Very interesting and Thank you for joining our group! I got My System in the mail the other day. I will try to catch up. I would love to see posts where the poster shows how sutff from "My System" realy had an impact on the game played by the poster (did that make sense?)
Apr-3
Tactics - 15 min - Spent time on Troyis
Games - 45 min - Played 4 moves in correspondence games
Endgames - 180 min - Studied exceptional Q v P endings (8 in SoPE, 18 in Averbakh) - Where bishop- & rook-pawns on the 7th lose and central pawns on the 7th draw, and where pawns on the 6th rank require surprisingly precise play.
Well Done! Keep up the good work!
Apr-4
Games - 5 min - Played 1 move in correspondence games.
Tactics - 40 min on tactics trainer, 15 minutes on Troyis.
Strategy - 3 hrs - Annotated and memorized GM-RAM #1: Mayet-Anderssen. Hopefully the study buddy group will be starting on "My System" soon. ;)
Starting out, focus on Q vs K, R vs K, K+P vs K from both sides, and K+R+P vs K+R from both sides. Those are probably the most useful to know. If you play live chess, aim to be able to play them quickly without much thought.
Chesskids.com has some excellent tutorials online that cover the above. "Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master" is a good next step.
A few comments
1. So much to learn and so little time!
2. So much to learn where does one start?
3. The Begining, Mid or End game which is more important?
4. The more games I play at a time the more I mess then up.
I want to imporve my game, I will never be a Grand Master, but I think a 1500 or perhaps even a 1600 rating is with in my reach one day. My problem is not knowing how to improve my game and with so much information out there which do I should. So instead of choosing one I do noting and my game does nothing.
I am convinced that endgames are most important and openings the least important for us improvers.
Tactics!
I agree with farbror: Tactics!
Chess Kids' lesson page explains the critical Q vs K and R vs K mates. Exeter Chess Club's "Opening rules" covers the essential opening knowledge at your level.
Apr-5 & Apr-6
I took the weekend off. :)
Apr-7
Games - 10 min - Played moves in 3 correspondence games.
Tactics - 20 min - Played Troyis. Now ranked #61 in USA & #578 in the world.
Openings - 3.5 hrs - Studied Panov Attack / Four Knights variation, especially Bologan-Velicka, Bern 1999 & Adams-Dreev, Wijk aan Zee 2002.
Apr-8
Endgames - 1.0 hrs - Studied a real-life rook + 4 pawns vs rook + 3 pawns ending.
Apr-9
None - ::sigh::
Apr-10
Endgames - 1.5 hrs - K+P vs K+P positions from "Starting Out: Pawn Endgames"
Week in Review Apr-3 to Apr-9
Tactics - 75 min
Games - 60 min
Openings - 3.5 hrs
Endgames - 4 hrs
Strategy - 3 hrs
I took time off from chess and focused on a sound mind and body, but didn't spend nearly enough time on tactics or playing games. I need to focus on those areas.
Apr-11
None
Apr-12
Tactics - 40 mins solving "moderate" Tactical problems + 20 min on Troyis
Games - 20 min playing correspondence chess moves
Apr-13
Games - 40 min playing correspondence chess moves
Apr-14
Tactics - 20 min on Troyis
Endgames - 1.5 hours studying R+a7P vs R endgames
Apr-15
Tactics - 20 min on Troyis
Endgames - 0.5 hours studying R+a7P vs R endgames
I'm an endgame aficionado with a rating around USCF 1800. I love chess, I spend countless hours on it, and I dream of becoming a master... but my study patterns are inefficient. I become obsessed with one facet of the game and delve very deeply into it for a few weeks, then another, then another, and then I must take a break from chess. Instead, I want to take this opportunity to embark on a balanced study program.
Goal: Develop a habit of studying chess in a balanced and consistent manner. I control my actions and not the outcome, but I believe this is my best shot at becoming a master.
1. Spend 2+ hours / week on tactics
I plan to use the chess.com Tactics Trainer and Troyis.
2. Spend 8+ hours / month on openings.
I plan to study annotated games from chesspublishing.com & various books.
3. Spend 8+ hours / month on strategy.
I plan to study "My System". I'm up to chapter four (and GM-RAM).
4. Spend 8+ hours / month on endgames.
I plan to read "Secrets of Pawn endings" again. I'm up to chapter four.
5. Spend 8+ hours / month on playing and analyzing my games.
I'm engaged in several correspondence games. When those wrap up I will probably replace them with real-time open-level tournaments.
6. Decline chess-related job offers and don't write a regular column.
7. Take one day a week completely off from chess.
8. Spend 4 hrs / day or less on chess (including blogging & chatting).
9. Exercise and eat well to maintain a healthy body.
10. Review progress weekly. Adjust goals, schedules, and materials only then.