Improve Your Rating by 400 Points

While this statement is aimed at chess players rated at about 1400 (USCF), the idea can be used by most chess players to improve their rating. Once again, I want to beat my drum about studying chess puzzles to improve your chess strength. Why?

As Michael de la Maza of www.Chesscafe.com states in his article "400 points in 400 days" (Part 1  Part 2), and his observation is backup by GM Jonathan Levitt and GM Nigel Davies,

"Chess knowledge is not the same as chess ability...and a player's chess ability is limited first and foremost by a lack of tactical ability."

And how does Michael recommend that you improve your chess ability?  Doing Chess puzzles and in his articles he recommends a study plan that he developed.

World's Top 10 Players

World's Top 10 Rated Players (updated August 29, 2010)
Rank Name            Rating
01     Carlsen        2826
02     Topalov        2803
03     Anand        2800
04     Aronian        2783
05     Kramnik        2780
06     Eljanov        2760
07     Grischuk        2760
08     Mamedyarov 2755
09     Ivanchuk        2754
10     Gelfand        2750

Mega Chess Book Database

Here is a link to DB Books (a mega chess book database).  It must contain hundreds of chess books.

Links to Chess Tactics Books

In studying tactics (videos and blog), I recommend 2 books.  Here are links so you don't have to buy them, though I recommend it.

Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games (Laszlo Polgar)
1001 Brilliant Chess Sacrifices and Combinations (Reinfeld)

Free Online Chess Books

Chesszone.org offers a collection of English and Russian chess books in PDF or DJVU Viewer which include:


* J. R. Capablanca "Chess fundamentals"
* Edward Lasker "Chess Strategy"
* Pandolfini "Pandolfini's Endgame Course"

Submit your game for analysis on YouTube

I've had several requests to review submitted games.  If you played a game that you think would be interesting or instructive, then please submit it to kensoffice.contact@gmail.com


KingKibitz
Do Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess.

Improving Your Chess Using Chess.com Part 2

Improving Your Chess Using Chess.com Part 2

In Part 1, I recommended playing “online” chess on Chess.com.  “Online” chess is similar to playing chess by email because a player has 1 to 14 days to make a move (where 3 moves is the typical time limit but I see that most of my opponents move at least once per day).  Here are 3 further ways to improve your chess on “online” chess:

1. Use “Notes”

Notes are private, so your opponent can’t see them!  Use “Notes” to record your strategy, plans, etc.  I personally use Notes to log my candidate moves (best to worst).  When I review the game, this allows me to see what moves I was considering.  Ideally, I would record my evaluation of the position, but I have not found a concise way to record this, and I figure that the candidate moves are the next bet thing.

2. Use the Analysis Board

You can find the “Analysis Board” at the bottom of the “Moves” tab.  The Analysis Board allows you to move the pieces around, and I personally use it to explore different lines.  I recommend, however, that you run through the variations in your head to improve your calculation and board vision ability.  Then take it to the analysis board to check what you did in your head.

3.  Use Conditional Moves:The “conditional Moves” button is located on the right side of the screen (see above image).  Conditional moves allow you to play moves in a “if…then” format.  I use this feature for obvious replys when I capture a piece, etc.  Using this feature will also speed your games because you don’t waste time waiting to exchange obvious moves.

King Kibitz
Do Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess

Improving Your Chess Using Chess.com Part 1

Improving Your Chess Using Chess.com Part 1

There are a lot of good chess servers out there. For example:
Yahoo.com
Pogo.com
Playchess.com
Chess.com

However, I would like to discuss improving your chess with Chess.com with “online” chess.  Online chess at Chess.com is NOT playing against an opponent who is currently logged onto the server.  Online chess games are slower paced games (like playing chess by email) except for the fact that the server tracks and displays the chess position.
Each player gets 1 to 14 days to make a move, where 3 days is the typical time to make a move.  I have found, however, that most of my opponents make 1 or 2 moves each day.  The time allows you to analyze the position and to examine variations.
Next, you can choose to play against other chess players who are at about the same chess strength as you.  At Chess.com you develop a chess rating as you win and lose games, and you can select the rating “range” for your online game.
Next, you can play as many simultaneous “online” games as you like.  I personally only play about 5 games at a time so that I can concentrate on each game.  However, I have seen opponents that play 10, 20, and even almost 50 simultaneous games.
King Kibitz
Do tactics. Study Games. Play Chess

Liubarski vs. Soultanbeieff Part 2

Liubarski vs. Soultanbeieff Part 2

Let’s Continue the game……
White: Liubarski
Black: Soultanbeieff
Here’s the position after Black’s 8th move:

9. h3
Not the best move.  White was attempting to prevent the pin (9. …Bg4). However, this move weakens pawns around the king and gives Black a target
9. …h6
Black will now start his attack against the h3 pawn.  This move prepares Black’s move g5.
10. Qe2
White develops the Queen and adds extra support to the e4 and f2 pawns.
10. …g5
Black continues the march of the pawn forward to attack h3.
11. Nh2
White attempt to stop the advance of the pawn to g4 by adding an additional attacker to the g4 square.

11. …g4
Black plays the move anyways.  The pawn “sacrifice” will open lines to the White King.

12. hxg4
White is almost forced to take the pawn.  On 12.Nxg4, then 12. …Nxg4 13.hxg4 Rg8. And on 12.g3, then 12. …gxh3 and Black can advance the h pawn to further open the position.
12. …Rg8
Now Black attacks the pawn 3 times and it’s only defended twice, so Black will regain a pawn (but hold on the h6 pawn is now undefended).  Black also places his rook on the same line as the White King.
13. Bxh6
Pawn grabbing when your King Safety poor is not a good idea.  Instead, White best move is 13.Nd2 and play could continue 13. …Nxg4 14.Ndf3 h5.
Nxg4
Black retake a pawn with an attack on the Bishop on h6.

14. Be3
White must retreat the Bishop, and places it on a square where it helps blunt the affects of Blacks Bishop on b6.
14. Nxh2
Black wins the Knight!  This Knight is actually immune from capture, and with the material advantage of a knight Black can easily win the game.
15. Kxh2
Oopps…I guess White does not see what’s coming.
15. …Qh4+
Black brings the Queen, the best attacker, into the attack.
16. Kg1
Forced.  The King has no other move.
16. Qh3
Black now threatens mate on g2 and White has no way to defend against mate.  For example: 17.g3 Rh8 18.f3 (to make an escape square for the King) Bxe3+ 19.Qxe3 (forced) Qxg3# (or Qh2#).  
White Resigns


King Kibitz
Do Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess

Liubarski vs. Soultanbeieff Part 1

Liubarski vs. Soultanbeieff Part 1

Now, let’s look at the first half of the game.
White: Liubarski
Black: Soultanbeieff
Place: Liege, 1928
Opening: Giuoco Piano (ECO Code: C53)
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Bc5
Like the last game, we have an Italian Game with 3. Bc4 and a Giuoco Piano Variation with 3. …Bc5 (ECO Code: C53).  White’s Bishop on c4 aims at the f7 pawn, and White plan is rapid development and attack.  Black’s plan is to fight move for move with White in the center and to counter attack when possible.

4. c3
White prepares to play d4 and will support it first with c3.
4. …Bb6
Black retreats the Bishop before White plays d4.  Black want to keep his Bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal which attacks the kingside, the side where White will more than likely castle.
5. d4
This move helps control the center, frees the Bishop on c1, and blocks the a7-g1 diagonal.
5. …Qe7
Develops the Queen and adds a second defender to the e5 pawn.
6. O-O
White safe guards his King and mobilizes the rook.  Black was also threatening 6. …exd4 7.cxd4 Qxe4+ winning a pawn.
6. …Nf6
Black develops the Knight with an attack on the e4 pawn.  Note that 6. …exd4 7.cxd4 Qxe4 now loses the Queen to 8.Re1.

7. d5
Not the best move.  White is needlessly attacking the Knight.  The downside is that White now blocks the diagonal (a2-g8) for the Bishop on c4 and re-opens the diagonal for the Bishop on a7.
7. …Nb8
The only good move.  On 7. …Na5, White can play 8.Bd3 and then 9.b4 winning the Knight.
8. Bd3
White places the Bishop on a more active square and defends the e4 pawn.  White instead should develop its other peices.  For example 8.Nbd2 or 8.Qe2.
8. …d6
Defends the e5 pawn, strengthens the center, and free the Bishop on c8.
To be Continued….
King Kibitz
Do Tactics. Study Games. Play chess

Scheve vs. Teichmann Part 2

Scheve vs. Teichmann Part 2

Let’s Continue…..

White; Scheve

Black: Teichmann

Berlin 1907

Previous Moves:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Bc5

4. c3 Qe7

5. O-O d6

6. d4 Bb6

7.a4 a6

8. a5 Ba7

9. h3

Chernev calls this a “coffee-house” move.  The knight on f3, the 3 pawns (f2, g2, and h2), and castled king are “fortress” that Black must somehow crack. Here White willing to weaken his defenses to avoid Black playing Bg4, pinning the Knight.

 

9. …Nf6

Develops the Night and attacks the e4 pawn.

10. dxe5

White seeks to open some attacking lines for his pieces.  However, it is Black who will make use of these new open lines.  For example, the Bishop on a7 is now a much more powerful attacker.

10. …Nxe5

Black recaptures with the Knight, giving it more mobility and it attacks the Bishop on c4.

11. Nxe5

By playing this move, White again weakens the defense around his King. Now White is exchanging off the best piece defending his King.  White would be better off moving the Bishop on c4 to a2.  And if Black plays 11. … Nxf3+, then 12.Qxf3 Qxe4 13.Qxe4+ Nxe4 and Black is only a pawn up.

11. …Qxe5

Black replaces the Knight with another piece.  With the Queen on e5, it is centralized giving it more mobility.  Also, it now attacks the squares g3 and h2.

12. Nd2

White is hoping that Black will play 12. …Nxe4 13.Nxd4 Qxe4 since 14.Re1 will win Black’s Queen.  White is better off playing Qf3.

12. …Bxh3

Black now rips open the pawn “Wall” of “Shield” around the king.

13. gxh3 Qg3+

14. Kh1 Qxh3+

In return for the Bishop, Black has gained 2 pawns and a very strong attack.

15. Kg1 Ng4

Black now brings in another piece to attack the King and is threatening checkmate (16. …Qh2)

16. Nf3

It’s hard to find a good move for White.  With Nf3, White does stop the checkmate threat on h2 for now.  White could also try 16.Bxf7+ Kxf7 17.Qf3+ Qxf3 18.Nxf3.

16. …Qg3+

17. Kh1 Bxf2

Black now removes the only retreat square for the King, and White has no good moves to defend against 18. …Qh3+ 19.Nh2 Qxh2# (though Bxf7+ might be worth a try).  On 18.Rxf2, Black checkmates with Nxf2#. 

18. White Resigns

King Kibitz

Do Tactics. Study Game.  Play Chess

Scheve vs. Teichmann Part 1

Scheve vs. Teichmann Part 1

Let’s review Scheve vs. Tiechmann (Berlin 1907):

1. e4 e52. Nf3 Nc63. Bc4 Bc5

  

With 3.Bc4, we have an Italian Game and Black’s response of Bc5 is theGiuoco Piano Variation (ECO Code: C53).  Here are a few of my videos on the Italian Game:

Italian Game Part 1
Italian Game Part 2
Italian Game Part 3

White’s Bishop on c4 attacks the f7 pawn and he plans for rapid development, so that he can quickly attack the King.  Black plan is to fight toe-for-toe with Black in the center and to counter attack when possible.

4. c3White plans to play d4, but must support it by first playing c3. 

4. … Qe7
Black normally plays Nf6 attacking White’s e4 pawn.

5. O-OWhite increases his King’s safety.  If White instead tries 5.d4, then Black plays exd4 6. cxd4 Qxe4+.

5. … d6Black supports e5 and frees his Bishop on c8.

6. d4Aims to control the center and frees the Bishop on c1

6. …Bb6
Keeps the Bishop aimed at the king.  If 6… exd4, then 7. cxd4 Qxe4 8. Re1 and White pins Black’s Queen to the King.

7.a4

White can’t really win the Bishop.  White would be better off developing a piece, like Bg5 (with an attack)

7. … a6

Black prepares a retreat square for the Bishop.

8.a5

Attacking the Bishop.  What should Black do?

 

8. …Ba7

It looks like Black can win the pawn.  However, with 8… Bxa5 White will play 9. d5 attacking the Knight which defends the Bishop on a5.  And with 8… Nxa5 White plays 9. Rxa5 Bxa5 10. Qa4+ forking the King and the Bishop.

To be continued…

Playing Chess

Playing Chess

We play chess because we love the game, and we do tactical puzzles and study the games of great chess players to improve our game.  Now it’s time to put all your study into practice and play some chess. 

Play chess against a chess program:

ChessMaster

Fritz

HIARCS

Rybka

Shredder

Sigma Chess (free for Mac)

Play chess online against another person:

Chess.com

Playchess.com (also watch live games from major chess tournaments)

Pogo.com

Play On-line against another a computer:

Chess.com

Shredder

I recommend playing at least one game a day.  Further, I personally prefer to play online against a human.  Also, I would try to avoid playing blitz (5 minute each) games.  It’s great for fun, but it ruins your chess game in the long run. Contrary to popular belief, there are people who want to play 10 or 15 minutes (each) games, though you may have to wait a bit longer to find (or for someone to accept) a game.

King Kibitz
Do Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess

Playing Chess

Playing Chess

We play chess because we love the game, and we do tactical puzzles and study the games of great chess players to improve our game.  Now it’s time to put all your study into practice and play some chess. 

Play chess against a chess program:

ChessMaster

Fritz

HIARCS

Rybka

Shredder

Sigma Chess (free for Mac)

Play chess online against another person:

Chess.com

Playchess.com (also watch live games from major chess tournaments)

Pogo.com

Play On-line against another a computer:

Chess.com

Shredder

I recommend playing at least one game a day.  Further, I personally prefer to play online against a human.  Also, I would try to avoid playing blitz (5 minute each) games.  It’s great for fun, but it ruins your chess game in the long run. Contrary to popular belief, there are people who want to play 10 or 15 minutes (each) games, though you may have to wait a bit longer to find (or for someone to accept) a game.

King Kibitz
Do Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess

Studying the Games of Great Chess Players

Studying the Games of the Great Chess Players

Now that your committed to doing tactical puzzles, we also need to learn how to accurately analyze a chess position?  Why?  This will allow us to set up a superior position and that will permit us to win material or checkmate the enemy King through tactics.

I freely admit that there are many good chess book out there about improving your ability to analyze a chess position, play good opening moves, how to formulate a plan, etc.  I personally recommend that you study the games of great chess players.  Each game can teach you something about the opening, strategy, positional play, tactics, forming a winning plan, the endgame, etc.

What you need are annotated games (or games that have comments about the moves).  And the book you buy should be based on your playing ability. If you’re a beginner, don’t buy a book geared for advanced players.  These books contain few words and have list after list of move variations that are 10 moves (or more) deep.  A beginner needs a book that explains what’s going on with words and contains short move variations.   

For Beginners I recommend the below 2 books:

        

For intermediate or advanced players, I recommend the following 2 books:

For Beginners:
Play through the game move by move.  Before each move ask yourself “what move would I make and why.”  Next, read the move (but not the comments).  Now ask yourself, “why did White (or Black) make that move”?  Then read the comments and compare this with what you thought.  If it was different, then try to understand and remember the reason behind the move. 

For more Intermediate and Advanced Players:
Play through the games without looking at the annotations, and make your own annotations.  Now play through the game again comparing the book’s annotations and your notes.  What did you get “right” and what did you “miss”?  Did you recognize the critical moves in the game?  Did you miss tactics?  After playing through several games you may notice things or positions that you consistently get “right”.  This means that you probably understand these chess positions.  Things or positions that you consistently get “wrong” indicate areas where you need to increase your chess knowledge or areas where you need to think in a new way. The annotations should give you the proper way to analyze the position. 

If you plan on using a computer, then use it when you compare your annotations with the book’s annotations.  A computer might be able to tell you the best move (or a good move), but it really doesn’t help you with why a move should be played?  I use a computer to check my tactics or the tactical reasons not to play certain moves.  

King Kibitz
Do Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess

Doing Chess Tactics

Doing Chess Tactics

OK.  So you have decided to take the plunge and follow my advice about doing tactics, studying the games of great chess players, and playing chess. 

First let’s talk about tactics.  To improve your tactics you need to do a lot (and I mean a lot) of tactical puzzles.   These puzzles are designed to improve your ability to find the correct move that results in the win of material or checkmate.  So where do you find these tactical puzzles.  Well, there are some online resources like:         

http://chesstr.com/problemshttp://www.shredderchess.com/daily-chess-puzzle.html

But I recommend buying 2 or 3 books.  And the 2 I recommend for EVERY chess library are:

 

“Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games” by Laszlo Polgar “1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations” by Fred Reinfeld

I recommend using these books in the following manner:

First, decide how much time you’ll spend on the puzzle(s).  For example, for the 5334 Problems book by Polgar I would only spend one minute (maximum) for any “mate in one” puzzles.  And I would increase this to 2 minutes (maximum) for the “mate in two” puzzles.

Next, if you have not solved it in the allotted time, then look at the answer and move on to the next puzzle.  Put an “+” next to the ones you solved correctly and a “-” next to the ones you didn’t solve correctly or in time.  After you get through a portion of the book, go back and redo ALL the problems, again putting another “+” or “-“ if you did or didn’t solve the problem correctly. This will help you master the different tactical “patterns”.  I also recommend waiting at least one week before redoing puzzles.  

On your second go around, check how you did against the first time you did the puzzles.  If you are you getting more right, then you are improving. If you are getting more wrong or the same puzzles wrong, then work though the puzzles you got wrong twice at a future study session.

Next, how much time should you spend doing tactical puzzles?  I think it depends on your playing level.  If you’re a beginner or you think your tactics are substandard, then I recommend about 66% of your study time.  If you’re an average to very good chess player, then I recommend about 50% of your study time.  If you’re an expert or above, then I recommend about 33% of your study time. 

You may think that this is way too much time to spend on tactical puzzles, but chess is about 99% tactics so a large percentage of your study time should be devoted to tactics.  I also recommend starting your study time with tactics.  This will “warm up” your brain to what you study next.  When I play tournament games, I always do a least a few tactical puzzles before the game to get my mind working.  

You might have read elsewhere on the Web about a player who studied a lot of tactics and increased their chess rating by 200 or 400 points.  This shows how important tactics are and how they can greatly improve your chess game.  I myself decided to study nothing but tactics for a week before a tournament—instead of my normal opening prep.  My rating went up about 100 points after that tournament.  I personally try to spend about 50% of my study time on tactical puzzles.

 

King KibitzDo Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess

Improve your Chess

OK.  Here are some older (good) posts from a different Blog I had.

 If you’re interested in improving your chess, then keep reading.  If you like reading about on-going or historical chess events, then bookmark this page.

My goal is to improve your chess as well as comment on-going or historical chess events. 

Nobody is born a chess master, though some of us have more natural ability than other.  For now, I want to look at how to improve your chess.  Well, the following quotes have formed the basis for improving my chess and will help your chess too:

1. “Every chess master was once a beginner.” — Chernev
2. “Chess mastery essentially consists of analyzing chess positions accurately.” — Botvinnik
3. “Chess is 99% tactics.” — Teichmann
4. “Tactics flow from a superior position.”  –Fischer
5. “Strategy must give way to tactics.” — Euwe

First of all, TACTICS ARE IMPORTANT.  How many games have you already lost due to a tactical oversight?  If you’re rated under 2000 (USCF “Expert”), then you probably need to spend more time doing tactical puzzles.

Next, you need to learn how to accurately analyze a chess position?  Why?  This will give use a superior position.  Why?  This will allow us to setup tactics that will material, checkmate the enemy king, or both.  So what is the best way to learn how to analyze chess positions correctly?  Well, there are plenty of good books out there, but I recommend studying games of the great chess players.  With each game, you get to study the opening, positional play, tactics, strategy, the endgame (hopefully).  Let these masters show you how to correctly analyze the chess positions through their play.

Lastly, we need to PLAY chess.  We play chess because we love the game, and we study chess to improve our game.  If you only play chess and never study, then you’re doomed to repeat the same mistakes and your improvement will be slow (or non-existent).  Let me put it this way:  have you been stuck (or know someone who has been stuck) at a rating of somewhere between 1200 and 1400 (USCF).  You play and play chess and never get better.  The problem is that you do not study and are unwilling to change the way you think and play—this may be a tough pill to swallow but it’s the truth.  They only way to improve your chess play is to study, learn how and how to change, and then play chess using the things you learn.

Therefore my motto is: Do Tactics. Study Games. Play Chess.