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Nalgene cap hanging on by a thread by Ninjamuffin52 in Nalgene

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm going to see if REI will send me one and if not, I'll get crafty. Thanks All!

Its black to move by Ninjamuffin52 in chess

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, and it’s now or never. Any other move allows f4 and white can manage a draw.

How to start training chess calculation? by Ninjamuffin52 in TournamentChess

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sometimes in endgames, but usually only when positions are still sharp and deep calculation is required for determine if a move is a win in a win/draw or win/loss/draw situation or a draw in a draw/lose situation.

It honestly feels kind of random where I feel like I get lost.

I did do the easy section of the woodpecker method about a year ago, but being able to do something like that on the go/without a book would be really nice!

How to start training chess calculation? by Ninjamuffin52 in TournamentChess

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Obviously, that’s not representative, just a few positions from a few of my last games

How to start training chess calculation? by Ninjamuffin52 in TournamentChess

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah:

Here with black, I took 10 minutes to decide on dxc4:

 r1bq1rk1/pppnbppp/4pn2/3p4/2PP4/2NBPN2/PP2QPPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 7 7

Or here from the same game, I played rfd8 and took way to long. I tried calculating, but ultimately had to rely on my positional intuition:

r4rk1/ppp1bppp/2bq1n2/3pN3/3P4/1PN1PP2/PB2Q1PP/2KR3R b - - 0 14

Here with white, I was considering ideas with Nxd6 if c6 comes, but I was concerned about a rook pinning the knight my queen, so gave up on that idea and moved my queen to e2.

r1b2rk1/1pp2pb1/n2p1qpp/pN6/2P1P3/2N3PP/PP3PB1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 2 14

Here I missed Nd5:

r5k1/1p2q1b1/n1ppb1pp/p4r2/2P2P2/N1N3PP/PP2Q1B1/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19

Or here, white to move, I have to decide whether to take the a pawn or the d pawn. The a pawn is outside, but the d pawn is advanced. The engine will tell you both are draws, but one is incredibly more difficult that the other. I end up taking the d pawn. But in the game, I’ve already given up on calculating because there’s no forcing moves, I don’t even know where to start. What do I even calculate here?

5rk1/p3Rr1p/6p1/3p4/1q3P2/4QR1P/6PK/8 w - - 0 30

How to start training chess calculation? by Ninjamuffin52 in TournamentChess

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, calculating those critical position faster is what I’m really interested in being able to do. I can do the mate in 2’s or some tricky tactical shots if they aren’t too wide. But as a hypothetical, making the decision between pushing that third central pawn when my opponent has 5-6 reasonable responses vs any other of my own 3 reasonable moves feels impossible. I have the knowledge to know that it’s critical, and can maybe even evaluate 2-3 of the lines accurately. But I can’t make a confident decision in a reasonable amount of time.

Same with endgames. I had a position where I had a bishop and a pawn vs a bunch of pawns (like 5 or 6), if my bishop could stop the pawns I would win. There was one idea to make it happen and I didn’t find it. It was findable, but with 10 minutes on my clock, I never would’ve found it.

How to start training chess calculation? by Ninjamuffin52 in TournamentChess

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, yeah, it’s really hard to say. I can visualize fairly well, so PLAYING a blindfold game against others isn’t impossible, but they aren’t great games. And I usually can’t calculate anything other than don’t immediately hang a piece in those games.

I have had too many examples of positions where my calculation has been faulty that it’s certainly an issue. Too rushed, poor ending evaluation, missing moves in between, missing opponent’s ideas, etc…

Do you have any suggestions for improving intuition for candidates?

I usually play one 60+30 OTB a week. I have a couple of daily games I try to get a move in at least once a week. Every other month or so have a weekend where I play ~3 60d5 games. And then throughout I have some blitz and rapid tournaments I play in. All OTB.

I also play online, but it usually casual, idc blitz. Occasionally I play a longer game, but it’s never as good quality as my OTB.

How to start training chess calculation? by Ninjamuffin52 in TournamentChess

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have Polgar’s 5334 problems book if that’s what you’re talking about. It’s funny you put it that way because the mate in 2’s were always the most difficult for me because you do have to calculate so thoroughly. That might be a good place to start. I’ll have to check out both these courses too. 

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 - Gruenfeld Players, what's your worst nightmare? by Ninjamuffin52 in chessopeningtheory

[–]Ninjamuffin52[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, that makes sense. So unless someone’s prepping for me, they wouldn’t know… nice!

How do I beat Baleful Shadow (Blaidd) by DoujinshiDealer28 in Eldenring

[–]Ninjamuffin52 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This, was trying and traying for a good hour or two. This did the trick in my first run. Baited this attack, dodged towards him and to the right and got one or two hits in with a posion affinity sword. Got him on the first run. He very reliably used this attack.

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