So you're back for more tips to improve in chess?
Cool! Welcome aboard once again. Now, this is part 2 by the way. If you haven't seen part one of this series, I highly suggest that you check it out.
The next bad habit (which amateur chess players are VERY guilty of) that we are going to look at is something that's very familiar to you. I'm quite sure of that. Wanna guess it? This negative habit is responsible why your tactical skills, strategic understanding, and endgame skills are way behind.
Do you have any idea now?
Here it is...
Paying WAAAAYYY Too Much Attention On Chess Openings
"The objective of the opening is to reach a playable middlegame."
I'm NOT so sure who spouted this golden nugget of chess wisdom. It was either GM Hort or GM Suetin. BUT one thing I'm sure of, this is spot on! Unfortunately, club and amateur players shove this to the side. True, studying chess openings is essential. HOWEVER, the way class players approach opening study is way off...it's as if their life depends on it.
They spend hours and hours MEMORIZING reams of theory of the sharp Najdorf Sicilian. They ape Kasparov's opening repertoire - they adopt chess openings like King's Indian Attack, Najdorf Sicilian, and other highly complicated variations, which are way beyond their playing strength.
They're thinking:"If Kasparov (Topalov, Kramnik, etc.) adopts this opening, then it MUST be good!"
Well, it is good...FOR THEIR LEVEL! You see, these are 2700+ and world class grandmaster who have spent their lives mastering the royal game. They have a deep understanding of tactics, how to think, which strategic elements dominate a certain position, and the list goes on.
When these almost equally-skilled masters cross swords on the 64-squared battlefield, their understanding of tactics, strategy, etc. is NOT enough to yield them an advantage. The only solution is to study ultra sharp and complicated openings, find novelties, and spring it on their opponents.
These openings work for them because they have the strength and experience to guide them to play it PROPERLY.
I highly doubt I could say the same for the mere chess mortals like you and me. If only club and amateur wood-pushers who try to play the opening like Kramnik, Carlsen, etc. would take a closer look at their games, they would realize that these are NOT decided by some sophisticated opening that yields them a +/= advantage...it's the simple forks, skewers, undefended pieces, etc. that make or break their games.
As a result, they don't improve in chess at all. The progress they make is neglible...it's NOT in proportion with the time they spend on chess study.
The Antidote
If you want to improve in chess, drop that 500-paged opening tome and focus on things that matter.
Just go pick a set of openings for white and black, those that correspond to your level, understand why this-and-that is played...AND get your feet wet. Play those openings in serious games, blitz, etc. Only when you encounter something you don't know should you consult an opening book...NOT to study it EXCLUSIVELY for weeks BUT to orient yourself on what you should do should this strange move crop up again.
As for most of your chess study time, it's better to focus on getting a solid foundation...focus on things that matter. Train how to think properly move by move. Keep your tactical vision sharp at all times so you can capitalize on mistakes and avoid making them yourself.
Chess is 99 percent tactics as Richard Teichman said. I couldn't agree more.
With so much information about chess, chess improvement, openings, tactics, etc. it's hard to see through the confusion and keep your attention on stuff that REALLY matters.
If you are struggling to improve in chess, if you can't seem to get better, then you could use a little hand-holding. Now, NOT from me BUT from someone more qualified - a Grandmaster who has studied human psychology and used that knowledge to successfully coach A LOT of chess players around the globe.
GM Igor Grandmaster has written an excellent chess course - Grandmaster's Secrets, that is especially aimed at players who are yet to break into the expert or chess master realm.
This chess video course shows you how to think in chess and play the game, what mistakes to avoid, how to get in top shape for tournaments, and how to train the RIGHT way. The advice within his chess lessons are ROCK-solid and has helped my game a lot.
Check out GM Igor Smirnov's Grandmaster's Secrets Official Website HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment