openings or end game - Chess Forums

JustOneUSer

Sep 18, 2017

0

#1

I'm hoping to put some time aside more for serious chess studies.

Of course it is vital to learn both the begining and end of chess games, but I think I'll try starting on one and moving to another. I am useless at multitasking, so that is why I'll work on them separately.

So which would be best for me, a 1050-1150 player, (better OTB, about 1250) to focus on first?

My plan is to spend a year on either openings or endgames, and do a small bit of study on the field I do not cover, and then next year I'll put the most effort on whatever one I didn't cover in so much this year, and only do a little work on the one I focuses on last year.

So, any suggestions? Openings or End games?

JustOneUSer

Sep 18, 2017

0

#2

Perhaps my question was a bit broad and silly...

LeonSKennedy992

Sep 18, 2017

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#3

You should focus on ONE opening and ONE defense. And then do at least 10 tactics a day.

JustOneUSer

Sep 18, 2017

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#4

I was thinking of upgrading, would you say it is worth it?

Thund3rSt0rm225

Sep 18, 2017

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#5

I think you should study endgame in more detail. I think that's more important and more fundamental. If you learn endgame well, you should be able to draw in many losing or difficult situations and avoid a few losses as well. Other than that, solve tactics daily as much as possible in your free time. Learn only a limited set of openings and stick to them. Say - 1 opening in e4 and 1 in d4. Similarly for black - learn 1 defence of e4 and 1 defence of d4. Of course, many transpositions and variations are possible but your time is limited. So, choose a few and stick to them. Your situation is similar to mine and I have this plan in mind. But I don't get much free time now.

SmithyQ

Sep 18, 2017

0

#6

Long Version: At 1100 rating, you are no longer a pure beginner but you are not yet at intermediate level. Assuming that’s your goal, to get to intermediate status and beyond, you mostly need to focus on tactics.

By that, I mean being able to see, spot, use and master different tactical motifs and ideas. For example, if you see a King and Queen are on an open file, you instantly see that a Rook pins the Queen, winning. You don’t have to think about it, you don’t have to look for it. Rather, it jumps out and hits you on the head.

You don’t need to master every tactic, or even most. If you can get really, really good at basic pins, forks and double-attacks, you will be far better than the guy who knows a little bit about distractions and x-rays and removing the defender but isn’t a master of any of them.

Once you have this as a foundation, studying openings (especially opening principles) will be much easier. Indeed, even at intermediate level, a month is all you need to learn the basic ideas, plans and maybe some theory lines about any given variation, and even that might be too much. You can then spend the bulk of your study time on the endgame, where you will become a much stronger player overall, rather than just a strong Sicilian player, say.

Granted, this is easy to say but hard to do. Everyone knows the endgame is important, but few study it. I don’t even study it. It can be a slog. Every time I do study it, though, I seem to gain in strength. Positions become easier. Plans become clearer. It is so worth it, if you can get yourself to stick to it.

Short Version: My suggestion, then, is to drill a few select tactical themes over and over. Do it until you can spot simple tactics quickly, without much effort. Then study just enough openings so you don’t lose by move 6, and focus on the endgame (and middlegame) afterwards. Good luck.

JustOneUSer

Sep 18, 2017

0

#7

Wow. Great advice. I'll start looking for books and websites. I'll look into Shereshevksy's books as well.

JustOneUSer

Sep 18, 2017

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#8

And yes, my goal is to hit intermediate level.

Harmbtn

Sep 18, 2017

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#9

You will probably score more wins from just knowing basic king and pawn endgames than you will from superficial knowledge about some lines of theory here and there. That's just my opinion. I would save that part of opening study for when you get better.

Your opening study for now should be focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the principles of the opening. Tempo, space and logical development. Not so much on the details. Knowing what to do in the opening comes from understanding what you want, not from memorizing the lines.

It doesn't really help you to know that white is better after a string of moves if you don't understand what you're playing for in the position. And if your opponent makes a move that is not in your instructions manual you won't know what to do next.

JustOneUSer

Sep 18, 2017

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#10

Okay, thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

ChessPrinciples

Sep 18, 2017

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#11

Hey bro, I've been there. My USCF: 15156927(1818) This is the best thing by far you can do. And I can write paragraphs explaining why. Silman's Endgame Course is the best book to learn endgames because its organized by rating levels. So study whats needed in your section. Play e4/e5 because of the constant use of chess principles/fundamentals. Theory is not as important right now at your rating. If you are willing to invest a year into one area. Definitely the endgame! Osmosis and understanding the pieces in reduced complexity helps you to appreciate the power of the pieces individually and how they can work together. A byproduct of studying the endgame means improving visualization and tactical skill because you are training your mind to work with less pieces and slowly putting more on the board. Also the endgame will teach you how to convert middle game positions into a won game because you'll understand pawn structure, sensitive squares, won/loss endgames and a bunch of other stuff. The endgame helps you to accumulate many small positions and builds an arsenal that serves as a compass to direct your positional play. So middle game skill eventually gets better, by then you'll have an idea of where you chess study should be focused on. All in all, Silman's Endgame Course, Silman's Reassess your Chess, and for Tactics you can use TT here on Chess.com or Chess Tempo. However, I highly recommend Ct-Art 6.0 because it has organized all the tactical motifs in a program meant to build your pattern recognition(and not just mindlessly doing puzzles). Check me out on Youtube(ChessPrinciples).

All the best!

JustOneUSer

Sep 18, 2017

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#12

Okay, great thanks!

FM chuddog

Sep 18, 2017

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#13

You need to work on all phases of the game. Endgames are facinating, but if you only study endgames, you may get bored. If you only focus on openings, it may be even worse - you'll think you're learning something (by memorizing opening lines) and improving your skills, when you're not. And in any case, below 1600 or so, the vast majority of games are decided by tactical mistakes and blunders. The main thing you need to work on is basic tactics. I just glanced at a random game you lost on here. Your opponent blundered a piece with his 4th move, giving you a won position. But you blundered it back 10 moves later. (I stopped looking after that.) And the thing is, you took 37 seconds to play the whole game, in a 10/0 time control. Openings and endgames won't help here. You need to learn much more basic things. Learn to take time to think about your move, and work on developing basic board vision. What threats do you have? What threats does your opponent have? Are there checkmates, checks, captures, pins, etc.? What squares are protected and unprotected, and so on?

If you want to study seriously and get professional coaching, I offer lessons. Message me for rates and options if interested.

varelse1

Sep 18, 2017

0

#14

I'd say openings, at your level.

And I am saying that, as an endgame fanatic.

For endgames right now, elarn how to mate with a queen, how to mate with a rook. If you dont know these arleady.

If you still have time after that learn the opposition. (that is king and pawn versus king. Sometimes its a win, sometimes its a draw. Can you tell the difference?)

There are resouces right here on Chess.com, and elsewhere, if you need help with these,

But mostly, its the opening.

And the middlegame. Especially tactics.

Getting basic blunders out of your game.

Pick what you are going to play against 1.e4. what you are going to play against 1.d4. And learn those. Anything else white plays, you can just wing it.

And thats all I have. Hope it helps.

kindaspongey

Sep 19, 2017

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#15

I think it can be a mistake to try to decide too much in advance. Ideally, study is combined with regular play, and one's games can influence what one wants to read. After reading one subject for awhile, I think one can reasonably go on to something else and come back to the first subject later. Silman's Complete Endgame Course is explicitly written to be read intermittently.

https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review594.pdf
http://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/theres-an-end-to-it-all

To some degree, other books can be read that way, too.

"... For beginning players, [Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms] will offer an opportunity to start out on the right foot and really get a feel for what is happening on the board. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf

Look at how one series of books was organized:

"... This book is the first volume in a series of manuals designed for players who are building the foundations of their chess knowledge. The reader will receive the necessary basic knowledge in six areas of the game - tactics, positional play, strategy, the calculation of variations, the opening and the endgame.
... To make the book entertaining and varied, I have mixed up these different areas, ..." - GM Artur Yusupov (2008)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103321/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review699.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103659/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review778.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-1-77p3744.htm
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-2-77p3745.htm
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Boost-Your-Chess-3-77p3746.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708103149/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review834.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708085817/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review843.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Chess-Evolution-2-77p3643.htm
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Chess-Evolution-3-Mastery-77p3753.htm

Ashvapathi

Sep 19, 2017

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#16

Follow FM chuddog's advice.

kindaspongey

Sep 19, 2017

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#17

chesssdotcomv3sucks wrote:

... Dont take my word for it. I just know what worked for me. I made it to USCF A class on Opening Principles alone, and put my time into endings.

Aren't you the one who used Fundamental Chess Openings and chess opening wizard software?

kindaspongey

Sep 19, 2017

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#18

kindaspongey

Sep 19, 2017

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#19

[COMMENT DELETED]

JustOneUSer

Sep 19, 2017

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#20

So much stuff! Thanks a lot all of you!