Comments on: The Path Towards Chess Obsession http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/ My soul in a lobster pot... Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:37:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tuirgin http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Tuirgin Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:14:42 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-85 <p>Thanks for the kind words and the great links! I keep meaning to look up Dan Heisman because I keep hearing his name come up. I'll have to do that as soon as possible. And the Predator at the Chessboard site looks good—I've tried the other two, but think I'd benefit from the explanations.</p> <p>Also, verbosity is welcomed here. If I'm not careful I get into a sprawling ramble about any number of things.</p> Thanks for the kind words and the great links! I keep meaning to look up Dan Heisman because I keep hearing his name come up. I’ll have to do that as soon as possible. And the Predator at the Chessboard site looks good—I’ve tried the other two, but think I’d benefit from the explanations.

Also, verbosity is welcomed here. If I’m not careful I get into a sprawling ramble about any number of things.

]]> By: Hank http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Hank Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:18:24 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-73 <p>Welcome to the madness - I'm enjoying reading your blog! My favorite chess blog is BDK's blog, so I'm glad you've discovered it, too. In fact he just posted about the annoyingness of dueling kibitzers so I'm hesitant about throwing more recommendations at you, but after about a year of reading everything I could find on the internet about resources for adult beginners or improving players I think there's a couple things I could mention quickly. I like your list of books and software that you're using so far - great stuff there! Tanc (Happy Hippo) mentioned ChessCafe.com, which is an incredible resource of free material by top professional chess writers. The single most valuable and immediately helpful and to-the-point stuff I've read there (and he's already been name-dropped in this thread) is Dan Heisman's "Novice Nook" column -- http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#Novice Nook ... He has a better organized index to those columns here: http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Articles/Novice_Nook_Links.htm ... If you want to get an idea of how useful the column can be, check out this amazing compilation of useful tips in this issue: http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman31.pdf ... And he has his own book recommendations here (which I've found very helpful): http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm ... Also (and BDK has mentioned this on his blog), a great complement to the Littlewood book (for learning tactics) is the "Predator at the Chessboard" site -- here's the table of contents: http://www.bu.edu/dbin/law/chess/toc/toc_right_expanded.php ... They also have a very cool random tactical puzzle generator, that I like to use for drilling tactics: http://www.bu.edu/dbin/law/chess/index.php?Type=quiz ... Perhaps not as popular or well known as http://chess.emrald.net/ or http://chesstempo.com/ but I like the fact that you can read their well-written explanations of the solutions after working out the solutions to each puzzle. They explain in a straightforward conceptual manner what the elements/preconditions were that made the tactic possible, and how to recognize similar opportunities in your own games... Oops, I took up a lot more space than I meant too, here - sorry for the verbosity! Best, Hank</p> Welcome to the madness – I’m enjoying reading your blog! My favorite chess blog is BDK’s blog, so I’m glad you’ve discovered it, too. In fact he just posted about the annoyingness of dueling kibitzers so I’m hesitant about throwing more recommendations at you, but after about a year of reading everything I could find on the internet about resources for adult beginners or improving players I think there’s a couple things I could mention quickly. I like your list of books and software that you’re using so far – great stuff there! Tanc (Happy Hippo) mentioned ChessCafe.com, which is an incredible resource of free material by top professional chess writers. The single most valuable and immediately helpful and to-the-point stuff I’ve read there (and he’s already been name-dropped in this thread) is Dan Heisman’s “Novice Nook” column — http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#Novice Nook … He has a better organized index to those columns here: http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Articles/Novice_Nook_Links.htm … If you want to get an idea of how useful the column can be, check out this amazing compilation of useful tips in this issue: http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman31.pdf … And he has his own book recommendations here (which I’ve found very helpful): http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm … Also (and BDK has mentioned this on his blog), a great complement to the Littlewood book (for learning tactics) is the “Predator at the Chessboard” site — here’s the table of contents: http://www.bu.edu/dbin/law/chess/toc/toc_right_expanded.php … They also have a very cool random tactical puzzle generator, that I like to use for drilling tactics: http://www.bu.edu/dbin/law/chess/index.php?Type=quiz … Perhaps not as popular or well known as http://chess.emrald.net/ or http://chesstempo.com/ but I like the fact that you can read their well-written explanations of the solutions after working out the solutions to each puzzle. They explain in a straightforward conceptual manner what the elements/preconditions were that made the tactic possible, and how to recognize similar opportunities in your own games… Oops, I took up a lot more space than I meant too, here – sorry for the verbosity! Best, Hank

]]> By: Tuirgin http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Tuirgin Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:48:23 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-67 <p>I read a bit about the Kights Errant over on BDK's blog, and while it sounds intriguing 1) I don't have the time that it sounds like it needs and 2) I'm afraid I'd burn out at that pace. Whenever I tend to get gung ho and give myself a strict regimen I end up feeling like it's a bunch of work instead of fun. That said, it sounds like there's a lot to be said for the repetition of the method. I may adapt some of the ideas for my own use, or else just adopt a very lax and laid back version of the method.</p> <p>Everyone I've read has said the same thing about playing over the games and then coming back for round two with the annotations. I think that's something I'll start doing soon. I still feel like I need to immerse myself in it with the hand holding and all for just a little longer. Right now the annotations help me stay focused on what's going on—without them it all gets a bit abstract and the games stop having a logical flow, and I just end up going through the motions. I guess you could say I'm getting ready to get started on learning. ;-)</p> <p>Thanks for the comments!</p> I read a bit about the Kights Errant over on BDK’s blog, and while it sounds intriguing 1) I don’t have the time that it sounds like it needs and 2) I’m afraid I’d burn out at that pace. Whenever I tend to get gung ho and give myself a strict regimen I end up feeling like it’s a bunch of work instead of fun. That said, it sounds like there’s a lot to be said for the repetition of the method. I may adapt some of the ideas for my own use, or else just adopt a very lax and laid back version of the method.

Everyone I’ve read has said the same thing about playing over the games and then coming back for round two with the annotations. I think that’s something I’ll start doing soon. I still feel like I need to immerse myself in it with the hand holding and all for just a little longer. Right now the annotations help me stay focused on what’s going on—without them it all gets a bit abstract and the games stop having a logical flow, and I just end up going through the motions. I guess you could say I’m getting ready to get started on learning. ;-)

Thanks for the comments!

]]> By: blunderprone http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-65 blunderprone Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:31:54 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-65 <p>"I think the most important things for me to do right now are to do tactics studies and to play through well annotated games."</p> <p>Welcome to my madness! Does this mean you'll become a (gasp) Knight erant?</p> <p>AS for the annotated games... if you are open for a suggestion... get the games "raw" in a pgn format and go over them first without the annotations. Review your results with the book. The process is bound to yeild best results.</p> “I think the most important things for me to do right now are to do tactics studies and to play through well annotated games.”

Welcome to my madness! Does this mean you’ll become a (gasp) Knight erant?

AS for the annotated games… if you are open for a suggestion… get the games “raw” in a pgn format and go over them first without the annotations. Review your results with the book. The process is bound to yeild best results.

]]> By: Tuirgin http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Tuirgin Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:32:12 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-37 <p>A "match series of slow games" does sound right up my alley. I'll check it out—thanks for the heads up.</p> <p>I'll have to review Fine Art at some point. Purdy's annotations are thorough and frequent without being so heavy as to distract from the actual game.</p> A “match series of slow games” does sound right up my alley. I’ll check it out—thanks for the heads up.

I’ll have to review Fine Art at some point. Purdy’s annotations are thorough and frequent without being so heavy as to distract from the actual game.

]]> By: farbror the guru http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-35 farbror the guru Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:50:11 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-35 <p>Hi Tuirgin,</p> <p>Nice Blog! I would like to promote Jonas' match site a little. A site where you can get in touch with people interested in match series of slow games. Playing and analyzing your own slow games is excellent training. Also, to be able to schedule some slow games in advance is a blessing for a ambitious chess patzer with small kids. Drop Jonas an email and he will add you to the list of interested players.</p> <p>http://sites.google.com/site/chessmatcheshq/</p> <p>I have Purdy's "Fine Art of Annotations" on the to-read list. I am looking forward to hear what you think about the book.</p> <p>Cheers, farbror</p> Hi Tuirgin,

Nice Blog! I would like to promote Jonas’ match site a little. A site where you can get in touch with people interested in match series of slow games. Playing and analyzing your own slow games is excellent training. Also, to be able to schedule some slow games in advance is a blessing for a ambitious chess patzer with small kids. Drop Jonas an email and he will add you to the list of interested players.

http://sites.google.com/site/chessmatcheshq/

I have Purdy’s “Fine Art of Annotations” on the to-read list. I am looking forward to hear what you think about the book.

Cheers, farbror

]]> By: Tuirgin http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Tuirgin Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:17:51 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-31 <p>I can totally relate to your blog's name. :-P</p> <p>Thanks for the tip about ChessZone—I wasn't aware of it. Also, my library is okay—inter-library loan could be the rescue if things get really tight fisted around here. Problem is, I tend to want to keep my books. Sure there's some that don't stand up to multiple readings and I'll eventually toss them—BookMunch, maybe?—but I tend to want to refer back to the things I've read. Maybe if I kept better notes, or maybe if I was a scoundrel and scanned everything I read. I think I'm just too lazy for that, though.</p> <p>Anyway, thanks again for the info!</p> I can totally relate to your blog’s name. :-P

Thanks for the tip about ChessZone—I wasn’t aware of it. Also, my library is okay—inter-library loan could be the rescue if things get really tight fisted around here. Problem is, I tend to want to keep my books. Sure there’s some that don’t stand up to multiple readings and I’ll eventually toss them—BookMunch, maybe?—but I tend to want to refer back to the things I’ve read. Maybe if I kept better notes, or maybe if I was a scoundrel and scanned everything I read. I think I’m just too lazy for that, though.

Anyway, thanks again for the info!

]]> By: tanc(happyhippo) http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-30 tanc(happyhippo) Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:18:45 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-30 <p>Hello Tuirgin.</p> <p>Greetings and welcome!</p> <p>This is a great looking blog you have there!</p> <p>Speaking of cheapskates, yours truly belongs to one of them as well. Okay, I admit to owning a couple of Roman's Labs DVDs (courtesy of my father-in-law who gave them to me as a present) and a few Chessbase DVDs which I purchased off the Web. I've so far only owned 3 chess books.</p> <p>2 of which I recently acquired at a 20% discount.</p> <p>Fundamental Chess Endings - Mueller (a terrific encyclopedia on everything about endgames) My Great Predecessors IV Fischer - Kasparov</p> <p>Chess is a relatively inexpensive game that you don't need to shell out a lot of $$$ on. There's also tons of chess material on the web which you can obtain for free (legally naturally).</p> <p>Two of my favourite websites are:</p> <p>Chesscafe - http://www.chesscafe.com Chesszone - http://www.chesszone.org</p> <p>Another great resource is your local library. I've managed to save quite a few pennies borrowing chess books from the library again and again and again.</p> <p>Looking forward to hearing more from you.</p> <p>Greetings from Down Under. tanc :)</p> Hello Tuirgin.

Greetings and welcome!

This is a great looking blog you have there!

Speaking of cheapskates, yours truly belongs to one of them as well. Okay, I admit to owning a couple of Roman’s Labs DVDs (courtesy of my father-in-law who gave them to me as a present) and a few Chessbase DVDs which I purchased off the Web. I’ve so far only owned 3 chess books.

2 of which I recently acquired at a 20% discount.

Fundamental Chess Endings – Mueller (a terrific encyclopedia on everything about endgames) My Great Predecessors IV Fischer – Kasparov

Chess is a relatively inexpensive game that you don’t need to shell out a lot of $$$ on. There’s also tons of chess material on the web which you can obtain for free (legally naturally).

Two of my favourite websites are:

Chesscafe – http://www.chesscafe.com Chesszone – http://www.chesszone.org

Another great resource is your local library. I’ve managed to save quite a few pennies borrowing chess books from the library again and again and again.

Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Greetings from Down Under. tanc :)

]]> By: Tuirgin http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Tuirgin Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:58:55 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-26 <p>CT-Art is doable on the easier levels, but it gets hard quickly for me. I'm breezing through Chess Tactics for Beginners so far, so once I've run through it a time or two I think I'll be ready for CT-Art.</p> <p>The tactics servers are interesting, but I like the fact that the software like CT-Art is organized into lessons or themes, and I must admit the clock over at Chess Tactics is oppressive! I'm not fast, at all.</p> <p>After hearing lots of warnings about spending too much time with the openings I've been focusing on tactics, mostly. Learning the lines without a deep understanding of positional ideas probably won't be too helpful, I'm guessing.</p> <p>Thanks for the comment -- and I'll look into my RSS link issue sometime tomorrow. Thanks for the tip on that, too.</p> <p>Christopher</p> CT-Art is doable on the easier levels, but it gets hard quickly for me. I’m breezing through Chess Tactics for Beginners so far, so once I’ve run through it a time or two I think I’ll be ready for CT-Art.

The tactics servers are interesting, but I like the fact that the software like CT-Art is organized into lessons or themes, and I must admit the clock over at Chess Tactics is oppressive! I’m not fast, at all.

After hearing lots of warnings about spending too much time with the openings I’ve been focusing on tactics, mostly. Learning the lines without a deep understanding of positional ideas probably won’t be too helpful, I’m guessing.

Thanks for the comment — and I’ll look into my RSS link issue sometime tomorrow. Thanks for the tip on that, too.

Christopher

]]> By: Tuirgin http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/03/29/the-path-towards-chess-obsession/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Tuirgin Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:57:17 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/?p=150#comment-25 <p>There are two reasons I gravitate towards corr: 1) I'm a plodding slow thinker and whenever I try to speed myself up it has devastating results (my FICS stats for blitz are EMBARRASSING, as in sub 500 last I looked, whereas corr usually ends me up at ~1400); 2) I've got 5 kids, including a 9 month old that means I have very little time where I can guarantee 30–60 minutes of uninterrupted attention... unless I'm up until 2am, and even then the 9 month old can be a problem.</p> <p>That said, if we can work out an amenable time I'd be more than happy to play on FICS. I'm on US Eastern time and my best chances are 9pm or later. Any chance that'd work for you?</p> <p>Re: playing over grandmaster games—I totally agree with you. I still get very little out of games that are only annotated with variations and Chess Informant symbols. I need a moderate amount of textual narrative to accompany the moves. What I tend to do is find or enter the moves from a game I'm about to read into SCID, turn on the "hide next move" feature, and then read through the text as I play through the game. I'll stop at interesting bits to check different positions and tactics out to make sure I'm following. Often I'll have an argument with the text and only discover my glaring oversight of some problem after quite a few minutes of looking. The next step will be to play through the game <em>before</em> reading the annotation. Purdy seems to think that's important, probably simply to avoid the effects of passive reading.</p> There are two reasons I gravitate towards corr: 1) I’m a plodding slow thinker and whenever I try to speed myself up it has devastating results (my FICS stats for blitz are EMBARRASSING, as in sub 500 last I looked, whereas corr usually ends me up at ~1400); 2) I’ve got 5 kids, including a 9 month old that means I have very little time where I can guarantee 30–60 minutes of uninterrupted attention… unless I’m up until 2am, and even then the 9 month old can be a problem.

That said, if we can work out an amenable time I’d be more than happy to play on FICS. I’m on US Eastern time and my best chances are 9pm or later. Any chance that’d work for you?

Re: playing over grandmaster games—I totally agree with you. I still get very little out of games that are only annotated with variations and Chess Informant symbols. I need a moderate amount of textual narrative to accompany the moves. What I tend to do is find or enter the moves from a game I’m about to read into SCID, turn on the “hide next move” feature, and then read through the text as I play through the game. I’ll stop at interesting bits to check different positions and tactics out to make sure I’m following. Often I’ll have an argument with the text and only discover my glaring oversight of some problem after quite a few minutes of looking. The next step will be to play through the game before reading the annotation. Purdy seems to think that’s important, probably simply to avoid the effects of passive reading.

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