Beginners gripe - any help? - Page 2 - Chess Forums

Ponzi's Scheming · 05-02-2009, 02:47 PM

You're going to kick yourself when you read this: Black blundered with 5...b6, but you didn't see it. You could have won significant material with 6.Bxc6+ Bd7 7.BxRa8 QxBa8.

And you're correct, 26.Nf5 was a tactical blunder.

It looks to me like you're not looking for checks, captures, and threats for your moves and your opponents moves. You have to do this check on every move, both for your moves and after your opponent moves.

Keep at the tactics, it will definitely help. But you have to apply your tactical skill on every move.

Exodus5000 · 05-02-2009, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by Ponzi's Scheming

You're going to kick yourself when you read this: Black blundered with 5...b6, but you didn't see it. You could have won significant material with 6.Bxc6+ Bd7 7.BxRa8 QxBa8.

Ahh - hehe sorry, that's actually a typo I made posting the game, the correct move was 5...b5. If only he did play b6! Would have been a much better game for me.

Belaji · 05-13-2009, 02:22 PM

Basically, when it's your opponent's turn, think strategy. When it's your turn, think tactics.

nobi · 05-26-2009, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by Exodus5000

Wait, are you telling me you played my game out in your head without a board?? Holy crap, thats crazy good memory.

I've read about the rules of space in Silman's various books. It's clear that I'm not applying the guidelines about many positional factors into my thought process when considering moves.

My current though process is:
1.) Identify any checks

2.) Find any unprotected pieces

3.) Try to find weakest spot in enemy position

4.) Look at most forcing moves:
-Double Checks, checks
-Taking a piece
-Mate threat
-Other threats

5.) Make a move that either develops a piece, improves mobility, or that will weaken enemies position.

This thought process it seems only takes into account tactical considerations. I've read Silman's books on building a position, however it seems that implementing these ideas into my over-the-board play is the problem?

How do you better players incorporate these ideas into your thought process, do you literally tick off the positional ideas?

You should add: 6. How can your opponent improve his position in the next moves? Check his strategic possibilities and try to disturb or prevent his plans! This is called prophylactic chess (played by Anatoly Karpov) and recommended in the books of the russian chess trainer Mark Dvoretsky.

If you can apply this your rating will go up immediately.
This means you are in constant search of your opponents plans and try to stop them, if possible or reduce their effect to an absolute minimum.

JacksonWShowalter · 05-26-2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by nobi

You should add: 6. How can your opponent improve his position in the next moves? Check his strategic possibilities and try to disturb or prevent his plans! This is called prophylactic chess (played by Anatoly Karpov) and recommended in the books of the russian chess trainer Mark Dvoretsky.

If you can apply this your rating will go up immediately.
This means you are in constant search of your opponents plans and try to stop them, if possible or reduce their effect to an absolute minimum.

A significant difference between master thinking and the average player is that the master generally tends to falsify his hypothesis.

That is, the average player reasons, “If I go here, he plays there and then I play here.” type of thinking. Often “there” is a move that accommodates whatever plan he thinks best. On the other hand, the master tends more towards thinking, “If I play here, how can he refute my intended plan,”

nobi · 05-27-2009, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by JacksonWShowalter

A significant difference between master thinking and the average player is that the master generally tens to falsify his hypothesis.

That is, the average player reasons, “If I go here, he plays there and then I play here.” type of thinking. Often “there” is a move that accommodates whatever plan he thinks best. On the other hand, the master tends more towards thinking, “If I play here, how can he refute my intended plan,”

This is very interesting indeed.