Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
The worst thing you did is trade the knight for the bishop, that light square bishop is terrible because most of the pawns were on light square. Keep the knight and try to add pressure on multiple weakness, not one Pawn break only work when you threaten to take, the g pawn break does help literally nothing as taking the pawn is just weaken your king. You should break with the e pawn, if they take, they have a new weakness on e6 now they have multiple weakness, you don't always have to attack the c pawn. If they don't take, you take them and use another break, d5 open up the position, you have the bishop pair, a more active queen, just attack the king and you should win
Doesn't e4 blunder Bxf4?
Yes, white's knight is a lot more active then black's light square bishop, but that bishop is doing a specific purpose of defending the c pawn. He is removing the defender and making black constantly have to worry about the possibility of white winning that pawn. That trade ties down black's rooks to the defense of the pawn. Although, placing a knight on e5 or a5 would apply more pressure to the pawn. It is generally better that your pieces attack instead of defend. If your pieces are attacking and your opponent's pieces are defending, almost always that means that your pieces are better. That's why keeping your knight and his bishop on the board would have probably been a better decision because your knight is attacking a weakness and his bishop is defending it, therefore your knight is better then his bishop.
It was 5. ...c6 that was black's appalling move. That plan is more suitable a little later in the opening when white is already mainly developed but in the QGA, it's terrible unless black uses it to transpose to a book line Slav, the nuances of which are already worked out and the lines of which have to be followed by black. In the QGA black plays c5 or possibly Nc6 if easy development via e5 isn't possible. Not c6, as a rule, which loses a move since black should play c5 at some stage to pressurise white's centre.
Yes, I was wondering why black didn't push c5 earlier in the game.
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
If you want to keep improving at some point you'll have to actually study stuff. It could be books or games or something else.
Books contain more information with better examples and better organization than e.g. videos.
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
Books go into a lot more detail than videos do but I find videos have their purpose too
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
Ask 100 people how you should study, and you will get 100 different answers. I can only speak from experience, what i have read, what i haven been told, and what worked for me.Â
If you're serious about improvement?
Use a real board and pieces.
Use pen and paper.
Use books.Â
Studies have been done on how the brain absorbs things in 3D and 2D, and you learn more in 3D. Online study is fine if it works for you. You can do tactics online, but if you cant figure out a tactic in 2-3 minutes then it probably a position you havent seen before. Then try setting it p on a real board and pieces and try again. I think you will be amazed at what a difference it makes. You want to simulate OTB tournament conditions as much as possible. Just my .02
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
lol
Books can be used offline. Great for doing stuff when you’re in a seven hour car drive...
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
Think of videos and online lessons as the Readers Digest version of books. They are quicker, shorter, and easier. That is the attraction. You want to really dig down deep into chess knowledge then get a book and coach. Most people dont want to put in the real work or time, they prefer the easy way out. I havent played in an OTB tournament in almost 2 years. I plan on playing in Reno this October. My study habits now are based solely on the mental exercise. Im 58, and i have no problem with knowing my best chess days are way behind me. I am currently studying a chessbase course by IM Robert Ris called: "How to make a plan." Its entertaining, i like the way he explains things, and i appreciate the fact that he gives positions that you need to try and figure out the best move. Its also convenient, but it is the best way to learn? No, because the IM is not there to answer any question i have.Â
Books can be used offline. Great for doing stuff when you’re in a seven hour car drive...
mm yes but i have data in my phone
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
Think of videos and online lessons as the Readers Digest version of books. They are quicker, shorter, and easier. That is the attraction. You want to really dig down deep into chess knowledge then get a book and coach. Most people dont want to put in the real work or time, they prefer the easy way out. I havent played in an OTB tournament in almost 2 years. I plan on playing in Reno this October. My study habits now are based solely on the mental exercise. Im 58, and i have no problem with knowing my best chess days are way behind me. I am currently studying a chessbase course by IM Robert Ris called: "How to make a plan." Its entertaining, i like the way he explains things, and i appreciate the fact that he gives positions that you need to try and figure out the best move. Its also convenient, but it is the best way to learn? No, because the IM is not there to answer any question i have.Â
Yea I have a coach but I don't read books. I will try the over-the-board strategy to practice. I usually just do tactics, a few lessons, and play games. Occasionally, I go on youtube and watch some instructive yt videos. I will get some books from the library next weekend and see if that helps a bit. Do you have any books in mind that help specifically with good/bad pieces and how to use them? I feel like that is where I error.
@RAU4ever strikes again
Nice analysis...after move 20
Now I have to go back and look at that.
You just about covered everything. I find it much harder to poof into a position and analyze than piece it together when playing. But I miss things due to patience/time limits/complacency. I imagine (because I didn't take notes) when I looked at the game that I missed quite a few possible "in between" moves...I always do.
I do remember thinking g3 might be needed, but perhaps not until after f4 was played (could've been Queen to h-file).
Incidentally, after move 20 is where I like to do this exercise for games.
This thread turned into pure gold
I'll introduce you to a new concept: learning channels.
We learn in various ways. It might be by watching something (visual channel), or by listening to someone (auditory channel), or by practicing hands-on (somatic channel), or just by sitting and thinking about something (cerebral channel).
Watching youtube videos engages only two of these learning channels... visual and auditory. If you ADD to that some book-reading plus using a REAL chess board laid out in front of you, you engage twice as many learning channels.Â
Note that with a book and a real board, you can pause and reflect on the moves and ideas whenever you feel the urge, rather than proceeding at the fixed pace set by a video presentation.
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
Yea I have a coach but I don't read books. I will try the over-the-board strategy to practice. I usually just do tactics, a few lessons, and play games. Occasionally, I go on youtube and watch some instructive yt videos. I will get some books from the library next weekend and see if that helps a bit. Do you have any books in mind that help specifically with good/bad pieces and how to use them? I feel like that is where I error.
I don't know about internet having everything the books have, maybe not...but maybe.
You're obviously playing extremely well for someone that only has 1 book.
Has your coach shown you how to analyze like RUA4ever?
Another question, guess I could find it...how much time you spent on some of these moves? If not, I'd look for a book or 2 covering that. I have a few, but can't say as I failed to complete them cover to cover.
It's much easier for a pazter like me to analyze without time restraints after the fact.Â
I have 2 Silman books, HTRYC (I think you're beyond that one) and the Complete Endgame course (not sure how complete it is though).
If you had annotated this game, you'd find more value in a thread like this (with the quality of replies received).
Oh yeah, I think you mentioned that before. It sounded good.
I'm old though
It was the first one that came up in Amazon search
Exactly
Is it fine if I don't read any books? I have only ever read one book, The Complete Book of Chess Strategy by Jeremy Silman. I prefer doing chess.com lessons or watching youtube videos. Should I be reading books?
Study in a way that works best for you.
Hmm. Is there something in books that aren't in chess.com lessons or youtube videos?
Yea I have a coach but I don't read books. I will try the over-the-board strategy to practice. I usually just do tactics, a few lessons, and play games. Occasionally, I go on youtube and watch some instructive yt videos. I will get some books from the library next weekend and see if that helps a bit. Do you have any books in mind that help specifically with good/bad pieces and how to use them? I feel like that is where I error.
I don't know about internet having everything the books have, maybe not...but maybe.
You're obviously playing extremely well for someone that only has 1 book.
Has your coach shown you how to analyze like RUA4ever?
Another question, guess I could find it...how much time you spent on some of these moves? If not, I'd look for a book or 2 covering that. I have a few, but can't say as I failed to complete them cover to cover.
It's much easier for a pazter like me to analyze without time restraints after the fact.Â
I have 2 Silman books, HTRYC (I think you're beyond that one) and the Complete Endgame course (not sure how complete it is though).
If you had annotated this game, you'd find more value in a thread like this (with the quality of replies received).
My coach shows concepts and games using those concepts, then explains them thoroughly and shows how you can find them in your games. Next time I will annotate my game before posting it in forums. Do you know any good books talking about good/bad pieces, how to utilize them, outposts, etc?
I'll introduce you to a new concept: learning channels.
We learn in various ways. It might be by watching something (visual channel), or by listening to someone (auditory channel), or by practicing hands-on (somatic channel), or just by sitting and thinking about something (cerebral channel).
Watching youtube videos engages only two of these learning channels... visual and auditory. If you ADD to that some book-reading plus using a REAL chess board laid out in front of you, you engage twice as many learning channels.Â
Note that with a book and a real board, you can pause and reflect on the moves and ideas whenever you feel the urge, rather than proceeding at the fixed pace set by a video presentation.
Alright then. I will try going over the moves and analyzing them over the board. Probably not today though, since I have a tournament and I will be reviewing my openings and doing some tactics.
My coach shows concepts and games using those concepts, then explains them thoroughly and shows how you can find them in your games. Next time I will annotate my game before posting it in forums. Do you know any good books talking about good/bad pieces, how to utilize them, outposts, etc?
I know of many good books covering that material. You seem to have a good understanding of it. That's really not going to benefit you very much imo.
Silman's (I guess he coined it, idk) "Imbalances" covers these things.
Gambit's Chess College series by Grivas covers things fairly well, but you may only actually use the 3rd/last volume (unless I missed 1).
Nunn's book Understanding Chess Middlegames covers a lot.
Aagard's books I like the most...but I have the older Excelling at Chess from Everyman
I'd highly suggest you ask around about the newer series he has from Quality Chess (I like the GM Prep books, so biased) Positional Play, Strategic Play, and Calculation (3 books).
Has your coach shown you how to analyze like RUA4ever?
On the topic of analyzing a position, here's a thread dealing with the subject that I put together a few years ago. You might find it helpful.
Try reading my posts and playing through the sample games from the first two or three pages of the thread.
GM Larry Evans' method of static analysis - Chess Forums - Chess.com
And since the discussion has gone to earlier moves and older books...
Nimzowitch's My System, early in the open files part, shows using exchanges to move a pawn from a half open file. In the game here, a knight was traded on e4, maybe d5 would be ideal if the goal is to open the c-file (a point for playing e4 first).
iirc, about the time white played Rfc1, was the reason due to possible opening of the a or b files? I didn't go back and look...hard to do when typing a post.
I played Rfc1 instead of Rac1 because black might play a5 and I thought that it would be better to bring my rook on the f file so that the rook on the a file can temporarily protect that file.