Playing catch-up

Issue No 17
2/9/2025

“Playing catch-up”

“A blank canvas with a preliminary sketch is only the starting point.  The strokes that follow reveal the masterpiece.” -Zedwaldo

CONTENT

Editorial considerations:

• Editorial considerations:
• Theme Introduction
• Observations and comment
• Tournament and Match status:
• My personal Training Notes
• Training Log
• Endgame study
• Book Reviews

Sponsored by Chess.com

Editorial considerations:

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I like watching re-runs of old Green Hornet movies while I play chess online; it keeps me relaxed and focused.  And Bruce Lee is always an inspiration.

Since the beginning of February, I have drawn at least two “lost games” and won three “lost games!”  Lesson learned… never give up.

In this issue, I continue with the changes.  Not being radical or hasty, as I’ve learned from playing endgames in chess, but a more gradual process.  Yeah, I want the “look and feel” of this blog to be a bit more like a supermarket checkout tabloid.  “The Daily Chess Tattler,” anyone?

Theme Introduction

Prepare yourself

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If you love watching the Superbowl and love the Eagles, you got a real treat Sunday.  I watched Patrick’s girl-friend in the stands with a very sad face.  Kansas City had a very long plane ride home, and some people needed comforting.  Competition.  We all win some and we all lose.

It’s hard to imagine playing 44 games all at once, but that is my current situation. I feel super-stretched.  I no longer can accept any challenges… I need to study too.  But I do anyway.

Ask questions before you move.  Avoid unnecessary blunders.

• Are there any checks? “Never miss a check.” -IM Dr. Danny Kopec
• Are there any (or will there be) dark-square or light-square weakness?
• What are the minor piece considerations: Even? B+N-Double Bishops? B-N?  Opposite color Bishops?
• Check the constellation (pawn structure), any lasting weakness? Is the position locked?  Any chances for a breakthrough?
• Back-rank weakness?
• Are there any hanging pieces or loose pawns?
• Any discovered attacks?
• Outside passed pawn?
• Possible unexpected sacrifices? Minor exchange sac on f6/f3?  Bishop sacrifices on h7/h2?

Naturally, since we are not computer-based chess engines, we won’t be asking every question for every move.

Tournament and Match status:

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 IDEAs: Join a chess club.  Play a match with your team against another club.  It’s a great comradery.  Join up if you want to play.  There are lots of clubs to check out, and friends to be made from all over the world.  Don’t miss out. 

My personal Training Logbook

>> BTW: I have a lot of chess books in my personal library. 
I plan on selling most of them before I pass on. 
… Contact me if you’re interested. 😉

>> to all my new-found online chess friends: challenge me anytime.  ~ I won’t refuse, unless it’s Blitz and I’m not sitting at my computer, so don’t feel slighted if decline the challenge.  A daily (one to three days is my preference) Message me to see if I’m up for a session.  Should I load the Chess.com app on my iPhone?!

Training Log:

Table of chess studies and Training

 

Endgame study

Book Reviews

In this space I feature various chess books from my personal library and others that come to my attention through friends, or recommendations I get from magazines advertisements that catch my eye, and naturally as I’m doing research for my blogs.

From my working library

[photo of book here]

My personal copy.  I found this in a used bookstore around 1985.  I bought it for $10.00

“Pawn Power in Chess” by Hans Kmoch

The information contained in the pages of this classic is worth its weight in gold to the positional chess player.  Of course, It’s quite a bit of reading involved, and it’s best read with a chessboard set up as you work out the variations.  This is one of my favorite ways to study.  As you “handle the wood” (or plastic) or even use a digital chessboard, the very act of going through the moves will engrave the lesson into your brain.  Like I said, this book isn’t for light reading.  As Philidor famously said, “Pawns are the soul of chess.”

[photo of book here]

A more modern version of these concepts can be found in Andrew Soltis’s “Pawn Structure Chess.”  It’s a bit easier to chew, like a bowl of soup with a ham sandwich.  But I would still advise bringing out the board and pieces for a good study session.  Naturally, it won’t be mandatory to study books like these alone.  You could even study with an online friend!  What a concept.

Note: If anyone is interested, perhaps we could start a study-cell.  I’ve already got a couple of online friends that I play training games with on a theme, like the French Defense, or Scillian, etc.  why not a structured study of Rook & Pawn endings?  Message me if you’re interested.  BTW: there is an endgame lovers club somewhere on Chess.com… join up if you like.

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Resources

(1) https://www.chess.com/home
 (number one best so far)
(2) https://www.zedwaldo.com/take-action/chess
 (my other chess blog)
(3) https://theweekinchess.com/
 (weekly update with thousands of free game downloads available)
(4) https://new.uschess.org/
(all about chess in the good ‘ol USA)
(5) https://en.chessbase.com/
(a really great database program + the Fritz engine, but expensive: €199.90-€499.90)
(6) https://www.fide.com/
(all the official stuff in the world of chess)

CyaL8r