Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Critical Moment
Andrew Martin has written an article (pdf) about the critical moment in a chess game: The ability to identify critical points and take appropriate action.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
When is it OK to play g4?
When is it OK to play g4? Susan Polgar wrote an article (pdf) about the subject.
See also my blog post "g2-g4 in the opening".
See also my blog post "g2-g4 in the opening".
FIDE Grand Prix Chess Tournaments
Website FIDE Grand Prix Chess Tournaments.
The games at ChessBomb and ChessGames
The games at ChessBomb and ChessGames
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Attacking the Chess King
My notes after reading Attacking Manual 1 & 2 by Jacob Aagaard:
How many pieces do you need to bring into your attack to make it successful?
Where needs your pieces be placed to be most attacking effective?
Where needs your opponent's pieces be placed to be able to defend in the best possible way against your attacking ambitions?
"When your pieces are becoming more active and you get more active options, things are generally moving in the right direction." (Jacob Aagaard)
"A piece is only influential in the attack if it is there." (Jacob Aagaard)
A weakness is only a weakness if the opponent can take advantage of it.
Strike at the weakest point in the opponent's position.
If that is not possible - strike then instead against the strong point in the opponent's position.
· Attack with all of your pieces.
"If possible, include all your pieces in the attack before executing it." (Jacob Aagaard)
In a great majority of cases we need to bring all our pieces into the attack to make it successful.
Once you have brought all of your pieces into the attack (=once you have improved your position to the maximum) you should sacrifice your way through your opponent's defences.
· Few other times there is no time to bring all our pieces into the attack. We have to strike immediately if we want success.
"In general, a successful kingside attack will need at least three pieces participating: one to be sacrificed and two to give checkmate. " (Colin Crouch)
· At times are pawns as strong as pieces to use in the attack.
· When you have the initiative in a dynamic position there is no time to lose. You have to act with great speed and play as forcefully as possible on every move to keep the momentum – or lose it.
"When you have the momentum you have to act with great speed or the momentum will perish." (Jacob Aagaard)
Saturday, September 15, 2012
'Sometimes' - the most correct statement
...sometimes it is a good idea to strike back in the centre, when attacked on the wing. This, I think, is the most correct statement. But I guess that in a world of strong motto marketing, you won't get into the spotlights with this one.
Most students like teachers who bring clear knowledge in a convincing, self-assured way. With statements like 'sometimes, in somehow similar positions, something like this might be a good idea' you do not make a very authoritative impression.
Willy Hendriks, Move First, Think Later: Sense and Nonsense in Improving Your Chess
Lazy moves: Lack-of-effort mistakes
..."lazy moves" are played by everyone at every level.
Jeremy Silman, How to Reassess Your Chess (4th Edition)
...you can do a lot towards lowering the incidents of lazy moves in your own games by catching yourself during key positions or any time you don't know what to do, and demanding the best effort you can possibly give. Then, if you fail to find a good way to handle the position you can still be proud of yourself - you did your best and nobody can ask more of you than that.
Jeremy Silman, How to Reassess Your Chess (4th Edition)
Opening Choices
Choose openings that suit your style/temperament – just because the world's best players use it doesn't mean that it's right for you.
Jeremy Silman, How to Reassess Your Chess (4th Edition)
Choose openings that suit both your schedule and memory.
Jeremy Silman, How to Reassess Your Chess (4th Edition)
Choose openings that cater to your chess strengths.
Jeremy Silman, How to Reassess Your Chess (4th Edition)
Choose openings that make you happy.
Jeremy Silman, How to Reassess Your Chess (4th Edition)
Don't choose openings based on the opinion of others, on chess squiggles like += and =, or on computer assessments.
Jeremy Silman, How to Reassess Your Chess (4th Edition)
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
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