... an example of the kind of problems that 1100 rated players face. ... By move 12 the grinder is down a piece for a pawn with no compensation where his opponent duly returns the favour two moves later .
Could some endgame experience have helped with the two-pawns-against-a-rook part of the game? What was the time control?
who knows? ...
Well let us know if you decide to make a guess.
Which part of the 17 pages of testimonials in de la Maza's book would have helped him in that game?
I just looked it up - according to Amazon, "Rapid Chess Improvement" is 128 pages, which probably includes things like the title page and blank pages at the start and end. You said that pages 89-105 are testimonials from people who used this method successfully. So by your own admission, over 10% of the book provides absolutely no instructional value whatsoever.
As for Silman's Complete Endgame Course, it wouldn't have helped with this game. But we've all seen beginner games where one player manages to queen a pawn in the endgame, but doesn't know how to corner the enemy king and deliver checkmate. Sometimes they eventually luck into it, while sometimes they accidentally stalemate the opponent. Just reading chapter 1 of Silman's book (30 pages) will cure that problem forever. Or help him look for opportunities to try and trick his opponent into a stalemate if he's on the losing side of that scenario. That's specific tactical information that every chess player needs to learn as early as possible in their playing career.
... Have any notable de la Maza "method of study" quotes?
yes, 'you are not ready to teach yourself about chess until you stop making three move tactical blunders', Rapid chess improvement, page 22, paragraph 1.
Well, perhaps that will help people to decide whether or not to pay for that sort of thing.
You were asked which endgame principle would have helped our friend thegrinder to which you admitted, not a jot, no not a single iota would have helped him. Then we are left with the rather glaring and somewhat unsavoury question, then why are you advocating it? Stalemate????, he's getting mauled on move twelve for goodness sake!! its enough to make a man pull the back pocket right off his jeans in despair! But seeing that you ask,
page 22,
what is the best way of to learn about the benefits of castling? (a) learn a positional rule or (b), do ten tactical exercises in which a king in the centre of the board gets mated? - Rapid chess improvement, page 22, paragraph 2. - De La Maza
... Silmans endgame course???? My gawd he is dropping pieces by move twelve!! how the heck is learning rook endings, opposition, triangulation, how to mate with a bishop and a knight, the Lucena position, the Philador, Queen v pawn on the seventh etc etc going to help him avoid that. ...
How much of that is in the beginner and 1000-1199 sections? ...
"I dunno Spongey, ..." - robbie_1969
... Have any notable de la Maza "method of study" quotes?
yes, 'you are not ready to teach yourself about chess until you stop making three move tactical blunders', Rapid chess improvement, page 22, paragraph 1.
Well, perhaps that will help people to decide whether or not to pay for that sort of thing.
or to avoid ludicrous suggestion of books and literature with little relevance.
over 10% of the book provides absolutely no instructional value whatsoever.
Run to the hills Ma Baker the Feds are coming!
Did anyone claim that endgame principles would help in every game? Going to talk about time controls for these games?
You people are a scandal. A well meaning player, full of enthusiasm comes to the forum and you want to send him away with some insufferable tome about the endgame? or some manual from last century! Have you no sense of proportion?
Did anyone claim that endgame principles would help in every game? Going to talk about time controls for these games?
then perhaps you should have looked at the grinders games prior to proffering advice, yah think? 30 mins.
... From memory he simply gives his own experience with chess literature and coaches. ...
Experiences involving specific positions?
"How did you get from 'experience with literature and chess coaches', to 'experience with specific positions', please tell me, I am intrigued." - robbie_1969
Potential buyers might wonder about whether or not this experience stuff included specific positions.
you want him to relate his experience with specific positions? like, 'I found this one hard', or 'I found this one easy?' wow, thanks for the laughs.
So, apparently, you do not want to claim that the experience stuff includes specific positions. Potential buyers might find that helpful with their decision.
"I told what his experience includes, why you are trying to make an issue of it I cannot say ..." - robbie_1969
Potential buyers might find that helpful with their decision.
... The empirical evidence is that for him and others it worked ...
Who chose which "others" to be mentioned? Do we have their rating records?
Success with rapid chess improvement chapter five page 89 -105 details the testimony of not a few players who have been helped, which of their testimony are you denying is true or accurate?
To answer YOUR question, are we in a position to know without rating records? Now, again:
Who chose which "others" to be mentioned? Do we have their rating records?
dude you don't even have the book.
... Its not a collection of tactics although it does contain 42 tactical exercises for the reader to complete.
If one has a tactical-mauling problem, might one get more help from the Heisman tactics book or a software purchase?
... Its not a collection of tactics although it does contain 42 tactical exercises for the reader to complete.
If one has a tactical-mauling problem, might one get more help from the Heisman tacics book or a software purchase?
No need nowadays, go to lichess and practice tactics from real class level games until your heart is content. If you want an explanation for tactics go to http://www.chesstactics.org/ I used t listen to Chess FM and always found Heismans lectures really dull, perhaps his books are better?
He does cite on page 12 two tournament games where he gets crushed by move eight and by move twelve, respectively.
Two games on page 12? Doesn't sound like a lot of instructive discussion, does it?
... the Op asked for help, you and your friends started trollin me by citing Silmans endgame manual. Shall we go through the thread looking at those people who cited it, shall we?
The Silman endgame book was suggested in post #2. You commented on Silman in #11.
He does cite on page 12 two tournament games where he gets crushed by move eight and by move twelve, respectively.
Two games on page 12? Doesn't sound like a lot of instructive discussion, does it?
they are not cited to be instructive, they are cited to demonstrate what his playing strength was when he started tournament play, you would know this if you had the book, but you dont that’s why you are skanking about clutching at straws.
... the Op asked for help, you and your friends started trollin me by citing Silmans endgame manual. Shall we go through the thread looking at those people who cited it, shall we?
The Silman endgame book was suggested in post #2. You commented on Silman in #11.
does that comment have a point?
Thanks again to all for these comments, although arguments as to who has the best ideas has made it difficult for me to filter out the best bits!.. What I failed to mention was that most of my games are played with A. limited opening knowledge!, I always try to get fried liver attack as white!! B all my moves are made very very quickly with clearly not enough consideration.. I NEVER have a clear plan of attack!!!!.C I always have too many games going on!! about 40 even now... However I understand tactics and believe I could get much much better, I feel I have good potential and have finally reached the point where I would like to study more, put in more effort and get results as I love this game.. I would really like books/apps to help me study.. so I am greatful for the advice... ive really enjoyed most of this thread and continue to be in awe of some of you guys' talents on the chess board..