This is something I find very important in my chess life - studying and playing. I own a pretty good arsenal of books, but they're not worth the paper that they are printed on if I don't study from them, let alone look at them. I've given up TV, was a die hard sports fan for over 30 years, and have taken all the games off my hard drive, except my chess programs and Civ III to study chess, but yet have still not gone into the books that much.
My goal in chess is at least 1800, whether on here or OTB, but that won't happen unless I start working at it. I'm not the one to talk but 7 hrs/a week won't get you to where you are now to where you want to be in the near future. 30-35 hrs a week just means you'll get there a little bit faster. Listen to myself and Prawn even more about this. There's no progress in chess without blood sweat and a lot of tears.
*going to play and study and take my own advice as well for a change*
-Mark
Chessmarksthespots, it is all about priorities in life. I agree to you completely that the more I spend quality time for chess, the faster I will improve. But, if I don't intend chess to make my full time career, there will be definitely a limit I have to impose on the time spent for playing chess; if the career path I chose is so much time - demanding type.
Let me try to clarify the question I raised again: Even if don't become an expert in my entire life, I don't mind. But, I will definitely try to achieve that, in case I have enough time for that. So, my question is how to effectively try to become considerably better. And at present, I don't set any particular time limit for me to become, say a master.
There are things that are more important to me than chess. Same will be the case with you and everybody else also, if chess is not your full time career.
Anyway, I who was in his 1200s and 1100s in August when I began is now in 1400s. So, certainly, at least until a particular level, there should be growth, by merely playing games; even if the improvement rate will not be very good. From that particular level onwards, may be I should undergo some training as per my time - availability to improve further.
) to get benefits from this thread; because I know perfectly that these forums are intended for the benefits of everybody.
And I have strong reservations against turn based chess; nothing personal though. In the case of turn based chess, I can't know for sure how much time my opponent will be spending for each move. He may be spending 1 hour or more per move after referring many books, consulting with an expert etc. On other hand, I may be spending only 2 minutes per move. So that is unfair.
How is it unfair? If you to make superficial evaluations (i.e., spending only two minutes per move) in turn-based chess, that's your choice. You have the same opportunity as your opponent to make a very careful and well-considered move.
That's the benefit of turn-based chess. It improves your calculation and evaluation skills, precisely because time is not such a constraint, as it is in OTB or live chess.
You can also move the pieces or use a separate analysis board to work out really long variations with greater precision.
BTW, the current FIDE tournament times work out to approximately two minutes per move. You do not need 140 minute time limits to get there OTB.
I'm not a fan of blitz chess, because it relies more on pattern recognition (and chutzpah) than OTB tournament times. But, I play it relatively often (something like 15 or 20 minutes with a 10 second increment) precisely because it does improve pattern recognition.
I would suggest that a balance of shorter and longer OTB games and some turn-based games will improve your chess playing "all around" than focusing just on one to the exclusion of the others.
Happy holidays!
Mitch
Thank you for the information. Yes, I know perfectly that the time I spend for each move in turn based chess is my choice. But, with the present time constraints I have, I may not be able to spend as much time my opponent might be spending on each move. So, that is what I meant when I said that it would not be fair. Any way, after reading your post, I am now more interested in turn based chess; even though I may not try it at least until my MBA admission and visa approval is confirmed.
Happy vacations for you (and not for me - I have to study a lot
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