Henry asked: You often talk about studying master games, but is one master game as good as another, or are certain games better than others? Silman: In Part One of this three part answer to Henry’s question, I pointed out that one of the main r...
Henry asked: You often talk about studying master games, but is one master game as good as another, or are certain games better than others? Silman: In Part One of this three part answer to Henry’s question, I pointed out that one of the main r...
Henry asked: You often talk about studying master games, but is one master game as good as another, or are certain games better than others? Dear Henry: I’ve gotten many, many letters about studying master games. It seems people are confused by...
Give1take2 asked: My question in a nutshell is, “How do you evaluate a position?” How would you decide in a game between two moves that both look good? How do you find which one would be more beneficial to your position even though t...
Homosapien asked: I have been playing chess since I was 6, and I’m 17 now. I’ve never had the chance to play it very seriously but I have always loved it, so I forced my parents to put me in some chess classes last year. I really wanted to get a ...
Paul asked: When should a player resign? I’ve heard that a good rule of thumb is when you’re the equivalent of a rook down. Is that a good rule of thumb? Dear Paul: There is no dyed in the wool answer to this question – it really depends on you...
BCG1 asked: As one of our foremost pedagogues I am asking for your advice on students who insist on repeating mistakes over and over and over again. I have pleaded, cajoled and finally, in desperation, resorted to corporal punishment, with some s...
Drumdaddy (commenting on an article about the Schliemann) said: I suppose that there are many excellent players who can comfortably read through game moves presented in paragraph form, but I am not one of them and would much prefer active diagram...
Farbror asked: This is one of my favorite chess quotes: “Before our first Latvian posting I didn’t care for this gambit one way or the other. Now I hate it with a passion and, when I hit my 80th birthday, fully intend to devote my remaining year...
Jaxxson asked: Why don’t we see 1.e4 in Championship matches anymore? Dear Mr. Jaxxson: That’s an excellent question. Of course, any answer I give is subjective – others might come up with an equally valid viewpoint. But, for all it’s worth (or...
Musikamole said: Can a 50-year-old beginning chess player ever reach master level play before he drops dead? I doubt it. Silman says that middle-aged people can become titled players so he can sell more books. I do own a few of Silman's books a...
BCG1 asked: Now that you admit that you make things up I am very upset. I religiously followed your training advice by pounding down the 22,000 calories daily, as you recommended, and now weigh 800 lbs! I tried the “professor of exobiology” on so...
Zebratov said (concerning my article, Memorization – The Great Chess Conspiracy): 99% irrelevancy of memory sounds a bit harsh. Dear Zebratov: I was hoping that this would remain a secret, but I guess the cat is out of the bag and truth must wi...
33speedy asked: I was playing in a tournament today with the black pieces. I played the Budapest and my opponent declined it (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.Nf3). I thought the way I responded was reasonable (3…exd4 4.Nxd4 b6 5.Nc3 Bb7), but when I went home...
NN asked (he’s a chess.com reader but I left his name out since I took some liberties with his question): I would like your opinion on how to study the middlegame? At the moment I rise at 5AM, eat a 4,000 calorie breakfast, do training tactics wi...
Anemone asked: I would like to start to study imbalances. I have the basics of chess but mainly try to find tactics or find the best move to improve my position. Which of your books should I start with? I am also starting to use chess mentor. Are...
Rdecredico said: Memorization is a big part of chess but hardly anyone wants to mention this because it doesn’t sell that many books. Instead, they will spew stuff like: “Don’t memorize! It is more important to understand ideas!” However, if one ...
Consul89 asked: I have been trying to build an opening repertoire, and the Dragon is getting me killed when I run into the Yugoslav. So I have been thinking of switching to the Kan Variation of the Sicilian. I’m having trouble finding good books ...
Gambiteeer asked: I am having trouble learning the Queens Gambit. Recently my opponents have gotten stronger and I am not sure how to handle the different positions which arise from the Queens Gambit. I am also having trouble learning the differe...
James D asked: I seem to have come to the conclusion that the advance variation against the Caro-Kann is the most aggressive, but what then? I’ve tried various ways to play the Advance for White, but the latest is 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5...
Unknown asked: How often do chess masters make beginner mistakes in tournaments? For example, one could have had too much to drink the night before and just gave away a free piece like a knight or bishop simply because they didn’t see something a...
Dsachs asked: I had a question about a tactic in the lines of Pirc where white plays Bc4. For example, 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4 Bg7. In this setup Black has the chance to play ...Nxe4 when Nxe4 ...d5 forks e4 and c4 and regains the piece....
Richard asked: I have been experimenting with the Fritz chess engine and it uses a number of evaluation symbols as it analyzes alternative moves. I think I get some of them, like +- means white is winning. Does the symbol always apply to White, o...
Millvillage asked: In your years of getting around the chess circuit, have you heard of any medication/treatment for the inflamed blunder gland? Sometimes mine acts up even when I am not playing chess. Dear Millvillage: This kind of inflamma...
