I'm very much a beginner at chess, but I work as an instructional designer. It sounds like you are a kinesthetic learner--you like to learn using your hands, sense of touch, etc. I'm a kinesthetic learner, and it's easier for me to learn when I use a physical chess board too. I still do puzzles and videos online, but I spend some time duplicating stuff on a real chess board. It just works better for me.
Can anyone relate?
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IpswichMatt wrote:
Dan Heisman recommends roughly 50:50 split between studying and playing, where playing should involve slow games
I stongly agree with this because it allows you to talk to the pieces. I know, I know, I sound like a crazy anime chick but my 1700+ rated friend believes in it, then I confirmed it to be 100% true. As I sat on my move one game, I was talking to my King Side Rook and the Queen about what squares they wanted to be on and what pieces they could take. We all agreed that I do an exchange sacrifice to gain material while the Queen gets put on a different square and still be able to escape should she needed to.
Still don't believe me? My opponent told me that he didn't see that move, and should have moved this Bishop to a better diagonal!!!
One of the best books for beginners is Alburt's Comprehensive Chess Course Vol 2. I am not of fan of most Alburt's books, but this one is wonderful for players under 1300. It drills all the basic tactics and opening principles and basic endgame knowledge. It deals with common counting problems that weaker players tend to have trouble with. It has plenty of annotated open games demonstrating how to punish lack of development, etc., as well as Legals mate, Scholar's mate etc. I would say that every player under 1300 should go through this book once to get a solid foundation in the basics of tactics, openings, endgames, and developmental principles. I agree that only tactics is a bit narrow, but if you have limited study time, tactics should be first.
+1 Tactics and calculation are important but if you can study some opening ideas and basic endgames too that would be great. I recommend you learn the two bishops mate from FM Todd Andrews and learn the basic king and pawn engames, part 1 by Daniel Rensh.