online chess
your active games list
Java games (against the computer)
edit your profile and settings

Play chess online, free online chess games database, monthly chess tournaments, chess league, chess teams, chess clubs and more.


Chess Forum
[ mod this thread ]   << - < - > - >>
FromMessage
wschmidt

3/14/2008
16:18:27

[ report abuse ]
Subject: Novice Nook # 69

Message:
Heisman is up to Article 85 and we'd be a little closer if I hadn't skipped a few weeks over the long haul. Nevertheless, we're closing in.

This week's article is entitled "Breaking Down Barriers" and is a very useful look at the barriers to improvement, how to think about them and how to break them down. I'm finding over at the Chess Coaching Club I run into this sort of thing often. Folks want to be coached, but they don't really want to put the effort into it. I can point out tactical errors in a game or two, but unless someone is really ready to sit down and study tactics, well....there's only so much coaching can do. I can say play fewer games and take more times on the games you're playing, but....

Also some good comments at the end in response to a reader question about blitz. I'm a big believer in using blitz games as a way to learn a new opening. Lots of moves that don't show up in the opening books but get thrown at you anyway. Heisman apparently concurs.

Here's the link:

www.chesscafe.com



cascadejames

3/15/2008
20:30:54

[ report abuse ]
inspiration

Message:
This article has given me a little push to go back to the Hans Kmoch book, "Pawn Power in
Chess." I started but did not finish it. Right now I really need to work on the pawn part of my
game. Of course some of my recent opponents could point out that I need to work on everything
:-) , but study of pawn matters seems most needed at the present.


jstevens1

3/18/2008
01:16:56

[ report abuse ]
Queenplay

Message:
I think that the biggest stumbling blocks I have seems to be that I end up in passive positions and this is underlined by the use of my queen - she is either swapped off early or she usually ends up in a defensive role of pawns, other pieces, mate threats while her counterpart is in an attacking pose - attacking pawns, generating mate threats etc.

Some of the time, against players of similar rating, I get away with it. Other times, against 1600+ players I do not.

In order to avoid my rating slipping back below the 1600 mark I need to work on this fast!

Joanne




Post a reply to this message:

Only registered members are allowed to post.
Please log in.