Back at it on Become a better Chess player on 43 Things

become a better chess player (read all 21 entries…)

Back at it 12 months ago

While I haven’t started back on the Chessmaster lessons yet, I’ve been working on openings again, though I’m still favouring the Stonewall when playing real people.

I think it’s time for me to switch. Maybe I should look at something like the Caro-Kann, and use it for a while.

I also want to do a review of the openings I see used most often at FICS, and figure out good strategies for dealing with them.

My new high-water mark is 1175 for blitz, though my normal rating is a fair bit lower. Hopefully some concentrated study will pay off.

Dec 10, 2008, 09:31AM PST | 2 cheers

Comments:

flyingchanges is staying on track!

I may put Chess on my list

It’s something I always wanted to do, but never had a chance. My husband is an amazing chess player and has tried to teach me but I can’t get the hang of it. Wanna know how bad I am? I know that the queen is important and I remember the knight can jump things because he’s on a horse! LOL Yes, I have blonde moments in chess. Maybe a goal for me this year is to play once a week til I can understand the strategy. Thanks for inspiring me.

Dec 10, 2008, 09:35AM PST | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

GenerationA

That's excellent!

Congrats on the inspiration!

If you’re interested, here are a couple of suggestions that have helped inspire me to get better at chess….

1) Getting Chessmaster 10th ed! Not to randomly plug someone’s software, but it’s pretty cheap and has an absolutely wicked set of tutorials, and is able to play with a variety of skill levels and styles.

2) Check out a site like gameknot.com. You can register for free, and it’s an easy place to play people online where the games are at a relaxed pace – 3 days between moves often. You can find people who are playing at your skill level, or challenge yourself by going up against folks with higher ratings.

3) Set up an account on FICS, and download a program like WinBoard or Babaschess… these programs link you to international chess servers, where lots of folks hang out and play chess. I try to play on there at least a few times a week. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you on there!

Dec 10, 2008, 09:49AM PST | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

Kalibebti "a leaf is not too little; a world may rest in no more shade..." :D

:D 3 days, even I

could deal with that!

thanks for posting this : )

Dec 10, 2008, 03:49PM PST | Thread | Respond to this

GenerationA

Gamknot

Yeah, Gameknot is a great way to practice, as you can think for as long as you like. Plus… free!

Dec 10, 2008, 06:08PM PST | Respond to this

(This comment was deleted.)

Dec 10, 2008, 06:11PM PST

Ru ~ dig deeper glitter in her wake...

I can't wait

until Isak’s old enough to learn! I have such great memories of learning to play chess with Grandpa… maybe I can send him over to Uncle GenA’s place to rock the pawns.

By the way – would you like a slightly warm lizard to munch on?

Dec 10, 2008, 03:25PM PST | Thread | Respond to this 2 cheers

Kalibebti "a leaf is not too little; a world may rest in no more shade..." :D

"rock the pawns"

:D love it

Dec 10, 2008, 03:50PM PST | Respond to this

GenerationA

Leeezard?

You have a warm lizard for me to munch on? Hrmnh…..

Yeah, it’ll be fun to play Chess with the tadpole.

Dec 10, 2008, 06:08PM PST | Respond to this

GenerationA

I loved learning how to play from Grandpa as well, what an amazing experience. I love that so many of the family have chess tables which he made – a nice embodiment of several different aspects of the family.

Dec 10, 2008, 06:17PM PST | Respond to this 1 cheer

forestoak

not following you around

but had to reply to this as so nice the memories of learning against my father when young so recommend this also. something calm but friendly about it. Is a very nice intergeneration game and good for learning to think when young i would say.

At primary school I played in the school chess club, as did the school bully who was many years older than me, he made me play him 5 times as he thought he could get points this way, but i beat him everygame and knocked him out of the team, lol. (pen is mightier than the sword). However he knocked me out a week later as he waited for me to run in the swimming pool corridor and tripped me up, ended up in hospital. Still, feel i won overall …)

Dec 10, 2008, 06:27PM PST | Respond to this 1 cheer

forestoak

some good resources

I keeping seeing chess posts everywhere today, I played chess alot for a while in a push to get a different level out of curiosity as it really does have many layers of ideas to it but then banned it in favour of other things. However a great game.

Some useful resouces

internet chess club
  www.chesslecture.com is fun

but neither is free.

Dec 10, 2008, 06:15PM PST | Thread | Respond to this

GenerationA

One other awesome chess resource:
http://www.chessgames.com/

Tens of thousands of the world’s best games, which you can search for and view in a variety of ways.

Want to review all of Karpov & Casparov’s games against one another: easy!

(Free)

Dec 10, 2008, 06:35PM PST | Respond to this

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GenerationA has gotten 2 cheers on this entry.

Ru ~ dig deeper cheered this 12 months ago
flyingchanges cheered this 12 months ago

Comments:

I may put Chess on my list

That's excellent!

:D 3 days, even I

Gamknot

I can't wait

"rock the pawns"

Leeezard?

not following you around

some good resources

GenerationA has gotten 2 cheers on this entry.

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