BR549's Training Journal

Hello,

I'm here by invite from farbror,  looks like you have a good thing going here and I'm pleased to become a part of it. I go by "CoasterBrake" on the ICC and these days almost all my play is on ICC.  My standard ICC rating is around 1250, so I have plenty of room for improvement. 

I believe the best way to improve at chess is to play lots of serious slow games and learn from your mistakes, of which there will be plenty.  I try to play 2-3 slow games a week.  I play on the ICC 45/45 league (two teams) and the Euwe memorial Tourneys (90/30 games).  I also play in the occasional STC Tournaments such as the Gaunlet, when I think I can squeeze 'em in.  I also like to participate in the various simuls with voja and  Manest, nothing like getting dusted by an IM to keep one humble.  

After each game, win or lose, I play through the game at least twice: one time without assistance to see if I can make improvements, then with Fritz to catch any tactical exchanges I might have missed.  I annotate along the way, both times.  My annotations tend to be wordy, without those long lines that i could not  possible have seen during play.

Although I cannot afford a coach/teacher,  consider myself a disciple of "PhillyTutor", Dan Heisman, and read his column "Novice Nook" every month, listen to his ChessFM show, "The Reinassance Man" and read most of his books.  I use his idea of tactical training, repeating simple tactics problems over and over.  I do the ICC Trainingbot (set to tactics only), the Convecta "Chess Tactics For Beginners" and John Bain's book "Chess Tactics For Students".  I easily spend a couple of hours a week on this stuff. None of these problems are especially hard, but if there is a simple tactic on the board, I don't want to miss it.  I think that's a fundamental difference between a 1200 player and a 1700.  I'm still missing 'em, that's why I'm 1200.

That's all for now, I'm thinking I'll post an analysis of one of my ganmes here in a day or two.

Thanks!

Very good i look forward to seeing ur progress.

Nice to have you onboard! Which of Heisman's Books do you like the most? I read "Everyones 2nd Chessbook" some time ago and it had some very solid practical advice not often seen in other books.

I think that "Everyones 2nd Chessbook" is the best of 'em.    I also have "Looking For Trouble" and "Back to Basics: Tactics".  I've read a couple of others, but the titles don't spring to mind.

Hello All,

Looks like Team 45/45 play for me is over for a spell, none of my teams made it to the playoffs.  My games did provide me with enough fodder to keep me busy for a while. 

I've been reading your posts and I think I'm picking up some good ideas.  I never regarded at my method of practice and drill as a regimen as I've seen in some of your postings.  My schedule is too dictated by the others in my world to state: "At 2pm I'll spend an hour studying tactics" but when I look at the idea in the light of Webster's definition: "a systematic plan ...especially when designed to improve...",  I think I do indeed have a regimen, just not a scheduled routine.

Just a few words about that personal training program.  As I said in my first message I am working on basic basic basic tactics tactics tactics.  Very repetitive and sometimes boring, but hopefully  fruitful. A little more than a year ago I was mired at icc 1050 or so, I had been hovering in the 1000-1100 range for 2 years.  That's about when I began my current tactics training and  I've raised my rating over 200 points.  Hard to tell if it's just getting some play under my belt or the tactics training, probably a big bunch of both.

Here is my non-routine: 

1. Whenever I can, as many level 1 through 3 tactics-only problems on icc's trainingbot.  I was inspired by JimGaming's video at LeChessClub.  See it here:

http://blip.tv/file/266189/?skin=popup&file_type=wmv

or just go to http://www.lechess.com/ and look it up.

Jim's plan is to go through the problems until you make a mistake and then start again.  I do give myself a clunker or three before I go back to the first one, but it's the same idea.  There are about 225 exercises here. I spend a lot of hours in this endeavor.

2. Flashcards.  I make a lot of mistakes and sometimes miss easy tactics.  To make sure I never, ever do the same mistake twice, I print out the position (from chessbase lite) cut it out and  paste it to a notecard writing the correct move on the back.  I review the cards periodically, maybe once a week.

3.  John Bain's "Tactics For Students".  Over 400 very basic tactics problems.  The book includes all kinds of hints and preps.  I avoid those hints with a cardboard cut-out that hides all but the printed board and the "white/black to move" info.  Someday I want to get another copy, cut it up and put the diagrams on flashcards, too.   Mix 'em up and rip through em, solving each in a few seconds.  When I get to that point, I expect I'll be a strong tactical player.

Thanks for your time, in the next day or two I'll post one of my game analysis reports.

BR549

cb, Thank you for sharing! Tactics Drills are very important. I like the idea of flashcards. Have you tried the Chess Tactics Server?

As promised, (or threatened ) here is my analysis of a recent slow game.  Name of my opponent deleted to protect the innocent, although you could probably figure it out if you wanted to bother.  I lost this one, usually you can learn from a loss.  I had chances, i missed them.  I printed out 2 tactical study flashcards from this game.  There are no real blunder-iffic hung pieces in this one, just hard earned pawns leading to a win.  

WARNING:   This is long and wordy, kind of a memo to myself.  If you don't want to read it and still want to go over the game, in my following post i will submit the game score, without the commentary.  /thanks 


[Event "ICC 45 45"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2008.11.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "CoasterBrake"]
[Black "...."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "1260"]
[BlackElo "1085"]
[EventDate "2008.??.??"]
[TimeControl "2700+45"]

{This game is against a player rated significantly lower than I, However, he
is one of those guys I don't match up well against, we've played a few times
and he's won every game so far.} 

1. e4 g6 2. d4 d6 3. Nc3 {ICC says that this opening is the "Robatsch
(modern) defense".  I don't know it, so I'm inventng stuff as i go along, as
usual.} 
3...a6 {This one had me scratching my head.  What could this mean? 
Checking the literature afterwards, Nf6 was the book move.  I decided that the move was an unecessary defensive effort, and moved on.}
4. Nf3 Bg7 {Fritz give Bc4 the highest marks here, the opening "book" (somehow we  stumbled back into it's text)  goes Be3} 
5. Bd3 {+0.57} (5. Bc4 b5 6. Bb3 Nc6 {+1.22}) 
(5. Be3 Nf6 6. Bc4 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 d5 8. Bd3 dxe4 9. Bxe4 Nd7 {+0.54}) 
5... Nc6 6. Be3 b6  {During the game, i assumed that black was setting up a queenside attack. } 
7. O-O {Fritz shows this as a minor error atleast}(7. d5 Ne5 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qf3 Nf6 10. h3 {...ect...ect...I wont bore you with the rest, but Fritz gives
white a solid +1.00 throughout the line , although there is no material gained
for many nodes.  This is the kind of tail chasing that will leave you talking
to yourself if you take it seriously.  There is no way that a 1100-1300 player
is going to see 12 nodes deep in an unforced situation, just to win a pawn. 
So, in MY analysis, my 0-0 is just fine.  Maybe I should get Rybka.})
7... Bb7 8. Re1 {Fritz still screaming for d5.  This brings up a occasional dilemma for me, just WHEN do you make a pawn break?  Obviously, it would be different for each game, maybe consitancy can be found in a particular opening.  As often as not, I do it all wrong.}  
8... Nf6 9. a3 {Marking time. Actually, my only plan is to sit back and wait
for my opponent to make an obvious mistake.  In this game, i'll have to wait a
long time} 
9... O-O 10. d5 {Now the dust is cleared a little and I see the value in d5} 
10... Nb8 11. Qd2 {I do want to take out that dark square bishop hiding out at g7.  I'm loading the gun here, to propel my bishop up into thecorner} 
11... c5 {I'd like to continue my bishop exerminating plan, but I hate the idea of a pawn sticking into my Q side turf.  Maybe the knight at b8 could make a couple of hops and hole up at d4.  Got to get rid of it.} 
12. dxc6 Bxc6 13. Bh6 Nbd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Solid play on  both sides, but Fritz gives the edge to white at 0.91} 
15. h3 {chicken crap} Nc5 16. Nd4 {threatening tit-for-tat NxB exchanges}
16... Qc7 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. Rab1 {Fritz: +0.43 Little point in parking the rook there, Rad1 much better  } (18. Rad1 e6 19. b4 Na4 20. Nxa4 Qxa4 21. c4 Rfd8 22. Qb2 {+1.04}) 
18... Nxd3 19. Qxd3 e6 20. f3 (20. Rbd1 {still a good move.  ignored}) 
20... Rfd8 21. b3 d5 {White has pussy footed around long enough for black to have a slight advantage}
22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Qc5+ 24. Kf1 Rxd5 25. b4 Qb5 26. Qxb5 Rxb5 27. c4  {My only bold move of the game}
27... Rf5 {engame reached, two rooks each side.  I'm not very comfortable with this set-up} 
28. Rbd1 Rf4 29. Rd6 {maybe 29. Re4 {getting rid of the two of the rooks} Rxe4 30.fxe4 Rc8 31. Rc1 Kf6 32. Kf2 Ke5 33. Ke3 but i did not want to be left with an isolated pawn} 
29... Rxc4 30. Rxb6 Rc3 31. Ra1 a5 32. Kf2  {loses a pawn} (32. b5  {with an even game. what was i thinking?}) 
32... axb4 33. Rxb4 Raxa3 {-0.91} 
34. Rxa3 {you are not supposed to trade out material when
behind but I have no confidence in being able to handle both his rooks.  Don't
overlook the fact that his play is nearly flawless to this point} 
34... Rxa3 35. Rb5 {Now we start a long dance where one of us looks for the other to drop something.  I'm looking to get a pawn back, he's hoping to pick off another of mine} 
35... f5 {Fritz evaluations mean little here, i won't bother to post 'em} 
36. Re5 Kf6 37. Rb5 f4 38. Rb8 e5 39. Rh8 Ra2+ 40. Kg1 h5 41. h4 Kf5 42. Rf8+ Ke6 43. Rg8 Kf7 44. Rc8 Ke6 45. Rg8 Kf5 46. Rf8+ Ke6 47. Rg8 Kf7 48. Rc8 Re2 49. Rc4 Kf6 50. Kf1 Re3 51. Rc6+ Kf5 52. Rc7 e4 53. Re7 exf3 {he's grabbed another pawn and to get it back i have to trade out he rooks.  Hope is dimming} 
54. Rxe3 fxe3 55. gxf3 Kf4 56. Ke2 Kg3 57. Kxe3 Kxh4 58. f4 g5  {
His only real mistake, and I did catch it!} 
59. f5 g4 {The arithmetic is simple.  My pawn has a step on him and his king is in his own way.  Then I blundered big-time.} 
60. Kf2  {Hoping to simply block his troublesome looking g pawn, i gave
away a tempo!  I thought a whole 8 seconds on this bone-head move} (60. f6 g3 61. f7 g2 62. Kf2 g1=Q+ 63. Kxg1 Kg4 64. f8=Q h4 65. Qg7+ Kh5 66. Kh2 h3 67.
Qg3 Kh6 68. Qxh3+)
60... Kg5 61. f6 Kxf6 62. Kg3 Kg5 63. Kg2 h4 64. Kh2 Kf4 65. Kg2 h3+ 66. Kh2 Kf3 67. Kg1 g3 68. Kh1 g2+ 69. Kg1 h2+ 70. Kxh2 Kf2 {White resigns} 0-1

[Event "ICC 45 45"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2008.11.16"]
[Round "-"]
[White "CoasterBrake"]
[Black "..."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "1260"]
[BlackElo "1085"]
[Opening "Robatsch (modern) defense"]
[ECO "B06"]
[NIC "KF.06"]
[Time "18:19:43"]
[TimeControl "2700+45"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 d6 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Be3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8.
Re1 Nf6 9. a3 O-O 10. d5 Nb8 11. Qd2 c5 12. dxc6 Bxc6 13. Bh6 Nbd7 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. h3 Nc5 16. Nd4 Qc7 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. Rab1 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 e6 20. f3
Rfd8 21. b3 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Qc5+ 24. Kf1 Rxd5 25. b4 Qb5 26. Qxb5
Rxb5 27. c4 Rf5 28. Rbd1 Rf4 29. Rd6 Rxc4 30. Rxb6 Rc3 31. Ra1 a5 32. Kf2
axb4 33. Rxb4 Raxa3 34. Rxa3 Rxa3 35. Rb5 f5 36. Re5 Kf6 37. Rb5 f4 38. Rb8
e5 39. Rh8 Ra2+ 40. Kg1 h5 41. h4 Kf5 42. Rf8+ Ke6 43. Rg8 Kf7 44. Rc8 Ke6
45. Rg8 Kf5 46. Rf8+ Ke6 47. Rg8 Kf7 48. Rc8 Re2 49. Rc4 Kf6 50. Kf1 Re3 51.
Rc6+ Kf5 52. Rc7 e4 53. Re7 exf3 54. Rxe3 fxe3 55. gxf3 Kf4 56. Ke2 Kg3 57.
Kxe3 Kxh4 58. f4 g5 59. f5 g4 60. Kf2 Kg5 61. f6 Kxf6 62. Kg3 Kg5 63. Kg2 h4
64. Kh2 Kf4 65. Kg2 h3+ 66. Kh2 Kf3 67. Kg1 g3 68. Kh1 g2+ 69. Kg1 h2+ 70.
Kxh2 Kf2 {White resigns} 0-1

Hello All,

Apologies for the lack of a word wrap on my earlier post!

Thanks farbror!

Anytime, Bud!

Hello All,

I'm a little bit overdue for my New Years Chess Resolutions.  This would be a good time to set some goals for my game.  My goal is to increase my rating on ICC to 1300 std by the end of 2009.  I'm currently at about 1220.   Any student of Management By Objective would point out that there is little sense in setting  goals unless proper tools and resources are applied.  Here is a list of what resources are available, limits on such, and what can be done to move forward.

1.  Time:  Probably going to have a lot LESS disposable time, with increased pressure at home and the general business crunch.  Time may well be the most important aspect of any chess training plan.  Frankly, I'm going to have to make do with less.   I'll try to make a schedule of training activities once I have a good grip on my schedule.  Quality study time instead of quantity.  I'll need to include tactical problems, game analysis, a few grandmaster games to play through and to continue whatever book I'm reading.  Probably totalling couple of hours a night, but not every night . No study on a day that I've played a slow game. 

I still want to play 2-3 slow games a week on average, last year i got in only 77 games.  I should augment my weekly schedule of rated games with a one or two quicker/ practice games.

2.  Lessons:  No excess funding for chess in the budget!   I'll have to fill in with e-groups like this one and borrow what time I can from my more learned opponents.

3.  Books and software:  See number 2!  I'm no farbror , but I already have a large library of chess books and dvd's, some unopened (people give 'em to me as gifts)  Finishing a few will suffice.  I have to stop reading the book reviews at ChessCafe.com, they just get me fired up about the latest release.

Conclusion

   My goal is still attainable, even under these constraints as my performance rating in each of the last three Team 45/45 seasons is over 1300.  I want to continue in working on my 1.e4 opening repertoire.  Until recently, I used 1.c4 as white. Playing c4, I won exactly half my games as white while winning half as black no matter what white played (over a 60 game period).  I think I can improve on my score as white by using a more tactic intensive opening.  So far, I'm slightly above the .500 mark.  I also would like to introduce some gambits into my game when I am playing players rated the same or below me.  At the 12-1300 level, this should be effective.

Thanks!

Interesting! Maybe we could exchange some ideas on Chess Training on a minimal Time Budget? IM Martin seems to think that 20 quality minuter per day would be enough for at least a "one-point-per-week increase".

My goal is to bag 50 slow games. Very few but that is all that hopefully fits in with the real life.

Recently I arrived at the position shown.  I am playing white, having opened with 1.c4, I have promised myself to play more e4 games, but against a higher rated player I revert back to my old, comfy ways.

As I've mentioned in my notes over the last couple of months, when I train I do a large number of repetitive tactical exercises.   I'm starting to think that this may lead to somewhat shallow thinking, as this example will bear out. 

Black has just move Qd4 to cover the knight, which is attacked by both the rook at e1 and the Queen on g7.  This looks like a winning position for white, even though black is up a couple of pawns at this stage.  However, at this point I was thinking strictly of material, and moves not more that 2-3 deep.  I elected to trade out the queens and pick up the knight, heading into an endgame with an extra knight for the 2 pawns.  Complications with this "lead" arose and I ended up giving back the knight and dropping the game. If I had played RxN, black would have had a much harder time of it.  Try it yourself! I overlooked the fact that the black f pawn was pinned to the King and that my own knight held two checking squares, e6 and f7.  The rook at e5 would have caused much mayhem.  

So simplifying a position is not ALWAYS the answer.  Sometimes you have to look for the complex.

Here is a run-down of a recent live ICC game.  99% of the comments were just what I thought of the position, i went through later with Fritz and added a few to interesting places I missed the first time through.

Very good post! Thank you!

   "Every Dog Has His Day"

Nice win! Thank you for sharing! 

"Pilgrim's Progress"

My last post here regarding training was on Feb 4.  What kind of progress has been made toward achieving goals?  On that date my ICC rating was 1234, I'm now back up to 1257, a minor increase by any standard.  I have noted a curious pattern of late.  In the 45/45 League games playing against like-rated individuals I've disappointingly won basically as many as I've lost.  In the STC Open Tournament I have played opponents rated way higher than myself but I'm at 2 wins out of 5 games, (I was 2-2 before losing today to a 1940 rated player) Maybe I should try more matches with opponents rated 3 hundred or more points higher than myself. My weakness seems to be players rated just 100 or so points higher, an analysis of all my recent games (6-15-0) shows my wins were against opponents averaging 1352, my losses were against players averaging 1481.

I continue with my tactical exercises, flash cards and grandmaster playthroughs.  Not much chance to do any "training" type reading of note, I am finishing off Paul Hoffman's "The King's Gambit" which has little to do with opening theory but is about chess in a general way.  While enjoyable, it's not going to help my game.

I have found a couple of sites/articles worth looking at.  Apologies if they've already been mentioned.

Dan Heisman has a new Chess Cafe "Novice Nook" column dealing with what he refers to as  "feedback loops".  If you use a computer to analyze your games, as I do, this is an illuminating essay. 

http://www.chesscafe.com/heisman/heisman.htm

Chess Hero.  Works with your chess software.  Supply the program with pgn's of your choice and it generates random problem sets where you try to find the best move in the situation presented.  Warning:  not for casual computer users .  The instructions are vague and it takes some messing around to get it to work. It sent my Fritz out to another dimension and I never did get it to work with it, I use Crafty instead and it does just fine. 

http://innokuo.altervista.org/chesshero.html

-That's All Folks!  /br549