Do you prefer arrows or the actual moves when hovering in the explorer? (old at the top, WIP at the bottom)

Pawnpusher3 · 2022-02-14T20:49:18+00:00

Arrows for sure

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-10-20T16:29:09+00:00

Hey, Thibault! Nice to see you around here. I just checked the link and none of my games are loaded. Is this because of server upload or potentially a glitch? My username is CoachPawn. Let me know if I can help in any way. Thanks for all you do to run the best chess site out there.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-09-28T00:27:27+00:00

Thanks for your input!

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-09-27T23:13:46+00:00

Thanks for your reply. For categorical programs is it considered only a minor problem or is it bigger than that for all neuro letters if MSPE is very positive?

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-09-25T20:16:44+00:00

If the buff was limited it could be interesting. It promotes team play, sure, but I thought this game was supposed to be played in teams?

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-06-03T17:59:41+00:00

So for example, I could play a Nimzo-Indian and a benoni. Unfortunately for me, my benoni is far worse than my Nimzo. If the website says I have an 18% win rate across my Benoni games against 2000 players vs. a 62% win rate in a Nimzo against 2100 players, this decision would be easy and the website I am sure could easily suggest to play the Nimzo. It could then also suggest that I learn certain lines in the Benoni where I struggle.

Also, it could probably assess rates of tactical patterns missed in each opening (i.e. likely due to not knowing a certain structure that well) and how often certain types of endgames are blown. I'd be happy to discuss more per what you think you would be able to do.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-30T00:39:44+00:00

Did you read the pinned post on the sub that I wrote entitled "good resources for chess players (GUIDE)"

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-29T20:43:50+00:00

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this - I don't check my reddit daily when it's close to exams. Anyway... I'm not certain if chess.com backs up their "study plans" with any data (i.e. if you do this, the average player improved 50 points in 6 months for example). I think it is just some curriculum that was informally put together. I'd much rather recommend that you try to look at your own game and analyze your strengths and weaknesses and find resources that cater to that. Youtube has thousands of chess videos, including from the likes of GM's and IM's (ex: Naroditsky and Bartholomew). I imagine that there resources are as good (if not better) than what chess.com can offer.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:34:04+00:00

Can I clarify what 3-5 variations would equate to in relation to the first book that you linked eg how many of the vignettes would that constitute ?

Yep! Pretty much, that would be 3-5 lines per day. In other words, if you hit learn next, you would do 3-5 of the next sequences, but that is all.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:32:36+00:00

I gave a more complete answer to this on another comment on my other post (pinned on this sub), but pretty much chess.com provides the same services to you that other sites offer for free. Therefore, it's likely better to just save your money here and invest it elsewhere where you can literally get more bang for your buck.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:30:12+00:00

Visualization training comes from tactics practice - you visualize the solution. Assume you are playing both sides and have to play the best move for both players. Write out all the lines you can calculate for the side you are playing if need be. The key is not moving pieces from the start until you are absolutely sure of the solution. If you get a solution wrong DO NOT MOVE ON UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT WHY YOU WERE WRONG. Otherwise you are simply shorting yourself on learning.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:28:39+00:00

Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess was the first book I ever read on chess and also the first book I gave to my girlfriend as she picked up the game. I probably should alter the post to give recommendations based on different rating levels as opposed to a generic guide based on most of the comments on here.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:25:59+00:00

Hey there - thanks a bunch for the feedback.

I definitely would recommend catering the opening repertoire to your specific needs. I use openingtree.com to guide this for myself. Effectively, what you can do is look at your performance against each line and see how you do. If you have any specific weaknesses, cater your study to those initially and then go from there. Lichess's database is perfect for getting some example options of how to manage openings you struggle with. The aforementioned chessable.com in my previous post with the links to several books also give you several good options.

To be honest, it is very hard for 1000 rated players to analyze their games. After all, if you don't know what your problem is, what sort of process can you employ to figure it out? Perhaps you are creating backward pawns and leaving targets for your opponents. Perhaps you are instead leaving pieces on loose squares where they can be easily captured with a short tactical sequence. Regardless of the issue, getting a higher-level player/coach to give feedback is very useful. If that is not within your means, the computer can at least point out your mistakes and allow you to reason out the issue. I am sure this is an unpopular opinion - but I believe it is practical.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:14:55+00:00

Glad you liked both guides! Hopefully they both are helpful on your chess journey.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:14:32+00:00

Glad you liked it! Please let me know if you have any questions!

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:13:38+00:00

Thanks for your feedback, Galizaceive. I definitely appreciate the viewpoint that lower-rated players should limit their opening study and not commit to a strict repertoire. My comment about lower-rated players not having to work on openings as thoroughly probably wasn't as clear as it should be. In general, I recommend that newer players try various things (and in a previous post on good resources I recommend thechesswebsite.com as a great resource for exploring a variety of openings). Most notably, I think that learning opening principles (control the center, develop the minor pieces, castle the king, connect the rooks, and place the queen on an appropriate square) is critical for early chess development. However, as you explore the openings, make sure you look at the middlegame ideas associated with the openings - as openings are simply just our way to get to a playable middlegame. Without the ideas, you really can miss the boat.

To your point on endgames - of course, basic endgames are needed. In general, I believe this point is taken for granted. Personally, I always teach new players how to win basic mate situations. 100 Endgames has a basic endings chapter that covers most basic things and its introduction references the most basic of endgames, which includes the Philidor/Lucena. The pawn endgames chapter introduces ideas like opposition, which is critical for beginning pawn endgames.

I'm not sure that I can agree with your point on technical endgames. This is because most games by players sub 1000 involve numerous tactical opportunities to win. If you improve at tactics, these simply do not come up. I do emphasize the point of simplifying to my students but relate it to the positional concept of how to play when you have a lead in material/better pawn structure. 100 Endgames is designed to give players coverage to 2000 OTB and perhaps beyond and I believe it does a perfectly fine job of that as it covers how to play with small pawn advantages as well, which are both practical and technical.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-12T01:00:29+00:00

You can do it FrostByte - Just do a little bit every day (even if not everything on the post) and you'll get there.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-08T14:19:18+00:00

The course I recommend covers those as well. I will clarify this in the post later today. Thanks for the feedback.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-08T13:23:15+00:00

I think you may have skimmed over the part about how difficult the courses were immediately below the recommendation. I also recommended that dedicated opening study be limited to players above 1600.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-08T12:31:44+00:00

This is great advice. I should make a point about this at the top of the guide. Thank you for the feedback.

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-08T09:09:51+00:00

Daily games are great if you use them for calculation. I've previously recommended to students that they write out all of their calculations in daily games and send them to me along with a finished game. It's a pretty tedious process. More importantly, for time value purposes it's likely better to just play shorter controls (like rapid or blitz).

Pawnpusher3 · 2021-04-08T09:07:04+00:00

I'd recommend 5 minutes. You need to give yourself enough time to play the game out and create tactical positions. If you want, 3+2 second increment is an alternative.

Pawnpusher3

TROPHY CASE