On the value of memorising games
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I can quickly and easily memorize games, just by moving through them once. But I'd have to do more than that to keep them or memorize multiple games. Magnus knows this about many club players and so takes us out of book right away.
If I play a game against someone, I can replay it right afterwards to do some analysis. I don't know how long I can remember it for. I could also memorize and play music.
Feb 11, 2018
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#5
I'm not good on games though I remember certain tactics used in some of the famous ones.
The main thing to learn from games is what to do when you go from the opening to the middle game.
For example, there are the 36 games that Fred Wilson uses to show how his four straightforward principles - like point all the pieces you can at your opponent's king - are executed in practice in his excellent book, Simple Attacking Plans. I can't remember one particular game but I remember that the winner's moves were always aimed at getting his pieces aimed at the enemy king and when his opponent didn't do the same he was lost.
The same is true of the games in Michael Song's and Razvan Preotu's The Chess Attacker's Handbook, which uses games to illustrate 14 thematic chapters, including Attacking the Uncastled Kings, and Castling on Opposite Sides.
I'm sure I won't remember the games themselves, but I'll remember how h-Pawn attacks were set up, which order to move the Pawns in Pawn Storms, etc.
I want to know - how good is your memory for the games you have studied or played? How important do you think it is? Is it in any way relevant to ability over the board?
For me, there are a number of openings I know well and perhaps 2 or 3 famous games I can repeat off the top of my head at a board.
Do you remember any of your games by heart? Are there any high profile games you have memorised?
Thanks in advance for your contributions !
Rob