Fanat's Training Journal

Hi everybody and I am pleased to be a part of this group!

I knew how to play ever since I was a little boy but what it really came down to is I knew how the pieces move

I had a lot of spare time during the summer so I decided to pursue chess seriously. So I’ve been playing and studying since July so it’s about 4 month now. I’ve made some good progress initially because that’s where it’s easy to make progress – at the beginning stages.

Obviously the further I get it’s harder and harder to improve. But I’m not worried as long I see where I need to improve and that’s easy – pretty much everywhere J

I have lots of chess books but not enough time to go over them as much I would like to.

Another problem is that I like studying openings and strategy but I don’t like studying tactics and endgame. I really have to overcome this obstacle if I want to improve and have more balanced game.

Openings:

As far as openings, I like to play d4 and c4 openings because they usually transpose into a slower and positional games and that seems to be my preference. Some people might call it boring but it’s purely a matter of taste. Particular openings I’m trying to study lately are Catalan and English for white and Queens Indian and Nimzo Indian defenses. I still have to learn some e4 defenses.

So, my longer term plans are to study more on my favorite openings and eventually look at e4 openings.

Tactics:

I am currently going over Practical Chess exercises. And they are tough!

I also have John Nunn’s “Learn Chess Tactics”

My plan is try to do 10 exercises or more per day, time permitting.

Strategy:

I’ve read Silman’s “Inside Amateur’s Mind” and it definitely made some lasting impressions on my game. I think it’s a great book for any amateur trying to get a good handle on basics of strategy!

I’ve recently read Michael Stean’s “Easy Chess” and that’s also a great book! I have to go over it again – slower to fully absorb the ideas.

So, my study plan over next 3-4 months is:

1. Go over Easy Chess again

2. Chess secrets: Giants of Strategy by Neil McDonald

3. Pawn Structure chess

4. How to Reassess your Chess and the workbook.

Endings:

This is the area which I need most improvement in!

I am reading Practical Rook Endings by Edmar Mednis which is a great book.

Also, I am planning to read his book “From the middlegame into the endgame” which seem to be like an interesting book. I also have Silman’s Endgame course which I got to start studying.

Thank you for sharing. The book is called Simple Chess, right?

Yes thank you it's "Simple Chess". I've been studying too hard probably

All the best in your study. I'm sure you will improve quite a lot keep us posted as to how ur going every 3 mths pls, that would give u enough time to measure it well.

Finally got around to updating my training journal.

My goal for 2009 is to improve in all areas and to develp some sort of playing style. More to the point - to develop opening system for white and defence for e4 and d4. And to finally break 2000 rating barrier - although I'm not too concerned about rating.

I've decided to study really hard to catch up for all the years that I missed playing chess.

Openings

Ive decided to start learning some solid defence to e4 so I'm currently reading "Mastering the French". It seems like a very well written book with lots of great ideas.

For white, my opening of choice is Catalan. I'm also trying to learn some English.

The books I'm currently reading are "Winning with the Catalan" and "Starting out: the English". I have Kosten's "Dynamic English" and hopefully I will get to it in the future.

Tactics

Trying to climb the rating ladder with CT-Art.

Middlegame

Currently I'm not reading any Middlegame books because I'm trying to concentrate more on the endgame phase. I think I crammed too much material into my head too fast so I'm just going over some well annotated games and trying to improve my overall thinking process.

Endgame

Currently reading Shereshevsky's "Endgame Strategy". It's a great book but it's difficult.

For some reason I just can't read Silman's "Complete Endgame Course". I like his other books but this book just doesn't sit with me. I'm currently going through Rosen's "Chess Endgame Trainig" and want to try to tackle Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual or die trying.

Also, a little down the road I want to read Shereshevsky's "Mastering the Endgame" both parts.

I'm not sure that I will keep up with my aggressive goals but I will do my best!

Yeah, high reaching goals can be a great driving force!