i'll be honest - why buy books of tactics that have maybe a few hundred problems when for the same price you can get 10,000 tactics for a year?
i have stopped buying tactics books altogether.
Non improvement and getting demoralized
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Jun 19, 2008
0
#23
I agree with Erik. And it is more realistic, playing White and Black and timed, under pressure, no guessing. And just when you think you are good, you get a whole new set of tactics that you have never seen before and cannot figure out fast enough. It is a very good trainer.
I agree with Erik.My english is poor and I can't say all what I want then I will say only.FANTASTIC!! Tactic trainer is fantastic! I suggest to everybody don't buy book,buy premium membership on chess.com and you get Tactics trainer,chess mentor etc...you getting great trainings! You will be very satisfied and thankful!
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Erik and Bill may have a point. If you can adapt the method I described to the Tactics Trainer here on chess.com, it makes good sense to use it.
I've learned alot from chess videos, especially from a guy named Curtains. Very entertaining and funny.
http://www.chessvideos.tv/forum/viewforum.php?f=29
Low level player should stick with one opening for black and white that you feel comfortable with and try to learn as much as possible from that system.
Jun 19, 2008
0
#28
Have you thought about fatigue. If you're having a tough time at work or in some other area of your life, it may make it difficult to see the board. I blundder all the time and I think it's because I'm tired. I don't need additional mistakes to make my game stink, I play bad enough when I feel perfectly fine. The extra stuff could add up to that loosing streak you're talking about.
yoshtodd,
Mike Leahy, the programmer that designed Bookup and Chess Openings Wizard, is a very good chessplayer himself. Just like you he got sick of getting beat in the opening by guys that had all day to study the openings. So, he designed a program that cut down the study time to less than 1/2. This was years back in the 1980's. I bought Bookup back then and within 2 1/2 years no player rated under 1900 had a chance against me.
For what openings to play you need to get in touch with a strong player/tutor where you live. Say like somebody who has won the Hawaii State Open in the past and is teaching chess now. Let that person know what you are doing with Bookup and Chess Openings Wizard. Also, Mike Leahy and his website are very helpful with getting you in touch wirth a good chess coach in your area. Alot of GMs, IMs, FMs and NMs are customers of his all over the world.
I can tell you when I need a draw in a tournament and I'm playing Black, and White plays 1.e4 ; I play the Caro-Kann. It has been part of my opening repertoire from the beginning. The Caro-Kann I can recommend you make part of your opening repertoire without any doubt.
Two books that are a must read for you: MY SYSTEM, by Aaron Nimzowitsch
PAWN POWER IN CHESS, by Hans Kmoch
The good part about Chess Openings Wizard is you download the software for free. And, it really works. But, even better, they have tech's and all types of help for when you start working with the software to get to know it and make the most out of it.
The final thing that you mustdo to balance your training is practice tactics everyday.
Do it exactly the way I describe it here.
1. First book to buy is 1001 Chess Opening Sacrifices and Combinations, bu Fred Reinfeld. The tactics roblems in that book are good for your present level in chess. Later you can buy tactical problems taken from recent GM games.Books that are harder.
2. Begin by doing the first problem and work your way day by day to the last problem in the book. DO NOT SKIP AROUND JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT A PARTICULAR. The problems are in a specific order to maximize your tactical training.
3. Do 5 pages of 9 problems per page, per day (45 problems). Give yourself 3 minutes per problem, with a stop watch or egg timer. When the time is up STOP, look in the back of the book at the answers section. If you got it right mark that down, if you got it wrong mark that down. Keep a record. Later on you will be able to look at this and see which tactical formations you are not so good at visualizing. DO NOT SET UP ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS ON ANY CHESS BOARD. WORK THESE PROBLEMS ONLY IN YOUR HEAD.
4. Do 1/2 the problems in the AM. It will take you about 2hrs. And, the other 1/2 in the PM. That will take you another 2 hrs. At first it will be exhausting. You are training your brain the way an athlete trains his body.
5. After about a month, I promise you will be seeing tactical shots in your games that you never saw before. It will feel like the tactical combinations are jumping off the chess board and hitting you in the face.
That's all for now. Hope this helps and let me know how things are going from time to time.