habarric
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re:Looking to improve! - 2006/07/02 01:39
Hello, like another recent poster I`m a casual chess player looking to improve.
Until about a week ago I hadn`t played a serious game in maybe 10 years, and only a few (read less than one a year) not-so-serious games. I would still read a chess column from time to time, and once picked up a book of games at a used book store. Now that I`m thinking about it, I also had a computer chess program about 5 years ago, but it was so slow that I played it on a level where it was easily beaten to keep from dying of boredom. It was "Chessmaster2000" or something like that.
But the other day I checked out the Chess room on the Microsoft game Zone (I usually play bridge) web site, got into a few games, and enjoyed myself far more than I was expecting. It inspired me to play a bunch of games (about 50 so far), check out a couple books from the library, and search
I`m not sure how to judge my competitive level. I`ve been winning about 70% of the games, but it`s against mediocre competition. I played a bit in junior high school (15 years ago) and was probably the best player at the school - I played a tiny bit in high school and was probably one of the best two or three players there. I once played in a Swiss tournament held at UC Berkeley and won my first two games, then got absolutely crushed the next two games. That`s the extent of any tournament experience I`ve had.
So I would guess that I`m a bit worse than an average "club" player. And right now, I`m out of practice.
I`ve noticed a few characteristics about my own play. Ignoring a few games against obvious novices, I feel like I`m always behind after the opening 10-15 moves. Even after the extremely common 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 ... I find myself unsure of what to do as Black. I have in my mind vague precepts, like moving out the knights, then a bishop, and preparing to castle, but it`s guessing. I tend to exchange whenever it doesn`t seem to cost an important tempo - I definitely exchange too often. I suppose I should mention that all the games I`ve played so far are timed, to either 5,10, or 20 minutes per side.
Once a few pieces are off the board, I fare better. I`ve only had a serious attack work on me a couple times - I often get the feeling that my defensive moves are "lucky" - the opponent will make an attacking move I wasn`t anticipating, and I`ll realize that I just happen to have a counter available. I don`t know whether this is because I`ve got enough chess learning in me to make intrinsically sound defensive moves, or whether I`ve been getting atypically lucky. Honestly, I think it`s the second reason.
But I`m almost never on the offensive. I`ll make the very obvious thrusts, and try to set up pins and forks, but my pawns are invariably closer to home than my opponents, and I never have an opportunity to make a sacrifice that forces to mate. Rarely, I set up a combination that leaves me up the exchange, or gains a pawn.
When I win in the midgame, it`s because my opponent overextends himself in an attack.
I go through the midgame trying to exchange and simplify. In endgames, I`ve done very well. This may have to do with the fact that my pawn structure is usually better than my opponents, but I also feel very confident, because the possibilities are more limited and I don`t worry about missing anything.
So I`d say my (relative) positives are midgame defense, and endgames.
My definite weaknesses are openings and attacking. Plus, I almost always fall behind my opponent in time, though I often pick it back up later in the game.
So I`m looking for advice on the following:
Is there a web site (or many) with annotated opening lines? Can anyone recommend a book that suggests a few basic lines, but doesn`t overload on the variations? I mean, I`ll play three different moves (depending on my mood) at my second move as Black to identical situations - that`s how lost I am. I want to feel like I can get through 8 moves without being behind in time or position.
Also, does anyone have advice on visualization? Perhaps someone will identify with this - when I play over the computer, it`s much more difficult for me to forsee the board 3 moves into the future than it is with a real chess set. Somehow, the 2 dimensional figures can not "leave" their former positions (mentally) in the same way I can envision a vacated spot on a real chessboard. Is this common?
Lastly, I`m looking for practical suggestions on how to play timed chess for the time spans I mentioned (5,10,or 20 minutes). In a 10 or 20 minute game, is it generally not worth looking more than X amount of time for a move, even if the position is complicated and I have a strong feeling I have a better shot? I`ve probably lost about 3 games where I had a won position because I ran out of time. I`d have been better off with an equal position but time to play it out. I don`t have a good feeling about where the correct balance is. In 5 minute games, I`m guessing from start to finish and unless my opponent makes a mistake, I expect to lose because of my aforementioned attacking deficiency...
Thanks in advance for any and all comments.
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I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.
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