Player vs Player Gamesmanship

Since reading the Chess for Tigers book.  I have been doing quite a bit of thinking about the Player vs Player aspect of chess.  I’ve seen many discussions about Computer vs Player chess discussions and also whether “chess can be solved.”  Well, for one I am sad that the best part of chess is the heart pounding chances and risks that take place in over the board chess games.  When playing a computer, it doesn’t really matter if you play the Dutch Defense or the English opening?  No, but against a live opponent.  It could mean you throw them off of their game.

Do you prepare for the people you play against in your local chess club?  Do you know the favorite openings of 2 people in your local chess club?  That alone makes me think.  I am preparing for deeper knowledge of my openings.  Say 2 moves deeper and trying to learn some of the basic main variations.  I want to throw off the opponents I play.  Try to get them out of their game.

Also, what do you do to get into their head?  Have you tried rapid moves?  Say in the opening, just move vary rapidly showing them how much of the opeing you know.  Or, just bluff them with sound moves.  How about when you see a good combination play faster and put the pressure on them.

A wonderful part of chess is the player vs player interaction.  Don’t overlook it, and dig out your openings reference and learn one obscure opening.  Just to see what they do against it.

Have fun!

Preparation and Strategy for play

If you have been reading my column, then you know I am obsessed with openings. I have been reading a few books from my local library. One is: “Chess for Tigers” by Simon Webb. It has been a very good book. When I read chess books, I am not trying to digest all of the information, but I try to find one or two things that I can apply consistently in my game. I have found a few gems in this one. They have changed how I see the game and will help me with some areas in my game that will produce some good results. These two are “No quick kills.” and “Prepare a set of opening.”

Now neither of these are new to anyone reading this, but I have to admit, I try to get cute and find some great advantage from the opening. The truth is more than that. Many times I am trying for a win in the opening, not just an advantage. Webb talks about stalking and about pressing any advantage through the game. For example, if my opponent plays conservatively in the opening, then play so that they cannot free up their game. If they are behind in development, try to continue to hinder development and keep then on their heels. Push that advantage. Now at my level of play, I don’t think that will be as easy at it sounds, but at my level of play, Blunders and Silly mistakes are going to happen. If I do this, then my games will be longer and I will have more chances to see how I do in middle and then end game phases.

The second item is to prepare and play only a certain set of opening, or repertoire. As you might guess, that could be hard to do, but I am about to finalize my repertoire. For now it is: As White 1. e4 – Spanish (Ruy Lopez). As Black vs 1.e4 – 1. .. c5 the Sicilian and As Black vs 1. d4 – 1.d4 Queens Gambit Declined. As Black vs Non Standard White openings – 1. c5. Sicilian.

Don’t tell me that it requires LOTS of theory to play the Sicilian. If you just browse through any computer’s opening book, you’ll find the VAST variety of ways to play the Sicilian. But one has to start somewhere when trying to play an opening. As I understand my repertoire and learn it deeper, the better I will be. Then I can start to refine and do better and learn to steer the game into my familiar territory rather then constantly having to research and find what to do. That is really at the heart of the second point from Webb’s book. By preparation of the opening, I can get deeper into the game and understand how my choice of openings and the lines I play effect the middle and ultimately the endgame. Will I lose a lot in the beginning? Probably, but I do need to keep learning. My experience with trying the Caro-Kann was very good. Even though I am putting it on the back shelf, I have learned quite a bit about what I like in an opening from the Caro-Kann.

I am looking forward to playing deeper into games and am looking forward to many end game challenges. I hope I have taken the first step away from Openingitis. No more quick kills. I want to play solid openings and get the chance to play the middle and end game. After a month of playing, we’ll see how things go.

I would appreciate any feedback.

Unrealistic Expectations

I am back playing.  I just got burnt out.  But looking at the situation, I feel it was more about unrealistic expectations than being burnt out.  If I am honest, I must admit that I expect too much.  I keep thinking that I have some clever move that will make that game fall into my hands permanently.  In reality, that move is checkmate and nothing else qualifies.  A friend of mine has said it best.  “The last one to blunder, loses.“  As much as I hate to admit it, it is true.  Now the challenge is this, how do I rid myself of these nasty assumptions?  The only way I can think now is to re-train my thinking.  I can only do that by constantly repeating to myself about being patient and keep playing.  Exactly how, I am not sure, but this is my next challenge.  Not to be too enamored with my own chess ideas.  Be Humble in my approach.  Confident, but humble.

On the subject of openings, I seem to be on the verge of really embracing a very fundamental thought on that subject.  It is this, “play my opening moves as a response to the moves of my opponent.” I realize most of you readers, will say, “No Kidding!” in response to that one.  Well, I have been struggling with my openings for a very long time.  It was my failure to some friends in school that started me to study openings.  My one weakness has been to end up being behind in either development or material after the opening.  I finally realized it is an unrealistic expectation for me to believe that someone is actually going to play the opening set I want.  I must react with the best move for that situation instead.  Lately, I have played someone who opens on the wing.  Yes, in my head I think, “Inferior, so I am going to win.”  In reality, if I don’t play to beat him, I won’t.  There is no opening that guarantees me a win or precludes one from winning.  An opening might make the game lean to my favor, but I must play to keep that advantage.  It is the only way.  I must earn each victory.

There are some opening basics.  Hold the center, don’t move any piece more than once, develop my pieces, and don’t move the Queen too early.  For someone that opens on the wings.  I will make sure I get a pawn to e5 and also make sure it is supported well.  I will meet the threat on the wing and cramp their game in the middle.