Chess

Gankak · Apr 22, 2021

Captain Suave said:
Anyone have a recommendation on a good basic overview book for opening theory? I keep making early game mistakes because I remember nothing beyond like the first three moves of the Sicilian.

Early on the only goal for you in the opening is to get to the middle game without being down material. Knowing/memorizing openings won't be that helpful and is daunting as fuck. Basic rules for the opening:

1. Only move a piece once in the opening.
2. Knights before bishops
3. Castle
4. Don't move your queen too early
These are guidelines there are no hard and fast rules in chess for the most part. However if you do those things you should be able to get to a mid game without being already lost. Once you get more into the game and have more experience then find openings that you like/fit your style of play.

Another good way to improve in chess is to do puzzles.

Captain Suave · Apr 22, 2021

Yeah, I know the general principles. I just feel like I arrive at the mid game with a lack of a clear continuity in what I should have been doing given the opening/response, even if I'm not down material. I'm basically at the "don't make 1-2 move errors and wait for the other guy to fuck up" stage of play.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Gankak · Apr 22, 2021

Captain Suave said:
Yeah, I know the general principles. I just feel like I arrive at the mid game with a lack of a clear continuity in what I should have been doing given the opening/response, even if I'm not down material. I'm basically at the "don't make 1-2 move errors and wait for the other guy to fuck up" stage of play.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Then I would read a good middle game book. The one I suggested earlier or My System that Furry suggested are both really good for that kind of thing

Chris · Apr 22, 2021

Captain Suave said:
Yeah, I know the general principles. I just feel like I arrive at the mid game with a lack of a clear continuity in what I should have been doing given the opening/response, even if I'm not down material. I'm basically at the "don't make 1-2 move errors and wait for the other guy to fuck up" stage of play.

Thanks for the recommendations.

Maybe look for a book on checkmates like "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess" which has a free PDF out there and despite the name isn't for absolute beginners when it goes through 50 common checkmates.

You need something you are aiming for in your strategy and these checkmates are basically about winning in the midgame, with endgame being about having little material left and racing to promote a pawn.

I've barely gone through it and I started winning more games earlier after seeing a few of the concepts.

Furry · Apr 22, 2021

Gankak said:
Then I would read a good middle game book. The one I suggested earlier or My System that Furry suggested are both really good for that kind of thing

Completely forgot about reassess your chess, read it when I was a little kid. It is a good book, but I’d say targeted to a lower experienced player than my system. Since they cover similar subjects, I’d suggest going reassess first and then moving on to my system. Building a strong tactical reflex is the absolute most important thing in chess play up to about 1800, and what I’d focus on until that is a barrier. From there memorizing openings, positional and endgame theory start to become more important in advancing, though tactics always remains important.

Captain Suave · Apr 22, 2021

Furry said:
Completely forgot about reassess your chess, read it when I was a little kid. It is a good book, but I’d say targeted to a lower experienced player than my system.

I picked up both, and FWIW "How to Reassess Your Chess" claims itself to be geared at 1400-2100 players and skips most of the bedrock basics. I've started Nimzowitsch and it looks like it's building towards the places I need to go.

Gankak · Apr 23, 2021

The 2nd half to the Candidates matches is being broadcast/commentated on here: for anyone interested

reavor · Apr 23, 2021

If you want to improve: play a lot of 5 minute chess games.

Hateyou · Apr 23, 2021

I remember as a teen I had a buddy I played who was just getting into it. I’d probably win 7 of 10 games against him, we played kind of slow. I was good for my town but there were no clubs or anything, I probably wasn’t really very good but he was the only challenging person I played beyond my dad who taught me how to play and was really into it for a while. Then one day I went over there I was on LSD, he wasn’t, and he wanted to play and I could see every move at once and several moves ahead. I was taking my turns in seconds while he took his usual long turns and just smoked him game after game. It was pretty wild.

Airisch · Apr 24, 2021

I can't fucking break the 1600 barrier. How did i get so fucking dumb in my old age.

Gankak · Apr 24, 2021

Airisch said:
I can't fucking break the 1600 barrier. How did i get so fucking dumb in my old age.

I have run my rating all the way up to almost 1750 but I have huge swings... its frustrating af

TheNozz · Apr 24, 2021

reavor · Apr 27, 2021

Alright, now confirmed, it's gonna be Carlsen vs. Nepo for championship.

Gankak · Apr 27, 2021

That should be a good match but Im giving the edge to Magnus

Captain Suave · Jun 17, 2021

Crazy game:

Gankak · Jun 30, 2021

There is a new youngest GM ever... 12 years 4 months and 25 days. Beating Karjken's record by over 2 months.

Lendarios · Jun 30, 2021

What is amazing about chess is that even after 100 years of recorded history, games never repeats after what 15sh move.

article about new chess gm

Abhimanyu Mishra Becomes Youngest Grandmaster In Chess History

IM Abhimanyu Mishra became the youngest chess grandmaster in history today. The 12-year-old player from New Jersey scored his third GM norm in Budapest, having already crossed the required 2500 Elo rating barrier. Mishra (often called "Abhi") broke GM Sergey Karjakin's record that has stood for...

www.chess.com

Captain Suave · Jun 30, 2021

I wonder how much earlier he could have done it if 2020 hadn't been so fucked for in-person play.

Lendarios · Jul 20, 2021

I have an unhealthy obsession with the Botez Sisters.

unrelated. NBC to broadcast chess match for the chess world cup

new James bond Villain identified

Jais · Aug 23, 2021

Any good starter books?

Chess

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