Studying The Diagram. Three Positions Where I Failed Miserably!!

As my regular readers will know, I rather like chess books, and have quite a lot of them. One reason that I prefer a book to a computer screen, is that they have diagrams. 

When you see a diagram, you know that something interesting is coming next. very often I just flick through a book, stop at a diagram and try to work out what happened next. 

Sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I get nowhere near!!

Doing just that yesterday, I came across one of my miserable failures. That thought instantly put two more in my head, so something different for you today. I will give you the games up to the diagram to study, and decide what you would play, then give the full games at the end.

On a serious note, I read lots about 'study plans', and advice to study various self improvement books ( lots of them about!! ) You will find loads of stuff like that on this site, plus huge amounts of advertising, along the lines of 'I am a World Class trainer, give me your money and I will make you a fantastic player in 5 easy lessons!!

Well, I didn't have a coach, or any money. I got good enough to be top board for a national championship winning team, and to play for my country by doing exactly what this article gives you. Study a game, and work out what you would do in the critical position. For me it cost me the price of the book, and some hard work but I wont charge you for the chance to follow the path here.

Lets get to the chess, and a few personal notes and pictures. I hope you have a good time, and let me know how you got on If you get even one of these , you are WAY better than me.!

If you like this whole concept, let me know and I will do more - if you hate it please say so, and I will go back to my normal dull stuff.

Let us begin.

 I am Simaginfan. On a book buying trip to London many years ago, I grabbed this little book on my way round.

I stopped at a pub in Banbury on my way home and began leafing through it. At the time I was stupid enough to think that I was a pretty good player. In an hour I realised that I actually didn't understand chess at all.

I have never understood why many players regard Botvinnik as 'dull'. For me, his games are full of content and surprising ideas. Moves that make me think. Here's one from this book

A quick picture to link the first game with the next one. Budapest 1961.

One of my very favourite browsing books is this one.

Barcza may not be to everyone's taste, and is not a huge name in chess history, but the book is - for a real chess lover like me - a treasure trove. To give you a hint that I did not have when I first looked at this position, White is actually winning by force, and in a very beautiful and surprising way. Don't consult the engines - try to work it out for yourself and do better than I did!

And on to the solutions. In the first one, the move played can not be classed as forcing a win by any means, and after it Simagin just plays sensible chess whilst material down, and wins in the end. Such things made me realise just how little I understand chess.

And the second one. The technical stuff takes a while, but is well worth studying in itself. To be honest, however long I had spent on the position, I would neve have come up with Botvinnik's move!!

And finally a little work of chess art - found over the board by a chess artist. If, even with the hint, you didn't find it, don't worry! You are not on your own.

Saemisch and Barcza.