Anki: a fantastic chess tool

Lately people concluded that what distinguish a master from a class chess player is really their ability of choosing the best move. As I understand it, it means that the master choose good first move while the rest of us waste our time choosing first moves of lower quality. Since choosing moves seems to originate from position seen the  past, chess memory is essential to improve. How to go about it?

So, I got hold of anki and the Polga's 5000 problem set. I have been using them. I plan to combine it with ichess in my regular study time. I use ichess to review my notes from the books that I study as well as memorizing the position where I made a blunder.  The point is that blunder is taken as a blind chess spot.

My emphasis is in the middle and endgame. I am not studying openings since my games are turn based and databases are allowed. It is funny to see how some people follow them to the tilt. How to deal with this? That is something to consider.

Game 6: underdeveloped modern defence

Lesson: be patient. This is specially important in cramped and underdeveloped position that the modern seems to have all the tim.e
What an odd pawn formation for black!

How I practice or train

As my games progress, I noticed that I become uneasy when the endgame starts. I decided to change my training routine. The new one consist of

1. Tactics   -  As much as possible   -  50 %
2. Games   -  No more than 15 games at the time 
3. Study:  50 %      Alternate between middle game and endgames. At this time I am going through the Grooten's strategy book. I will use for Glenn Flear's for endgames. As I finish these books, I will replace them with other within the same area.

At this time, I do not plan to any opening study. However with white I will start e5 and black g6. I think that the best way to study the opening is to study it as part of the strategy area: a general view of the whole opening. 

Of course, each game I played will be analyzed and commented. I am interested in particular about my thoughts, feelings and mistakes during the game. This is very hard to do with internet games, because the games last many months. Probably I should played out of ChessBase and my comment as the games progress.

I will not use the database to play the game with player that have rating less than 1900. I suspect that those above that number are using them. There is a sudden jump in strength after 1800; I could not believe that some people follow Pirc Austrian attack for 17 moves without looking at a opening book. (Yes, I know that memorize the main line. That tells me that I better play by the book those guys or I will be held below 1900) I am assuming that below that rating most is a tactical play. This includes me!

Tactical training

Very simple: use iChess to solve puzzle until I memorize their solution. Currently I am finishing the master set. I think that memorizing the solution is important to help recognizing similar pattern during actual playing. I am very happy with the software because I found thousands of chess puzzles that iChess let me practice with my kindle fire.

Game 5 Watch before take

Lesson: go slow before taking a piece. Greed needs to be controlled. I missed the folk on his queen.

50 Essential Chess Lessons

A good book that I just finished. There are indeed 50 lessons to learn here by Giddins. I used it as refresher of chess strategies. It is probably good for 1400 rating players that I enjoyed very much. Now I am moving on to Chess Strategy for Club Players, by Grooten.

Training focus

After considering, reading, and testing I have come to the realization that to improve in chess I need to adhere to a consistent training regime. It must simple and clear. Given all what it talked about improvement from so many sources, it seems to me that the path forward has 3 only 3 components:

 1. Tactic drills....> because every position is just another puzzle to solve.

 2. Playing over Master annotated games ...> because every one of them is a lesson on strategy and patterns.
 
3. Playing ....> The games has to be annotated by a computer partner after their conclusion....to get a feedback...

 Annotated master games are the only opening games worth reading.


General comment:
Sometime, after solving puzzle with ichess for a while, I feel the mind in a fog. Thoughts are unclear. I move just out of memory sake. And of course, I do not see the solution. I suspect that when playing, something similar might happen and then I blunder. What is this? Is this too much chess for the brain to handle? Could such a thing occur? How to avoid it? Something to explore.

My largest tournament ever

Madness. I began playing in the largest tournament I ever played: 20 players. I plan to play without looking at any database or theory. Just playing the best move I can see. I would be interesting to observe if my tactics drills have any benefits. The games are in slowchess.com

Game 5 Two blind men

Lesson:  Keep you eyes open, oh blind man!

Game 4 A night and its post

Lesson: Be patient. In chess, the loser is the one who makes the first mistake when the winner takes advantage of it.

I am posting game as they happened. I just that I have been winning a lot lately. This was a good game where it does not seem that I made any mistake. However I began to study the modern because there is too much with the pirc. I do not want to pass the time preparing for black when I have to study. Beside the modern seems pretty wild and with full of posibilities. White owns the center, while black get ready to strike it. A very clear strategy.

Game 3 Eye on queen exits

Lessons: the queen can attack too. (1) Eyes on any potential exit with the queen threatening available weaknesses. (2) Avoid obsession with a particular side. Remember to look a the whole board.

Thinking method

I decided to start playing again in Slow-Chess.Net. Joining a 20 players tourmt. I plan to use as a ground to test my new opening set. I plan to play a little faster than normal and practice a consisten thinking process. No piece touch approach

Thinking process:

1. Check on Check-Capture Threat
2. Strategy
        1. King safety
        2. Mobility
        3. Space
        4. Coordinate
3. Check on Check-Capture-Threat
Move

I plan to continue as normal in Gameknot.

Game 2: Greed on the board

Risk all just to trap a queen. I did. Then I worry on how to fight minor pieces with rooks and queen. To no avail, the enemy blundered and the game was over.
Lesson: Trapping a queen is a major turning point. Final evaluations must over rule greed and fancy tactics.

By the way, I enjoy very much annotating my games. But it is very hard to remember my thoughts when I have to work that have been going for weeks. There got to be a way to keep track of my thoughts in Gameknot.

Game 1: Fight with an army

I need to remember to engage the full army in the war.
What about if I apply the lessons from the "Art of War" to chess?

This was a terrible game that I deserve to lose.
A lesson from my hall of shame.

Play chess online

Returning to study chess

After a long time without studying chess, I am picking up the books again.
Training schedule:

1. Tactics  - Everyday - As much a possible - Similar to doing scale practice as per the musician practice.
2. Master games - Just read books full of anotated master games - Reading for fun, for pleasure
3. Gameknot - No more than 12 games at the time- Make sure that each move is done purposely.

My rating in Gameknot is 1826.
I am not sure if I will return to OTB. It takes too much time and effort. I am not even sure that my wife would allow me to give away weekends and evenings that I could pass with her. So CC is the way to go.
Yes...I know people might play with computers against me. It does not bother me at all. It is their loss and it is my win. Why? Because then I am playing against a GM and their would be just pushing clicking away. Their wins means nothing.