Thank you very much
My coach does not like Jeremy Silman...
Sort:
Nov 19, 2020
0
#683
I bagged on Silman in the late 1990s at a chess tournament in Los Angeles. There were tons of GMs at the tournament and Silman was going over games of people in one of the side rooms (he wasn't playing). He had quite the crowd and was mocking some of the player's poor games. When he was done analyzing games he chatted for a bit and he started talking about "chess groupies" who kept hanging around him. I blurted out "Are any women?". He wasn't amused.
If you want to gain rating at a good pace then you should obviously learn important stuff. I have never heard anyone say that a book is bad because it spoon-feeds you knowledge because that is the purpose of a good book. In a respectful way I would recommend you get a new coach because your current one doesn't sound particularly nice. Also, Jeremy Silman isn't just a random author he is one of the best chess books author the best chess book authors that exists and his books are always one of the first recommendations I hear from people. Well I wish you luck on finding a new coach or dealing with your current one. 😀
The part about there is no bad book is true. The teacher sounds very opinionated. That is not necessarily a bad quality. Of the 5 books he recommended. I own 3 of them! Jeremy Silman has produced some wonderful books I am sure. I have NEVER read one. I guess I am with the teacher as far as study material!
I like Silman. His explanations discus plans/ideas as opposed to just calling out the moves. I wish he made instructional videos.
Nov 29, 2022
0
#687
DreamscapeHorizons wrote:
I like Silman. His explanations discus plans/ideas as opposed to just calling out the moves. I wish he made instructional videos.
Actually, Silman has an introductory video course from 2015 called "How to Play Chess:
Lessons from an International Master." I watched it on Kanopy!
Yes!
may he rest in peace…
Tell your coach to become a Grandmaster first before criticizing Jeremy Silman. As amateur chess players, we need someone to hold our hand and show how things are done. Like a child, we need our parents to hold our hand to show us how to run before going on our own. This is where Jeremy Silman came in - that is to guide us before we can free ourselves and do things on our own.
Sep 22, 2023
0
#692
Jeremy Silman passed away last night at the age of 69. Bruce Pandolfini described him as one of the great teachers in chess history. He will be missed.
So sorry to hear about Silmans passing. He was an iconic teacher. Rip.
R.I.P.
Dec 20, 2024
0
#695
DragonSavage wrote:
Recently, I purchased two books written by Silman: The Amateur's Mind and Silman's Complete Endgame Course. So far I really enjoy the simplicity and the arrangement of the chapters based on rating strength, especially in the endgame book. But for some strange reason, my coach; a Candidate Master, was not happy when I showed him my new books. He is always the one telling me to purchase different chess books from Amazon in order to improve tactics, strategy, endgame, etc. But out of rotten luck, I just happened to pick the ones written by an IM player he doesn't like. (I might as well play the lottery...)
He claims that Silman is "spoon-feeding" amateur players and not making them work hard enough to get better at chess. It may not sound like much but this is a BIG CONFLICT between my enjoyment of Silman's books and my coach's philosophy of chess improvement.
Please help me solve this struggle if you can!
Simplest explanation is you're not strong enough or doesen't have the need to work on his books.I once buyed a book of tactics which was too high level .
Dec 20, 2024
0
#696
silman's complete endgame course is a brilliant book if you ask me
didn't know he passed away last year 
Dec 21, 2024
0
#697
DragonSavage wrote:
Recently, I purchased two books written by Silman: The Amateur's Mind and Silman's Complete Endgame Course. So far I really enjoy the simplicity and the arrangement of the chapters based on rating strength, especially in the endgame book. But for some strange reason, my coach; a Candidate Master, was not happy when I showed him my new books. He is always the one telling me to purchase different chess books from Amazon in order to improve tactics, strategy, endgame, etc. But out of rotten luck, I just happened to pick the ones written by an IM player he doesn't like. (I might as well play the lottery...)
He claims that Silman is "spoon-feeding" amateur players and not making them work hard enough to get better at chess. It may not sound like much but this is a BIG CONFLICT between my enjoyment of Silman's books and my coach's philosophy of chess improvement.
Please help me solve this struggle if you can!
I have the first book, and I can say that I loved it! Don't listen to your coach, respect his opinion but keep reading it, maybe he has some drama with Silman lol. Remember, your coach is not always right, and maybe there will be disagreements, but you will learn a lot of material from him and actual classes instead of online books, so respect his wishes but don't necessarily follow them, if you get what I mean. I am currently unrated, but others say I am around 1500-1520 level (I don't play many fide rated tournaments so I haven't built up my rating so well) my coach has helped me immensely to find the right material and coach me. He is not even titled, but he has so much material and knowledge about other players that he is probably the best coach in my country. And his classes are not even that expensive! What I'm saying is, don't dump your coach, but don't dump your books. Stick to others books aswell though, like puzzle books from John Nunn or other authors, very good for growth. Also personally I think coaching is fine for almost any low rating, if none. So, personally, I reccommend this.
Dec 21, 2024
0
#698
original post is made 2014 so i wonder how relevant this advice is anymore
Jeremy Silman really good as a coach.
I think your coach is wrong.
https://www.silmanjamespress.com/product-category/chess/