Having outside input just gets geniuses there faster but takes normal people further than they would otherwise go. Chess.com has some good study material.
Is reading books about chess strategies/tacticts/openings really necessary to become a good player?
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Chesserroo2 wrote:
Having outside input just gets geniuses there faster but takes normal people further than they would otherwise go. Chess.com has some good study material.
I am new to this forum and can't find my way quite around, would you mind sending me links to those study materials, please? Thanks and I agree with you, that sounds just right.
Across the top of my screen are options for Play, Learn, Share, and Forums. The first two may be the most helpful.
Look for Chess King apps in play store, specially the "tactics for beginners", as you make progress, they have apps that cover all aspects of chess until the highest level
Actually, you do need to read books. All top players read books (but not only books) so you should buy and read the classics.
Back in the day, people did have books. Fischer taught himself Russian so he can read those books. Chess knowledge was not global as it is today.
I've only ever had 1 book and I've never really used it. I've gotten better by watching youtube and playing correspondence chess. I think correspondence chess it the best way to improve as it gives you as much time as you need to think things through.
Here are some playlists on youtube that will make you a much better player:
Chess Fundamentals - John Bartholomew
Beginner to Chess Master - Chessnetwork
This is fantastic free content that I would recommend to just about anyone. Even advanced players can learn from these playlists.
Books have never helped me improve chess, I simply learned by experience. If you wish to improve chess (especially at your level), my advice is too analyze your games and learn from your mistakes.
Hope this helps :D
Hope this helps :D
Feb 11, 2018
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#10
There are also loads of free videos all over YouTube. Try iChess, GingerGM, Powerplay Chess, Kingcrusher, IM John Bartholemew, and Saint Louis Chess Club, to name but a few.
Feb 11, 2018
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#11
Mir Sultan Khan became champion of the UK, and had never seen a chess book. He didn't even learn the same rules as us until he was in his 20s (he grew up playing the Indian version of Chess).
With all due respect, when the OP asked if books were necessary to become a good player, I assumed he wanted to get to expert strength or master strength. None of the other people here can really give advice since they haven't reached that level themselves. If you want to get really good, books are necessary for advance improvement (yes, there are other things to do). You can read about it here: http://beyond-chess.com/7-requirements-become-chess-grandmaster/
Feb 11, 2018
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#13
breaker90 wrote:
With all due respect, when the OP asked if books were necessary to become a good player, I assumed he wanted to get to expert strength or master strength. None of the other people here can really give advice since they haven't reached that level themselves...
That turns out not to be the case. I'm an Expert IRL, and it wouldn't surprise me if some of the other posters were, as well. An Expert OTB rating is almost trivially easy to reach. Titled ranks are a different story.
blueemu wrote:
breaker90 wrote:
With all due respect, when the OP asked if books were necessary to become a good player, I assumed he wanted to get to expert strength or master strength. None of the other people here can really give advice since they haven't reached that level themselves...
That turns out not to be the case. I'm an Expert IRL, and it wouldn't surprise me if some of the other posters were, as well. An Expert OTB rating is almost trivially easy to reach. Titled ranks are a different story.
Forgive me, but didn't Mr. Khan know the basic rules of chess (before they were Europeanized)? And didn't he train with some of the best players in the world? It wouldn't surprise my if Mr. Khan read some manuscripts of ancient chess masters.
breaker90 wrote:
With all due respect, when the OP asked if books were necessary to become a good player, I assumed he wanted to get to expert strength or master strength. None of the other people here can really give advice since they haven't reached that level themselves. If you want to get really good, books are necessary for advance improvement (yes, there are other things to do). You can read about it here: http://beyond-chess.com/7-requirements-become-chess-grandmaster/
I'm likely around expert strength. I don't have a USCF or Fide rating but I'm 2000 in blitz and 6-0 against masters in correspondence chess.
Vicariously-I wrote:
breaker90 wrote:
With all due respect, when the OP asked if books were necessary to become a good player, I assumed he wanted to get to expert strength or master strength. None of the other people here can really give advice since they haven't reached that level themselves. If you want to get really good, books are necessary for advance improvement (yes, there are other things to do). You can read about it here: http://beyond-chess.com/7-requirements-become-chess-grandmaster/
I'm likely around expert strength. I don't have a USCF or Fide rating but I'm 2000 in blitz and 6-0 against masters in correspondence chess.
OTB is much, much more different than correspondence chess. I can write a paper on how they're different so you'll have to excuse me when I say play some OTB games to establish an OTB rating. I've introduced many friends to chess tournaments and they're surprised by how much different it is from what they're used to.
Not that I think it matters (because online blitz is totally different than OTB rating), but your blitz rating on here is not in the 2000s.
IMHO, all reading or mostly reading and no playing makes a chess player dull. The practical playing and experience seems to dominate preparation. I’ve seen guys playing chess who do not know a fork is called a fork or a pin. They know the game so well having watched other players. They know the rules of the game and their playing at very high tactical levels. Their experience taught them.
breaker90 wrote:
OTB is much, much more different than correspondence chess. I can write a paper on how they're different so you'll have to excuse me when I say play some OTB games to establish an OTB rating. I've introduced many friends to chess tournaments and they're surprised by how much different it is from what they're used to.
Not that I think it matters (because online blitz is totally different than OTB rating), but your blitz rating on here is not in the 2000s.
My blitz rating here is only based on 2 games. I was 1800+ blitz on chess.com on my old account but I've gotten better since then. I'm over 2000 on other sites. I'm sure you're right about OTB being much different but with some practice I could get used to it. Unfortunately right now I can't get to a chess club.
Feb 11, 2018
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#19
breaker90 wrote:
blueemu wrote:
breaker90 wrote:
With all due respect, when the OP asked if books were necessary to become a good player, I assumed he wanted to get to expert strength or master strength. None of the other people here can really give advice since they haven't reached that level themselves...
That turns out not to be the case. I'm an Expert IRL, and it wouldn't surprise me if some of the other posters were, as well. An Expert OTB rating is almost trivially easy to reach. Titled ranks are a different story.
Forgive me, but didn't Mr. Khan know the basic rules of chess (before they were Europeanized)? And didn't he train with some of the best players in the world? It wouldn't surprise my if Mr. Khan read some manuscripts of ancient chess masters.
He knew the Indian rules... different Pawn moves (and therefore different openings), different promotion rules, etc.
As for "trained with some of the best players in the world"... yes and no. He tied for last place in his first tournament under European rules (in Spring of 1929). After the tournament, Winter and Yates helped him prepare for the British Championship coming up that Summer (ie: within the next three or four months).
He won it.
@Nero21 -
Consider Chessable.com. It is a site devoted to chess education/learning which has been recommended by several here on chess.com. Although I am not a member, I have perused the site and think that it can be helpful for those who are not able to acquire books. Give it a look...
https://www.chessable.com/opening-book/my-first-chess-opening-repertoire/7543/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKvw-8_UhQ
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chessable+john+bartholomew
Just in case you are ever in a position to get some chess books, you might want to save the following link....
Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond.....
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
Not being able to buy books over amazon and similar websites (no form of payment, doesn't ship to my place, etc) I thought about how important the books really are to become a good player.
Back in the day, people didn't have books and still were good. Of course I understand some were smarter than other and were significantly better and decided to share their knowledge with the rest of the world and that's how we got books but, are they really necessary?
Can I become a good chess player just by playing and playing?
Thanks and I am sorry for my English.