I equate chess to traditional karate. Your sensei who is also a black belt like you is a higher black belt and so forth
What is there left to learn after 2100?
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Robert0905 wrote:
I want to make something clear to pfren and some of the other posters here.
My coach has given me a plan and I'm learning lots of things, but I'm curious whetever there are even more positional topics/ strategical topics to learn.
This was the point of this post. My coach doesn't tell me what we're going to cover in a month or so--it depends on what he thinks I need to learn at that point. These things may change easily.
So, are there any more positional topics to learn? If so, what are they?
Well I do not know what openings you play since you didn't tell me.
However, If you have a coach I think your coach would give you better material on positional topics and strategical topics.
I think if you was looking for some side or extra material you could brush up on a line you play.
For example you showed a diagram of the French Defense.
If you play the French Defense regularly and it is your main weapon.
I do not see how getting more French Defense books and studying them can be harmful.
Also I know it may sound vague but getting more tactical books can't hurt you. I would imagine.
Robert0905 wrote:
Diakonia wrote:
logozar wrote:
With all of the masters posting here, I have a question.
I am terrible at blitz, I mean terrible.
This is mostly because I train my brain to think and get used to slower time controls every time.
Some people tell me to keep doing that and get used to slower, and some tell me to get used to faster and play faster so I can play blitz.
As for my tournements, they are usually 30m per side per game to 1.5 hours per side per game, which I can do OTB just fine.
For my chess development, which is better? Training to think slow but well? Or think fast?
I am a 1508 USCF.
Also wondering what kind of things I should study for improvement at my level.
Thanks - logozar
if you are looking for true improvement, forget about blits/bullet chess. You will get more improvement form long time controls. Once you are where you want to be, then play some blitz if you want.
Diakonia,
While I would agree that too much blitz and bullet causes you to play faster and the play more instinctively, I think that not playing blitz and bullet AT ALL is also not good.
Logozar is the perfect example. He spends A LOT of time in the middlegame, but when he plays faster he blunders. Pretty soon, he is in time-trouble and he ends up losing games like this.
So I think that for him, he should slowly start playing faster and faster time controls--SLOWLY. From 60 minutes to 45 minutes, to 30 minutes, then to 15 minutes, then to 10 minutes, then to 5 minutes, and then to 3 minutes.
But I totally agree with you that you shouldn't play bullet. A couple of games a week of bullet IS useful but more is a no-no.
What are youre thoughts on this?
I would agree with you on this. I may have been a bit hasty in my "no blitz/bullet" statement. Moderation in chess, just as in life is key. Some speed chess serves a purpose, but bullet can be ignored.
Diakonia wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
Diakonia wrote:
logozar wrote:
With all of the masters posting here, I have a question.
I am terrible at blitz, I mean terrible.
This is mostly because I train my brain to think and get used to slower time controls every time.
Some people tell me to keep doing that and get used to slower, and some tell me to get used to faster and play faster so I can play blitz.
As for my tournements, they are usually 30m per side per game to 1.5 hours per side per game, which I can do OTB just fine.
For my chess development, which is better? Training to think slow but well? Or think fast?
I am a 1508 USCF.
Also wondering what kind of things I should study for improvement at my level.
Thanks - logozar
if you are looking for true improvement, forget about blits/bullet chess. You will get more improvement form long time controls. Once you are where you want to be, then play some blitz if you want.
Diakonia,
While I would agree that too much blitz and bullet causes you to play faster and the play more instinctively, I think that not playing blitz and bullet AT ALL is also not good.
Logozar is the perfect example. He spends A LOT of time in the middlegame, but when he plays faster he blunders. Pretty soon, he is in time-trouble and he ends up losing games like this.
So I think that for him, he should slowly start playing faster and faster time controls--SLOWLY. From 60 minutes to 45 minutes, to 30 minutes, then to 15 minutes, then to 10 minutes, then to 5 minutes, and then to 3 minutes.
But I totally agree with you that you shouldn't play bullet. A couple of games a week of bullet IS useful but more is a no-no.
What are youre thoughts on this?
I would agree with you on this. I may have been a bit hasty in my "no blitz/bullet" statement. Moderation in chess, just as in life is key. Some speed chess serves a purpose, but bullet can be ignored.
I agree. In bullet, there's no time to think.
Aug 23, 2015
0
#47
bb_gum234 wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
This was the point of this post. My coach doesn't tell me what we're going to cover in a month or so--it depends on what he thinks I need to learn at that point. These things may change easily.
Than ask him... not only what you're going to cover in a month, but e.g. "If my weakness was ____ what material would you recommend?"
Ok.
Robert0905 wrote:
Yes, but what is there to learn?
Openings
Theory
Strategy
Endings
Planning
Tactics
Need i go on?
Aug 24, 2015
0
#50
idspispopd wrote:
ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote:
Dvoretsky
+1
Also, I think you're dead on (OP) about thought process. This is something I also have - an unstructured thought process. I waste a lot of time and sometimes blunder because of it. I'm also like that in daily life - distracted. I open the refrigerator door and forget what I was going to get. I think it's one of the hardest things to really improve on.
Dead wrong. Unstructured thought process being a disadvantage is a myth. The chessboard isn't just one math problem, its an infinite series of neverending math problems. You are groping in the dark in some ways. The best way forward is to grow intuition, and the only way to do that is to give yourself up to it. As if you were giving yourself up to God. In other words, stop trying to take control, you'll have more control that way. Doesn't make sense? I don't blame you. For a long time it didn't make sense to me either.
Aug 24, 2015
0
#51
@Robert
Do get into the habit of searching through the chess positions for the joy of doing so. You'll learn a lot and you'll get closer to the kinds of positions you'll be using in games. Do NOT memorize these positions actively. Do so passively. I have millions of positions in my head likely but they're not stored actively. They are stored passively. Only my intuitive self can retrieve them, process them, and put them back in a matter of moments. Its not quite doing that, but whatever its doing its beautiful.
Aug 24, 2015
0
#52
Diakonia wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
Yes, but what is there to learn?
Openings
Theory
Strategy
Endings
Planning
Tactics
Need i go on?
Opening theory--You can't have gotten to 2100 without knowing that!
Same for the others.
Aug 24, 2015
0
#53
afkigu wrote:
idspispopd wrote:
ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote:
Dvoretsky
+1
Also, I think you're dead on (OP) about thought process. This is something I also have - an unstructured thought process. I waste a lot of time and sometimes blunder because of it. I'm also like that in daily life - distracted. I open the refrigerator door and forget what I was going to get. I think it's one of the hardest things to really improve on.
Dead wrong. Unstructured thought process being a disadvantage is a myth. The chessboard isn't just one math problem, its an infinite series of neverending math problems. You are groping in the dark in some ways. The best way forward is to grow intuition, and the only way to do that is to give yourself up to it. As if you were giving yourself up to God. In other words, stop trying to take control, you'll have more control that way. Doesn't make sense? I don't blame you. For a long time it didn't make sense to me either.
Having a structured thought process gives better time management and more probability of finding a good move.
Aug 24, 2015
0
#54
afkigu wrote:
@Robert
Do get into the habit of searching through the chess positions for the joy of doing so. You'll learn a lot and you'll get closer to the kinds of positions you'll be using in games. Do NOT memorize these positions actively. Do so passively. I have millions of positions in my head likely but they're not stored actively. They are stored passively. Only my intuitive self can retrieve them, process them, and put them back in a matter of moments. Its not quite doing that, but whatever its doing its beautiful.
I never payed attention to that, but now that I think about it I think that's what I've been doing most of the time.
Robert0905 wrote:
Diakonia wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
Yes, but what is there to learn?
Openings
Theory
Strategy
Endings
Planning
Tactics
Need i go on?
Opening theory--You can't have gotten to 2100 without knowing that!
Same for the others.
Yes you can get to 2100 without knowing opening theory. I know of 2 people that are 2100+ and get through the opening using the opening principles.
Aug 24, 2015
0
#56
Robert0905 wrote:
afkigu wrote:
idspispopd wrote:
ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote:
Dvoretsky
+1
Also, I think you're dead on (OP) about thought process. This is something I also have - an unstructured thought process. I waste a lot of time and sometimes blunder because of it. I'm also like that in daily life - distracted. I open the refrigerator door and forget what I was going to get. I think it's one of the hardest things to really improve on.
Dead wrong. Unstructured thought process being a disadvantage is a myth. The chessboard isn't just one math problem, its an infinite series of neverending math problems. You are groping in the dark in some ways. The best way forward is to grow intuition, and the only way to do that is to give yourself up to it. As if you were giving yourself up to God. In other words, stop trying to take control, you'll have more control that way. Doesn't make sense? I don't blame you. For a long time it didn't make sense to me either.
Having a structured thought process gives better time management and more probability of finding a good move.
There's an old saying. Better is the enemy of good.
In some ways, if you keep trying to fix what isn't broken, you risk losing what you already have. The artisan, the genius, knows this, but the scientist doesn't, that is why the scientist is rigid and inconsistent and the artisan is brilliant and consistent. The scientist has broken what he had trying to find what he thought he didn't. Oh well, too late for that.
Aug 24, 2015
0
#57
Diakonia wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
Diakonia wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
Yes, but what is there to learn?
Openings
Theory
Strategy
Endings
Planning
Tactics
Need i go on?
Opening theory--You can't have gotten to 2100 without knowing that!
Same for the others.
Yes you can get to 2100 without knowing opening theory. I know of 2 people that are 2100+ and get through the opening using the opening principles.
Opening theory, opening principles, there's no difference.
Robert0905 wrote:
Diakonia wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
Diakonia wrote:
Robert0905 wrote:
Yes, but what is there to learn?
Openings
Theory
Strategy
Endings
Planning
Tactics
Need i go on?
Opening theory--You can't have gotten to 2100 without knowing that!
Same for the others.
Yes you can get to 2100 without knowing opening theory. I know of 2 people that are 2100+ and get through the opening using the opening principles.
Opening theory, opening principles, there's no difference.
Really? There is a huge difference.
Aug 24, 2015
0
#59
Knowing chess opening principles is enough to become high-rated, as you yourself stated in your post.
I want to make something clear to pfren and some of the other posters here.
My coach has given me a plan and I'm learning lots of things, but I'm curious whetever there are even more positional topics/ strategical topics to learn.
This was the point of this post. My coach doesn't tell me what we're going to cover in a month or so--it depends on what he thinks I need to learn at that point. These things may change easily.
So, are there any more positional topics to learn? If so, what are they?