The biggest lie about chess - Chess Forums - Page 3

solskytz

May 3, 2017

0

#41

Interesting viewpoint, <Jengaias>. Of course everything is relative - but again, one shouldn't focus on the result. Of course one will lose to Stockfish over and over again. Again, this is not the point.

The point is that after playing a few moves from both sides, over and over again, one can start to develop a FEEL, what it feels like to HAVE the initiative, what it feels like to PLAY AGAINST the initiative. That's the only thing I was saying.

solskytz

May 3, 2017

0

#42

Another option is to let Stockfish play that position against itself, for a number of moves - and watch exactly how one side presses on and attacks, and the other tries to minimize the damage...

An initiative is not always a winning advantage - it's about making the other guy's life more miserable. Sometimes you still need that extra mistake from the opponent in order to finally claim that you have a winning position. With the initiative, you are doing everything you can in order to make this additional mistake happen.

The_Chin_Of_Quinn

May 3, 2017

0

#43

jengaias wrote:

solskytz wrote:

Interesting viewpoint, <Jengaias>. Of course everything is relative - but again, one shouldn't focus on the result. Of course one will lose to Stockfish over and over again. Again, this is not the point.

The point is that after playing a few moves from both sides, over and over again, one can start to develop a FEEL, what it feels like to HAVE the initiative, what it feels like to PLAY AGAINST the initiative. That's the only thing I was saying.

That was my impression too but the expert trainers disagree and that made me second think about all this.

I agree, it is a way to develop a feel but is it the best way?

That's the critical question and personally I can't answer it.

I think it's somewhere in between. I think every new thing a player does, as long as they're engaged in the process of analysis, is useful. If used sparingly I suspect that playing against a computer is a beneficial addition to book learning + solo analysis and play.

solskytz

May 3, 2017

0

#44

<Jengaias> #61 I didn't claim that it was the BEST way, and I'm not an expert chess trainer :-)

IamNoMaster

May 4, 2017

0

#45

I dont understand this thread, where is the big lie

Darkness_Prevails

May 4, 2017

0

#46

Which(at least there are some I know for example Silman/Heisman products ) books you think Instructive is an average product hyped due to marketing strategy/public relation/Fake endorsement etc and the better books are staying unnoticed by folks.That's the lie.

dk-Ltd

May 4, 2017

0

#47

kingofshedinjas wrote:

You might be familiar with the following expressions:

"X has an overwhelming position"

"With this move, X gets the initiative and easily wins"

Typically found in any chess book or article, they are two of the biggest offenders ever seen in chess literature. Before you start whining and calling me a "materialistic pig" or something worse, let me explain this point properly.

When the word "initiative" is mentioned, one can be pretty sure that the author will soon move to another topic. Often used as a way to stop talking about a position, when one does not want to make an effort and calculate the lines that lead to the win. This is what the initiative is about. A smokescreen. And when the smoke disipates, a new, usually unrelated position appears. So the author can sell the book saying it contains "more than X positions about whatever" without properly explaining them.

Totally agree that is a lie. I am not sure though that is the biggest one. The chess literature, coaching, vids, training are all full of lies, especially false promises. When they email me chess promotional videos promising to make me a master in a blink of an eye, I feel that those GMs and sites, treat their customers as fools, just for making money.

There is no class, no honesty, just big marketing words. It's a bit sad.

Not to mention obscure claims, like all sacrifices are good in blitz... really??

dk-Ltd

May 4, 2017

0

#48

jengaias wrote:

There are several intersting things in this topic.

If the author says that "white has the inititative" then you must try to find out what he means.

The worst thing a chess student can do is just accept what an author or an engine or a database says.

I remember reading a book and the author said that:

When an author doesn't know what is going on then he simply says "the position is unclear".

And that is quite true.Of coure there are indeed unclear and complicated positions but even in unclear positions we have equal chances or someone is better.So why an unclear position can't be also equal?It can but the author doesn't want to take the risk to be wrong if eventually an advantage is proven and he doesn't want to look the position deeper.So when he doesn't want to analyse more , or he isn't even sure about the evaluation " the position is unclear".

The same often happens in an advantage.Repertoire books try to prove that the opening they support is good.

So if it is a black defense , the position is always "comfortable for Black" or "equal" and if it is a white opening , white always has a "slight but permanent edge"(or more).And what exactly that means?Most of the times , absolutely nothing.At least half of the "slightly better positions" in repertoire books are actually dead equal.

"Chess literature"(let's use that term) is an industry with many millions of dollars sells.If you think that chess publishers care if you will improve , then you are dreaming.They only care to sell and they will give you what you want to read.

If you want useless and full of inaccuracies ,repertoire books(and unfortunately that is what amateurs and ignorants want , that is why Lakwawala has become a top seller) , they will give you useless and full of inaccuracies repertoire books.If you want easy to read but practically useless books(and unfortunately that is what amateurs and ignorants want , that is why Heisman has become a top seller) , they will give you easy to read but practically useless books.

It's not the author's fault , it's not the publisher's fault.

IT'S YOUR FAULT.

p.s. Of course there are good books , but today they are 1 in 100 (if not in 1.000) and usually much less advertised.Go to Amazon."Zurich 1953" , one of the best books ever written(according to Kasparov) has zero reviews."Logical chess" by Irving Chernev , a book full of inaccuracies and dogmas, has 208 reviews with a 4.6 out 5 stars!A book with an almost perfect score is far from perfect and not even helpful(there are much better books for amateurs and begginers).

great post!! One of the best, I have read here, if not the best.

can you suggest me, any books or vids? Particularly for blitz, are there any material or strategy that can help me improve (since I am an OK player, when I have time to think)?

ArgoNavis

May 4, 2017

0

#49

dk-Ltd wrote:

kingofshedinjas wrote:

You might be familiar with the following expressions:

"X has an overwhelming position"

"With this move, X gets the initiative and easily wins"

Typically found in any chess book or article, they are two of the biggest offenders ever seen in chess literature. Before you start whining and calling me a "materialistic pig" or something worse, let me explain this point properly.

When the word "initiative" is mentioned, one can be pretty sure that the author will soon move to another topic. Often used as a way to stop talking about a position, when one does not want to make an effort and calculate the lines that lead to the win. This is what the initiative is about. A smokescreen. And when the smoke disipates, a new, usually unrelated position appears. So the author can sell the book saying it contains "more than X positions about whatever" without properly explaining them.

Totally agree that is a lie. I am not sure though that is the biggest one. The chess literature, coaching, vids, training are all full of lies, especially false promises. When they email me chess promotional videos promising to make me a master in a blink of an eye, I feel that those GMs and sites, treat their customers as fools, just for making money.

There is no class, no honesty, just big marketing words. It's a bit sad.

Not to mention obscure claims, like all sacrifices are good in blitz... really??

Welcome to reality.

BronsteinPawn

May 4, 2017

0

#50

Thanks for the compliment.

Dont buy books from Lakdawala, it is a crappy monopoly.

Darkness_Prevails

May 4, 2017

0

#51

Artur yusupov's book series for the intermediate player also must have a prestigious nomination as a more modern training guide.silman reviewed the first book as Yusupov must not write for intermediate player's and should stick to advanced players in his promotional website.Later deleted the page.

BronsteinPawn

May 4, 2017

0

#52

jengaias escribió:

BronsteinPawn wrote:

Thanks for the compliment.

Dont buy books from Lakdawala, it is a crappy monopoly.

The copliment wasn't for you , it was for your spiritual father.

I smoked some weed in Bronstein´s tomb some years ago, since then, I am Bronstein, before that, I was only Bronstein´s spiritual son.