Buy a program such as Rybka, Fritz, Shredder, etc. Compare your games to what the program would play and find out what mistakes you are making.
How best to study chess?
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Programs succh as Fritz and chessmaster are supposed to be good. Read books in the areas you stuggle endgame, etc
LOB wrote:
I have reached 1500 with turn based. How should I study chess to improve more? I have a lot of schoolwork right now so time is scarce until the weekends. Any ideas?
If you don't have an OTB Chess Teacher to assess all aspects of your game I'd suggest getting Chess Exam and Training Guide and the second book Tactics by Igor Khmelnitsky.
The goal of these two books are to help you identify all areas of your Chess game which are weak it also gives you a numerical rating of your playing strength. The book tests you on Attack, Counterattack, Defense, Opening, Middlegame, Endgame, Tactics, Strategy, Calculation, Standard Positions, Recognizing Threats.
He provides advice on how to improve in each of these 13 areas and he makes suggestions for what books you should buy and study on your own.
Oct 1, 2008
0
#5
You asked such a great question.
It is the same question I have been working on for decades. Here is my humble opinion.
In my experience, the answer is different for different people. For example, if you are new to chess, then you have few wrong ideas deeply ingrained in your mind. If you are like me and have been playing for decades, you may have to find out what your deeply ingrained wrong ideas are, and then erradicate them.
One of the risks of study is spending time studying the wrong information that does not yield results. If you do that, you can become discouraged and quit studying altogether. Another risk is spending time "studying" when, in reality, you are only entertaining yourself. To avoid these pitfalls (and more), it is best to find a teacher you can meet face to face to facilitate your learning. Your teacher should be at least master strength and should possess solid teaching skills as well (he/she should have a reputation for helping folks to learn).
In the meantime, try the "Novice Nook" by Dan Heisman:
http://www.chesscafe.com/heisman/heisman.htm
His column deals well with this subject. Check out the archives there for a valuable source of training material that is easy to understand and to the point.
Good Luck!
I just use tactics trainer, frustrating at times but still a great way of learning
I have reached 1500 with turn based.
That is thanks to tactics trainer, a tiny bit of endgame study with ebooks and plain practice.
How should I study chess to improve more?
I have a lot of schoolwork right now so time is scarce until the weekends.
Any ideas?
Thanks ~ LOB