Here are five words that should be part of chess vocabulary, but aren't at the moment:
1. The 'pork' - a tactic involving both a pin and a fork
2. The 'nopening' - an uncommon move order at the start of the game that either makes no sense or should be avoided
3. The 'shussle' - quick movement/shuffling of a person's body or chair to avoid a distraction (such as an intrusive spectator)
4. The 'COMET' - a completely obvious move everyone tries in a certain situation
5. The 'primate' - the best way to end the game
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Twisted Tuesday - Strategy Advice
Those who know me have probably caught me staring into space sometime in the past - yes, I was one of those kids occasionally sitting in the back of the room, staring into space, and thinking to myself. Not surprisingly, I was having one of those days today. Don't get me wrong, I got a lot accomplished throughout the day, but every now and then a random idea would pop into my head, the first being the fact that 'timing of things is so important'. If you think about it, timing dictates a lot in our life. Simply the time and related circumstance of an event can cause it to succeed or fail. Likewise, in chess, when to play moves and how to manage the time on your clock can be crucial factors.
I decided to make a list of ten tips to help you manage time in chess. There are many more things that could be said, but we'll leave those for another day (or feel free to comment).
1. Calculate forced, realistic, and pattern-oriented moves first. This should be common sense, but it's so easy for the human mind to get distracted. There's really no point spending a bunch of your valuable time calculating inefficient or unrealistic options.
2. Arrive on time and remember to press your clock!
3. Really get to know the position and its underlying strategy on your opponent's time, so that you can focus on actual moves/tactics on your own time.
4. If you are constantly low on time, find out where the problem is occurring. Is it in the opening, middlegame, or endgame? Is it in your attack or defense? Does it involve certain trouble pieces? Once you know where the problem is, you can work to improve the situation.
5. Come to the game with fresh energy. Eat & sleep well + don't pressure yourself too much. A friend of mine advised me to relax an hour before each exam - something similar could apply to chess. Basically, if you feel drained and tired during your game, you will have to use extra time to organize your thoughts, not to mention your motivation.
6. Be flexible - don't get stuck on certain 'rules' like you must take 'x' amount of minutes per move. You have to adjust the way you manage your time in each situation. If it's a straightforward game and you are 99.99% sure a certain move is the best move, you don't need to spend all day looking for a better one. On the other hand, if it's a complicated game, and a crucial move, you may want to spend a larger chunk of time thinking - just don't go overboard because you still have the rest of the game to complete.
7. Practice, practice, practice! Try to include a variety of positions, opponents, tactics, strategy, and so forth into your studies/tournaments. The more patterns you're exposed to, the easier moves will come to your mind.
8. Stay calm, but never too calm! Almost everything in life is about finding a balance. If you panic, you won't be able to sort your thoughts efficiently. If you go into vacation mode, you may not be thinking at all! So try to find that balance and use it to your advantage.
9. Develop consistent habits - when I was younger, I used to bring juice, a teddy bear, and a certain set of pens & scorepads to each game of a tournament. I would write out my moves in a certain way, and sometimes even look at the board a certain way. While it may seem over the top, these habits helped me focus efficiently, because when you get used to your surroundings in a consistent way, you don't think about as many distractions. Of course, I would change things up occasionally (between tournaments) to keep myself from going insane (haha) but overall, my habits were quite regular.
Note: While there are many acceptable habits you can develop, make sure the habits themselves are not overly distracting to you or others.
10. Even though timing is important, don't let it overrule your thinking process. It's similar to a test - it's better to get 50 questions correct in a longer amount of time than 100 questions wrong in a shorter amount of time. Your first priority is to find reasonable moves. Your second priority is to find them efficiently.
Further resources:
http://chess.about.com/od/tipsforbeginners/qt/TimeManagement.htm
http://www.chess-game-strategies.com/beginners-chess.html
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman40.pdf
http://www.mychessblog.com/online-chess/
http://www.chesskid.com/article/view/time-is-on-my-mind
http://www.gamecentercentral.com/improve-in-chess-manage-your-time-well-and-win-chess-games-more-and-lose-less/
http://how-to-improve-in-chess.com/2011/02/12/improve-in-chess-proper-chess-time-management-3/
http://www.thechessworld.com/learn/articles/17-chess-how-tos/131-how-to-manage-time-in-chess
http://www.chessfornovices.com/becomingastrongchesstournamentplayer2.html
http://main.uschess.org/content/view/9176/341/
http://www.chess.com/article/view/time-management2
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman10.pdf
or search 'time management chess', 'timing moves in chess', etc... as you can see, there are many articles about this important issue :)
Good night!
I decided to make a list of ten tips to help you manage time in chess. There are many more things that could be said, but we'll leave those for another day (or feel free to comment).
1. Calculate forced, realistic, and pattern-oriented moves first. This should be common sense, but it's so easy for the human mind to get distracted. There's really no point spending a bunch of your valuable time calculating inefficient or unrealistic options.
2. Arrive on time and remember to press your clock!
3. Really get to know the position and its underlying strategy on your opponent's time, so that you can focus on actual moves/tactics on your own time.
4. If you are constantly low on time, find out where the problem is occurring. Is it in the opening, middlegame, or endgame? Is it in your attack or defense? Does it involve certain trouble pieces? Once you know where the problem is, you can work to improve the situation.
5. Come to the game with fresh energy. Eat & sleep well + don't pressure yourself too much. A friend of mine advised me to relax an hour before each exam - something similar could apply to chess. Basically, if you feel drained and tired during your game, you will have to use extra time to organize your thoughts, not to mention your motivation.
6. Be flexible - don't get stuck on certain 'rules' like you must take 'x' amount of minutes per move. You have to adjust the way you manage your time in each situation. If it's a straightforward game and you are 99.99% sure a certain move is the best move, you don't need to spend all day looking for a better one. On the other hand, if it's a complicated game, and a crucial move, you may want to spend a larger chunk of time thinking - just don't go overboard because you still have the rest of the game to complete.
7. Practice, practice, practice! Try to include a variety of positions, opponents, tactics, strategy, and so forth into your studies/tournaments. The more patterns you're exposed to, the easier moves will come to your mind.
8. Stay calm, but never too calm! Almost everything in life is about finding a balance. If you panic, you won't be able to sort your thoughts efficiently. If you go into vacation mode, you may not be thinking at all! So try to find that balance and use it to your advantage.
9. Develop consistent habits - when I was younger, I used to bring juice, a teddy bear, and a certain set of pens & scorepads to each game of a tournament. I would write out my moves in a certain way, and sometimes even look at the board a certain way. While it may seem over the top, these habits helped me focus efficiently, because when you get used to your surroundings in a consistent way, you don't think about as many distractions. Of course, I would change things up occasionally (between tournaments) to keep myself from going insane (haha) but overall, my habits were quite regular.
Note: While there are many acceptable habits you can develop, make sure the habits themselves are not overly distracting to you or others.
10. Even though timing is important, don't let it overrule your thinking process. It's similar to a test - it's better to get 50 questions correct in a longer amount of time than 100 questions wrong in a shorter amount of time. Your first priority is to find reasonable moves. Your second priority is to find them efficiently.
Further resources:
http://chess.about.com/od/tipsforbeginners/qt/TimeManagement.htm
http://www.chess-game-strategies.com/beginners-chess.html
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman40.pdf
http://www.mychessblog.com/online-chess/
http://www.chesskid.com/article/view/time-is-on-my-mind
http://www.gamecentercentral.com/improve-in-chess-manage-your-time-well-and-win-chess-games-more-and-lose-less/
http://how-to-improve-in-chess.com/2011/02/12/improve-in-chess-proper-chess-time-management-3/
http://www.thechessworld.com/learn/articles/17-chess-how-tos/131-how-to-manage-time-in-chess
http://www.chessfornovices.com/becomingastrongchesstournamentplayer2.html
http://main.uschess.org/content/view/9176/341/
http://www.chess.com/article/view/time-management2
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman10.pdf
or search 'time management chess', 'timing moves in chess', etc... as you can see, there are many articles about this important issue :)
Good night!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Select Pieces of Recent News
I've got an awful headache, so bear with me...this is to make up for last Thursday.
A Harvard economist played chess - http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Top-economist-warns-of-dangers-in-US-debt-fight-1381881.php
Deaf athlete relates NBA to chess - “And so you learn to be a visual player. And you're out there, you're playing chess. You have to rely on strategy and intelligence and not just brute force and athleticism all the time." - Lance Allred - http://www.3news.co.nz/Nuggets-look-to-new-gold-to-reverse-their-fortunes/tabid/415/articleID/211185/Default.aspx
New 'Gangsta' and 'Shorty' chess pieces? - http://www.thenewsgrind.com/news/world-news/chess-chiefs-hit-back-at-scrabble-with-introduction-of-two-extra-pieces/
Hip-Hop Chess Federation unites chess and rap - http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Rappers-Play-Chess-to-Help-Kids-121711299.html
"Queen to Play" chess movie - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2014974549_mr06queen.html?prmid=head_main
To make elementary school chess compulsory or not? - http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/katharinebirbalsingh/100087302/compulsory-chess-lessons-in-every-school-now-thats-radical/
3D Standing Chess - http://www2.tbo.com/news/community-news/2011/may/11/BRNEWSO37-live-chess-teaches-math-problem-solving--ar-206028/
Artificial Intelligence (chess and computers) - http://www.i-programmer.info/programming/artificial-intelligence/2437-the-paradox-of-artificial-intelligence.html
The Importance of Defense (Susan Polgar) - http://lubbockonline.com/columnists/2011-05-16/importance-defense-chess
Quiet Moves in Endgames (Ronan Bennett, Daniel King) - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/may/10/chess-ronan-bennett-daniel-king
Alex Beach, 12, chess master & genius despite autism and partial blindness - http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/13/blind-autistic-12-year-old-headed-college/
Book claims that genetics determine success more than "tiger parenting" - http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/the-author-of-a-new-book-says-genetics-rather-than-chess-lessons-have-a-bigger-effect-on-success/story-e6frg8nf-1226056760390
Chess according to Sheldon on "The Big Bang Theory" - http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/06/not-quite-a-checkmate-on-the-big-bang-theory/
(NOTE: These are just some of the many articles online. You may wish to use them to get ideas & research further :) I try to include a broad selection of news for this purpose, rather than specific articles about tournaments alone.)
A Harvard economist played chess - http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Top-economist-warns-of-dangers-in-US-debt-fight-1381881.php
Deaf athlete relates NBA to chess - “And so you learn to be a visual player. And you're out there, you're playing chess. You have to rely on strategy and intelligence and not just brute force and athleticism all the time." - Lance Allred - http://www.3news.co.nz/Nuggets-look-to-new-gold-to-reverse-their-fortunes/tabid/415/articleID/211185/Default.aspx
New 'Gangsta' and 'Shorty' chess pieces? - http://www.thenewsgrind.com/news/world-news/chess-chiefs-hit-back-at-scrabble-with-introduction-of-two-extra-pieces/
Hip-Hop Chess Federation unites chess and rap - http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Rappers-Play-Chess-to-Help-Kids-121711299.html
"Queen to Play" chess movie - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2014974549_mr06queen.html?prmid=head_main
To make elementary school chess compulsory or not? - http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/katharinebirbalsingh/100087302/compulsory-chess-lessons-in-every-school-now-thats-radical/
3D Standing Chess - http://www2.tbo.com/news/community-news/2011/may/11/BRNEWSO37-live-chess-teaches-math-problem-solving--ar-206028/
Artificial Intelligence (chess and computers) - http://www.i-programmer.info/programming/artificial-intelligence/2437-the-paradox-of-artificial-intelligence.html
The Importance of Defense (Susan Polgar) - http://lubbockonline.com/columnists/2011-05-16/importance-defense-chess
Quiet Moves in Endgames (Ronan Bennett, Daniel King) - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/may/10/chess-ronan-bennett-daniel-king
Alex Beach, 12, chess master & genius despite autism and partial blindness - http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/13/blind-autistic-12-year-old-headed-college/
Book claims that genetics determine success more than "tiger parenting" - http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/the-author-of-a-new-book-says-genetics-rather-than-chess-lessons-have-a-bigger-effect-on-success/story-e6frg8nf-1226056760390
Chess according to Sheldon on "The Big Bang Theory" - http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/06/not-quite-a-checkmate-on-the-big-bang-theory/
(NOTE: These are just some of the many articles online. You may wish to use them to get ideas & research further :) I try to include a broad selection of news for this purpose, rather than specific articles about tournaments alone.)
Marvelous Monday - Would You Rather?
Five "Would You Rather?" Questions - my answers next weekend
1. Would you rather learn an opening from a top grandmaster or from a player the opening is named after (assuming you are learning an opening named after a person, such as Petroff, Philidor, etc.)?
2. Would you rather win a game with a queen sacrifice or with a 10-move forced combination?
3. Would you rather go on vacation to play in a large chess tournament or go on vacation without a chess board in sight (but come back to chess after the vacation!)?
4. Would you rather participate in a chess camp/event or be an instructor at a chess camp/event?
5. Would you rather play chess against the Prime Minister of Canada (Harper) or the President of the U.S. (Obama)?
1. Would you rather learn an opening from a top grandmaster or from a player the opening is named after (assuming you are learning an opening named after a person, such as Petroff, Philidor, etc.)?
2. Would you rather win a game with a queen sacrifice or with a 10-move forced combination?
3. Would you rather go on vacation to play in a large chess tournament or go on vacation without a chess board in sight (but come back to chess after the vacation!)?
4. Would you rather participate in a chess camp/event or be an instructor at a chess camp/event?
5. Would you rather play chess against the Prime Minister of Canada (Harper) or the President of the U.S. (Obama)?
Sunday, May 15, 2011
A Poetic Attempt
Pieces, pieces, pieces,
They glitter in the light.
Opening up the position
Perhaps a pawn and knight.
Bishops take diagonals,
Rooks on files and ranks.
Fortress in the centre,
And storms along the flanks.
What a fight it is!
Both sides under stress.
Realizing one mistake,
Could end up in a mess.
Anticipating many possibilities,
Not sure what to do.
Just so many pieces,
Squares and thoughts too.
Pieces, pieces, pieces,
They aim near and far.
Making golf look easy,
When all you need is par :) (haha not so easy)
Just how to win this game,
With pieces all around?
It seems like a game of hide and seek,
Where you're always lost or found.
But now you see a brilliant move -
The best you've ever seen!
It all makes sense when pieces
Have trapped the powerful queen.
They glitter in the light.
Opening up the position
Perhaps a pawn and knight.
Bishops take diagonals,
Rooks on files and ranks.
Fortress in the centre,
And storms along the flanks.
What a fight it is!
Both sides under stress.
Realizing one mistake,
Could end up in a mess.
Anticipating many possibilities,
Not sure what to do.
Just so many pieces,
Squares and thoughts too.
Pieces, pieces, pieces,
They aim near and far.
Making golf look easy,
When all you need is par :) (haha not so easy)
Just how to win this game,
With pieces all around?
It seems like a game of hide and seek,
Where you're always lost or found.
But now you see a brilliant move -
The best you've ever seen!
It all makes sense when pieces
Have trapped the powerful queen.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Totally Thursday - Blogger Error
Sorry to everyone who checked the blog yesterday for a Thursday post. Blogger was not allowing access to accounts for most of yesterday, and also this morning.
See http://status.blogger.com/
I will add an extra post to what I have planned later this weekend or Monday. In the meantime, check out some of the Chess in the Library posts below (find links at the bottom of this blog)!
Have a nice day!
See http://status.blogger.com/
I will add an extra post to what I have planned later this weekend or Monday. In the meantime, check out some of the Chess in the Library posts below (find links at the bottom of this blog)!
Have a nice day!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wacky Wednesday - Personality Quiz
Let's try something new for a change. Personality quizzes are popular in magazines, so why not include them in a blog?
What type of 'chess animal' are you?
For each of these questions, choose the answer that suits you best!
Question 1: How do you usually win your games?
(a) Brilliant checkmate
(b) Long, drawn-out endgame
(c) Perhaps win some material, then use the advantage later on to checkmate
Question 2: What is your first instinct when you realize a king's castle is open?
(a) That king is not safe!
(b) There may be a way to get an advantage!
(c) What a great chance to attack!
Question 3: If there was one type of piece you feel you couldn't play without, what would it be?
(a) Queens
(b) Minor Pieces (Knights or Bishops)
(c) Pawns
Question 4: When you see yourself playing black against a higher-rated opponent, what result do you tend to anticipate?
(a) Loss
(b) Draw
(c) Win
Question 5: If your position gets closed, you immediately
(a) Decide on a new plan
(b) Try to open up the position
(c) Reorganize your pieces, but let the closed structure remain
Total up your points:
Q1 (a) 3 points (b) 1 point (c) 2 points
Q2 (a) 1 point (b) 2 points (c) 3 points
Q3 (a) 3 points (b) 2 points (c) 1 point
Q4 (a) 1 point (b) 2 points (c) 3 points
Q5 (a) 2 points (b) 3 points (c) 1 point
Score:
5 points - 8 points
You're a bear -
You tend to sit back and wait for something to happen. You like solid structures and calm positions. However, if your opponent causes too many disruptions, you unleash your inner strength. To improve, bring your strength to the next level - take initiative as soon as there is an opportunity - don't wait for your opponent to make the first attack, otherwise you risk getting too passive.
9 points - 11 points
You're a chameleon -
No one really knows what's on your mind. You 'change the colour' of each of your games by adding unique twists and turns. Sometimes you choose to stay calm like a bear, sometimes you push ahead like a lion, and sometimes you do something really extraordinary. To improve, be aware of your tendencies and situations, then match various styles to appropriate positions.
12 points - 15 points
You're a lion -
You are always on the prowl for a fresh way to attack. You like unbalanced, unclear positions. People fear your fierceness, and may try to hide or fight back. Either way, you are always ready for a challenge. To improve, keep up with tactical themes, and make sure to build your attacks thoroughly (rather than spontaneously). Of course, not all positions call for an immediate attack, so be patient - even lions need up to 20 hours rest per day!
Wasn't that fun?
(Note - this quiz is just for fun, not for serious training. You should consult your instructor or further resources before determining your precise style. Quiz was designed by Hazel :) Hope you liked it - more to come in the future!)
What type of 'chess animal' are you?
For each of these questions, choose the answer that suits you best!
Question 1: How do you usually win your games?
(a) Brilliant checkmate
(b) Long, drawn-out endgame
(c) Perhaps win some material, then use the advantage later on to checkmate
Question 2: What is your first instinct when you realize a king's castle is open?
(a) That king is not safe!
(b) There may be a way to get an advantage!
(c) What a great chance to attack!
Question 3: If there was one type of piece you feel you couldn't play without, what would it be?
(a) Queens
(b) Minor Pieces (Knights or Bishops)
(c) Pawns
Question 4: When you see yourself playing black against a higher-rated opponent, what result do you tend to anticipate?
(a) Loss
(b) Draw
(c) Win
Question 5: If your position gets closed, you immediately
(a) Decide on a new plan
(b) Try to open up the position
(c) Reorganize your pieces, but let the closed structure remain
Total up your points:
Q1 (a) 3 points (b) 1 point (c) 2 points
Q2 (a) 1 point (b) 2 points (c) 3 points
Q3 (a) 3 points (b) 2 points (c) 1 point
Q4 (a) 1 point (b) 2 points (c) 3 points
Q5 (a) 2 points (b) 3 points (c) 1 point
Score:
5 points - 8 points
You're a bear -
You tend to sit back and wait for something to happen. You like solid structures and calm positions. However, if your opponent causes too many disruptions, you unleash your inner strength. To improve, bring your strength to the next level - take initiative as soon as there is an opportunity - don't wait for your opponent to make the first attack, otherwise you risk getting too passive.
9 points - 11 points
You're a chameleon -
No one really knows what's on your mind. You 'change the colour' of each of your games by adding unique twists and turns. Sometimes you choose to stay calm like a bear, sometimes you push ahead like a lion, and sometimes you do something really extraordinary. To improve, be aware of your tendencies and situations, then match various styles to appropriate positions.
12 points - 15 points
You're a lion -
You are always on the prowl for a fresh way to attack. You like unbalanced, unclear positions. People fear your fierceness, and may try to hide or fight back. Either way, you are always ready for a challenge. To improve, keep up with tactical themes, and make sure to build your attacks thoroughly (rather than spontaneously). Of course, not all positions call for an immediate attack, so be patient - even lions need up to 20 hours rest per day!
Wasn't that fun?
(Note - this quiz is just for fun, not for serious training. You should consult your instructor or further resources before determining your precise style. Quiz was designed by Hazel :) Hope you liked it - more to come in the future!)
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