Here is what I do to find candidate moves:
http://becomingachessmaster.com/2015/04/09/how-to-choose-a-chess-move/
In general though, if you really think 2 or more moves will end up in similar results, then it may be best to save time and just play any of them.
In all honesty, thank you for your comment. Your rating is exactly what I think I can reasonably achieve. 8) I'd love to see 1600 in G30 games for me here.
I guess a more structured practiced approach like that article suggested as well as something written by Botvinnik has me convinced. I need a list of things to check not once I have decided upon a move, but a list of things to check to help me choose where to burn all of my time. It will make it into my study routine then. 8) Oh, what a wonderful game. 8)
I'm dabbling in How to Beat your Dad at Chess (its a bunch of typical mates that really seems worth my time as I have little end game studying done at all). And I'm also hunting for some decent strategy books. So far everything I have seen has seemed like a bunch of hot air. But that is proably because I'm not advanced enough to 'get it' at that level. (I have looked at ~30 or so books.) I also have an overly-exhasutive book on the Scotch opening that I really want to slowly work my way through. Ugh. 8) So much to study, so little time. 8)
I also am spending a lot of time in the good library here at chess.com. There's a reason I have the membership and the info in the library and the articles are certainly part of it.
You always hear stories about people who move too quickly. I think the opposite is true as well; people who can't bring themselves to make a decision.
I don't know if this is part of your issue or not, but it might be something to think about.
For players at our level, I think trying to regularly calculate 7 lines in a move during a 30 minute game is pretty ambitious. If you want to play like this, you might consider 3day/move games. This will give you time to learn what types of lines are pointless to follow. Also, it will let you learn to consider new reasons to choose candidate moves.
One thing I've done to help push me to make a decision and go with a candidate move is to try and find the one move I feel my opponent could make that would be really bad for me. And, if none are found, what candidate moves he might not like to see me play.
Good luck.
Well it might sound crazy. However maybe the reason you are having trouble is becuase you are playing the Scotch opening.
The Scotch opening is very complex opening in of itself.
Generally when players use up alot of time it is becuase they don't know exactly what they are doing and are trying to use their time up to figure out what to do.
Which is a good thing. However, It is also a bad thing.
The good thing is you realize you need to use up time to figure out what you should do. That is very good.
However, the bad thing is if this is your opening you plan to play for a while you should be able to have fundamental ideas already in your mind.
An Frankly I wouldn't blame you if you didn't study this line. The ideas are so complicated.
I asked a few Scotch players of some themes in the line. An they told me to fight for the c5 square. They said it was one of the themes in some of the Scotch lines. I was like well is that it. An they said you also have a king side pawn majority.
An with those 2 bits of information they sent me on my way. Like a Ship setting sail into the chess ocean. Than they waved and smiled and said your going to win so many Scotch games now with that information. Your Welcome
An you just have to ask yourself denniscomeaux33 do you have any idea on how to use your king side pawn majority. Or do you know why you should fight for the c5 square.
If you don't than maybe you should pick an easier line than come back to the Scotch later.
Just my thoughts on the issue.
The "Italian Game" or "London System" get alot of heat for being called beginner opening but they really are easy to play and they both are solid.
I would play something easy than as you learn more in chess you can always go back to your true love the Scotch.
How hard it is to improve is (sadly) somewhat dependent upon your age. If you are older, it is harder to improve as quickly.
Amazing advice, ya'll. Thanks!
Also, my God, I saw some of your ratings, folks. What a privelage to get advice from all of you who have such a nice proven record. *(I'm a huge mathematical believer in the ELO system as a relative ranking system that does suffer from inflation.)* You've given me great things to think about. I sincerly appreciate the help. I feel like I have just been given advice from like 5 coaches.
My favorite:
"An with those 2 bits of information they sent me on my way. Like a Ship setting sail into the chess ocean. Than they waved and smiled and said your going to win so many Scotch games now with that information. Your Welcome"
I honestly am not completely sure about how to take advantage of those lines -- but again, I'm JUST starting out on a bit of more serious studying. But I've noticed not much improvement for about a month or so now.
I don't know why I love the scotch opening so much. I just do. It 'feels' right for me either playing black or white in it. I need to study the R. Lopez too.
Chess isn't a do or die sport for me as much as its really an appreciation of the artfulness of it. So although there are other openings, I've got this ... romance (?) with the Scotch. I just love the way it plays. Perhaps I need to really buckle down and get through that Scotch book I have so that I can at least have one decent opening under my belt, watching for opening theory as I play through the book.... hmm....
OK. So, to address X_PLAYER_J_X 's excellent essay. I am playing a reasonably advanced opening with about 6 or 8 lines that need to be studied. I have reviewed a lot of my games and identified frequent non-opening-move blunders as well as at least 5 out of the last 20 games that I could have won had I nod opened up a piece to attack when I moved a blocking piece out of the way. Every time as a last second move made without enough contemplation. I'm going to... use this plan:
1. Do a little time in tactics trainer every day.
2. Play only 1-3 games a day and desperately try to avoid life aggro during them. (Yea, I'm in my 40s and its a fact that older brains are harder to teach this stuff but that only makes it all the more fun to challenge my brain with. I play chess because I'll never be as good as Kasparov. If I were that good, I wouldn't play.)
3. Remember a checklist to help find a move line to pursue.
4. I hate blitz chess... should i play some? Maybe I'll try some.
5. Work on one ending theme out of my How to Beat your Dad at Chess book every few days.
6. No red meat for 30 days.
7. No refined sugars for 30 days.
8. *grin*
9. Spend some time looking into this sage advice:
The "Italian Game" or "London System" get alot of heat for being called beginner opening but they really are easy to play and they both are solid.
I would play something easy than as you learn more in chess you can always go back to your true love the Scotch.
If you like playing the Scotch, that's what you should play. Maybe watch a couple videos to get the basic ideas behind the opening. This is a good one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzniKxI0kDo
The important thing is to try to understand the basic ideas behind the moves rather than memorizing lines of variations. If you play the same openings all the time, eventually you will learn them well.
However, I agree that the most important thing you can do to improve at this point is tactics, tactics, and more tactics.
Openings don't matter until you break 1400
I disagree with this statement.
Openings do matter!!! They set the stage for the rest of the game.
If all you do is play 1.e4 e5 2. Qh5 which is called the King Pawn Game/Wayward Queen Attack than your opening sucks and it will always suck. An the chances of you breaking 1400 are very slim.
Same can be said about complex openings. If you play a complex opening in which you fully do not understand its idea or grasp them. Than your just spinning your wheels in a circle. An its not becuase you want too. It is becuase you are not yet ready for such an opening.
People often ask me what makes an opening complex vs not complex?
The Answer is: The margin of error!
1 slip up and your dead.
They are razor sharp and some are more sharp than other's. The Sicilian dragon vs YugoSlav Attack OOO 1 wrong move and you can end up in a mating pattern.
Scotch game is way too amateurish.
^^ Believes the Scotch is way too amateurish. LIES! 1 wrong move and your mated.
An I can prove it with the following Scotch line. Take a journey with me into the Scotch.
White starts with 1.e4 - white enages in taking claim to the center immediately with a pawn. No dancing around He is going straight for the throat. If black does nothing to address this center claim white will proceed with d4 to have 2 pawns in the center.
Black responses with 1...e5 - halting white at all cost to reach 2 center pawns. For if white plays d4 now black will take it.
Classical chess at its finest William Steinitz would be proud.
2.Nf3 - White in upset with blacks move to stop him from having 2 pawns in the center. So he plays the knight move to attack the e5 pawn threating to take the pawn. If black does nothing to defend it. White will take the e5 pawn and Laugh.
2...Nc6 - Black defends telling white. He better be prepared to go to war.
At this moment white has come up with multiple ideas.
1 - One Idea white has is to try and exploit the fact blacks knight is blocking the Black C pawn.
White agrues black has not stopped him from taking claim of the center with 2 pawns. In fact all black has done is in raged white to pursue the dream of 2 pawns in the center even further.
Which is how 3 chess lines were created
. Which makes things complex but also very groovy.All 3 have an aim to play c3 than d4 to have 2 pawns in the center. An becuase black has a knight on c6. Black can't do the same plan with his pawns.
WOOOOO RAWWWWW
2 - Instead of doing a whole plan of building up 2 pawns in the center white says. Hey! Maybe I can abandon that idea and get a piece in the center?
3.d4 - Some center action if you know what I mean! However, no one knows what happen that night because they was all drunk. They was all drinking Scotch.
3...exd4 - Blacks pawn was being threaten so he simply takes the pawn and smiles. He smiles becuase he knows white is not going to be annoying and pressure him with a long term plan.
4.Nxd4 - White retakes the lost pawn and responses with well you might be smiling now but I'm all up in your center-ola. I have a knight in the middle of the board. Deal with it!
At this point black has a few responses. I like the Classical variation.
ECO code C45 Scotch Game / Classical Variation
The move that demonstrates the Classical Variation for black is the following move.
WHY DOES BLACK PLAY THIS? I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BLACK PULLS A CLINT EASTWOOD THATS WHY!
4...Bc5 - " Go ahead punk make my day!" You think you can have your knight there. I'm attacking your knight twice. Deal with that!
Than that is when the magic happens Lady's and Gentlemen.
The line I have been talking about this whole time happens. What is the name of the line? What is the moves?
5.Nxc6 - White says I'm taking your knight on c6. I'm giving you damaged pawn structure. How do you like me now SUCKA. HAHAHAHAHAHA Take that black.
BOOO YAAA In your face black. In De Face.
Than black does it. It happens the move of all moves. To show the line I'm talking about.
What is the move?
5...Qf6!! - Deal with that Punk! I don't have to take your knight right now.
WHAT?? WHITE IS UP A PIECE RIGHT NOW??? WHAT ONE EARTH IS GOING ON HERE??? WHY CAN'T WHITE MOVE THE KNIGHT AWAY TO SAFETY??
Its called the Intermezzo Variation OOOOOOOO everyone loves the Intermezzo Variation.
ECO code C45 Scotch Game/Classical Variation/Intermezzo Variation
THAN YOU SEE WHY THE KNIGHT CAN NOT MOVE FOR IT IS A MATE IN 1 THREAT Qxf2# HAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA.
Qf6 threatens mate in 1 and also moves the queen away from d8. So that way if black plays dxc6 white can not play QxQ KxQ leaving the black king in the center of the board.
Than that is when the magic happens in your mind. You understand why Qf6 is played.
Than when you read the below statement
Scotch game is way too amateurish.
^^ All you can say is LIES! 1 wrong move (1 wrong knight move to be exact) and your mated.
An that is a 1 continuation of the Scotch. Don't you just love that variation.
Usually white responses with a Queen move to defend.
An that is some of the theory of the Scotch. It can be very precise.
As much as scotch does have it's own viability, specially at low rates, it's just a single opening and too sharp to even understand positions and moves by itself for a beginner.
I'd highly advise you going the other way around, at low rates you need to learn all kinds of openings and it's tactical purposes, and start understanding chess as a positional game above tactical or material purposes. Chess is much deeper than simply open variations, and while you can be great at chess with little opening knowledge, you can't be as great if you can't understand middle game, endgame and how you might be able to force positions into middle game with a specific endgame in sight.
Sure opening knowledge seems the most important specially for beginners, where they fall into all kind of early traps and require some opening knowledge to avoid them, but as soon as you learn how to move your pieces into optimal places ready for a quick attack or defensive combination, how to gain position without fearing attacks, you'll simply know most of everything you'll ever need to know until you reach a master level of game.
Middle game and endgame in the other hand are always very determinant on the result, and knowing how to play exactly the endings is a great start to start to assure some wins when you're able to reach that certain position, or have the possibility of forcing it. The true secret of chess, is that when you understand how middle game and endings proceed, you're able to have "confidence" in whatever position you're preparing because you'll know they're unconventional attacks with certain purposes of future advantages.
Masters don't exactly "predict" many moves ahead all the time during a game. They really don't predict them at all activelly often, because they have confidence on their position, they bring pre set systems they know deeply and know exactly how every kind of attack from the opponent might affect him. Most times, it's only in the little peculiar variations of certain positions that lies the "unpredictable" forced moves and require a thought on them.
So as an advice and in summary, i'd highly advise you to look up to as much openings as you can and understand the ideas behind them, and choose the ones that you prefer the most just after. Also it's extremelly important to know what to do in the middle game, how to seek combinations, weaken opponent structure and pawn break it's position, and use their own weaknesses to exploit them.
Also, don't ever take chess rules as a dogma. "avoiding doubled pawns", avoiding material loss and quite some other rules on chess some people take as dogma, more important than knowing the rules, is knowing when to ignore them. Don't try to predict unless you know you're getting into trouble, try to see ahead, know your middle game, piece cohesion and defense of your system. Learn to see a position and know exactly what to do with it, instead of trying to calculate each move every time, every game. Calculating is great and can still give you a nice playing strenght, but the main difference between a , let's say 2100 player and 1800 player, it's pretty much it's middle game knowledge and positional proccessing knowledge of the stronger player, not because they exactly predict more moves than the opponent, in fact it's possible that the 1800 does predict more moves activelly because of it's lesser knowledge, and needs it as a constant basis. A 2100 player on the other hand will most certainly have a very decent positional understanding of chess, and doesn't require predicting as much because he understands chess at a deeper level.
Just to finalize and cite an example, i used to predict on chess too and mainly only knew openings, and i did reach good levels of strenght (2k perfomance) on some tournaments because i knew my openings deeply. Still, there was some old guys that were "weaker" than i was in rate, but they could beat me every time, just out of sheer knowledge of looking ahead from their position. Against old and very experienced chess players, you better probably hope for him to make a mistake from distraction, that's if you don't understand how they play positionally and don't rely on traps, but rather on strong and cohese systems that hold together.
well, I know there's been a lot of careful thought as to how to help the op, and a lot of interesting back and forth about the scotch.
but I still come back to his original statement about blunders. I've not improved SO much (I have a little); but I feel REALLY strongly that if your blundering peices you simply don't need complicated answers about what is wrong..
it IS important to know WHY you're blundering peices.
I really think the critical activity is reviewing your own game. consider going back through the game and writing down what you move you might make at each position. do you make the some blunders? do you make new blunders??
for me; the bane of my chess is to see attacks that I think work, but actually don't. Generally I'm not being thorough enough looking at ALL variations when I try to attack or win a peice. this is where a PC is very handy. it sees every defense. I use the 'explain it to me' feature.
try this activity and I think it will help.
I strongly believe that going over instructive tactics problems consistantly, and playing G30 with reviewing your games later. (ACTUALLY doing that mind you without unncessary procrastination)- and keep a positive confident attitude and improvement. espacially Class ED and improvement is Inevitable.
Play online chess, try to eliminate all the blunders you can make with that very long time control. ^^
This is first what you can do.
X PLAYER JX Can you please stop making posts that take up half the page? Your entire post was full of stuff any average tournament player should know by heart. You don't need to show us basic Scotch theory for us to understand your opinion of the Scotch.
And there is a difference between openings and just playing bad moves. If white knows no theory at all, but knows what a good move is, he won't play 2. Qh5 because he knows that his queen will be exposed and he will have to move it a lot more.
If white just plays logical moves he will be fine all the time. Black it is slightly harder but still possible. For example white can get a reasonable game with d4, Nf3, g3, Bg2, 0-0 against pretty much anything.
True, when I was under 1400 I studied a lot of openings. And I rapidly broke way past 1400. But it had nothing to do with openings- at least not theory. It had to do with understanding middlegame ideas and knowing tactics well. I could easily have broken 1400 by playing the King's Indian Attack or some other subpar opening
X PLAYER JX Can you please stop making posts that take up half the page? Your entire post was full of stuff any average tournament player should know by heart. You don't need to show us basic Scotch theory for us to understand your opinion of the Scotch.
I second that.
X Player JX: beautiful post!!!!! I loved it and I share your passion for the Scotch.
Honestly, I'm debating nosing out a coach. But I need to at least spend the summer studying on my own first.
What an absolutely beautiful game chess is. I especially like the comments made about getting to be better at looking at a position and not having to calculate. I'm going to startup another 2 postal chess games (God, I'm old, but I love every grey hair in my beard). Then I can calculate to my heart's content. Tactics work is helping -- like the endgame book full of exercises I'm in (How to Beat your Dad at chess) and the tactics trainer here at CHess.com seems very good too. Pogonina, for instance, finished all of the tactics problems here I think. If she found it valuable, it must be valuable.
I'm playing real chess for 8 months now and I'm beating 1300/1400 rated guys in here already, with little opening study. I play the London System for white and the Scandinavian or Dutch defense for black (at least I know the ideas behind them).
Chess is 99% tactics... I'm sure I can gain more ELO if I study the chesstactics.org well, but I'm not even close to finish it because I don't study that much.
X PLAYER JX Can you please stop making posts that take up half the page? Your entire post was full of stuff any average tournament player should know by heart. You don't need to show us basic Scotch theory for us to understand your opinion of the Scotch.
I second that.
I already expressed my opinion on the Scotch. I also gave the OP alternative lines to try. The OP still wanted to give the Scotch a try. Which is perfectly understandable if he wants to try let him go for it. So I shared some of the Basic Scotch Theory to help the OP.
Not to satisfy Dpnorman and Synaphai needs and wants. If my long post discomforts you well than skip it. The OP said himself he was fairly New/Beginner.
"Your entire post was full of stuff any average tournament player should know by heart"
^^
The above sentence I have highlighted in red from what you have said also makes no sense. If you would of actually read the Half a Page the OP wrote as well you would of found out. He hasn't gone to a Tournament yet. Check Below Red Text:
I have tried to make this concise. I have failed.
A very serious question here. What is the best advice you could give to me when I've noticed my rating is just awfully stagnant. I blunder at least 2-3x / game and honestly, its because of TIME. [***chess.com admins -- suggestion... annotate our PGN files with the time of the moves ***drool*** then I can relive the glory or the agony later]
I stink at time management or I just don't have enough to really analyze the way I want to. I play G30 here at Chess.com and if the annoying mechanic can get my car fixed, will be playing in some local tournaments soon.
So during a game, I will sit and study one line or another, usually identifying like.... 6 different positions 2-7 moves ahead that I find intriguing. Then I just have to go with gut and pick 2-3 of those that look most promising and start analyzing those.
HELP ME!
How do you know what lines to burn your time on analyzing? I've noticed 2 types of paths that show up. One is into a series of sharp, limited choice moves for both colors. The other is into open, there are like 8 moves all of about the same value, God only knows what my opponent will do because he is not a computer type of positions.
But wher there's nothing but garbage in the short, sharp moves and I have to start in on the LINES (not positions) with lots of similar quality results Its a nightmare to try and choose what to burn my time on.
I know my answer is not over the board but in some particular type of study??? I love to play the Scotch opening by the way. Its one that I feel fairly confident about but that i seem to still have trouble finding good results once out of book between the end of the opening and about 2 moves after the middle game starts to tend toward end game.
How is the OP suppose to know all of this stuff by heart if he is having car trouble and can not even reach the tournament. You Jerks!
Than to top it off you both agree. He should be understanding middlegame ideas. How can he understand middlegame ideas if he has no idea. What his basic opening themes are? How can he do middlegame understanding if he is getting mated in the Opening? Or following for Opening Traps?
You Jerks!
Its obvious your just trying to stir him on the wrong path.
An don't take my word for it. An frankly I'm not going to take your words on it either becuase you both are just trying to fill him full of nonsense.
I am going to listen to a Title player. What would National Master Reb say in this situation.
This is what National Master Reb would say. I saved it for it is powerful information.
NM Reb
"Chess has 3 phases : Opening , Middlegame , and Ending . If you lose in the opening it wont matter how good you are in the other 2 phases so anyone who says you don't need to study openings can safely be ignored. Every game of chess has an opening phase but the same claim cannot be made for the other 2 phases .... Examine your lost games ... did you lose any of them in the opening phase ? If many , or most , of your losses were due to poor opening play then you need to study your openings ... its that simple."
Thank you Reb for sharing with us today. Its that simple folks. An people want him to study middle game idea's HA! You don't know where he needs the most help in. Maybe he is doing fine in the middle game. Only he knows where he is suffering at not any of us.
Unbelieveable! These people trying to tell me how much I should write. I'll read an essay if I want too.
I'll even add corny dry jokes that are not even funny to upset you.
Q: What are the only kind of trees that grow fingers?
A:Ummm, Palm trees.
An Dpnorman and Synaphai you 2 don't want me to write post half a page long yet you both sure did read it all. An I bet you were thirty for more.
An if you wish to know the answers to these corny dry jokes I made. Well highlight your mouse under the questions and you will see the answers.
Have a good day.
X Player JX: beautiful post!!!!! I loved it and I share your passion for the Scotch.
Honestly, I'm debating nosing out a coach. But I need to at least spend the summer studying on my own first.
What an absolutely beautiful game chess is. I especially like the comments made about getting to be better at looking at a position and not having to calculate. I'm going to startup another 2 postal chess games (God, I'm old, but I love every grey hair in my beard). Then I can calculate to my heart's content. Tactics work is helping -- like the endgame book full of exercises I'm in (How to Beat your Dad at chess) and the tactics trainer here at CHess.com seems very good too. Pogonina, for instance, finished all of the tactics problems here I think. If she found it valuable, it must be valuable.
You are Welcome Dennis. The Scotch as I mentioned is complex;however, if you really love this line deeply than don't let anyone stop you. Go for it man. The worse thing that can happen is you lose a game. Which isn't the end of the world. No one has ever gotten better by winning every game. Every great chess player in history has suffered losses in their career.
People use to tell me the same thing. They said the Kings Indian Defence was to complex. I was ranked 500 back than. However, No matter what they said I didn't care I loved the KID to much. An till this very day I still play it.
I have added new lines as well through my journey in chess. However, I still play my beloved KID.
An as your chess journey continues you can do the same. You can always add more lines in when you feel more comfortable. No one is forcing you to play only 1 line your whole life. You can play as many as you wish too. An some GM's say its good to do that so you become well-rounded in different chess positions.
I have tried to make this concise.
I have failed.
A very serious question here. What is the best advice you could give to me when I've noticed my rating is just awfully stagnant. I blunder at least 2-3x / game and honestly, its because of TIME. [***chess.com admins -- suggestion... annotate our PGN files with the time of the moves ***drool*** then I can relive the glory or the agony later]
I stink at time management or I just don't have enough to really analyze the way I want to. I play G30 here at Chess.com and if the annoying mechanic can get my car fixed, will be playing in some local tournaments soon.
So during a game, I will sit and study one line or another, usually identifying like.... 6 different positions 2-7 moves ahead that I find intriguing. Then I just have to go with gut and pick 2-3 of those that look most promising and start analyzing those.
HELP ME!
How do you know what lines to burn your time on analyzing? I've noticed 2 types of paths that show up. One is into a series of sharp, limited choice moves for both colors. The other is into open, there are like 8 moves all of about the same value, God only knows what my opponent will do because he is not a computer type of positions.
But wher there's nothing but garbage in the short, sharp moves and I have to start in on the LINES (not positions) with lots of similar quality results Its a nightmare to try and choose what to burn my time on.
I know my answer is not over the board but in some particular type of study??? I love to play the Scotch opening by the way. Its one that I feel fairly confident about but that i seem to still have trouble finding good results once out of book between the end of the opening and about 2 moves after the middle game starts to tend toward end game.