DHLC Newsletter -- MAY 2014 edition
Dan Heisman Learning Center
Newsletter for May 2014
Contents
Welcome!
News
Dan's Corner
Blog highlights
Puzzles of the Month
Easy Links
Want to get in touch with the newsletter crew? Write to them at DHLCNewsletter@gmail.com
WELCOME!
Newsletter May edition, issue 17
Welcome to the Dan Heisman Learning Center!
All members of the DHLC share a common interest and we all have the strong desire to improve our chess playing. We are truly a group BY the members FOR the members. No matter if you are a master or completely new to the game, we welcome you. Please do take a look around the forums to see where other members can help you improve or you can help others as well.
We at the DHLC encourage active participation, good sportsmanship and above all, fun in learning this wonderful game. Whether your preference is for live chess, longer correspondence (“online”) games, some vote chess or working your way through the instructional articles written by some of our stronger members, there is something for everyone at DHLC.
New to our events?
League Qualifer Tournament
This is the event that all new league players MUST compete in successfully to qualify to enter regular tournaments in the DHLC Slow Chess League. This is a 3 round event with games played at a time control of G/45+45. In order to qualify you must participate in all 3 rounds, observe all league rules, and complete at least 1 game. Before signing up below, read our rules here. Use this time zone converter to help with scheduling your games. (Enter New York in the converter to get ET.)
League qualifers happen every three to four weeks. Watch for signups in the DHLC proper.
DHLC Slow Chess Weekly
Signups Are Now Open!
This brand new tournament format is designed to let regular league players get an extra game on any single week that they'll have the time to play.
New Feature! - We now offer both G/45+45 and G/90+30 sections. Let us know when you sign up which time control you want - or sign up for both! Being a single round event means that due colors are not observed week to week. Each week's pairings will not in any way be based on pairings or results of previous weeks. You must be a qualified league player to participate in this event.
What's What?
Dr_Cris_Angel
As part of the Dan Heisman Learning Center, we have many "sister" groups, many for specific purposes. For any folks who wish to participate in any of the activities offered through the DHLC, we encourage you to join our sister groups:
Slow Chess League -- For folks who wish to participate in our League Qualifer, Swiss Tournaments, 1-2 pairing tournaments and Team Swiss
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/slow-chess-league
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Online Chess League -- For DHLC members who are participating in the online tournaments.
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/online-chess-league
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Chat Room Chess Club -- Just like a chess club, only you don't have to drive. Join us on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm Eastern Time for some kibitzing and playing. Dan Heisman often joins us for our meetings and a good time is generally had by all.
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/dhlc-chat-room-chess-club
There is Only One!
SirIvanHoe
It has come to my attention that some may be confused by seeing another group with a similar name.
There's only one Dan Heisman Learning Center and only one Slow Chess League. You only earn grand prix points for events in the Slow Chess League, nowhere else. Only here are players protected from constant forfeits by a League Qualifier system. Here is where new events are innovated, not where existing events elsewhere are just copied. Here is where there's real team play. Only this league is the original league for slow chess play on Chess.com. Only this league has game calendars, a game archive database, and over 3,500 games played so far!
You can recognize a real Slow Chess League event because they are announced here at our headquarters group and the signups are always at the DHLC (Dan Heisman Learning Center).
Competition is good and more is better, but don't be fooled by a copy.
Shared Tips from an Expert Player
Dr_Cris_Angel and achja
As a result of a comment I made in the Suggestion Box at the DHLC (in forums), over a year ago, one of our newer members who is expert level offered some suggestions to me. The newsletter crew saw said suggestions and then mentioned that these suggestions are really good for any beginner.
To sum, I had written that I was very discouraged as I'm an adult beginner yet it's been very difficult to learn this game. Member achja offered some very helpful suggestions as a result of that post. Although I'm past that "hump" of being super discouraged, the tips were excellent nonetheless and certainly worth reviewing.
- Looking at your ratings here and your games I have the following suggestions :
- Play slow time control games against players from roughly the same rating level. Avoid huge rating differences in your games if you can. Playing as 1200 rated (right now) against 2500+ and 2000+ players only makes sense if it is an unrated training game with chat during the game or analysis after the game. Playing against players of your own level can give you more chess-confidence. Later, when you get stronger, then it is good to challenge much stronger players every now and then.
- Tactics! Some tactical skills can be seen here in this game: http://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=87613176 That alone is already a reason not to give up !
- Many beginners seem to give up too easily in worse or lost positions. When playing other 1200 players it makes sense to carry on and grab any fighting chance there is to make a draw or ... to win!
- Sometimes people will blunder full pieces in 14 days/move games. Try to find out why that is. Are you playing too fast ? 14 days/move means that you could look at the game every day for 5 minutes during 13 days. That is not too much time to spend on it, and could avoid those blunders.
- Play unrated training games against stronger players, and chat during the game about the chess game itself.
- Start a chess blog where you publish your games with your thoughts and variations or post your lost games in the generic "game analysis" forum.
- If chess books are not a good tool for you so far, then try watching chess videos. I find that often easier to "digest" and absorb.
- Think about getting a chess coach.
- Play more "online chess" games. You can probably easily play 5 "online chess" games with 14 days/move per game, at the same time. Each day you only have to spend a little bit (or more) of time on them. Playing only 1 "online chess" at the same time, and then losing often can be more discouraging than playing a few games at the same time and then getting happy about better or won positions and actually winning the game!
- It's very good that you're in a learning group like the DHLC!
- I'm working on this myself. Step by step I'm getting a bit better at noticing when a chess position needs more attention from me. That can be when there's several candidate moves, or when I get a bit puzzled by the chess position for some reason. When I notice that then I tend to force myself to spend more time, simply by not moving right away but leaving the position open. (After all, 3 days/move is a lot, and 14 days/move is a whole lot of time to "not move" but having pondering time).
- Regarding the "confusing" part. I can empathize with that.
Watching and playing chess games can be very confusing. For instance, in a game from GM Hodgson, the following moves were played:
White plays : 5.Qd3, then 6.Qc3, and 10.Qg3, 11.Qh4,12.Qg3 ...
Wow! That's 5 queen moves in the opening! What happened with the rule of thumb of not bringing your queen into play too early and the rule of thumb to not play with the same piece in the opening more than once? That's just an example.
There are rules of thumb and there are exceptions.
Learning when exceptions apply will take some time and can be confusing for sure, but keep working at it!
Cuddly thank you to achja for these tips. They are certainly good for all beginners!
Dan's Corner
NM DanHeisman
A great example of a Sicilian counterattack. My opponent gets all the space and a dangerous kingside attack - especially with all my pieces on the queenside! - but my central counter-thrust gets me play and then my opponent falls apart in the complications:
Want more tips? Turn to Dan's Tip of the day!
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dans-tip-of-the-day
Blog Highlights!
Dr_Cris_Angel
The 2014 Holly Heisman Memorial Charity Chess Tournament
http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-2014-holly-heisman-memorial-charity-chess-tournament
In the above discussion regarding some expert tips for beginners, achja asked to see some of my blogs to give an example of how I annotate and learn. I'm sharing these with anyone who would like to read them. They are beginner level.
http://www.chess.com/blog/Dr_Cris_Angel/swiss-12---round-1----are-you-ready
http://www.chess.com/blog/Dr_Cris_Angel/swiss-12---round-4----d4-for-round-4----long-live-the-queen
http://www.chess.com/blog/Dr_Cris_Angel/swiss-11----round-1----thats-italian-and-im-loving-it
http://www.chess.com/blog/Dr_Cris_Angel/cris-angel-claws----an-exercise
To follow, here are some blogs from expert level player, achja:
http://www.chess.com/blog/achja
Puzzles of the month
Farnel
The Art of the Combination
This month I'd like to share with you some of the treats to be found in one of my favourite chess books "Chess Combination as a Fine Art" by Golz & Keres. Published in Germany in 1972 (1976 in English in the UK), the book is a selection from the writings of German IM Kurt Richter from his column in the magazine Schach from 1953 to 1970. All you Sicilian players will have come across some of Richters contributions to chess theory - he is the Richter of the Richter-Rauzer variation.
Golz and Keres have treated Richter's writings with the respect that work of such quality deserves. Over the period that he wrote, Richter produced over 300 articles with around 3600 diagrams and combinations. He included examples of just about every tactical theme and showcased them in a very insightful, instructive and entertaining style.
So let's have a look at a few of the combinations.
Recognising mating patterns is an important skill. There are many of them and many recur time and again. Seeing them in your own games before your opponent does will improve your chances of success. In our first position, a mating pattern occurs that dates back to Morphy. From a game Onderka vs A. N. Other (that famous player!), Vienna 1958, white is to mate on d8. It shouldn't be too difficult.
Our next example from a game Ostropolski vs Ivanovski, USSR 1949, should now also be a breeze. White achieves the same mate, albeit by a different variation.
Here is another mating pattern you need to know. White has a rather vulnerable king and his last move 1. Rhe1 made his position terminal. How did black quickly take advantage?
Some of you may recall the famous combination in the game E. Z. Adams vs C. Torre, New Orleans 1920. While it is still a controversial game, there is no doubt that the combination is one of the greatest in chess. If you are aware of it, it will offer a clue as to how white wins in this position. If not, I hope you don't find it too difficult to find the winning plan.
In our next position, black has sacrificed a rook to build a powerful attacking position. His knight on d5 is pinned, reducing his immediate options. Does this matter?
Finally, in this game white achieved a rare and beautiful finish. Seldom seen outside of chess problems, he achieves a 'pure' mate, which means that each of the squares that the black king could move to is controlled by exactly one white piece. Can you find the pure mate in three?
I hope you enjoyed that all too brief look at the joys contained in "Chess Combination as a Fine Art." That's it for another month. See you next time.
EASY LINKS
Past newsletters
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dhlc-newsletters
All the DHLC newsletters, linked in one convenient place.
Chat Room Chess Club
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/dhlc-chat-room-chess-club
Open currently regularly on Monday evenings at 7 PM Eastern Time. Join the group and then at the designated time, join us in the "chat room". If enough interest is generated, we will open at alternative times so all of our members from all over the world can join.
Game Analysis Department
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/game-analysis-department3
A forum where any DHLC member can post a game for others to help out with ideas, analysis and advice. It is not meant as a showcase of brilliancies or only winning games. You learn much more from your losses so those are probably the best options for anyone who is serious about improving.
Find a Study Buddy
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/find-a-study-buddy
Use this forum to find someone to work with to improve your skills.
I Want to be a Slow Chess Friend
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/i-want-to-be-a-slow-chess-friend
Post to get other DHLC members who have a similar interests and a "study buddy".
My Last Lesson With Dan
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/my-last-lesson-with-dan
We can all benefit from members' lessons.
The DHLC Store
Not just a place to get cool DHLC gear, 100% of the profit goes directly to Dan's charity, the Dan Heisman Chess Support Fund. Find out more about it here:https://www.facebook.com/ChessSupportFund
DHLC Suggestion Box
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/-suggestion-box
Use this for any suggesitons for improving our DHLC.
Slow Chess League
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/slow-chess-league2
The place to meet for the players of the DHLC.
Online Chess League
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/online-chess-league
Welcome to the DHLC
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/welcome-to-the-dhlc
DHLC Guidelines for Conduct
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dhlc-guidelines-for-conduct
Dan's Tip of the Day
