Well, so far, the new openings have been going well.  I am 2 wins and 1 loss since starting back up playing with my new openings.  That is huge for me.  I have a good feeling regarding the games.  The games are going deeper and the games are closer.  That is a good goal for me.  I have so focused on the openings and I have overlooked the middle game play and the end game play.  Now I am trying to study the middle and end game rather than overly focus on the openings.   I am working on posting one of my wins and what I have learned.

Keep studying and don’t forget.  Chess is an organic game.  Don’t overly focus on the opening.  You really can’t win a game in the first 10 moves anyway.  The best you can do is go up a pawn and then use that advantage.

I have played a few games and have found that my initial focus on the entire game and away from the openings is going well.  What I have been doing is trying to just play a solid opening.  Not fancy, not trying to win an advantage.  Just trying to make good solid moves.  When in doubt, I try to make solid moves that will either develop a piece or solidify my position in some way.  So far I have been able to get a small advantage and use that advantage to win in the endgame phase.  I am not turning cartwheels or anything, but I do see some good things happening.

I have read recently that knowing how your opening affects the endgame is important.  The last few games has displayed that very well.  I know that it won’t always go like this, but having a early success bolsters one’s confidence.

I would recommend trying some of your well know openings and just play consistently and see what advantage you get and see how it works to the endgame.

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!

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.

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.

I have been playing quite a few games a black and playing the Caro-Kann opening.  I would say I am still in the learning phase, but wow, am I frustrated.  It appears that the almost standard reply by White is e5 after black’s d5.  It is known as the Caro-Kann Advanced version.  The thing that’s gotten me the most frustrated is that my references are old and the line I had is woefully inadequate.  I have since corrected that problem.  But it appears that the Advanced version is kind of backwards to the other Caro lines.  Plus the Advanced Variation has Black moving the c pawn twice in 5 moves.  It just bothers me that the Caro takes two moves to get the c pawn to c5.

I am tempted to switch to the French defence, but being an ultra closed defence I don’t want that one.  Another bother about the Caro-Kann is that, according to Ruben Fine, the Caro-Kann is an attempt to have the French defence without the bad Queen Bishop.  Ok. So now that you free the Queen Bishop, what happens?  Most of the time you just exchange it with White’s Bishop.  That doesn’t sound like such a freeing idea.  I realize that exchanges in material are ideal for a closed defence, but that doesn’t sound like real compensation for the frustration.

So for now, the Caro-Kann is on my back shelf.  I am now studying the Sicilian.  I plan to roll it out soon.  I will come back to the Caro-Kann, but I need some time.

Mini-rant: I can’t stand all the chess-culture snobbery about learning openings.  It is like there is some sort of Opening Police that will come and get you if you play or try to learn an opening that somone thinks you are not skilled enough to try.  If that were the case, nobody would ever learn chess.

I have recovered from my feeling sorry for myself, at least chess-wise that is.  In the process of trying to improve my chess, I see myself as my primary enemy rather than the person across the board from me. I sometimes push and think so hard and put so much pressure on myself that I get frustrated at losing games or being behind in games.  Rather than give up, I have taken up the challenge to play through the frustration.

I have just become comfortable and have reached a satisfactory understanding of Opening Principles for chess.  So I now have turned my attention to the Mid-Game.  Upon doing that I look at the Mid-Game and say, “OK, what now?”  You see I am trying to put more deliberation and planning into all facets of my play.  I don’t want to just react and plan, but I want to strategize rather than react.  That is a subject that for now, I am having a hard time figuring out where to start my learning and studying.  Here’s why…

For almost all of my life, I have relied upon myself, and those chess books that I’ve come across, to help me improve my game.  It had mostly been a solitary journey.  Because of that, I feel I have missed some basic knowledge that those with a coach/teach get as part of their training.  Also, my terminology might, and probably is, different than the standard chess terms.  All of this leads me to my first guiding principle for improving my chess play.

1.  Spend time reading books and take in the content.  No speed reading on those books.

Now this might seem silly to most of you, but it is easy for me to skim read and not take time to absorb the content of each chess book I read.  I am starting with the books I now have because they are considered classics and I can honestly say, I haven’t really taken the time to study them.  Also, this principle is a recognition that within myself, I cannot really grasp some basic, timeless principles of chess without help.

Principle 2 for improving my chess play is:

2.  No one game will make or break my play ability.

Sometimes I put so much pressure on myself to win each game that I grow more fearful in my play.  The book The Amateur’s Mind points out that playing with fear is really bad.  It leads to all kinds of bad play.  If I don’t put so much value on each game, then the fear of losing will be lessened.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I will not care about losing or winning, but I will not focus or freak-out about each game.  Principle 3 grows out of 2.

3.  No one move will destroy me when the game is about even.

Sometimes when I am playing a higher rated person, I grow fearful of “the move.”  “The move” is a move that will put my opponent ahead in the game in such a way that I can never pull even again.  Now an opponent might play a brilliant move that puts them in command of the game, but there is no one move that would destroy my game.

4. There is value in playing games, many games. It grows the level of experience and allows me to grow in my knowledge of positions and game play.

I have noticed that as I have grown comfortable with an opening and how it plays, then I can increase in my skill and confidence in playing it.  I figure that as I play more and more games, my confidence in my game and what I can do in each position will increase.  I don’t want to play tons, but I do want to keep playing.  Without play, I can’t gain the experience.  It is the experience with the game that I want to increase.  I believe I will start  to recognize winning positions, because of so many others I have played.  Also, as I see postions I have played poorly in, then I can improve.

5.  Take chances and play out openings and theory that you want to try.

I guess each idea needs to be tried in an actual game.  So, I am going to have to take chances and try out new things.  Failure is sure to happen, I need not fear the losses.

So those are my 5 Principles to Improving Chess Play

1.  Spend time reading books and take in the content.  No speed reading on those books.

2.  No one game will make or break my play ability.

3.  No one move will destroy me when the game is about even.

4.  There is value in playing games, many games.

5.  Take chances and play out openings and theory that you want to try.

I realize there is nothing ground breaking, maybe that is where the value in these lie.  They are useful and they speak to needs my game has.

Finally, I am trying to recognize when a game needs my full attention and when it doesn’t.  More times than not, I am not giving my games enough attention.  That is something to get back to.  Also, I need to play some slow live games.  Another early Saturday session with Chessmaster just might be in order.

Right now I am about as frustrated with chess as I have ever been.  Losses are mounting with no end in sight.  The continuity and flow to a chess game are gone.  Right now chess games seem to be a never ending search for a tactic to be used.  This to me defeats the purpose of planning in chess.  I plan to start playing on FCIS soon.  I don’t want to play against a computer and playing against any live players seems good to me.

The other day I was playing a game on one of the websites I play chess.  I won a game, but I do not understand why.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am glad to win a game, but this one doesn’t make sense to me.  Here is the position that my opponent resigned on.

I am white.  It is black to move on turn 22.  I am white and my opponent is black.  Like I said, my opponent resigned on his turn.   Here is the game:

1. e4 e6
2. Nf3 d5
3. d4 dxe4
4. Ng5 h6
5. Nxe4 Nd7
6. Bd3 Ngf6
7. Nbc3 b6
8. Bf4 c6
9. Bd6 Nxe4
10. Nxe4 Bxd6
11. Nxd6+ Ke7
12. Nxc8+ Rxc8
13. O-O Re8
14. Qh5 Nf6
15. Qh4 Kf8
16. c3 c5
17. Rad1 cxd4
18. Qxd4 Qxd4
19. cxd4 Nd5
20. Be2 Rc2
21. Bb5 Rec8
22. Rb1 1-0 (Black Resigned.)

My question then is regarding this: Do you see any reason that black would resign the game?

To me the game is still about even.  I would like feedback from you the reader.

I wanted to post some of the things I have learned about openings and also some things I am pondering as a result of my studies.  One item is that the struggle that is a chess game starts with move one.  *waits for the laughter to die down*  By that I mean move 1 is just as important as move 23 or the last move of the game.  Why?  You might ask.  The reason is this.  Your first move is your statement about where you are starting your attack on your opponent.  That thought in itself has changed my view of a chess game. You see . . . I used to only get serious after the mysterious opening was over.  For some reason, I just did “get it” that the opening phase of a chess game is just your preliminary first attack on your opponent.

With that in mind, the thought about which move is best for opening a chess game?  I believe that answer ends up being a little complicated, especially when transposition comes into play.  It is possible after 7 moves to end up with the same position, but doing the moves in a different order, or transposing the order of the moves.  So I will fall back upon this statement. The best first attack is to first seize the middle of the chessboard.  On some of the chess discussions there is the eternal argument over the best opening.  To take control of the center of the board is to limit your opponent.

For me, the answer to that idea is e4 as my beginning of my opening.  I am getting comfortable with what I call “King Pawn Complex.”  All e4 guarantees me is that I will end up with one of the following openings: Scotch, Giuoco Piano, Ruy Lopez, Petroff’s Defence, Sicilian, Caro-Kann, French, or one of a few other openings.  You see, the opening system is determined by the play of me and my opponent together.  My repsonses to his/her attacks will dictate which opening and opening line is played.  No. I don’t have them all memorize to move 12.  But I do have some idea of the first few moves of each opening.  Rather than memorize thousands of moves, I am trying to understand the battle that takes place in each of these openings.  By understanding the King’s Pawn Complex, I hope to avoid, Fried Liver, the Tarrasch Trap, and any other traps that appear in the openings.

On another idea, I am evaluating what I call the Center Counter Punch.   Center Counter Punch refers to the idea of attacking my opponent’s center.  Something I read once has gotten me curious.  It was referring to Alekhine’s Defence which is Nf6.  It is a Hypermodern idea of letting white setup a center and see if it can hold.  Right now, I believe that a Center Counter Punch that uses a pawn sacrifice, would possibly work on any center.  I have some reading and studying to do, but I believe that this idea leads to the following idea.  “It is not who arrives first at the center who controls it, but the last.”  Right now it is a theory and an idea, one I want to experiment with and study.  If you have any ideas, please leave a note here.  I would love to research this idea.