO0zyYZk-gbFA7nD7sAYHWg/s2736/MyGAmes+StatisticsOPenings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1724" data-original-width="2736" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIym0a_jYIMJmKei_tvshFZ3XuTdvzaY4zsD3iqJ573RCyUD-twEk1cl6qsrY9RlUHEq9u2b0B_OFVpycGfNI7a3UVv7P0Cy29t8AHfiOTwaF-NoFHO0zyYZk-gbFA7nD7sAYHWg/w640-h405/MyGAmes+StatisticsOPenings.png" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You could also use the reporting functions in chessbase and
Generate a Repertoire database of your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll do a couple of short cuts here as I really want to spend this post
on the training side. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6SVZEqIfW7nwq4NsVAZVHn-_38Ze9tggioqgtH5hfZGWhDHj_4KsiQ57KTRj6yMpzZtsc0VTVOLf-a_9hHJJ7xyvr7OYjg8vYf_D6aLCBYEDU3XpKuC7pCB4cQZ-5yO3OSbweg/s485/Report_genReper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="127" data-original-width="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6SVZEqIfW7nwq4NsVAZVHn-_38Ze9tggioqgtH5hfZGWhDHj_4KsiQ57KTRj6yMpzZtsc0VTVOLf-a_9hHJJ7xyvr7OYjg8vYf_D6aLCBYEDU3XpKuC7pCB4cQZ-5yO3OSbweg/s320/Report_genReper.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I generated a repertoire
in both Black and White using this function in my games database and here’s a
look at the Black repertoire:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSrRKieG-_adqRPQUAw77z-dUVfEyXsp-g_jRDYMjaJmp0G4SCqYrTR1-LWTZiGNEtE_DZfWUUhd7RbwE3ybdctYQPGygVANBGoYoZqOOVAKdWo6zkKi5ShH6IC8oT7fwktTwMw/s1215/Black+Repertoire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="1215" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSrRKieG-_adqRPQUAw77z-dUVfEyXsp-g_jRDYMjaJmp0G4SCqYrTR1-LWTZiGNEtE_DZfWUUhd7RbwE3ybdctYQPGygVANBGoYoZqOOVAKdWo6zkKi5ShH6IC8oT7fwktTwMw/w640-h216/Black+Repertoire.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Big surprise, B12 (Advanced Caro-Kann) is my common theme
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How you get to the common lines
played is up to you. Whether you use the statistical functions of the database
or report generation, both are useful insights that can save you some time for
preparing a more focused training database. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Finding Annotated games for the training database</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you made it this far, you now may <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have an idea what lines are played most in
your games and you are ready to start your collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The MegaBase … the 8million strong…. has some
annotated games in it. You can filter the Megabase to only have annotated games
and create a separate reference database of this collection as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked in this collection for ECO <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>B12 games and found a few but buyer beware.
Some are in another language while some are “a couple of additional lines from
someone’s chess engine analysis”. There are some “verbose” ones but it’s hard
to understand if the audience is meant to impress the masters or appeal to us mortals.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-lATGQSfWFKEwGs7ZiAXZSfmdTNmmPiW4_vLBDHXNrI4MTWPbFKUsLPwS44fbqsOQnAKuFjMlXSk_-4HXOsNpacK1tBETyO1eU17wdJbCklLaUoOTW4cVyfxmIlULAS8EjoztA/s1917/Anotatedgames+from+MegaBase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1917" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-lATGQSfWFKEwGs7ZiAXZSfmdTNmmPiW4_vLBDHXNrI4MTWPbFKUsLPwS44fbqsOQnAKuFjMlXSk_-4HXOsNpacK1tBETyO1eU17wdJbCklLaUoOTW4cVyfxmIlULAS8EjoztA/w640-h338/Anotatedgames+from+MegaBase.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted something that appealed more to the simpleton that
I am.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’m a lazy man with moderate means</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The everyman series of books have been my go-to resource for
“patzer needs to learn an opening” because they are verbose and written not to
impress higher rated friends but rather written so a drooling imbecile, such as
myself, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can understand it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only there was a way to import these books
into a chessbase. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Years ago, I got really into Mike Leahy’s Bookup database
software (now called Chess Opening Wizard) where I would search pgn files for
my repertoire and meticulously import them. I would manually pick my lines and enter
the text from the books laboriously. That was a lot of work, I was …younger… but
I needed a better system. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I found out that Everyman Chess has ebooks! Which means, not
only can you get the book for an ebook reader, but for the cost of the book,
you can get not only the PGN version, but the CBV version for chessbase
too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YAY! Take my money as I am done
transcribing books into a training database. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, here a couple books I picked up
for the cost of a chess book. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb90SvdaaoZtayQteA4Ny_xwMka_LwQluPlyCf3WaqGWN5k26vi_r_UZg05j3ffcwfvZDir10PdKrJ00oWpl7CkGPwHpKDiezBq1AYXfAdDeNWryR8aKaV_jxPBTlXTdXgiqettw/s171/Books+Everyman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb90SvdaaoZtayQteA4Ny_xwMka_LwQluPlyCf3WaqGWN5k26vi_r_UZg05j3ffcwfvZDir10PdKrJ00oWpl7CkGPwHpKDiezBq1AYXfAdDeNWryR8aKaV_jxPBTlXTdXgiqettw/" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <i>move by move</i> series is wonderful. It sets up
questions like “Why move the knight to d7 instead of c6?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the level of stupidity I need and seek
for building training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going back to the
advanced Caro-Kann theme in my black repertoire, finding games from the ebook
collection was relatively easy: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJU6_wum3ZKs2Pj_u5W5mYYaHeMX_LI1fNNfr-z4I3ZRFHrJobgBuaYHNgDITbY4xgQtBtU-AuXDhTvPmKzODWd4XKhnqKM95kpNQgPP8n81FA2mt9TavbOE8mIl1fO6Vtj3OWA/s1077/CARoK_Games+Selected.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="1077" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJU6_wum3ZKs2Pj_u5W5mYYaHeMX_LI1fNNfr-z4I3ZRFHrJobgBuaYHNgDITbY4xgQtBtU-AuXDhTvPmKzODWd4XKhnqKM95kpNQgPP8n81FA2mt9TavbOE8mIl1fO6Vtj3OWA/w640-h238/CARoK_Games+Selected.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I could select these and copy/paste into the <i>Black side training
games</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I do this, I am careful
to edit the game data so I can read it like a training database and easily select
the game to train on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKamlDYhg_zzEvwOBgDeYD7byhQGAyYt5IBd7RFpT2rOdt5PmZQRySWcGlnwCkJ_PkvUfzaKaWo5-iJMMOj5LSFLoNszZK478KQSRHIqLDhuMjFJZf5GbCubD4rYwj6_eJL1WNQ/s604/EditGame+Data.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKamlDYhg_zzEvwOBgDeYD7byhQGAyYt5IBd7RFpT2rOdt5PmZQRySWcGlnwCkJ_PkvUfzaKaWo5-iJMMOj5LSFLoNszZK478KQSRHIqLDhuMjFJZf5GbCubD4rYwj6_eJL1WNQ/s320/EditGame+Data.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the example shown, I append the last name of the white
player to Black player’s last name so it shows up as a hyphenated <i>so-and-so vs
what’s-his-face</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the White last
name field, I enter a label. Here I used <i>C-K advanced 3…Bf5 4.Nc3.</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use a system that works for you. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Looking at my Black side training Games, I have a nice list
I can see immediately and select where I might want to train. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLumhDBRNGMk2II3E4EDyvKAiXfCHf-c_36c0M940SwuRtGt7NDxVe82Khe_ZdoyWnsV7L6RvCqecwe92b9yCv6pYEZYTLPR6EcdESnlOhCkYllRhpGuSd0YFe615plFsSexgaA/s1170/TrainingDBSample.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1170" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLumhDBRNGMk2II3E4EDyvKAiXfCHf-c_36c0M940SwuRtGt7NDxVe82Khe_ZdoyWnsV7L6RvCqecwe92b9yCv6pYEZYTLPR6EcdESnlOhCkYllRhpGuSd0YFe615plFsSexgaA/w640-h416/TrainingDBSample.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From this list, I extracted and relabeled all my games from the
various Everyman ebooks I (recently) picked up and I am very satisfied with the
results. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping this to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>manageable short list of training games (
30-50) means I can use this iteratively and go a little deeper each time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Using the training sets, I can click on a selected game and
use the Replay Training function in the game view and select which side I wish
to train on. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJyvhEiCiOK25NGEPw8p5W4RH7VwHQSXXzwsQ1MdmIQagLoCoyB-NRliTTSOvH783nK_PiCUwDRZguG-fSIoL8D8_wAf7URksxsskryk7gy9AHWJqUSYTPXZG-oxDPbhXmvq36A/s1920/UsingTraining.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1920" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJyvhEiCiOK25NGEPw8p5W4RH7VwHQSXXzwsQ1MdmIQagLoCoyB-NRliTTSOvH783nK_PiCUwDRZguG-fSIoL8D8_wAf7URksxsskryk7gy9AHWJqUSYTPXZG-oxDPbhXmvq36A/w640-h336/UsingTraining.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So here’s the thing, because I play amateurs such as myself,
knowing the line to the 15<sup>th</sup>
move order or more is a waste of time. I
might get to a known tabiya in about 30% of the games, but mostly it’s about
understanding the first few moves enough so that I can avoid the crappy traps
and the “anti-whatevers” that other amateurs,
thinking they are tricky, will throw my way. When you play at my level, it’s the
wild wild west and anything goes. I like playing stronger players for the very
reason I can get to a known tabiya but lose mostly to middle game stuff. Rather, training into these lines no more than
10 moves deep and really understanding the verbose explanations within those
first few moves is a good remedy to avoiding sucker punches.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After my games, I use this as a reference to see where I may
have drifted off or my opponent played off the main variation. If the variation
didn’t exist in my training, I will search back in the ebook first for any
missed lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that doesn’t exist, I
will go back to my game and use the MegaBook I created and see if it’s in the book
and what is the proper response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend
to make use of the Master reference database, Lower rated Amateur database and a
Live Base offered by chessbase. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, I hope you found this useful or at least got a couple
ideas of how to prepare better for your games. I will say, since most of the chess
world has moved to online play, and that means mostly rapid games, my Blitz
rating jumped 300 points since I started using this tool. Even though I am slow
curmudgeon, I am learning to adapt to a quicker world. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until next time, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-Blunderprone<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-78386500758500905732020-06-06T15:30:00.001-05:002020-06-10T15:16:43.987-05:00Why have a chess database?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAY9E_iuMMYqmQuIESODgYcKPIVGZH7jbrbiYUWmMggS566aDn8ammY6pC9y8WyTePAk8eHYMYi8lgZ4l61W-DE-__cHxyKZyT6uZvGtnOgow9dFLHDDdrmH0sdHdP0-1N7q13g/s625/GrumpyBase.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="625" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAY9E_iuMMYqmQuIESODgYcKPIVGZH7jbrbiYUWmMggS566aDn8ammY6pC9y8WyTePAk8eHYMYi8lgZ4l61W-DE-__cHxyKZyT6uZvGtnOgow9dFLHDDdrmH0sdHdP0-1N7q13g/w640-h324/GrumpyBase.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re like me, a chess player of an older demographic with
a bookcase of full of chess books and rating that’s as stuck as a rusty bolt on
old lawnmower in need of repair, hearing about using a chess database is
probably the last on thing on your mind. I am a willing old dog looking for new
ticks and have renewed my interest in updating and using a database to help
catalog my games and maybe learn something new. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sam Copeland did a great job outlining the variety of online
and offline databases on <a href="https://www.chess.com/blog/SamCopeland/databases-tips-tricks-and-recommendations">this
post</a>. I recommend spending a little time looking through it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What was I looking for in a database? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over the years, I’ve used a variety of revisions of the software
tools from <a href="https://shop.chessbase.com/en/categories/chessbase">chess
base</a>. I wanted familiarity with horsepower. I was willing to spend the
extra bucks so I didn’t have to build something from scratch and import PGN’s
and game collections. Though, I like the DIY spirit of open software and free
imports to stick it to the big guys, I’ll save my revolutions for other social
injustices. <span> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Large database to reference</li><li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Ability to import my games</li><li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Annotating my games </li><li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Setting up training positions from my games</li><li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Gain insights for next steps on where I need to
train</li><li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Develop and grow an opening repertoire from my
collection</li><li><span><span><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Ability to access the database on both table top
and portable devices connected</li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I went with a package from ChessBase and got the database
manager along with the megabase of 8 million games for a reference base. I can
set up the database files all on a shared OneDrive to use between devices. I
got busy.<span> </span>Here’s a snap shot of some of the
items on my cluttered “top shelf”. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi833H3MWOOAh-zJ_-z6rAx9EDUWIDoxH4y-AvNNA6jGnne6KZdlswYNMRCoC9vFTtjf9dKZFkrffOS-4QA9cgvhBJtbdgLJOoJPaZVVDk94xzhj5fzlnaOl-v2K5msrqD_fWarWQ/s846/MegaDatabase.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="846" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi833H3MWOOAh-zJ_-z6rAx9EDUWIDoxH4y-AvNNA6jGnne6KZdlswYNMRCoC9vFTtjf9dKZFkrffOS-4QA9cgvhBJtbdgLJOoJPaZVVDk94xzhj5fzlnaOl-v2K5msrqD_fWarWQ/w640-h342/MegaDatabase.JPG" width="640" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Holy Crap, what Am I going to do with that 8 Million game
data base?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, the Mega Data base is huge. Working with such a HUGE file
as a reference while refining opening preparations can add to your frustrations
as the system will lock and constantly refresh.<span>
</span>I suggest creating smaller reference data bases using the filtering
function.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Searching for games where BOTH players are rated ELO 2500 or
higher pares down the beast to a solid list of <b>MASTERS ONLY</b> games. I
created a reference database from just those.<span>
</span>Refining the search little bit more to Master only games with recent
games ( I went back 10 years) made a good reference for <b>OPENING BOOK</b>
from this collection.<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The other thing I did was create a reference data base of <b>LOWER
RATED Games</b>. Why would I do that? I’m an amateur and I play other amateurs.
If I am looking at opening moves most likely played, looking at a data base of
LOWER RATED players gives me offshoots most likely played so I can prepare for
this. If it’s a move I am looking to make, I’ll hop back to the <b>MASTER GAME
REFERENCE</b> or look at the <b>MEGA OPENINGS BOOK</b>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Using the cloud<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a working directing called “My Database” and then
there’s a shadow directory under OneDrive > Documents>ChessBase that you
can set up called “My Work” and I use this to share between devices. <o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RjJaRxe4wwXZCBkGMFvUnnaKt2rqICI44Tl4K4I2CV6gDdCaF9rooYjfTAlw4jcYosbuCL1lBusbtlQT47SuIoCUqY7jtYxmxskYCBU_UHiQuWUzGz3bpBlZpdPcgOj-dMcwCw/s2731/MyWorkFolderinOneDrive.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="2731" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RjJaRxe4wwXZCBkGMFvUnnaKt2rqICI44Tl4K4I2CV6gDdCaF9rooYjfTAlw4jcYosbuCL1lBusbtlQT47SuIoCUqY7jtYxmxskYCBU_UHiQuWUzGz3bpBlZpdPcgOj-dMcwCw/w640-h314/MyWorkFolderinOneDrive.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here, I create backups to various ‘bases” I’ve created. I
like the flexibility of going portable for my devices or having the workhorse on
my main system to run a batch of game analysis on recent games I imported from
my online activity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Gaining insights from my games<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the above image, you may have noticed the heart logo named
“2020games”. This is a collection of my games I either imported from chess.com,
lichess or meticulously entered move by move from over the board games since
the beginning of the year. One of the things I can do with this when I
click on it is to look at statistics on my openings. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdioQro_I0LBhXyaA7SKoKCoA1TH-eU7olIq58dSgON4gd3qbUspBPYMTYPOWYx4rwe2tDgF68H-GHY9hSirNHRnXwKjoC_WZrQFPYuF7cslzwZ0eSXdbjTAyGGDrC-wTUBZf5w/s2736/MyGAmes+StatisticsOPenings.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1724" data-original-width="2736" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdioQro_I0LBhXyaA7SKoKCoA1TH-eU7olIq58dSgON4gd3qbUspBPYMTYPOWYx4rwe2tDgF68H-GHY9hSirNHRnXwKjoC_WZrQFPYuF7cslzwZ0eSXdbjTAyGGDrC-wTUBZf5w/w640-h404/MyGAmes+StatisticsOPenings.png" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I can use this information to better prepare for my most
common encounters.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A topic for another time maybe is how one can create a repertoire
database from this and even the training databases you may have seen in the
images above with the sneaker Icon. Basically, from the statistical insights
from my games, I prepared a training database for my white pieces and black
pieces based on the most common responses from the activity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a snap shot of how an old dog is learning new tricks
to loosen a rusty bolt in hopes to turn that motor over some day. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until next time, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-Blunderprone <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br />BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-16321000434516346352020-05-22T11:17:00.001-05:002020-05-22T11:17:45.577-05:00Practicing Imbalances Part 3 : Seeking in Critical Positions <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJd4ABv14tk8WU4MhkvX2aDy819XISGBxs29z5462koggKPJk6rsZ_FjJSiQBdN4sRJU_I9VX4LNYrIeV-LEc7mHkEMkdUMn7Ziaume-E8GqF6FwntfQG6LFBd9hpJUHysxsTog/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJd4ABv14tk8WU4MhkvX2aDy819XISGBxs29z5462koggKPJk6rsZ_FjJSiQBdN4sRJU_I9VX4LNYrIeV-LEc7mHkEMkdUMn7Ziaume-E8GqF6FwntfQG6LFBd9hpJUHysxsTog/s320/20200522_115110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In this post I’ll finish this series around the book, How to
Reassess Your chess with a brief summary on static and dynamic imbalances. But mainly,
I’ll also walk you through a recent game (loss) with National Master and how,
for me, it’s a learning curve in applying these. Yes, of course I lost…but not
too miserably. I believe my practice is making me better at picking candidate moves
as I made I all the way to the endgame with the master and a great lesson was
provided. <span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The rest of the story: <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>(Superior Minor Pieces …<a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2020/05/reassessing-imbalances-part-2-silmans.html">discussed
last post</a>) </li><li>Pawn Structure (Many have written about this)</li><li>Space (Annexation of territory on chess board)</li><li>Material (Silman used this to justify exchange sacrifices
versus owning pieces of greater value)</li><li>Control of a key file or square (files, diagonals … you get
the drift. </li><li>Lead In Development (Dynamic …fleeting … temporarily giving
you more force in a region of the board)</li><li>Initiative (Again Dynamic, fleeting and temporary dictating
the tempo of the game.) </li></ul><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Silman had a lot of Nimzo-Indian games in the section under
pawn structures making the argument for when double pawns can become assets. I
decided to shift my repertoire to using the NID because I felt it was easier to
understand plus I used to play it regularly 325 years ago before switching to a
Slav. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He puts a lot of rules out there for each of the imbalances
that for some become common sense but for dense forests like myself I still
have to think through the thickets. I believe that eventually, practicing the
puzzles beyond the book and in my games I will eventually develop a better common
chess sense. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>A walk through a recent
game. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rather than regurgitate Mr. Silman’s words even more than
what I’ve done, I thought I’d spin the board around and show you a recent game
I played. <span> </span>Keep in mind, over the board
tournaments and club activity during the time of COVID-19 has driven everything
online.<span> </span>Finding a trusting group to play
longer time controls than Blitz or Bullet lead me to a weekly G60 + 10s incr
swiss with a local club. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My First round had me playing white against a National Master.
<span> </span>I knew he played the NID and I wanted to
walk through the Hubner variation as I like the pawn structure coming out of
the opening and familiar with the double c-pawn.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b>1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4.
e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6 9. e4 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Nh4
h6 12. f4<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6PuKXeXN4UHRaRGmSkXItK5W_x2SOB-O5wJcOkC5QdZBplzHO-nFwui73ypzuARrJIqLnHgoCy30Y18lCs8VhymTpPue59L1OyhAPvNtmzYZTqy9dFMN3nBeKsZPKCkOCmFQdA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="839" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6PuKXeXN4UHRaRGmSkXItK5W_x2SOB-O5wJcOkC5QdZBplzHO-nFwui73ypzuARrJIqLnHgoCy30Y18lCs8VhymTpPue59L1OyhAPvNtmzYZTqy9dFMN3nBeKsZPKCkOCmFQdA/s320/Sage+AfterMove12.JPG" /></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">I
just played f4.<span> </span>I looked at the locked advanced
pawn center and decide to play the 11. Nh4 with intent to advance the f-pawn
because I felt I needed to open the position up a little more for my Bishops. I
did not “know” this book line and the NM pointed out it was a line from the famous
Fischer-Spassky match.<span> </span>The favorable imbalance
I had was the 2 Bishops… my thinking… open the position. Where to play? Kingside
since my pieces are “pointing” there. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">The
game continues: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b>12…exf4 13. Rxf4 <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Tim
pointed out that the 12…exf4 was not accurate and in the Fischer-Spassky Ng6
was preferred. But I “returned the favor” by capturing with my rook.<span> </span>Ok, I did see the g5 fork and I felt better
with my rook there as I can capture the f6 night and it’s a material exchange.
I didn’t see after 13. Bxf4 g5 14. Bd2 gxh4 15 Rxf6 can still take place. <span> </span>That’s why 11…Ng6 is so strong. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b>13…Ng6 14. Nxg6 fxg6 15. h3 Qe7<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyBVbzEklPremWwLNRzGyjSr-2vYvmmoiOEWeORyvNkeVKvZWvYi4GjiET2OUcbV9UM82fJBUwNrfdnW8AGaBJhPBn0CjzASNmJ6aGHJqOvx-5bccfWrdf1v1DUiXJHEPJLCnpQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyBVbzEklPremWwLNRzGyjSr-2vYvmmoiOEWeORyvNkeVKvZWvYi4GjiET2OUcbV9UM82fJBUwNrfdnW8AGaBJhPBn0CjzASNmJ6aGHJqOvx-5bccfWrdf1v1DUiXJHEPJLCnpQ/s320/Sage+W_Move+16+decision.JPG" /></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>This
was a critical position</b>. My favorable imbalance with the bishop pair
remains. I was looking at Black’s weakness on d6 and was looking for a strategy
to optimize this.<span> </span>My Rook on f4 is now sticks
out like a sore thumb and my dark square bishop is jealous. But rather than
calmly think through the process I feel into a “Kotov Syndrome” played 16 Qe1
thinking “dark squares” and e4… maybe I can gain something. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Suggested
by my opponent was 16. Rb1 with an intent of putting some pressure on the
q-side pawn majority (long term insurance for Black’s game in the endgame).
This at least would bring my least played piece into the game, minor lift to b2
then over to the kingside for the party… all would have been a better plan in
theme of the position. <span> </span>I also think that
regrouping with 16. Rf1 and if Nxe4 I have 17 Re1. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">The
rest of the game… I panicked and went for a series of exchanges. All opposite
of what Silman’s teachings would have said.<span>
</span>If you are planning a King side attack, keeping the queens on the board
is important. If you have space, DON’T exchange.<span> </span>But no… I figured, crap! … if I disarm my
opponent maybe I can get to a playable endgame <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b>16. Qe1 Bd7 17. Rf3 g5 18. Bd2 g4 19.
hxg4 Nxg4 20. Rxf8+ Rxf8 21. Qg3 Ne5 22. Rf1 Rf6 23. Rxf6 Qxf6 24. Be2 Ba4 25.
Bf4 Bc2 26. Bxe5 Qxe5 27. Qxe5 dxe5</b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQ-TK2fat1aySmS_KyXpgw-dx5niNFmJ7aJ6BzJy-PZ0nLWloftuPDyLP5_8QzxJSuqzw4vKDiBy3oKbSXUEmkTPQtHz2KJRk7_SktZuI4jIdTCNCEzhWX641zZpO3sQhsbIWXQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQ-TK2fat1aySmS_KyXpgw-dx5niNFmJ7aJ6BzJy-PZ0nLWloftuPDyLP5_8QzxJSuqzw4vKDiBy3oKbSXUEmkTPQtHz2KJRk7_SktZuI4jIdTCNCEzhWX641zZpO3sQhsbIWXQ/s320/Sage+Endgame.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">We
just took the queens off the board. My opponent’s comments after the game “
every exchange was in my favor”. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Did
I have a slim chance to pull off a draw or turn that passed d-pawn into
something more?<span> </span>In the position above I
had a choice of saving the c4 pawn or the e4 pawn. In the grand scheme of imbalances,
I chose the wrong pawn and this game the NM two opportunities to create outside
passers. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">To
add insult to injury, I exchanged the bishop too!<span> </span>Had I played 28. Kf2 first then after 28…Bxe4
29. Bf3 if he exchanges… My king on f3 I think I would have better managed the
king side pawn majority as the pawns on the queen side could hold the line over
there. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b>28. Bf3 Bd3 29. Kf2 Bxc4 30. a3 Kf7 31.
Be2 Bxe2 32. Kxe2 b5 33. c4 a6 34. Kd3 h5 35. Kc3 g5 36. Kd3 h4 37. cxb5 axb5
38. a4 bxa4 39. Kc4 g4 0-1<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Here’s
the complete game if you want to click through it. <o:p></o:p></p>
<iframe id="6711562" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" style="width:100%;border:none;" src="//www.chess.com/emboard?id=6711562"></iframe><script>window.addEventListener("message",e=>{e.data&&"6711562"===e.data.id&&document.getElementById(`${e.data.id}`)&&(document.getElementById(`${e.data.id}`).style.height=`${e.data.frameHeight+30}px`)});</script>
<br />
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Maybe
easier to view at Chess.com <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><a href="https://www.chess.com/a/379ipg6ut2HDGN">https://www.chess.com/a/379ipg6ut2HDGN</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><b>Summary<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">This
was my first longer than a blitz game with a real opponent in months and after
the Kotov/Silman deliberate training.<span> </span>I still
have work to do on visualization and calculations (note the 13.Rxf4 and not taking
a safer approach with Bxf4) especially where I see a one mov threat ( pawn
fork). My minds eye and inner panic meter seems to create blind spots that I
can now focus on. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">The
other part is finding the best move in a critical position on the board. I guess
here, defining the critical position where the position is somewhat balanced
but with equal favorable imbalances on both sides.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">Move
16 in the game was one of those positions.<span>
</span>I may have spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out what the position
demanded. <span> </span>I wanted to open up the center
just enough to BOTH bishops active.<span> </span>I
didn’t do a “fantasy” position as suggested by both Silman and Kotov.<span> </span>Had I done that, I would have found either
the 16 Rf1-e1 with Bf4 central strategy or the Rb1- b2 – f2 strategy to get my
least placed piece into play. <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;">That
ends this series on my studies of Positional imbalances. I’ll continue to practice
and report any progress or regressions because … it’s all ebb and flow in the
learning with a leaky bucket. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0in;">I
may shift gears in the next post. I’ve been doing some work in faster games out
of necessity and also how I am using databases to help my training. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for putting up with my amateur insights/ oversights. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Until next time, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-BP<o:p></o:p></p><br />BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-39270083143451559312020-05-13T13:16:00.002-05:002020-05-13T13:16:13.717-05:00Reassessing Imbalances Part 2: Silman’s thinking method and Thoughts on Superior Minor Pieces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPSmxpbBlqScy1a0UwLsmfhMpCRwbxFvYmF-HXEMwnRJuDOcYb_ZnynROY3X-9CTVUr2Pm1zyj8WpLaMHDwAYDXrlqDr1Iq5waAcmYkNmAQmlG9Qycef6j-n0zsOdgxnEGLwTdA/s1600/20200513_133157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPSmxpbBlqScy1a0UwLsmfhMpCRwbxFvYmF-HXEMwnRJuDOcYb_ZnynROY3X-9CTVUr2Pm1zyj8WpLaMHDwAYDXrlqDr1Iq5waAcmYkNmAQmlG9Qycef6j-n0zsOdgxnEGLwTdA/s320/20200513_133157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today’s post will continue the discussion on insights I
gained ( or reinforced those suffering brain cells) from taking a deliberate
training approach to going through his <i><a href="https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9781890085001utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc?utm_campaign=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&utm_term=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&ds_rl=1264488&ds_rl=1264488&gclid=CjwKCAjwte71BRBCEiwAU_V9hzTa627pbMlmK_0ygGxXz9HLTtZisuj-RrZ9_pQ4oJ6d_xewN8-aAxoCdB4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">How
to Reassess Your Chess book</a></i>. I paid more attention to the process he
outlines and deliberately focused on improving my ability in these three areas:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Recognize the imbalance(s) </li>
<li>Assess it’s importance over others ( Very nuanced) </li>
<li>Properly looking to the position to guide my candidate move
selection (Chasing unicorns) </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Silman’s Thinking technique: <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silman’s writing style is a little condescending at times. I’ve
learned to take it with a grain of salt and just become as receptive as I can
to his ideas without feeling like I’m back in third grade with the teacher
assuming I am going to do nothing but cause trouble. Okay, so maybe I was a
troublemaker, but if the material was interesting enough, I would listen. Wrist
rockets and hallowed out books with radios embedded inside all set aside, I approach
professor Silman with an open mind. The thing I caught this time that I didn’t during
my speed reading passive absorption approach was his interesting thinking technique.
Having spent some time with the toady,
Kotov and his TLAG… I was open for a new approach. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silman lists a 5 step approach: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li>Figure out the Positive and Negative imbalances for both
Sides ( a tall order but this book puts
it all out there) </li>
<li>Figure out the side of the board you wish to play on ( Hint:
it’s not really where YOU wish but understanding rather where the POSITION
thinks you should play)</li>
<li>Don’t calculate! Instead fantasize! ( Where would you rather have your pieces… be
reasonable)</li>
<li>Once you have a fantasy position… can it be achieved reasonably
well? If not, iterate on the previous step
until you have a position that can be reached. </li>
<li>Once you have the position in mind…only now do you actually
start looking at moves to get you there ( Candidate moves) and begin
calculating. </li>
</ol>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire book is about establishing a firm footing in the
first step but even at that, deliberate practice will help improve your ability
to be able to assess the position from a perspective of imbalances. I’m still a ways off, but I have noticed a
little improvement when I am testing myself with exercises in the book or an
annotated game. I am more likely to evaluate a position to at least 80%
accuracy in terms of all the imbalances <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Figuring out which side of the board is tricky without solid
footing in these ideas especially in relatively neutral positions where both
sides have trade-offs. Looking at
queen-side versus King side versus central plans can get tricky when faced with
multiple imbalances in a position. Which one weighs more than the other? No
clear answer and a lot like what Kotov would say, “it depends”. The rule of thumb, “<i>When in doubt go for a
central plan.”</i> Is good enough advice for this amateur to follow, especially
in online blitz games. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fantasy piece placement in this section seemed to rely
heavily on how to place minor pieces more than anything else. In particular,
looking for good outposts for knights was common. But if you wanted to get a rook on an open
file or open a diagonal to activate a bishop, then the fantasy may be around exchanging
pieces and pawns to get that job done. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Superior Minor Pieces: <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the chapter on Superior minor pieces, he goes into great
detail on position 63 from Alekhine-Junge Warsaw 1942 with white to move. He walks
through the process, scolding us “3rd grade amateurs” on imperfect evaluations
and how the correct and ONLY way to proceed becomes obvious if you follow his
steps. But I get the point. Having a process to follow will help develop
clarity in the position. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The chapter gives a great overview of good versus bad
bishops and how to mitigate either depending on which side of the board you are
on. The epic Bishop versus knight
battles and many other nuances are covered between what makes one minor piece
more superior than the other. What stood
out for me was the valuation of knights depending on what rank they sat on
compared to a Bishop. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Knights on 1<sup>st</sup> or 2<sup>nd</sup> ranks are mostly
defensive or transitional</li>
<li>Knights on 3<sup>rd</sup> are mostly defensive but ready to
jump to a more aggressive 5<sup>th</sup>
rank position </li>
<li>Knights on the 4<sup>th</sup> are as good as a Bishop. Positioned
as both defensive and attacking</li>
<li>Knights on the 5<sup>th</sup> are usually better than the
bishop.</li>
<li>Knights on a 6<sup>th</sup> rank often have a winning
advantage. </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I knew about getting knights to outposts (usually on 5<sup>th</sup>
rank) can be a strong point in the game but this has to coincide with your
other pieces and plans of attacking. I’ve
also been on the receiving end of a knight plunking right down on my third rank
(his 6<sup>th</sup>) and wreaking nothing but havoc. In evaluating minor pieces in a position that
is unclear, knowing these valuations of knight placements is a good tool in ascertaining
the level of prioritization and importance of said imbalance over others in the
position. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Next time: <o:p></o:p></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m hoping to wrap up the series in Part three with light
discussions and insights on the other imbalances from this amateur’s
perspective. Thanks for putting with me. Until next time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Blunderprone<o:p></o:p></div>
<script>window.addEventListener("message",e=>{e.data&&"6687008"===e.data.id&&document.getElementById(`${e.data.id}`)&&(document.getElementById(`${e.data.id}`).style.height=`${e.data.frameHeight+30}px`)});</script>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-25962086251174859682020-05-06T16:45:00.001-05:002020-05-06T16:45:13.148-05:00A Game of Imbalances: Part 1<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoie8-kHqP5nrEQ8F-GjS1b_YGF61tpFT_fj6IWjiPJugfzjkTb8ZBQDLZ3GYsn4famVN0jHI2WQ5ZkwVMx7u4pVX6VRai7f8i0sDawpy1vqH4Gs6t928r4LhvFmdS2Q5L7kGhXw/s1600/20200506_173718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoie8-kHqP5nrEQ8F-GjS1b_YGF61tpFT_fj6IWjiPJugfzjkTb8ZBQDLZ3GYsn4famVN0jHI2WQ5ZkwVMx7u4pVX6VRai7f8i0sDawpy1vqH4Gs6t928r4LhvFmdS2Q5L7kGhXw/s640/20200506_173718.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was first starting out in chess, the book to own was <a href="https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9780679140252utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc?utm_campaign=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&utm_term=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&ds_rl=1264488&ds_rl=1264488&gclid=CjwKCAjwwMn1BRAUEiwAZ_jnEihOdXDE8ocUlvI5Rv4-DCszDOef0H0Tm7oMQzFXIatrz84db27NGxoCCzAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">“My
System” by Aaron Nimzowitsch</a> if you wanted to understand the finer points
of positional play. He had words like “prophylaxis”
and more words to describe variations of
pawn chains like an Inuit has for snow.
This is because his treatise is about the school of hyper-modernism where pawn
centers are formed and piece activity is around attacking the center
positionally. Quite dated and his concepts mostly holds with some exceptions today.
I consider it a historic piece much like Staunton’s or Tarrasch’s guides on positional play were over a century
ago. I’ve read this book long ago, and yes, I could use a refresher. BUT this
post will not be about Nimzowitsch’s insights, rather about how Jeremy Silman
came and had us <a href="https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9781890085001utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc?utm_campaign=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&utm_term=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&ds_rl=1264488&ds_rl=1264488&gclid=CjwKCAjwwMn1BRAUEiwAZ_jnEi0EypznSfm_O6m4Bw1G6VJRS0oltF0fHmrS6t27R-cSkH6QkmNCYxoC9GkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">re-assessing
our chess</a> with the concepts of a more dynamic approach to looking at today’s
games from a sense of <i>positional imbalances</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Lesson’s from this amateur seeking improvement: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t do what I did when I first got <a href="https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9781890085001utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc?utm_campaign=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&utm_term=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&ds_rl=1264488&ds_rl=1264488&gclid=CjwKCAjwwMn1BRAUEiwAZ_jnEi0EypznSfm_O6m4Bw1G6VJRS0oltF0fHmrS6t27R-cSkH6QkmNCYxoC9GkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">this
book</a>. I read it as quickly as I could passively absorbing the 7 imbalances,
rifling through the exercises, not really giving them much thought and going directly
to the Solutions section to “reassure” my ego that I knew what he was talking
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To add insult to injury, I purchased
the <a href="https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9781890085056utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc?utm_campaign=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&utm_term=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&ds_rl=1264488&ds_rl=1264488&gclid=CjwKCAjwwMn1BRAUEiwAZ_jnEhrWb7uhwo8FThF7peYbLBzTg-wAUF9F9ipzLZP9eg6mKi4RNCqkfhoCJ4IQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">“workbook”</a>
only to try a few of the problems, fail an head directly to passively absorbing
the lessons by nodding in approval of the solutions as if “I would have guessed
that.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take my money please. No… not recommended.
Not if you want to really learn and absorb the information. Slow down, genius. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This post will serve as my re-introduction to the new study
I did using my slower approach and introduce the imbalances he brings up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In parts 2 and 3 (I may do this in 4 parts…
unsure yet) I will split up what I discovered from an amateur’s perspective on the
imbalances. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My approach and fixing a leaky memory bucket: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I posted previously about <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2020/04/i-used-to-go-fast-back-in-day-over-10.html#links">slowing
down and “going old school”</a> as some commenters have mentioned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are over 200 diagrammed positions in <i><a href="https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9781890085001utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc?utm_campaign=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&utm_term=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&ds_rl=1264488&ds_rl=1264488&gclid=CjwKCAjwwMn1BRAUEiwAZ_jnEi0EypznSfm_O6m4Bw1G6VJRS0oltF0fHmrS6t27R-cSkH6QkmNCYxoC9GkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds">How
to reassess your Chess</a></i>. I set each and every single one of them up on a
chess board. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used the clock on the end
of chapter exercises set to 20 minutes and used the notation mentioned in that
older post. Only after the clock ran down and I was through my own evaluation
and analysis did I check the solutions section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just like I did in my recent studies with Kotov’s TLAG <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-kotov-syndrome.html#links">here</a>
and <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2020/04/kotovs-elements-tlag-part-2.html#links">here</a>,
I created a set of notes using a <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2014/12/how-i-take-chess-notes-using-modified.html#links">method
I adopted from Cornell University</a>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This approach falls under <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2015/01/attempting-deliberate-practice.html#links">deliberate
practice </a>. Rather than rote memorization (I don’t have a <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2013/09/eidetic-imagery-and-total-immersion-in.html#links">Eidetic
memory as I posted a few years back)</a> or my lazy <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passive absorption techniques, I do find that
when I am more engaged in the learning process the better I can retain. Let’s
just say, at my advanced age and many years in my misspent youth doing youthful
indulgences… my short-term memory plain old sucks. Three is my magic number I
can juggle before having a good recall mechanism in my long-term storage which surprisingly
survived the rock concerts and extra-curricular activities associated with
such. The act of setting up the board, physically moving the pieces.. on a
really comfortable and nostalgic set from my youth ( <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2009/06/meet-ray-hes-my-dad.html#links">thanks
to dear old departed dad</a>)… seem to all help with my learning and retention
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a visual and tactile learner.
I learn best through examples and doing it on my own with the right
guidance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I learned from the Kotov experiment is that I can
retain more of the information from TLAG<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and start to synthesize the material …especially around visual analysis.
I knew the roadblock I faced (still) around picking the cadidates but I am
getting better and it lead me down the path to “Maybe I can learn from Silman
now”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What were my goals? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When reinvigorated my approach to studying back n January it
was to improve my over-the-board (OTB) experience in slow tournament games. I
wanted to improve my visualization for analysis in 3D like OTB and improve my
positional sense so I could find …that seemingly elusive unicorn called
candidate moves that seems to come natural to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to all who have commented so far
offering advice… and am eventually getting there as well. But first I had to
learn what I did not know.. if that makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like learning an musical instrument on your
own and by ear or listening and mimicking other musicians you like, when it
comes to really playing the instrument and improvising and knowing which notes
to hit when coming up with your own composition, you need to train more
traditional. In this case here,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>knowing “principal
moves” in certain positions was a huge deficit because for the longest time…
and as fallout from the days of the Knight’s Errant and purely tactical
training, I had huge gaps of missing information and positional queues which
are now just starting to come to light. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But let me tell you, with state of chess these days under
Corona Virus going mostly online, Blitz and rapid chess are the way to stay on
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll tell you how I’m crossing
that bridge and improving my online blitz rating slowly but surely and how
starting with improving my positional understanding through deliberate training
is a part of that journey that will help BOTH blitz and OTB play in the future.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The list of the 7 Imbalances<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><i>Superior Minor Pieces</i> (the interplay between Bishop
and Knights).</li>
<li><i>Pawn Structure</i> (a broad subject the encompasses
doubled pawns, isolated pawns, etc).</li>
<li><i>Space</i> ( the final frontier… no… the annexation of territory
on a chess board).</li>
<li><i>Material</i> (Owning pieces of greater value than opponent’s).</li>
<li><i>Control of a key file or square</i> (files and diagonals
act as pathways for your pieces, while squares act as homes).</li>
<li><i>Lead in development</i> ( more force in specific area of
the board). </li>
<li><i>Initiative</i> ( dictating the tempo of the game). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
</ol>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In part 2, I’ll touch on Silman’s approach to thinking
process, calculations and the Superior Minor Piece insights I may have picked
up as an amateur revisiting this in a more deliberate way. I plan on covering
the other imbalances in Part 3 but may even split the last two out in a separate
post as it gets into a discussion on static ( first five) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>versus dynamic ( last 2) imbalances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned a lot and hope to share this if
you’re up for it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Note: I didn’t mean to make this a post littered with links
of “best of blunderprone’s blog” but I wanted to make sure some of the
references were there in case you were curious of either <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a) how insane I really am or for <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>b) educational purposes… hopefully it didn’t
create too many squirrels to chase for you.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Blunderprone <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-63543445280312024082020-04-30T14:45:00.003-05:002020-04-30T14:45:44.102-05:00Kotov’s Elements- TLAG part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATj_vopVqVwj1GeAP9u4thSc-nxc9JoHSIj3298kSVP9APrkPO7ioTZiRwQT-VFDhOHgQ9Meu9_1EN1tV2yxkbog3zXeKtvwXGgzrRx_CDIvVwGvmR90dGo-CBpQMYxtl7Gwptw/s1600/20200430_153645_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATj_vopVqVwj1GeAP9u4thSc-nxc9JoHSIj3298kSVP9APrkPO7ioTZiRwQT-VFDhOHgQ9Meu9_1EN1tV2yxkbog3zXeKtvwXGgzrRx_CDIvVwGvmR90dGo-CBpQMYxtl7Gwptw/s320/20200430_153645_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my <a href="http://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-kotov-syndrome.html">last
post</a> I discussed how the Kotov method of tree analysis is only as good as
you capability of picking candidate moves. In this post I’ll get into how Kotov
approaches positional judgement, pawn structures and planning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll state again the flaw in TLAG (Think<i>
Like a Grandmaster</i>) is the premise made in the first section on being able
to come up with candidate moves in the first place. His explanation was paltry
to say the least and then goes into a positional judgement and other parts of
the game that builds on the understanding for gaining insight into candidate
move selections. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“The ability to assess a
position is just as essential as the ability to analyze variations.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>– Botvinnik <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Positional Judgment: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second section in the book is devoted to positional
judgement. He breaks it up into 4 key elements (as opposed to 7 imbalances if
you are Silman follower… but similar ideas that do cross over… more of this on a
future post). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Open Lines and Diagonals</li>
<li>Pawn Structures and Weak points </li>
<li>Piece Position</li>
<li>Space and Center</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Open Lines and Diagonals:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kotov makes references to Rubenstein’s ability to utilize
open files setting the stage. I always thought Capablanca may have been that
guy, but then again, it’s all about national pride I guess. For me, there were
no real surprises or takeaways like I made in Silman’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>How to</i> <i>Reassess Your Chess</i> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, beyond the normal :<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Create pressure</li>
<li>Penetrate targets (7<sup>th</sup> rank stuff) </li>
<li>Major pieces important ( well Duh) </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was one interesting note I made about Queen- side
attacks on the Diagonal. Building up pressure on the c- file for instance by
putting a bishop on b5 and occupying the 6<sup>th</sup> rank is a typical
strategy for opening up opponent’s queenside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Silman took it a step further and I’ll elaborate more on these
in a later post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically he felt that
if there a no targets then don’t occupy that file. That meant if the king and
the goods are all on the king-side and all you are going after ( in the middle
game) are pawns on the queenside then you might want to re-think your plan and
what the position actually tells you to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The same about the use of the 6<sup>th</sup> rank. It <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>can be as effective as 7<sup>th</sup> rank in
the right instances in the later part of the middle game. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Pawn structures and Pieces: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kotov spends a little time getting into a discussion on weak
squares and weak pawns which branches into a pawn structure discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think other books do a better job at this
like <i><a href="https://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/9780812925296utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc?utm_campaign=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&utm_term=NMPi_Smart_Shopping&ds_rl=1264488&ds_rl=1264488&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7qn1BRDqARIsAKMbHDZXUPUNxR1ZzVId4DgexFa4zX_fCM6ILvQNQzUVvUkkWzXXPJ1NArYaAu4yEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds">Pawn
structure chess</a></i> by Andrew Soltis or even Silman’s <i>Reassess Your
Chess</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kotov providesa<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cursory discsussion on passed pawns, weak
pawns and pawn islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets into
weak color complexes as a discussion leading into piece placement. Pawns on
same color as ones bishop blocks the mobility of that piece. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Piece placement of minor pieces, there are better
discussion on this in Silman’s book ( I hate to keep comparing these as Silman
rose to the occasion with the amateur in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He does cover the basics for what makes a strong bishop, when a knight
is more powerful and a brief idea on when to exchange. The discussion segued
into poor positions but aside from cramped positions, his remedy to poor
development was to “start making threats”. If there was no direct way …just
wing it was basically what he said : <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Keep him busy indirectly</li>
<li>Prevent completion of development</li>
<li>Play Sharp, Play Direct<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>( more platitudes) </li>
<li>May involve sacrifices ( I liked that) </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Space and Center: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This section was full of even more platitudes: “If we wish
to gain noticeable advantage in space we must have a firm control over the
center.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I did like the notion of
learning to know if an opposing pawn center was an actual threat or not. <i>“ Show
respect but do not fear”</i> was a quote from Kotov that I liked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The general formula<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>of positional judgement versus concrete analysis underscores the need to
internalize and formulate ones own ability around position evaluation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, this means putting into words descriptively
the plan for both sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest
struggle I find with positional elements whether they be from Kotov, Silman or
even Nimzowitch ( <i>My System</i>) is how to value one inherent strength of
one positional element <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>over another.
Silman says this depends on the position as there is no one imbalance is better
than the other. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Planning:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The section on Planning could have been more of an extension
of the pawn structures as Kotov breaks it into<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>several discussions on closed centers, open centers, mobile centers and fixed
centers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A closed center</b> is one
where both e- and d- pawns are locked in the center and we have a game that
looks to the wings. There will be an active side as well as a defensive side
with different strategies ( closed cramp defender will try to exchange to open
up for instance while active position will play more like a boa constrictor) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A Fixed pawn center</b> is a variation of closed except
you may have one of the central pawns missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two IQP’s locked in a face off for instance. Typically these don’t have
an active side or defensive side <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as its
more difficult to evaluate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dance is
around the central elements and getting enough support with the pieces in the
center before switching to the wing attacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both will have some considerable amount of maneuvering. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Open center</b> is free of pawns. Pieces play a
stronger role as well as quick development. The active side will use pieces to
provoke weaknesses and then attack those weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually there are no pawn storms here because
extra pawn moves weaken or expose the vulnerability of the position. The
defender will try to reduce the attacking forces through exchange of major pieces
especially. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A <b>mobile center</b> is more dynamic with 1 versus 2 central
pawns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The active sides will occupy the
center with the pawns and try to advance and get a passed pawn. If they can’t
get a passed pawn out of the deal, then using the pawns to drive the opponent’s
pieces away. Use it as a launching point to attack the king. As a defender,
setting up barricades and slowing the advancing pawns down are par for the course.
Of course, the old adage “<i>a good antidote to a central attack is an attack
on the wings.” <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Next Up: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After going through Kotov’s TLAG at a slow pace and setting
up the positions on a board, I was inspired to dig a little more into Jeremy
Silman’s How to reassess your Chess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
begin a small series <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of posts on the 7 imbalances
and insights I gained from that study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Down the road, I hope to stitch my middle game studies with how to map
it to my openings which is still under construction. Thanks for listening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-73829379012427320332020-04-24T12:07:00.000-05:002020-04-24T12:07:03.595-05:00The Kotov Syndrome <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2kbZMPspki5mZyaac_XIRSUzUoAjLx12N9q_HJpuardyalcZysv2KgfDKR3EcpS1YG0jQ6uN9f83eKPhxFlJ6gB5SzTJwXTEXzRGmkuAro20IY7ZOx_3n9QIbGDBv0j6zM066g/s1600/1kotov+in+1967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="646" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2kbZMPspki5mZyaac_XIRSUzUoAjLx12N9q_HJpuardyalcZysv2KgfDKR3EcpS1YG0jQ6uN9f83eKPhxFlJ6gB5SzTJwXTEXzRGmkuAro20IY7ZOx_3n9QIbGDBv0j6zM066g/s320/1kotov+in+1967.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h1>
<br /></h1>
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">In my <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2020/04/i-used-to-go-fast-back-in-day-over-10.html">last
post</a>, I discussed my slow approach to chess studies which included:</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">setting up positions on a board</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">developing a scoring system,</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">using a clock while evaluating a position </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">doing my own analysis methods.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started practicing these while revisiting Alexander Kotov’s
popular <i>Think Like a Grandmaster</i> (TLAG) book committing to setting up
each diagram on a chess board and going through the whole thing. Eleven years
ago, when I was blogging about Zurich 1953, I did a brief post on <a href="https://blunderprone.blogspot.com/2009/06/zurich-1953-alexander-kotov-tree-of.html">highlights
from Alex Kotov’s games</a> of that match and provided a brief biography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this post, I will get into the first section of this book
as this really highlights Kotov’s approach with his “tree of analysis”
calculations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll touch on what I
thought were strengths in this section as well as big gaping holes leaving me
scratching my head. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>On the “Soviet School of Chess”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m a dinosaur. I learned chess back in the days when what was
considered normal was playing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with
analog clocks and playing chess in clubs where my older opponent would smoke a cigar
and exhale in my face while I was deciding what my next move would be. We didn’t
have databases, we had <i>Modern Chess Openings</i> (<i>MCO</i>) and chess
informants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “soviet school of chess”
was often referred to when looking up lines in the informants and getting books
translated from Russia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Kotov and
Keres published <i>The Art of the Middle Game</i>, it was first translated and
published in 1964 by Dover publishing. This was a big deal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kotov saw a market in the US with the rise of
interest from Bobby Fischer and continued to write books that would be
translated in the 70’s. He has a whole series of his <i>Grandmaster</i> series
due to the success of TLAG. Thus the “soviet school of chess” had a cadence and
lots of fodder from this prolific Russian writer. Interest in gaining insight
into how a Russian Grandmaster might think was fueled by a cold war and a world
chess scene dominated by the triple K’s ( Korchnoi, Karpov and Kasperov).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I am old. Now, get off my lawn! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My 2020 motivation was to revisit this book and hopefully
develop my ability to calculate positions deeper. I wanted to do more than a
visualization exercise. I used to practice visualization training by playing
blindfold against an old chess computer on the lowest level. I would play until
my mind got jumbled and would have to “peak” at the position. I’d eventually
get good enough to play that level until I could beat it quite regularly and move
to the next level up. BUT THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, once in a blue moon, I’d see how
well I could play a game blindfold. For instance, back in the early 00’s on a family
road-trip, I challenged my kids to a game in the car with my travel set. They
had the board I had the road. (Yes, distracted driving… I know… but hey, play a
gambit!) I managed to get pretty far along until I had to get a positional
clarification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most recently, I attempted
to play someone at work whom I sparred with quite regularly but seemed to be
beating as well. To make it more interesting for both of us, I suggested I play
blindfold in our timed match. I played the whole game ending with a winning
position only to lose on time. Bottom line, you should try it, it’s not that
hard and good visualization practice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>On the Tree of analysis<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All that sounds like fun parlor tricks to play with your friends
and all, BUT what I was noticing was difficulty in positional evaluations when
I was branching and attempting to come back to the position at hand. Referenced
in the book, Kotov parrots advice from Blumenfeld on visualizing the board
using one’s imagination:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>“No matter how strong is your imaginative
faculty, it is clear that the picture in your mind must be feebler than the one
you get by looking at the board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
when your opponent moves, even when he has made the move you expected, you should
never make the move you intended without further thought.”</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--Blumenfeld<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Basically, our mind’s imagination has a tendency to lie to
us. Beware! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enter Kotov. In his discussion of Tree of Analysis he covers
various tree types:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrOQaSJYn6Y0a0_nPdDqkZnPVqZptmL4jrvUY60fD2nUMylvhcOVrNCAXxlj4ie0ICU3fzYDykfw8ovNVfBXydDLlgYMaRwUxgDh00jrok5B3Gx-b149xyEYUdAQRk-kG3pnXOw/s1600/20200424_123228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1141" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrOQaSJYn6Y0a0_nPdDqkZnPVqZptmL4jrvUY60fD2nUMylvhcOVrNCAXxlj4ie0ICU3fzYDykfw8ovNVfBXydDLlgYMaRwUxgDh00jrok5B3Gx-b149xyEYUdAQRk-kG3pnXOw/s320/20200424_123228.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Bare trunk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Coppice</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Thickets </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When do you invoke the powers of calculation? Am I to do
this for every fricking move? No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Consider the course of the game. You have your “book line” you are
playing in the opening. When the first player takes a turn out of the book,
that’s a good time to calculate. But further on into the middle game, coming up
with a plan is one thing. Calculating the path to get there is another. A sharp
position with complications on both sides is the key time to look deep into a
position for the right move. Other positions require merely what he calls “positional
Judgement” and Kotov loosely qualifies closed opening positions under this
heading where its more a matter of positional posturing of the pieces rather
than open combat in tactical play. So um, Good luck! This is an example of the
Kotov-<i>Ambiguity Factor </i>I ran into. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He makes a bold statement “<b>When analyzing complicated variations,
examine each branch of the tree only once.” </b>Here is where the <u>Kotov-syndrome</u>
comes in. I can only speak for myself but I know others may have suffered the
same fate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clock is ticking, I am
evaluating a line of a move I think looks good (more on that later), I get to a
position in my poor memory and replay the steps over and over. I finally
realize that move won’t do so I look for another… rinse-lather-repeat. I finally
realize 30 minutes ran on my clock and I panic, I look for ANOTHER move and
make THAT MOVE <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>without any thought and
hit the clock. You can deduce the result from there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The assumption Mr. Kotov seems to make in this first chapter
is that the reader can already evaluate positions really well and are able to
select proper candidate moves. Thanks for having that much confidence in my abilities
Mr. Kotov. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do realize I am blunder-prone
and am trying to change that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure, there are trees with bare trunks where one move really
sets things in motion. A slight variation is where forced moves are played.
Combinations are another factor where a singular trunk would come in. These are
easier trees to evaluate but knowing when a combination is in a position is
another skill to be developed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A coppice (shrub) is a position where you may have several
options but they can be a bit easier to evaluate as each branch is more or less
one or few move variations that presents an easier evaluation. Think endgames
and positions that are fairly uncomplicated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s when you come into the thickets (each branch may be 5
or 6 moves deep), a complicated position that could go either way, is where I
struggle the most. These are positions that offer many variations which diverge
into quite different lines of play. These are the positions I most likely fall
victim to the analysis paralysis “syndrome”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t for the life of me find good candidate
moves, let alone ANY candidate moves worth evaluating. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>On Candidate moves:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
YAY! There’s a section on this in section one. I was
delighted to see this and couldn’t wait to get to this section. (Is the expectation
set right?) <i>How, then, does a chess player choose which move to play in a
given position?</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To which, Mr. Kotov’s
reply <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i>“There is no easy answer; each
player goes about choosing in his own way.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks a lot pal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
falls about two thirds the way through the first section on analysis and all he
does is provide anecdotal stories of Lasker, Petrosian and other soviet masters’
unique approaches. For instance, he quips, Lasker considered developing the
ability to analyze accurately by seeking out moves that are either most necessary
and/or <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most interesting. If I wanted
platitudes, I would have hung out in a corporate conference room and read the placards.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBED-HmsGFV7vtYiz6Yhu7tPePVaZQjMlo8kafSxB3YBNAQkGkz-0NtGT8wEBCqhJ65tftEwS0lA21tNSzZZ1Vxpne6TQLoCVgYK6J_ooLK1bD3kPxDQ6u5qqE5tQY7TYQSPtTw/s1600/Platitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="796" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBED-HmsGFV7vtYiz6Yhu7tPePVaZQjMlo8kafSxB3YBNAQkGkz-0NtGT8wEBCqhJ65tftEwS0lA21tNSzZZ1Vxpne6TQLoCVgYK6J_ooLK1bD3kPxDQ6u5qqE5tQY7TYQSPtTw/s320/Platitude.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost threw the
book away at this point. This is the critical juncture of the whole book and
his trees of analysis. Being able to come up with candidate moves to evaluate in
the main position AS WELL AS each variation you need to examine is a skill that
we now find varies from maser to master. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Parsing out some of the techniques in his homage to other
player’s anecdotal ways on how to develop an eye for picking candidates
requires: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Better understanding of strategies</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Knowing how to recognize tactics ( some of us
have been down this path)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Need to develop </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">a Bird’s eye view of what’s happening in the
position</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would have preferred the book to start with chapters on
how to develop the skills around picking candidate moves BEFORE getting into a
lengthy discussion about the tree of analysis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think this was the biggest shortfall of the book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next sections, he does a cursory
discussion on <i>Positional Judgement, Planning and Ending</i> which are necessary
elements in getting to candidate selection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then devotes a whole chapter on <i>A Player’s
Knowledge</i>. I skimmed that section. I had reached my end point and felt that
this was rather trite and full of platitudes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t get me wrong, I trudged through the next three
sections in the book to see what I could learn from Kotov’s Soviet school of
chess. Next post I’ll wrap up the TLAG discussion and get into the following
sections on Positional analysis and Strategy, which lead me to a couple side
diversion and my eventual decision to transition to Silman’s <i>How to Reassess
Your Chess</i> (future posts to come).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for listening.. now GET OFF MY LAWN!!! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-62024766973482820752020-04-17T11:27:00.002-05:002020-04-17T11:28:06.009-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I used to go fast</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoaAxYcbIVlXHMibgpDSqitojjcJAGSN8doZGxtYh1jIuvsPDcdO9cdjBdQ6nVPBmUNPDQzA2nwic8NW655LXuX50D31vIorcqmX2hLTawhXstL2PQK14SxdVyI-mkcySMmH3vA/s1600/20200417_115744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoaAxYcbIVlXHMibgpDSqitojjcJAGSN8doZGxtYh1jIuvsPDcdO9cdjBdQ6nVPBmUNPDQzA2nwic8NW655LXuX50D31vIorcqmX2hLTawhXstL2PQK14SxdVyI-mkcySMmH3vA/s640/20200417_115744.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in a day ( over 10 years ago), I was a disciple of the
MDLM (Michael De la Maza) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/rapid-chess-improvement-everyman-chess_michael-de-la-maza/464253/item/6329813/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=380922646968&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=78165140392&ptaid=pla-814365340465&gclid=CjwKCAjwp-X0BRAFEiwAheRui6jT3MBA0v0Yn3xR9Q6d4Nbmszl-vKQ0RFuihSHmaX0breByK_8plRoCG64QAvD_BwE#isbn=1857442695&idiq=6329813">Rapid
chess Improve</a> school. A group of us known as “the Knight’s Errant” did the seven
circles of hell solving tactical problems in ever increasing rhythms using
various tactical tools and engines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
general, those below 1800 ELO seemed to benefit more from this in terms of a
rating boost. However there was a point of diminishing returns and for myself,
I hit a wall and burnt out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had I taken
more time per position to savor the nuances, build a better mental image and
understand the types of positions, I might have found longer lasting
benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I was crazed. I
wanted to go through as quickly as possible and go on to the next task. “Maybe
this will get me to 2000!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took this
approach in learning openings, middle games and endgames. “How <u>quickly</u>
can I *learn* this new idea?”. I rapidly read through Silman’s <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/how-to-reassess-your-chess-the-complete-chess-mastery-course_jeremy-silman/270312/item/10398900/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=380922646968&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=78165140392&ptaid=pla-814365340545&gclid=CjwKCAjwp-X0BRAFEiwAheRui6J2SPBQ1Bn3CvTAU3XZ5pr1yedQEQ-0pOshzAIIBOUmfvpHq6veIBoCXnsQAvD_BwE#isbn=1890085138&idiq=10398900">How
to reassess your chess </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thinking I
had “mastered” the concepts of the 7 major imbalances. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I peaked to just over 1800 before I burnt out
and took a hiatus of several years. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The past couple of years, I came back in fits and starts
still trying to hang on to the old glory days and try to continue to climb. Now,
my training was even more feverish. Maybe I’d do a fast batch of tactical
puzzles. I had an opening trainer ( <a href="https://www.bookup.com/home/chess-openings-wizard-2016-program-status/">Chess
Opening Wizard</a>) I queued up with my repertoire and rifled through each of
the variations repetitiously AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. How was my performance? It
sucked. I rapidly fell to my rating floor (1600 USCF). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Life in the SLOW Lane:</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in January, after evaluating my most recent tournament
games, I realized most of my gaffs came from having difficulty looking deep
into a position and going through calculations. I pulled my dusty old version
of Kotov’s <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/Think-Grandmaster-Paperback-2003-Alexander-Kotov/30433186669/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade-_-new-_-naa&gclid=CjwKCAjwp-X0BRAFEiwAheRuizZ1G9wgrFiLejjQIiRxruJ1KTN-baQyuU0Ge_825DdyXvYicXuunRoCZQQQAvD_BwE">Think
Like a Grandmaster</a> off the shelf. Again, this was a book I “rapidly skimmed
and thought I mastered” back over 10 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This time I down shifted. I slowed down my approach and realized there
was no need to rush. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I committed to
doing the following: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Use a real board and set up EVERY POSTION in
book and write down my own analysis before checking the answers</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Develop a scoring system for each position that
evaluated my progress in: (<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Calculation Depth; </span><span style="text-align: center;">Overall Accuracy of my assessment;</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Candidate moves; </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Positional Evaluation )</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Use a clock set to 20 or 30 minutes and not move
the pieces </li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Use my own methods for notating position to record my analysis/evaluations etc.</li>
</ol>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ll spend the rest of this post elaborating more on my
method. Next post, I’ll get into some of the learnings I found about myself and
Kotov’s methods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know…I know… there is
a folly about Kotov known as the “<i>Kotov Syndrome”</i> where a player is so
deep in analysis paralysis then looks at clock and plays some random move that
was given no thought. Guilty. More on that next post. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why use a real board?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am training for over the board (OTB) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tournaments ( hopefully post Covid-19 that we
can do this in the future). I love the experience of OTB over virtual. In my
mind, nothing like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, if my goal is
to play with real set, I must train my brain to see problems in 3 dimensional space.
The act of setting up the position, checking to make sure I did it accurately <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and staring at it while I evaluate the position
is a much richer visceral experience using more senses to lodge into my memory that
I find it actually helps with retention and recall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Scoring system <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted a way to measure any progress or learning gaps to
see if I was actually gaining something from Kotov’s teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his book, the main emphasis was on improving
<u>calculation</u> so I thought I’s use that and look into how many ply <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>moves I could go per problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mind you, depending on the section of the
book, some were really deep for complicated problems and some were singular
branches and forced move sequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
overall learning was to improve my ability to calculate without moving the pieces.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reason I list Accuracy and Positional evaluation separately
is to differentiate the positional evaluation of the starting position and its
nuances to the accuracy of the positions I could see down the branches. One is
based on my ability to accurately see and evaluate down a branch. The other is
overall evaluation of the starting position.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My ability to find candidate moves will be a topic in a further
post. I’ll cut to the chase. I suck at it… still did after my journey with Kotov
and will elaborate more on why I feel his book didn’t do enough justice on this
topic. More on that in a later topic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Using a clock <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kotov suggested this as well in his book and the overall
practice of setting up a board with a position from either a book, magazine or
from you own games to review. Putting 30 minutes on the clock to take the time
to jot down all the lines you are considering and your evaluation is a good
simulation to OTB experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried
several increments… 30-, 20-, 15-, and 10- minutes. I found the sweet spot for
me was at 20 minutes and some of the time I was in “Kotov Syndrome” mode by
minute 15. This was good to recognize while not in a tournament and take a step
back and ask “what am I missing?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If my
thought process is spinning its wheels 10 or 15 minutes into a session, I’m either
not understanding the position correctly or I’m obsessing over trying to force MY
MOVE to work and getting discouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
process with using a clock was proving to be extremely valuable in better
understanding myself and my ability to evaluate a position under time pressure.
I highly recommend it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Developing a method for notating positions<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpxblbyAZnUcelXui_CecTC_9eSytRJhrYPess5YJiRY2_790m_0H-14GIYJkuEhK_hi6NWgHbmc4h6ylIzUuOPBKV28BzNCuwD6260OrtWBizCfMDtylR_v8L8foHIgm8mQMPA/s1600/20200417_113220_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1185" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpxblbyAZnUcelXui_CecTC_9eSytRJhrYPess5YJiRY2_790m_0H-14GIYJkuEhK_hi6NWgHbmc4h6ylIzUuOPBKV28BzNCuwD6260OrtWBizCfMDtylR_v8L8foHIgm8mQMPA/s200/20200417_113220_resized.jpg" width="190" /></a>Taking it a step further and even slower, I have a note book
where I jot down concepts from the book and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>key insights from where my thinking process went
wrong when verified with the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also needed a method to record positions/ variations “off the board”. I thought
of having an analysis board or using my computer and notating my thoughts.
These would all be <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>valid methods. I chose
to use a study sheet with a diagram. I created my own using a blank Diagram and
lots of space to write my analysis. For the position I used a hand drawn method
I learned from another book, by Rolf Wetzel <a href="https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/chess-masterat-any-age_rolf-wetzel/699250/#isbn=0938650580&idiq=27671782">Chess
Master at any age</a>. This was a cool book about a guy who reached master
class after turning 50! There was a section about creating flash cards ( a bit
old school) which I liked using for the diagrams.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an example analysis notes I had from a position in
the Kotov book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I “corrected” my
analysis with a red pen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFwFb3fd-8CYnkcvSJK_ru5IruM6QiT5DOrja751x2Q43PbcCkvGgi4smL29pxDAxHDheZD-mUt5_konmuqtRUQaSpIYPUx7vdCnanpO96exFTZH-HFpNeqM8anLudbfb5fzbpQ/s1600/20200417_115703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFwFb3fd-8CYnkcvSJK_ru5IruM6QiT5DOrja751x2Q43PbcCkvGgi4smL29pxDAxHDheZD-mUt5_konmuqtRUQaSpIYPUx7vdCnanpO96exFTZH-HFpNeqM8anLudbfb5fzbpQ/s320/20200417_115703.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-28160627283207436262017-12-27T15:34:00.000-05:002017-12-27T15:34:23.712-05:00Playing Down<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of the busy schedule, I committed to chess by
starting a club at work during lunch time. There are a lot of folks who “play-only-on-chess.com”
and were eager to playing someone who played “seriously” or at least, used to.
What this means is that there is a mixed bag of competition who’s playing strength
is marginally on par with my most rusty capabilities… but I welcome it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s like playing as the top seed in the lowest section of tournament.
The expectation is that you’d win EVERY TIME… but reality is I don’t and it’s
more embarrassing for me who can “talk a good game” but following through is much
different story. I also know playing up
a section in a tournament is always better for improving performance than
playing in the top percentile of the lower section. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But I need to take some rust off. So this once a week lunch
time chess club is what I have to work with. The “play-only-on-chess.com-players”
are also learning to play with real opponents, slowing down, playing with a real
clock, and not just blitz and mouse clicks. So, I think I am also providing a
service and spreading the enthusiast chess bug around. We play G15 time
controls which is quick ( for an old timer like myself), have a club rating
system and monthly matches for friendly bragging rights. The time control
allows us to get a game in during a lunch break as the corporate world often bookends
meetings around lunch breaks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I use this as a sparring practice. G15 time control forces
me to really not dwell to much in the opening and have a plan for the middle
game so I can try to capitalize for the point. Problem is that, if I get thrown a doozy of an opening variant… and
I know I should be able to punish my opponent if I had the time, the quick and
dirty “play-only-on-chess.com-players” are used to such shenanigans that they
once in a while are able to squeak in a point.
I find going back to the database following a defeat sooths the bruised
ego and I move on. Tactical training helps me in some of these games as I can
see knight forks, discovered attacks and mating nets a little better than this
group though that’s changing. As I am learning to adapt to their style of play,
they are getting better as well. So, it’s
all good. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One other thing I will mention is how board blindness seems
to be a big thing in G15 games for me and a couple of other players. For myself, it happens when I am short on
time and I hyper-focus on a small part of the board. Others talk about how the clock is a huge
distraction… talking about increasing time limits for the game. I’m reluctant,
as I think this is good training for us and levels the playing field. I’m older and rusty. Short time controls give
my younger novice players a little more of an advantage as well as forces them
to work within the constraints. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs0cquJc2PNfSp3_DAUILq85HXxM8YfEqWlHFfnkvyUSeTVt1qSPL6SANqYW9Gi9nEmNjATxIhlRZltPF_aiNHOEmkNCSSZkNotPhfJ_D8tzHSS6X4RQvmV8fuIbYxdZx68-gtA/s1600/Rusty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivs0cquJc2PNfSp3_DAUILq85HXxM8YfEqWlHFfnkvyUSeTVt1qSPL6SANqYW9Gi9nEmNjATxIhlRZltPF_aiNHOEmkNCSSZkNotPhfJ_D8tzHSS6X4RQvmV8fuIbYxdZx68-gtA/s320/Rusty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sparring is good practice no matter at what level. I am
using this opportunity to find ways to improve my quick chess skills as this
has always been a hindrance for me. I also think if I can improve my ability at
these time controls, my abilities at “normal time” will improve especially
where I have run into time trouble. Learning how to be flexible with odd
openings and players who play “out of the book” on move 2 or 3 is also good
practice for me to better understand my repertoire and when mainlines are not
played… how to capitalize on them…eventually. Tactics is still my middle name
and I practice these as a baseline foundation almost daily. Learning how to efficiently and consistently defeat players
of developing strengths at my “rusty-yet-barely-above-novice-playing-level” is
good to keeping my ego at check. I am blunderprone after all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who knows, maybe I’ll play in an OTB tournament later in
2018. See you on the other side of the board.
<o:p></o:p></div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-18354864356474686202017-11-04T16:38:00.000-05:002017-11-04T16:38:19.796-05:00Making room for Chess<div class="MsoNormal">
Two years slipped by and it feels like yesterday. Let’s see,
since my last post more “life stuff” happened. My other parent was in her last
chapter, I changed jobs, kids got married, and lots of travel. Since my last
real active blogging days 4 or 5 years ago, my priorities have changed
dramatically in terms of chess. The time it takes to dedicate to this game is
all a matter of perspective and what you really want out of it. Let’s face it, the
goal of the 2000 rating is a siren call I see from a lot of us “serious players”.
But it requires constant upkeep of
skills, self evaluation, and professional help ( coaches, instructions …well
maybe even therapists). Where to fit all that in when life creates tsunamis
round you making that chess board the lowest of all priorities. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What bothers me, is that the investment of time I committed
to in the past, doesn’t just come back over the board like riding a bicycle. It’s difficult not to fall into a small bit of
self-loathing or pity over the wasted
hours spent learning the game only goes atrophy after months of inactivity. How
did I used to play this opening? What are the themes going into the middle
game? Does the horsey go next to he tower?
( well not that bad… but you get my drift.) It makes it harder to say …”THIS TIME I’M
GOING TO JUMP BACK IN”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How to feed my passion for this game when so many other
things are demanding my attention? I am trying
out a path through work. I infected some folks at my new company with the
passion for a little competition at work in this century old game. I have
started a weekly club at work and that’s
about all the room I have for it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do I want to play in tournaments again?… some day… maybe…
just not now. Moderate weekly sparring
at work is OK for now. Don’t I want to
go after that 2000 USCF rating? Right
now, I’d rather spend a few cycles having fun in this game again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I wax nostalgically with the new players at work. <a href="https://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/meet-ray-hersquos-my-dad" target="_blank">Since my father passed,</a> I inherited all his old sets and those from the days of the
Brunswick Chess Club. I spent some time cleaning up 40 year old vintage club
sets from the Drueke Player’s choice series ( weighted) and started bring these
in for the company chess club. I feel
like I am playing on home turf as these were the pieces I cut my teeth on and
learned this game. Going back to my
roots is always a good thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6e6Srusqct3hlqiWwdKAJHD1Qx42vVVH3Wsl8_YkeL2BVDB8a2uREUVQ50fHezo4Mw-adazjhk78UOafq1sq5VUGO1vDl1jbfQxcZZxEwuitWgYImmZpx34rI8-IgZMJd7ZGrA/s1600/PlayersChoice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6e6Srusqct3hlqiWwdKAJHD1Qx42vVVH3Wsl8_YkeL2BVDB8a2uREUVQ50fHezo4Mw-adazjhk78UOafq1sq5VUGO1vDl1jbfQxcZZxEwuitWgYImmZpx34rI8-IgZMJd7ZGrA/s320/PlayersChoice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No promises, but I may keep you up to date once in a while. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blunderprone</div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-73439317298170611922015-08-02T12:20:00.001-05:002015-08-02T12:23:33.054-05:00Wait. I play chess?<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s how it feels this summer. I’ve been caught up with
typical life things called work and family. I haven’t been doing anything chess
related since my last post and oddly I’m Ok with that. I’m working on an interesting medical device
at work and spending extra time learning new things. Putting time into learning new skills seems
to provide more bang for the buck than
boning up on the latest variation and nuances of the Caro-Kann defense. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Speaking of other satisfying pursuits, I’m also in a part
time band. Again, learning new songs and techniques also seems to satisfy the neural
plasticity excitation I was seeking for a long time with pure chess
endeavors. A part of my past is that I
wanted to be a rock star back in high school ( who didn’t). I had a parallel life. Dad tried to convince me that the right girls
were attracted to the guys in the chess club for their intelligence. I doubled down and played in a rock and roll
band because, well, Dad wasn’t always right. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This brings me to another topic, I’m writing about those
wanna be rock start days and how it didn’t quite work out the way I had dreamed
coming from a small college town in Brunswick. I was inspired after reading several
biographies of Rock and Roll stars, that I thought “ What about those of us not
growing up in London, New York or San Fran who had a lot of misguided attempts and
misconceptions and tried anyway.” So I
am investigating my misspent youth and how the partying and rock and roll
attempts usually ended up in the wrong place. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Would any of you readers be the least bit interested in
reviewing early material here as snippets from my chapters? I am toying with this idea or do you want
chess only posts from me?</div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-31079987551461804642015-03-01T14:47:00.003-05:002015-03-01T14:47:21.692-05:00Building a better time machine<div class="MsoNormal">
When I say time machine, what I mean is a chess clock. A few
years ago I was involved in a project that was to add USB to a chess clock to
aid TD and users in general who have trouble setting the chronos or other
digital chess clocks especially in the large scholastic arena where the TD’s
are expected to help set chess clocks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had worked on a proto type with a similar look and feel to
the chronos. I had a partner who was
helping with supply chain and “ideas” but as things happen, my partner bailed
and I was going through some “life stuff” that back burnered the project and the
previous ~$2K out of my pocket start up costs for first prototypes etc. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am at a point where I might resurrect this project again.
But in 2010, USB was the siren call to help minimize set up time for users and
lessen the headaches of my TD friends. I
am thinking today, USB would be nice but maybe a Bluetooth enabled chess clock
so you can configure it with a smart phone? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are your ideas fellow readers? Do you see
adding USB and Bluetooth for user
interface of a chess clock a nice evolution? If so how much more would you be
willing to pay for it? What about the
display? How about other features ( move
recording is not on the table for this iteration but I do have ideas on
alternatives to DGT’s overpriced system).
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I may not be a great chess player, but I am a pretty decent
engineer with experience in building things like this. So tell me what you
would like to see in a “Time machine” from Blunderprone.</div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-83754604344104820082015-02-21T09:37:00.003-05:002015-02-21T09:37:39.162-05:00Mastery: Dabblers, Obsessives, and Hackers <div class="MsoNormal">
From my last post, one reader commented that I should read
some books about sports psychology. It reminded me of a book I did read on the
subject a few years ago called Mastery: The keys to success and long term fulfillment
by George Leonard. You can read the
cliff notes version of it from here: <a href="http://gettingstronger.org/2010/03/george-leonards-mastery/">http://gettingstronger.org/2010/03/george-leonards-mastery/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The goal driven nature entrenched in our society fuels a competitive atmosphere
where we are constantly measured up against each other’s successes in various
pursuits. This puts the emphasis on the make
or break end result rather than enjoyment of the pursuit. What I liked about his approach is the caricatures he presents as a result of the lopsided focus
on results. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Dabbler: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Dabbler attempts each new sport, hobby, or interest with
initial enthusiasm but quickly loses interest and moves on to the next shiny
pursuit once the initial one slows down, or encounters difficulties. Dabblers start many new things with gusto but
once they hit a wall or plateau move on. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Obsessive:</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Obsessive lives for the growth spurt in a skill. If he's
not constantly and actively growing he presses himself harder and faster.
Eventually the Obsessive burns out and moves on to something else. A lot of the old “ Knights errant” had fallen into this category. I think Michael De La Maza was one as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Hacker: </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for the HACKER, once he has passed over the first major
growth spurt and is on the first plateau he just stays there. He doesn't
actively spend time trying to learn and grow. He just tinkers with the bit of
skill he's developed and remains satisfied at that level. But who wants to be
just a hack in the competitive chess world? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">So What are the keys to mastery then? </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The book goes on to describe the keys to mastery:
Instruction, Practice, Surrender and Intentionality. Those last two we tend to
forget about. Surrendering means being willing to lose a few as we change
styles. For instance, I knew I was going to lose rating points when
I surrendered my old opening system a few years back ... and I did...but having
done so I have since gained valuable knowledge
in D-pawn games. Recently, I have
become uncomfortable in open positions. I need to surrender and embrace the
learning process once more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for Intentionality, this refers to focus. I lose focus
with all the distraction life throws and then I fall into either of the three
categories. Getting to the point where I
am OK with plateaus and set backs is hard when every cell in my body feels like
it needs to be measured against some gage for success. Changing the mindset to
be at ease with the way things are is a meditation in and of itself. It brings
me back to basics as to why I love this game in the first place. I love the
learning process. If I can remind myself of this more often before the games in
a tournament, the more I can enjoy the journey. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-5595341828261414752015-02-07T09:59:00.003-05:002015-02-07T17:42:14.807-05:00The Psychological Game: Confidence Index<div class="MsoNormal">
I recently played in a one day G30 event with friends. Despite
my deliberate practice honing chess skills with my opening repertoire,
positions that may arise and tactics; when you’re off your mark, you will have
poor results. After a draw and three
goose-eggs , I decided to cut my losses and not play in the last two rounds.
The organizer for this mini event summed it up this way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i>“ I look at chess skills in 6 factors, openings, middle games,
endgames, positional, tactics and performance. It’s that last one, even if you
are up on all the other 5, if you are playing as if someone keeps poking you
with a tack, then your performance will suffer. “ -MK<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had some time to reflect on this. In my last post (<a href="http://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/recent-game-where-i-used-the-advanced-d-pawn-chain--as-black">http://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/recent-game-where-i-used-the-advanced-d-pawn-chain--as-black</a>),
I drew a game that had I played it correctly earlier I could have won, the end
position was a loss for black but I was happy to come out of it with a draw. Part of the issue is getting used to a faster
time control, which I wanted to do and why I agreed to play in this event. With my schedule getting into a once a month
event G30 event gives me 6 serious
enough games to see my progress in my studies and keep the rust off. So that’s my motivation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Psych element 1:
Worrying about ratings: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Depending on the event, if I come in at the bottom of the
roster, I have nothing to lose in the first round and I find my performance is
improved. When I play in an event where
I am in the middle or top, the first round can be a little more stressful for
me in a swiss pairing event. This is
especially true when paired with a lower rated player ( going for it). In the
round robin event of the G30, we were evenly paired in ratings. Notice how I am taking about ratings? I should just play the board, never mind about
my opponent’s rating and how many points are on the line, right? In practice, I
find this is not easy to do. I’ve tried many tricks like deliberately not look
at the rating when the pairings are posted. But regardless of my efforts I fall
into the rating trap. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first Psychological element I bump up against is <b>worrying about rating points</b> ( one of
the reasons I like playing “up”). I
usually give myself a few minutes of mediation before each round to keep this
element in check but playing in a quick event or some venues don’t allow for me
to go to a contemplative space to clear my head. I’m not using this as an excuse, I am just
making myself aware of how important that “Inner Game” is in terms of
performance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, that first round in my head went kind of like this: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(on looking at the pairings) – <i>“I see my opponent is only a
few rating points higher than me, I could win this. “</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
( opening phase) – <i>“ He’s playing an off beat variant of my
Caro-Kann Defense, if I can get to a middle game, I’ll bet I can out play him.”
</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Middle game)- <i>“ Cool, I’ve got that advanced –pawn chain, I
know what to do and now, look! I can get double advanced passers”</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(End game) – <i>“Crap, he’s now got pawn majorities on both
sides, my king can’t keep them back. How’d I let this game slip away? ( spiral
begins) Thank GOD he offered me a draw
under time pressure.” </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Psych Element 2: Out
of comfort zone<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In round 2, I was paired with someone with a lower rating
who played a Benko Gambit, my least prepared opening preparation. Already my head was in a deficit mode about
trying to outperform my opponent but I just was out of my element. I had cursory knowledge of this gambit line
and decided not to take that second pawn. Then odd things happened. Being out
of my comfort zone, I found I had to rely more on my calculation skills which are not that great
even with “normal time” chess matches. In a G30, I found myself going “ Let’s
see, I need to get e4 in play but he’s already got that square protected, maybe
I should just take the pawn on b5 with my knight.. awe hell, Nxb5 (hits clock).
“ The game kind of went along those
lines so that by move 28 I dropped a piece: <br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2407698" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aside from needing to understand this gambit more and become
more comfortable with the position ( it’s on my list), I need to figure out a
way to “recover” from a disappointment such as this. My spirit was crushed. Didn’t Bobby Fischer
say something about enjoying that moment when he crushed his opponent’s spirit?
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Psych Element 3: The
Confidence index<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I play in a tournament, and have a first round win, the
next couple rounds I play more to my chess skills and less to my psychological
deficits. I call this the confidence
index. After 2 disappointing rounds, I
entered round three again looking at my opponent’s rating and AGAIN with an odd
variant from my Caro-Kann (out of my comfort zone). Here’s the odd part, Round one versus Round
three, I reached the <u>same exact position on my move 3</u>. The first round, I was brave and bold and
went for 3…d4 to try something new and mix it up. It may not be correct, but it took my
opponent out of the book and gave me a middle game position I at least knew
what to do with. I had MORE CONFIDENCE. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On round three, 3...d4 was NOT EVEN considered! I was already playing with a mental deficit
that had me looking at the higher rated player, out of my comfort zone, I wasn’t
willing to take risks or even think of them! After the game, I was amazed at
how that blind spot came up and I just went for “rote” moves ( dxe4, bf5 etc) because
I was looking for familiarity. I wanted “comfort food” moves to just get
through this game. I was mated on move 13. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s this aberration:<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2407050" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The confidence index is a strong one and could sum up all
these elements. When you are out of your element you lack confidence. When you
worry about ratings, you lack confidence.
In my last game, I was OK in the opening stages despite the QGA not
being my strongest preparation. But I
found my calculations, and ability to shift gears into an open position
dropping my confidence and I lost rather quickly. Hanging pieces is an indication for me that
these psychological elements had taken over my actual playing ability. It was
as if I was being poked with a tack. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2407054" width="620"></iframe> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Take-aways:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Yes, I need</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">therapy.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; text-indent: -0.25in;">J</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I need to figure out how to just play the game
and develop more self awareness of when these psychological elements start to
come up.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">If I am conscious of them, I
have meditative techniques that I can use to regulate them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I have some work to do with my game: 2 Knights
C-K solution, Benko Gambit,</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">understand
Open pawn structures ( open center, open Queen’s wing). </span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-45955368587813646622015-02-01T09:28:00.002-05:002015-02-01T09:29:11.614-05:00Recent game where I used the Advanced D-pawn chain ( as Black)<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a quick post showing a recent game were I played an
advanced d-pawn chain as black with a PLAN! The issue is that I faced an “Anti-caro-kann” set up twice in the same day. The first one I
mainly went for the advanced d-pawn setup and had a clear plan. The game is below.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2398064" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
My next post I will look at my losses and one with a similar
Anti-CK but how oddly it was that played
the wrong moves and didn’t even consider the moves I played 2 rounds
earlier. A friends commented that
despite knowing openings, middlegames, endgames, tactics and positional
strategies, if your performance is off, none of that matters. I’ll explore this
in more depth on my next post. </div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-1145554925778301372015-01-24T21:15:00.000-05:002015-01-25T08:50:15.189-05:00Looking beyond the basic pawn structures : Advanced D5 chain<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the revelations I had at the Boston Chess Congress
was that I could get to the middle game in most of my openings going on
previous training and some rust removal.
In a couple of games where I played against the King Indian’s defense
and a Nimzo-Indian, I reached a nice d5 pawn structure, giving me some space
and some play. But I had no clue as to what that play should be and ended up
playing to conservative and allowed my opponent to attack. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years ago, I was looking at pawn structures to help me
understand the openings. You can see these as they are linked on my side bar.
This was really helpful in understanding the ideas behind certain openings
where these certain pawn structures show up.
This, I believe helps me with openings as I have a basic understanding
of roughly where I want my pieces given certain structures. Thus I no longer fret openings and usually get a playable position. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With some pawn structures, I know more advanced ideas beyond
“getting to a playable middle game”. I
know the basic concepts for handling Isolated Queen Pawns whether I own it or
attacking against my opponent’s. I also
have a comfortable footing with the Carlsbad pawn and know enough when I can
get into a minority attack or launch a central attack. But these only make up a small portion of the
openings. What I felt I needed to get a
grip on was what to do when I reach an advanced d5 pawn chain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Pawn Chains Basics to advanced concepts</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to dust off Andrew Soltis’ work on Pawn structure
chess and explore a little deeper on the
advanced d5 chain. He gives great praise
to his predecessor, Aaron Nimzovitch. In My System, he has a chapter dedicated
to Pawn chains and attacking the base. Andrew Soltis modernizes this in his
1995 work on Pawn structures. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My focus for this post falls on the chapter he calls Chain
Reactions. The goal for both sides is to
break the chains. For white this means getting c4-c5 in to attack the base at d6.
For black, it’s advancing f7-f5, g5 followed by f4 if allowed. Queenside versus
Kingside attack boils down to who can get there first. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a game showing what happens when Black doesn’t get
counter play in. This is Rubenstein Variation of the NI. Later, I will
look at a a Samisch Variation of the KID … This is why I liked the book these
are opening variations I typically play:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Botvinnik-Kholmov
Moscow 1947</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2387760" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Move 15 is the critical position. Andy points out that Black
has made a major giving up the Bishop pair without any compensation. The
passive defense on the King side limits any counter attacks. White plays 15 c5 and opens up the c-file to
focus the root of the attack on c7. Go ahead and play the game, I will wait. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Samisch- KID position with Black getting coutner play on the
King side. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Position after 11…Nh5) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="410" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2387770" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s a race for who can score first. White can’t ignore the
threat of f7-f5. 12. B4 does grab initiative for white and he can continue to
build the pressure on the c-file with rooks to c2 and c1. Balance this with threats of Black advancing
a boa-constrictor of f5 g5 f4 etc. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The target for Black is the White king. If white sees this coming and is castled on
the kingside… side stepping to Kf1-e1-d2 is not uncalled for. Positional games can allow for “slow”
maneuvers if there are no forced moves.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What I gather so far: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I see it, as White, in an advanced d5 chain, my goal is
to open up the c-file by attacking the base on d6. Build up a battery on the c-file supplemented
by minor pieces to get my rooks to the 7<sup>th</sup>. Got it, great! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Black *should* try to counter on the Kingside like any good
little KID player by prepare a pawn advance to cramp up the white
kingside. Black will try to first break
on e4 with f5 and open up the chain. If white has too many reinforcements on
e4, then f3 is the next spot. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What to do if both are “going for it”?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good question. Here I wanted to be careful of the platitudes
that come from books like My system and Pawn structure chess. There are no silver bullets and at some point
you have to get a “feel” for how its played.
Generically, white can get a counterstrategy against Black’s king side
advance with g2-g4 at some point so he can continue with the c4-c5 thrust to
have the c-file action. But by then
Black may have counter measures of his own limiting the effectiveness of White’s Queen side
attack. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s all about Balance and knowing when to shift gears.
White may find that exf5 needs to be played giving up the chain. If Black
recaptures with a pawn white will either
try to fix that pawn with f4 or it now becomes a new target for attack. If black uses a piece to captures on f5, white now has e4 as an
outpost. Nothing is easy. Mikhail
Botvinnik always says “ One always captures on f5 with a pawn on f5 in such
positions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2387768" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this example, the critical position in on move 13 for
black where playing e4 looked good but gives up strategic outposts. The correct move is 13…exf4. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Where to go from here.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went through complete illustrative games from this book and
decided to see if this was true in my openings reference book with reference
games for Samisch-KID. I have to look at
these games closer as the modern approach seems to tackle these chains differently
than what was brought up in Nimzovitch’s time, or Zurich 1953 and the references made in Andy’s 1995 Pawn
structure. I see other ideas by white
like going after the Fianchetto Bishop of the KID with an early h2-h4! Other games showed opening the d-file with
early Q exchanges that made absolutely no sense to me. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Bottom line</b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can get behind the basic ideas of breaking the chains with
opening c-file to get rooks on the 7<sup>th</sup> for White or Black’s counter
attack on the king side with pawns to choke him… if he’s there. I am starting to get the nuances of counter
play with g4 and maybe making a stand-off on the f5 square in case its attack
versus attack. But one thing is for sure, beware my next passive opponent if I
am granted an advanced d5 chain… I’m going for the point. </div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-44252306377829111812015-01-17T15:27:00.003-05:002015-01-17T15:27:36.804-05:00The Games I played ( Boston Chess Congress 2015)<div class="MsoNormal">
For me, an adult with a full life outside of chess, there
never seems to be enough time to prepare for a tournament, let alone any rust
that forms after any long hiatus. I set aside the “poverty mind” , and signed
up to play in a section higher than a comfort zone. This placed me 2<sup>nd</sup>
from the bottom of the list. I knew I was going to take some lumps but I
approached it as a learning experience for the following:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">See what I recall from my past training</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Test the recent training with the Chess Notes
methods</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Walk away with new directions to study</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Have fun</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I get into each of the games, I thought I’d summarize
the experience. First and foremost, I have the utmost respect for the tournament
directors, Chris Bird and Bob Messenger. They kept the pace and their cool with
the largest turn out to date for this annual event. I won my first two rounds against players 200
points higher than I was. I was saying to myself “ when is the rust going to
start showing?” but alas, it showed in the third round of the day as the time
limit converged with the rest of the 3 day players as I entered into the 2-day
schedule. My morning round 4 the
following day allowed me a great position in the KID but I couldn’t put a plan
together if my life depended on it and gave the initiative away. By round 5 my stamina was failing and I
settled for a draw. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round 1: </span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had done a tremendous amount of recent work on the Slav
defense in preparation for this event.
This was my weakest area and thus I spent the most time bringing it up. The chess notes seemed to actually help as I
felt a sense of comfort and familiarity with the position through to move 9. I
had some clear plans and ideas. I was granted
a great outpost for my knight and I pounced on a tactic winning me material in the
middle game. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
( I'm having trouble getting the embedded code from chess.com to display the games here at blogspot. You may be better just going to my chess.com blog for these: http://www.chess.com/blog/Blunderprone/the-games-i-played--boston-chess-congress-2015 )<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" height="464" nbsp="" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2376880" width="720"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round 2: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was bit more of a straightforward QGD with a Carlsbad
pawn structure. There was nothing recent in my studies that I covered on this.
I was able to conjure up from my long term memory the ideas around this pawn structure. I think
the reason why this was an easier recall, was that a while back I studied these
pawn structures quite regularly, went over games that had this pawn structure,
and encountered them quite regularly and successfully. This felt like putting on an old glove. I knew about minority attacks, IQPs and center
pawn pushes for these structures. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2376884" width="620"></iframe><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round 3:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I played the black pieces against an Advanced Caro-Kann. I’ve struggled with this variation
in the past. I simply hadn’t prepared well for this. I managed to hang on against a queen side attack I could
have easily prevented had I played it correctly. But being the third game of the day and
getting bleary eyed, after the attack I castled because I was more anxious
about leaving my king in the center than looking at the piece mobility of my
opponent. It allowed the attack to shift to the kingside. White having more
mobility I couldn’t swing my pieces over in time. Then I blundered a piece and
resigned immediately after. This is
where the rust of an old dog started to show.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2376886" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round 4:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oddly enough, I realized the loss in round 3 broke my momentum. I had the white pieces as I walked into a
King’s Indian defense. I got an advanced
pawn center, one I used to be familiar with but struggled in the past to have
solid results ( unlike the QGD). Part of
my timid play could be partially a result of my “fighting spirit” partially
broken from the round 3 loss. However, I’ve struggled with fully understanding this pawn structure, it’s nuances and proper
plans for white and what to watch out for from Black. In this game, I found
myself playing more passive, not knowing what to do with the space advantage. Is
this because I am too “at home” in the cocoon of a cramped position as black? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2376888" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round 5:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was familiar with the first few stumps of the Rubinstein
variation of the Nimzo-Indian to get to a playable middle game. But I struggled again with coming up with a
plan. I could see my opponent was having the same issues. So when he offered a
draw, I didn’t want to blow it. With tired eyes, I accepted and shook his hand. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" border="0" frameborder="0" height="464" src="http://www.chess.com/emboard?id=2376894" width="620"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Summary: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every single one of my opponents was higher rated. That meant finishing with a 2.5 score gained
me almost 60 rating points. Not bad for
a getting back into the game. I think
there is some merit doing the chess notes for securing chunks in early
positional understanding BUT… and this is a big BUT… I really need to be more
disciplined on following up with the drilling with these notes in order for
them to be effective. I am giving
myself until February to see whether the
hand written notes is going to continue
or if I go back to making my drills in a database. On one hand I feel like I get a deeper
understanding of the subject I am studying if I do this by hand and not
assisted with the computer. However, I
am more likely to do drills (which reinforces the ideas) using a computer. I may compromise and do
initial studies with the “Cornell” chess notes methods with the intent of
creating drill diagrams in a database I can take with me on my tablet. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another thing that came out is how I really need to improve
my ability or, more so, my comfort level
with playing the White pieces of an Indian defense where I can get more
space. It’s back to reviewing Zurich
1953. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did I even get to any endgames that required special
attention? No, I was already lost in one N+R vs N+R ending. I will prioritize my next round of studies on
game studies mentioned above. </div>
</div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-58978421562032518222015-01-07T18:41:00.001-05:002015-01-07T18:41:45.570-05:00Attempting Deliberate Practice<div class="MsoNormal">
I was away over the holiday and became ill, this slowed down
my enthusiasm to train for the upcoming tournament on the weekend of January 10<sup>th </sup>and 11<sup>th</sup>. Despite these life obstacles, I still managed
to continue my quest of creating more Cornell Chess Notes to drill with. Since that post, several readers had
responded that there aren’t any “silver bullets” to training and how I must
explore other means. I appreciate the
well wishes and passionate discussions. Please, rest assure, I am way to ADD to
use only one training method. In this
post I will let you know what other deliberate training methods I used. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">As for the Cornell Chess Notes: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I focused on my weakest opening structures as black to
really “fill the pages”. I knew the
nuances of move orders in the Slav have
tripped me up in the past where I “think” I recognize a pattern which requires
a certain piece positioned ( like Black’s QB) only to find out the move order
calls for a different strategy. I made
several opening patterns around the first several move choices for the Slav so
I could drill on White’s and Black’s plans. I chose about 5 complete games to
walk down this trail. The positions from
the branches all became “notes fodder”. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was studying endgame strategies and wanted to create
drills to remember key concepts more than move orders. I have only a few key
positions for rook and minor piece endgames with dynamics for each side that
require understanding. Writing the ideas
seems to help underscore an important concept but, without any drills to
refresh in the memory, I can see how this will escape through my sieve. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wanted to create some positional strategy drills. I tried combining
using the chess.com strategy lessons along with the Cornell Chess notes
methods. This created several drills with the starting position of the lesson
and 4 or 5 bullets of strategy from the lesson for single page summary. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It goes without saying that IF I DON’T DRILL myself of the
positions regularly, I will not retain ANYTHING from these notes. Being sick as
I was, I had a hard enough time sticking to a regular regimen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Playing against an Engine: </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To help with the opening and game retention, I would play my
opening to practice against ANY chess engine I had available depending on if I
was in an airport, on my tablet, phone or at my desktop. I managed to set up an
opening line to practice. I used my notes as a guide at first and would
continue to play against the computer until I could do favorably well through
to move 10 or 12. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve yet to do this with the endgame positions I studied. I
think it would be a great way to drill and experience the consequences first
hand when I make the wrong choice. Not sure I’ll have much time between now and
the event but this will become a part of my regular training routine. Likewise,
the strategy positions I created would be great exercises to review. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Using the Chess.com Lessons: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I decided to use the interactive lessons on chess.com to
augment the deliberate training for positional
strategies. My weakest part in the game is transitions in general. This can be
transitions from opening to middle game or from middle to endgame. Thus my
focus on positional strategy lessons over at chess.com. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem with these “canned” lessons is that they are
never tailored to typical positions of the repertoire I tend to play. Some were
relevant but others were not. Yes, the
advantage of getting a real coach for this type of training can be the value
add… but I am cheap and I was sick and on vacation trying not to infest relatives.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I played over annotated games from my repertoire and created
similar “strategy” notes for the drills. I found these just as effective as the
chess.com stuff for strategic goals and
much more relevant to my games. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Deliberate Practice with a Database. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the articles I mentioned in a previous post about
studies with amateurs versus experts indicated that one of the common themes of
the experts was their training with a database. Again, because of the travel, I
had a multi-path approach to this. On my PC I have Chess Opening Wizzard and
have built up a huge database on my repertoire. I couldn’t travel with this. So
I imported PGN’s to various applications for my phone and tablet with marginal
success. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One tool I found moderately helpful was Perfect Chess
Trainer on my Android. The opening
database was limited but it contained enough of a games database that I still
could get move statistics through to move 12 in most lines. It also allowed me
to get through a line and “play against the computer” from that node. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The games database allowed me to import PGNs of annotated games.
This helps in my positional strategy studies as well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whether openings training or positional training, on hard
stumps, my intent was to create handwritten notes to help with the learning process. I’ll be honest here, with all the travel, getting
sick and distractions, this became more of a passive activity. At best I would
create a separate PGN of a position and save it in the database to review later
and mark up as Cornell Chess Notes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">No Perfect system: </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I never said I had a perfect system. I love experimenting on
myself to see what works. As much as I
like the Cornell chess notes for learning, I am having trouble disciplining
myself to follow up with the drilling that is required. This is where some folks were mentioning the
benefits of the modern age and all, yes… I agree. The question I have to ask
myself is whether it is better to risk a less qualitative approach to note
taking ( making digital diagrams purely with a database) with an improved chance of
following through with drills versus the method I described in the previous
post with a less convenient implementation to drill. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
With anything new, it’s always good to try it for 30 days as
much as possible before throwing it out.
This would give the new method more of a chance of sinking in as a vice
or habit. For the sake of the old “college try” I shall continue. </div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23075362.post-12456988530318060582014-12-29T11:07:00.002-05:002014-12-29T11:07:19.763-05:00How I take chess notes using a modified Cornell Notes method<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb2Ml29XNWrxbToNy-jnlDyRTVWmSgV5RYSSVWZy4wm0BEcWATdx7ImuAX6Es4PrgLi72pLXwuDB70vA-mrgKIs3gko324Itl4rA0yqSkU-0luxkr71J1VqNRxsiWghho6DyuHw/s1600/Over+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb2Ml29XNWrxbToNy-jnlDyRTVWmSgV5RYSSVWZy4wm0BEcWATdx7ImuAX6Es4PrgLi72pLXwuDB70vA-mrgKIs3gko324Itl4rA0yqSkU-0luxkr71J1VqNRxsiWghho6DyuHw/s1600/Over+view.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It does feel like I got the band back together after a long
dormant period in the chess world. I’ve previously posted about waking up,
rallying an online community for support, establishing a baseline and improving study
techniques. Consider this my online psyching up to play in my first OTB
tournament in a little under a couple weeks after taking a bit of a long
hiatus. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought I’d share where I’ve taken my approach to an active studying regimen. I want to maximize the “generation effect” and apply the Cornell Notes to chess
notes. Since chess diagrams are
necessary in a lot of note taking to
help create patterns for the long term memory recall, I needed to create a note pad for this that
allowed the left hand stimulus , right hand response and bottom summary. So I created a model sheet, went to staples
and had them printed and cut for cheap to put in a mini binder. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is a sample of the page: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4TfV9AdUyfmnsMnxfx1-9BH8YKyb3Uf4UGaxeHZeDLQwFK8BHu-toC_XYu1PWl9Zx6atE5JYXZwYbNq7hQ8i1Kabe1wxZKlgNn_fYVAXddMErzacxqtT64Z4UKE19GeJ5E7tTQ/s1600/page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4TfV9AdUyfmnsMnxfx1-9BH8YKyb3Uf4UGaxeHZeDLQwFK8BHu-toC_XYu1PWl9Zx6atE5JYXZwYbNq7hQ8i1Kabe1wxZKlgNn_fYVAXddMErzacxqtT64Z4UKE19GeJ5E7tTQ/s1600/page.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
For the freehand drawings of the diagrams, I am getting into
using Rolf Wetzell’s method for his “flashcards”. I taped a “key” on the inside cover of my
notebook. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFe4NrV5dKTucrk1isQw8hec33weqrMVL6ZwIWxBuKnxE_8K66uve2babDX3TU7BVsHi_bEcp_wb58LBTtht2FlKSit2n-jegmUU6_uQjj7IpBentAQ4GzU7jqwG0DxmLapEIXA/s1600/legend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFe4NrV5dKTucrk1isQw8hec33weqrMVL6ZwIWxBuKnxE_8K66uve2babDX3TU7BVsHi_bEcp_wb58LBTtht2FlKSit2n-jegmUU6_uQjj7IpBentAQ4GzU7jqwG0DxmLapEIXA/s1600/legend.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am currently reviewing openings and whole games associated
with them and recording key positions using a stimulus like “Whites plan?” and the response below the diagram. I am not only including opening positions
but middle game plans as well from the games I am studying. I plan to add key
tactics that I have a hard time seeing ( those I miss during drills become
fodder for the chess notebook in a section for tactics). I plan on a similar technique for endgame
patterns that I am weak on. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an experiment. I will see how this works in short order come
the Boston Chess Congress on January 10-11<sup>th</sup>. </div>
BlunderPronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08316158004635698398noreply@blogger.com20