recommeend using the chess analysis that this site provides and the tactics trainer. Your not lacking in opening and end game. Your just missing subtle moves. You also appear to like to trade down. I prefer only to trade down if
I am getting an advantage for it. For example having two knights in a closed position or two bishops in an open.
Look for books that annotate chess games by the masters. They are far superior to Silman.
Like what? All the ones I see are too simple or advanced
Seems kind of begginner...ish
Well thanks. Any other reccomendations? Any good game collections
Well Im not particulary interested in Kasparov. Im more into the older generation....Botvinnik and those that came before him...
Lol thanks anyway Ill still check out the nunn book
The life and games of Mikhail Tal
I think the books you have are more then enough though, now you should focus on developing a strategy and plan. You should make every trade count to make your position better
streetfighter: I see your point. However, I just dont think that modern players are all that good......we try and play like fritz.....we have no ideas of our own...thats why i like the older generation.....Im sorry if you dont agree, but I dont wish to fight
gumpty: Lol, see you there
Before cramming your brain with more knowledge than it can handle, learn to play the basics. Don't just learn the knowledge of the basics, learn to play.
Since you labelled the game "Ernest vs. Me" I assume you were black.
1. You moved your knight 3 times in the first 5 moves in order to put it on a square where it isn't doing anything particular. I'm sure this is covered in at least two of the books you listed as already owning. So either you're not reading them, or you're not bringing what you read to the board.
2. You seem very eager to trade pieces. Only trade pieces if it brings some advantage to you. Only do anything that brings advantage to you!
3. 28. Rc2+. This is one of the simplest tactics you'll ever get. You should always be looking at checks, captures, threats, and simple positional ideas like bringing a rook to the 7th rank.
4. Why does 45. g5 get two "!!"? Black can simply take this pawn.
In short, you have to bring to the chessboard what you're learning from books. You should practice being able to see more than 1 or 2 moves deep.
Loomis I agree on all that you said. I do look for an early endgame for no good reason, I was incorrect on g5. However, if g5 had been played a move earlier,I would have lost definitely. This isnt my most recent game, however, and Im not particularly proud of it....
Heh, actually, I've never really studied Kasparov either, though I wouldn't say I'm not interested in him at all!
Where do you find your game is lacking? Do you commonly review your games afterwards, to see where you went wrong? Finding anything recurring themes there?
Typically, players at your rating are there because of a lack of tactical awareness. You have a lot of middlegame strategy books on your current list, but all the strategic vision in the world won't matter a bit if you're hanging pieces, or not able to capitalize on your opponent doing the same.
Your chess puzzle book is a good start; consider other books in the same vein -- Reinfeld's 1001 X books, Polgar's 5500-something combinations, etc. Or, honestly, you might just consider a silver/gold membership here, and take advantage of the unlimited usage of the Tactics Trainer included with it.
Whatever your avenue, just keep going through those -- you will start to see patterns more frequently, and your rating will increase dramatically as a result. You really shouldn't need to worry about anything else until you're at least in the 1500-1600 range.
Well what would you say I am now? Obviously I m not 1500-1600, but you know. And honestly, I find that I dont have tactical oversight. Its more about technical stuff. Mostly middle game (positional) concepts
It's very difficult to gauge your skill level since you've only played 5 games, however since your current rating is in the 800's as of this response, I know it may hurt your ego a bit, but you need not concern yourself with any positional concepts right now, short of making sure all of your pieces are playing an active role in your game.
99% of what you need to focus on right now is pure tactical play. As others have recommended, the tactics trainer on this site and/or tactics bibles (such as the Polgar book) are going to take you to double what your current rating is. Once you start holding steady in the 1600s for a while and can maintain that, then you're getting closer to the time where positional play will start to take up a more critical role in your studies.
It doesn't hurt to keep up with your endgame studies a bit (I would recommend Silman's endgame book for this). Keep up with the endgame studies that match your rating level as he has the book organized.
Cheers,
Chris
It's very difficult to gauge your skill level since you've only played 5 games, however since your current rating is in the 800's as of this response, I know it may hurt your ego a bit, but you need not concern yourself with any positional concepts right now, short of making sure all of your pieces are playing an active role in your game.
99% of what you need to focus on right now is pure tactical play. As others have recommended, the tactics trainer on this site and/or tactics bibles (such as the Polgar book) are going to take you to double what your current rating is. Once you start holding steady in the 1600s for a while and can maintain that, then you're getting closer to the time where positional play will start to take up a more critical role in your studies.
It doesn't hurt to keep up with your endgame studies a bit (I would recommend Silman's endgame book for this). Keep up with the endgame studies that match your rating level as he has the book organized.
Cheers,
Chris
Well, as many people know, Christmas is coming up and I hope to get a couple of chess books from my family.....I know, its dorky, but I have only one hope for my life(to become a prominent player.) Well Im hoping, in my pursuit for excellence, it will all work out, and i have come to ask for some CHESS book reccomendations. Here is my current collection as well as a recent game of mine...
1)Silman's Complete Endgame Course by Jeremy Silman
2)Chess Openings for Black, Explained by Lev Alburt
3)Art of the Middle Game by Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov
4)Chess Master vs. Chess Amatuer by Max Euwe
5)Starting Out: The Sicilian by John Emms
6)Chess Strategy by Edward Lasker
7)How to Reasess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman
8)Award-Winning Chess Problems by Burt Hochberg
9)Searching for Bobby Fischer by Fred Waitzkin
10)Profile of a Prodigy: Bobby Fischer by Frank Brady