"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.
Play opponents who are better than you … . Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess
https://www.chess.com/news/view/a-new-years-resolution-improve-your-chess-with-new-lessons
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
What happens when in Ruy Lopez you can't play the first 3 moves as white?
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5856bd64ff7c50433c3803db/t/5895fc0ca5790af7895297e4/1486224396755/btbtactics2excerpt.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Studying Chess Made Easy by Andrew Soltis (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
http://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf
This is the book I mentioned earlier:
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
Excellent book!
Highly recommended.
"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.
Play opponents who are better than you … . Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess
https://www.chess.com/news/view/a-new-years-resolution-improve-your-chess-with-new-lessons
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
Thanks for the response. I will try to follow. Thanks a lot.
The Spanish is a lovely position...a real chess treasure. But do you even want this position if your opponent offers it to you? It's beautiful, it's classical, it has historical appeal, but what is it you would want out of - say - this position?
It's a wonderful thing to play the Spanish, but it rewards the player who is better at creating plans in an funky, closed position. If you're not even able to play d4 in the Caro Kan, it's gonna be pretty hard to find moves in the Ruy Lopez.
the spanish is a lovely position??? is that why all top gms avoid it these days because of the dreaded Berlin Defence
The Spanish is a lovely position...a real chess treasure. But do you even want this position if your opponent offers it to you? It's beautiful, it's classical, it has historical appeal, but what is it you would want out of - say - this position?
It's a wonderful thing to play the Spanish, but it rewards the player who is better at creating plans in an funky, closed position. If you're not even able to play d4 in the Caro Kan, it's gonna be pretty hard to find moves in the Ruy Lopez.
the spanish is a lovely position??? is that why all top gms avoid it these days because of the dreaded Berlin Defence
Really ? Is that so? Berlin def can beat ruy always?
saying the spanish is good wont fly, the spanish fly is good though
no berlin defence gets a grandmaster draw nearly every time at top level, it simply transposes into a extremely even endgame straight from the opening and believe it or not even top grandmsasters got bored of drawing with it.
"The most significant phenomenon of the last few years has been the Berlin Variation, putting an end to nothing less than the move 1.e4." - GM Sergey Shipov (~2013)
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Vigorous-Chess-Opening-Repertoire-for-Black-A-76p3857.htm
(1 e4 is still being played, even the Lopez, but I think there is now a somewhat increased amount of Piano.)
no berlin defence gets a grandmaster draw nearly every time at top level, it simply transposes into a extremely even endgame straight from the opening and believe it or not even top grandmsasters got bored of drawing with it.
We arent GM's though...
@The OP
You have been here a little over 2 weeks. All you have played is blitz, bullet, and rapid. Obviously you are looking to improve, or yo would have posted your question. But let me ask you this: How are you expecting to improve, when all you're playing is fast time controls? Lets assume you are studying. How do you plan on implementing what you're trying to learn into your games, when you're moving fast?
Yes i just play 10 min games. I don't know any answer to your question. I thought playing 10 min game will also improve myself. In case I am wrong...can you suggest best game to play? I don't get what kind of game is here? (There is daily which is extremely long and then there is shorter ones ...not anything in between)
If youre serious about improving, you need to be playing games with at least 30 minutes per side. Preferably G45, and ideally Daily Chess. But obviously that is up to you. Below is the check list i give people. If you can go through the checklist in its entirety for each move without losing on time, then youre playing to fast.
Opening Principles:
Tactics...tactics...tactics...
The objective of development is about improving the value of your pieces by increasing the importance of their roles. Well-developed pieces have more fire-power than undeveloped pieces and they do more in helping you gain control.
Now we will look at 5 practical things you can do to help you achieve your development objective.
They are:
Don’t help your opponent develop.
There are 2 common mistakes whereby you will simply be helping your opponent to develop:
Pre Move Checklist:
Thanks a lot. I will try to follow. Where do you do tactics from?
For tactics, just find a good book, or website. We are not allowed to mention competitor sites, so if you want my suggestion, send me a private message. I would also suggest using a real board, and pieces when studying.