Chess books! Why are they so hard to read?? - Chess Forums - Page 2

PEBBLE85

Mar 5, 2020

0

#21

xzhi wrote:

Get the good books

Haha okay, I will bite...

What are the 'good' books that you recommend? Preferably ones with a bluetooth PGN technology...

Sred

Mar 6, 2020

0

#22

Uhohspaghettio1 wrote:

Sred wrote:

PEBBLE85 wrote:

Josif7 wrote:

Whoops -- you may have missed Black's second move, 2. ... Rb4. Here is a software diagram to show what that stuff in the book looks like:

First I will say that your effort to read books is commendable. (I have a large stack of chess reading I keep procrastinating.) I would say that if you think that that particular book is too hard, don't be afraid to put it aside until you feel more able to understand the material. Personally, I would not recommend "The Amateur's Mind" to a player at your level (judging from your chess.com stats). Above all, make sure you are enjoying yourself as you learn.

Thank you for the response and I agree, glad I am not alone on the frustration

"Personally, I would not recommend "The Amateur's Mind" to a player at your level (judging from your chess.com stats)."

Ouch! haha but a fair comment, here I was, thinking I was actually decent at chess. What's below an Amateur? A Rookie's Mind? lol

Even your average GM is still an amateur player.

I highly doubt this is true, but if it is it's only by choice. Even if they're not getting sponsorships they can at least write books, articles, act as a trainer, DVDs, all it needs is the title of GM. There's more grandmasters now but still only about 1,300 of them, in the grand scheme of things it's fairly small. If you're a GM people will be lining up to take lessons from you and you will be able to charge premium.

In Iceland if you become a grandmaster you can look forward to an income guaranteed by law, you only have to undertake to do some chess training. Now could there be some amateur GMs? Sure, if they're lazy or lost interest in the game.

Chess was never a good way to make money compared to other sports or careers, but claiming that the average GM is an amateur seems hard to imagine. I'm also excluding people over the retirement age. Correct me if I'm wrong, I could be wrong on this one but as I say I doubt it.

Well, of course they can make a living with chess related work. But they can't make a living from playing chess.

drmrboss

Mar 6, 2020

0

#23

ABC_of_EVERYTHING wrote:

Even I am unable to find sense in the annotations and way of play. Instead I would play like this. Computer evaluation says it is .84 advantage in the initial position.

Dude, you should get a proper program set up for analysis.

your 1. h5 was considered by Stockfish only within milli seconds of analysis.

From 1 second and beyond, or depth 20 and beyond , Stockfish discarded that bad move.

check the time stamp.

If you are using chess.com free analysis, you are actually getting milliseconds of stockfish analysis , which is extremely unreliable.

This is 4 cores pc desktop.

eliothowell

Mar 6, 2020

0

#24

PEEBLE85, I bought Silman's chess course online at thegreatcourses.com. Cost was very reasonable for 24 lessons (about 12 hours of instruction plus course material). I don't remember exactly but I think it was only $30ish. An added benefit is that you can go back anytime to review a particular subject. So much better than plodding through a book. I agree, sometimes it takes a week to get through a chapter if you have a life outside of chess.

Sred

Mar 6, 2020

0

#25

eliothowell wrote:

PEEBLE85, I bought Silman's chess course online at thegreatcourses.com. Cost was very reasonable for 24 lessons (about 12 hours of instruction plus course material). I don't remember exactly but I think it was only $30ish. An added benefit is that you can go back anytime to review a particular subject. So much better than plodding through a book. I agree, sometimes it takes a week to get through a chapter if you have a life outside of chess.

@eliothowell, I wasn't aware of that site. But https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-play-chess-lessons-from-an-international-master.html doesn't exactly look like a bargain.

kindaspongey

Mar 6, 2020

0

#26

Their prices fluctuate a lot. From time to time, they try to sell this or that item at a discount.

PEBBLE85

Mar 6, 2020

0

#27

eliothowell wrote:

PEEBLE85, I bought Silman's chess course online at thegreatcourses.com. Cost was very reasonable for 24 lessons (about 12 hours of instruction plus course material). I don't remember exactly but I think it was only $30ish. An added benefit is that you can go back anytime to review a particular subject. So much better than plodding through a book. I agree, sometimes it takes a week to get through a chapter if you have a life outside of chess.

This exactly what was looking for! Thanks, I will try to wait for the discount though, that's a bit pricey right now. Now THAT is how to make money from chess lol

Shoakhan

Oct 2, 2021

0

#28

Before I start, taj0 made a goodpoint. There could be even 10 more players in the Sinquefield cup. Which would allow a better variety in playing strength.

In terms of Chess books. Puzzle books are normally good. A strategy book is also easy to digest. But opening books always let me down. Even when John Nunn writes them. I always get confused as they use syntax that only they the authour know about. Plus they make annotation mistakes which just stops you dead cold. Plus you need a demo board. plus they look at lines I never play and never look at lines I actually play. Chess is a battle of ideas and it makes no sense you play a move recommended by a book if you dont know the ideas behind the moves or plans.