annotated game books for below 1500 players

Every time I study something that isn't simple tactics, I hit that point where the analyzed lines given for teaching purposes is clearly beyond my skill level, and I need to go back basic/early intermediate tactics, learning to calculate a couple moves ahead, and be aware of the concrete tactics on both sides of the board, or I just keep losing.

I played in my first blitz tournament in over 3 years, scoring 4.5/7, managing to win 1, draw 1, and lose 2 blitz game to different players 500+ points rated higher than me, while winning 3 against players within 100 points of my rating. My blitz rating went up over 150 points (still low, though).

In my standard tournament, I scored 2.5/6, played up in every game, beating 1 player 260+ and another 350+ points rated higher than me (he went Goring Gambit as White maybe because of my lower rating), drawing 1 player 200+ points higher than me, and losing 3 games to players each 300+ points higher than me... 1 of those games, I was up a rook for a pawn then I simply hung my rook (AAAAUUUUUGGGGG G--D--N M-----F--K-R!!!). The other losses were me missing a forced mate-in-2 (seriously?? still doing this?!) and hanging a pawn and then a knight. And for all the hangs, these were literally 1-move hangs, not sophisticated counting errors or brilliant combination hangs.

No doubt the tactical training over these last several months have helped.  However, I feel like I am  still missing "the big picture" of chess as I get tunnel vision swimming compulsively in the concrete pool of tactics and endgames in the vast chess world of strategy and openings.  I felt lost during the opening and middlegame of every game, just constantly calculating defensively (still missed simple threats), trying to survive until my opponent blunders and a tactical motif appears or I see an opportunity to trade down favorably.

I think you just described every single one of my games when I was trying to make the transition from crappy E class player to crappy C class player a few years ago.  It does pay off though, as you've seen in your results.  You need more games to get the experience of when it's worth calculating deeply and when it's not.

Thanks for sharing! ... That is exactly where I am now.

How many over the board chess tournament you have played in your life? As you play more tournaments, you blundering pawns or pieces will lessen.

What helped me in reducing tactical blunders:

1. Always scan the whole board.

2. Always study your opponent's last move.

3. Before you make a move, check if there is a tactical drawback.

4. Solving tactical problems from books.

5. Never play with a full stomach. At least eat your full meal 1 hour before the game. You can eat lightly close to the match.

6. Brain foods.

7. Excercise.

I think 6 standard, 2 quick, and 1 blitz (only 1 standard tournament in last 3 years ... may have to find one-day tournaments).  

Thanks for the advice... I kind of glance around until I see a tactical or trade-down possibility, but I feel the need to come up with some sort of systematic "tactical algorithm", even if it means I land in time trouble (I never use all of my time) ... of course Silman may disagree on the "tactical algorithm", and maybe I need to "reassess my chess" instead.  I love tactics and endgames, though, with their concrete answers.

These tactical algorithm, or we can also say tactical patterns, can be stored in our brain  from solving puzzles and playing games. We must also grasp the easy tactical patterns.

 

For example, i got hit by this tactical pattern and blundered. After that encounter, I am now more alert on that tactical pattern.

 

What are your materials in your tactical study?

You refer to "missing the big picture".  The missing piece, which allows you see the "big picture" and to play chess with a plan, is provided by an understanding of the concepts of positional chess.  Positional chess is a way of looking at a chess position for the purposes of understanding what it is telling you about what you should be doing (or not doing).  Knowledge of tactics alone are insufficient for playing with a plan. Tactics are simply tools to be used in the execution of a plan.  But first you must be able to formulate a (correct) plan.  To do this, you need to be able to perceive the opportunities that the positions (i.e. relationships) of the pieces are offering you - i.e., assessing the pros and cons of a position.  Only then can you form a plan of action - and decide upon the tactics to employ in the implementation of that plan.  

Therefore it is time for you to begin your study of positional chess and all that follows from from it - planning and strategy.

For that purpose Bruce Pandolfini's "Weapons of Chess" is an excellent initial exposure to the basic elements and techniques of positional-strategic chess.  This book will provide you with the foundation, the building blocks, if you will, to use in constructing your understanding of postional chess.  Follow this with Michael Stean's classic, "Simple Chess" (don't let the title fool you!), which expands upon and puts the concepts introduced in "Weapons..." into the context of practical play.  Reading these two introductory books first will provide the essential foundation for understanding and playing chess at a higher level, and serve as preparation for more advanced chess books, i.e, books that are focused on planning and strategy. 

After completing the two books above, I might suggest working with "The Amateur's Mind..." by Jeremy Silman.  This instructive book is also targeted to the beginner-intermediate chess audience.  Silman analyzes chess games, positions and concepts as though he is discussing them with an amateur player, for the purpose of clarifying proper chess thinking, pointing out typical amateur mistakes, making suggestions for correct play, and explaining how to forumulate plans and strategies.

Beyond those recommendations, for some additional, instructive books which could be of help to the improving chess amateur, you might like to check out my list of good chess books for those who have not yet added "Master" to their chess title....

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

Good luck!

Possibly helpful:

https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf

jambyvedar, I use chess tempo primarily for tactics ("mixed" mode, which has defensive and best-move tactics) and some endgame training.  I am also currently working through Chess Tutor Step 3. I have recently read through the class C chapter of Silman's Endgame Course to get some "words" to go with the endgame practice problems. 

RussBell, thanks for the list... I recently read Pandolfini's Weapons of Chess and Silman's Complete Book of Chess Strategy and I loved both of them. Simple Chess I tried a a few years ago but it seemed far more difficult and I don't like long unexplained variations because I don't understand many of the moves leading up to or from the position.  Maybe I need to revisit it. Amateur's Mind was next on my list after I finish Chess Tutor Step 3.  

I get frustrated when I get into strategy books, because the analysis requires ruling out bad tactical moves or using the threat of them to weaken the opponent's position.  That's where it seems to me that tactics are the building blocks of strategy. Once I can rule out obviously bad moves, then I get into more subtle moves. For my draw against an 1100-something player... the positional assessment per Houdini never changed by more than 1.0 pawns throughout the entire game in the Smith-Morra Gambit.  Was expecting more blunders and missed opportunities.  If I have to think this much to not make a serious error against an 1100-something, then how will I ever be able to handle a class B god(dess)? ... maybe I need to find a new addiction.

Thanks for suggestions, kindaspongey... I have read through all of those books, but I may have to revisit them all, since I am a little more tactically/calculationally (defensively at least, thanks to mixed mode tactics on tempo) aware than when I first read those books, and since playing OTB again (even though only a few games), I am a little more aware of "critical" points in the game where I am asking "what the heckfar do I do now? attack? shore up? make a "safe" move and wait for opponent to mess up?) ... maybe some of the simpler lessons in those books will actually stick now.  

 

 

Does chesstempo identify tactical problems according to theme? If you are just starting at tactics training, it is better to solve problems according to theme. These theme are pin, fork, skewer, pawn promotion,removing the guard, mate in two, mate in 3 etc.  If you can get a book, try Chess Tactics for Champion by Polgar. I used that book with my kid nephews. That book helped their tactical skills.

What I like with the polgar book, it contains defensive puzzles.

For an easier chess strategy book, try Winning Chess Strategy by Seirawan.

If you do the paid membership, then you can customize the problems by theme, number of moves, and/or rating level. Chess tempo also has defensive and "best move" tactics.

Chess Steps and Chess Tutor are very good with teaching by themes.

So you are a paid member in chesstempo? You also tried ches steps and chess tutor? If you still find difficulty with easy tactics, it means they are not yet well stored as pattern recognition in you. You need to keep solving easy problems by theme.

If you can spot the solution to an  easy tactic problems under 15 seconds, it means your tactical pattern for easy problems got better.

My biggest errors in tournaments are overlooking simple threats (an opponent's check, capture, or simple tactic)... My tactical mistakes OTB are well below my tactics rating on chess tempo, which isn't very high (over 1600 on mixed mode tactics rating, which includes defensive, drawing, and "only move" tactics), but is higher than the crude level of tactics that I miss OTB. I certainly need more patterns, by those mistakes seem to have more to do with my thinking method over the board, that lack of the "tactical algorithm". But even if I avoided all the crude blunders, I would still feel at a loss as to what to do next in a game with a good or equal position. I make transparent threats that are often "safe" in the short term, but cause weaknesses in my position, allow my opponent to defend easily, gain initiative, infiltrate my territory, and/or put me on the defensive.

Yeah those mistakes are caused by lack of tactical pattern and thinking method. I already posted the thinking methods here that can help you.

Now if you can't spot a tactic, what should you do? This is where strategical patterns comes in. You also need to improve your strategical patterns.  You can improve your strategical patterns from studying it from videos or strategy books appropriate for you. I prefer books. There are positions that are really draw. If forcing things will make your position worse, don't do it and be contend with a draw.

 

Example of strategical/positional pattern.

Chess Strategy - Exploiting weak isolated pawn 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6irysmaRAOQ

How to play with or against an Isolated Pawn? by GM Mikhailo Oleksienko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiriTc0In7s

Chess Secrets Giants of Strategy by Neil McDonal is a good strategy book. One of his best work.

https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Secrets-Petrosian-Capablanca-Nimzowitsch/dp/1857445414

Thanks! I will check out the links and the book. I am playing in another tournament now, and last night I was able to win against someone rated just below 1400 with standard time controls, the highest opponent I have ever beaten (not counting blitz or quick). I slowed down my thinking quite a bit to make sure my moves were as safe ask could calculate, but the guy didn't give up and made fight to the bitter end(game). Tactics for the early advantage, and then simplification to the won ending.

Nice congrats. That is a good sign that you are making progress. Of course there will still be setbacks, but don't allow that to discourage you.

 

There are many cases where a player  can solve harder puzzles but makes elementary blunders. One of the culprit that can be attributed here is thinking process. So keep it up with focus on your thinking process. I am still guilty of mistake in thinking process( in blitz at least). For example in one of my games  in blitz yesterday, my opponent makes a queen move. I made a mistake again of not scanning the whole board. I only look on the part where his queen is near. As a result I blundered my piece on other part of the board.

 

Goodluck on your current tournament. Post your results here.

I would like to add my two cents to this conversation. It looks me that you guys are putting a lot of time into chess study which means that you can afford that time which is a big plus since most people can't do that (unless they are still kids). Now since you have time at your hands it would be good to put it in good use in some organized curriculum like manner.

In my opinion practicing basics is of paramount importance in any skill endeavor. How does that translates to chess?

Well I view it this way: 

- checkmating patterns ( since the ultimate goal of the game of chess is to mate your opponent's king)

- tactical patterns (which includes checkmates but widens the subject)

- basic chess endgames ( these are endgames that are already solved  and the outcome is already determined but one needs to familiarize him/herself with the ideas in those positions and the means of properly executing those ideas as well as various traps and pitfalls on the way)

- classical chess heritage ( this includes studying the games of the chess greats from the past)

This last part is very important since this the only way to acquire classical chess education, which  is very important  since that way you will have easier time finding the right plans in different positions and how to properly execute those plans.

It should be done in a historical order. For example you start with Anderssen to learn about checkmating the opponents king, then you go to Morphy to learn about piece development and playing with an open center. Then you got o Capablanca to learn basic maneuvering and basics of positional play and defense. Then you go to Rubinstein to go even deeper into the realms of positional play. By then you will be able to choose for yourself which master to study next.

Along those studies you should always be working on your tactics and endgames. There are  many good materials, but if you are still blundering pieces in one move you should definitely do the very basic stuff. I recommend you two workbooks that I personally wrote.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019NIJGV8

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C7DM2W6

 

Also, I am working on a website with beginners lessons, but it is still a work in progress, so there is no content there yet.

http://www.chesslessons64.com/

I would rate 500 master games of chess by tartakower and dumont as one seriously underrated chess book. I've recently started going through it after many years, and there are just a load of little insights in the notes. and the notes themselves are not that New In Chess "here's a load of moves followed by a sage statement about how this is also playable." They're pitched to folks that are roughly1800 and below. The closer to 1800 you are, the more you probably can glean from them, in terms of being able to just work through lines in your head, but I could see even pretty weak players getting much better after working through this tome.

Chess Secrets Giants of Strategyby Neil Mc Donald is also a good annotated book. It is a good follow up after the book like Logical Chess Move by Move.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092313/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review620.pdf