Mixed Tips Chess forum

1 replies. Last post: 2004-06-07

Reply to this topic Return to forum

Mixed Tips
  • Andres Villasante at 2004-06-07

    /—/ Prefer stronger opponents (even much stronger) if you want to improve quick. Opponents of your own level wont be able to show you your deficits very clearly. Ask stronger opponents to discuss the game with you after it has finished. During the discussion try to find out where your stronger opponent has made moves guided more by intuition than by calculation. Let the opponent explain to you what kind of (implicit) rule(s) s/he followed for the intuitive move(s).

    /—————————————————–/ First improve your weakest area (openings / strategy / tactics / endgame / time management). The more balanced you play in all the phases of the game the stronger you are - your worst weakness defines your overall strength.

    /——————————————————-/ To learn tactics use training books without any hints. Only the side to move should be given. And neither the combination type nor the piece which has to be sacrificed should be known - like in a real game situation. The book should also mix in positions where a combination is possible but wrong (again without any hint - it trains your ability to detect and to refute incorrect combinations).

    /——————————————————-/ As a weaker player you can quickly gain experience in many different position types by playing rapid and lighting games against strong opponents.

    /——————————————————-/ Learn to master the technical mating endgames (K+Q or K+R or K+B+B or K+N+N vs the lonely king, also K+P vs K) perfectly. This will show you how to coordinate pieces and it is also an excellent base for the more complicated endgames and even for the middle game. Practise your knowledge against computer opponents if you dont have human training partners.

    /——————————————————–/ Be aware that the exchange ratio of pawns vs pieces is different in middle game and endgame. Pawns become more and more valuable in the endgame and the exchange: 3 own pawns for an opponent light piece is often very bad in the endgame.

    /——————————————————–/ Dont give away your bishop pair without compensation. It is usually stronger than any other 2 light pieces.

    /——————————————————–/ Try to avoid weak fields - i.e fields in your area which you cannot control by pawns any more (e.g. when black is forced to play gxf6 then f5 becomes very weak). Try to placa knights on weak fields of your opponent (after black 0-0 a white knight on f5 is always very dangerous - even if f5 is not weak). If you have a backward pawn behind your own weak field try to push the pawn forward. Sometimes it makes sense to sacrifice this pawn only to hinder opponent pieces to occupy the weak field!

    /——————————————————-/ If youre not a master player then concentrate more on endgame and tactics to improve your overall strength. The better you are the more important a solid opening repertoire will be. Forget opening books where lines are given without explanation of overall concepts.

    /——————–/ good luck /——————–/

Return to forum

Reply to this topic