davilcox@uok.UUCP (02/10/86)
I am an ametuer chess player who is good enough to beat all of my friends. My problem is the fact that I am not good enough to play against people who are very good, even if I could find players like that who would want to play a person of my ability. I am very good at looking ahead, but my strategy is not the best in the world. I don't want to read a beginner or even a first book of strategy, because I am better than that. I was wondering if any one could recommend a book, or what I should do to improve my game. I don't have to much time to spend reading things that won't help me. Thanks, David Cox University of Oklahoma 1400 Asp Box 909E Norman, Ok 73026 (405) 325-3956 ihnpf!okstate!uok!davilcox
tim@ism780c.UUCP (Tim Smith) (02/18/86)
You might try the books "Think like a Grandmaster" and "Play like a Grandmaster", by, I think, Kotov. Play in tournaments, if you don't already. Postal chess could also help with your game. For something like $10 you can enter the USCF Golden Knights tournament, which will give you six opponents in the first round, and six in the second. Finally, if you have the money, a good chess computer can probably help. There are some available that are around Class A or even Expert strength. Try to get one with a clock. -- Tim Smith sdcrdcf!ism780c!tim || ima!ism780!tim || ihnp4!cithep!tim
fauchet@princeton.UUCP (Philippe Fauchet) (02/20/86)
> You might try the books "Think like a Grandmaster" and "Play like > a Grandmaster", by, I think, Kotov. > > Play in tournaments, if you don't already. > > Postal chess could also help with your game. For something like $10 > you can enter the USCF Golden Knights tournament, which will give you > six opponents in the first round, and six in the second. > > Finally, if you have the money, a good chess computer can probably > help. There are some available that are around Class A or even > Expert strength. Try to get one with a clock. > > -- > Tim Smith sdcrdcf!ism780c!tim || ima!ism780!tim || ihnp4!cithep!tim *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I agree that postal chess can do wonders for your otb play. It forcesd you to think deeply, and not to play for cheap shots. You also have to study and UNDERSTAND openings, because your partner is probably well- equiped with many books. In contrast, speed chess may give you lots of exposure to new lines in a very short time. It also probably enhances your tactical awareness. After I took on postal play when I was a teenager, I started using much more time on the clock and ended up playing too many moves in little time to reach the time control. However, my middle-game and overall strategy blossomed. Interestingly, I also became stronger in speed chess, because I had learned how to handle some standard positions. CONCLUSIONS: Play,play,play, BUT be sure to have a mix of depth and speed :w :q
joseph@orstcs.UUCP (joseph) (02/20/86)
For developing general purpose skills, I strongly recommend "Think Like a Grandmaster" by Kotov. For developing end-game skills, I recommend Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge by Averbakh. And after mastering the Averbakh book, "Rook and Endings" by Levenfish and Smyslov. Without a several hundred dollar investment in a chess library, mastery of only these two books will make one a strong player. Of course, a careful and thorough study of opening theory is vital to playing the game a the highest level, and certainly important. It is also quite expensive to acquire materials. I recently (1 year ago) decided to give up competitive chess, and sold my chess library. At used book prices, I received a total of $400 for the books. I still had a dozen or so books to give away. I had accumulated these books over about 12 years of collection and study. To replace them with new books would cost in excess of $1000. Stick to the above two, and one can't go wrong. -Joseph Albert