Creeping Death on Redhot Pawn wants to become a better Player how?!!

[i]Originally posted by CreepingDeath on redhot pawn[/i]
[b]My next goal is to get to 1300. What is the best way?[/b]

Before doing anything else get a book like the Art of Checkmate by Georges Renaud and Khan it's important to see all the potential forced mates and how to counter them!

It's Important Learn the fundamentals of playing good Chess the elements and the basics!

I have talked about this many,many times on my Blog so many Kids and Adults are not being taught the classical Chess principles anymore or not bothering to take the time time learn the fundamentals of good Chess it's scary you can look inside my Blog and find some truly atrocious examples of what I'm talking about I see Kids playing this crap 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 and this 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 and 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qf6 instead of developing their army and having a point to their moves

Study Master Chess Games alot:

A great way to improve your Chess is to study GM Games anyone who works through Bobby Fischers Games on a real set or 500 Master Games by Dumont or 300 Chess Games by Tarrasch daily can really improve their play

Learn Chess Tactics:

When I was a Kid the first book my Chess Teacher Mike Griffin lent me (he didn't give the book to me) was 1001 winning combinations by Fred Rienfeld doing the problems again and again can help improve ones game even just a couple of weeks of doing the problems will see the Student improve!

Practice:

To become a good Player one needs to practice alot this is a complete waste of time online because the Internet is full of People who have no ethics or limits they frequently cheat with programs and use dirty and low tricks to win! I'm not sugar coating it that's the sad reality of how Chess is played online I'm a seasoned veteran of Internet Chess I played out here a long,long time and I've seen it all folks you can take my word for it face to face Chess is the best way to go it's a much different and better experience than facing some asshole on a server hiding behind a bot and Rybka.


Patience:

There is no such thing as instant results becoming a good Player is a process that takes time it doesn't happen overnight it takes hard work and constant practice (sometimes years) and refining of technique.


Hire a good Chess Teacher:

Books can help you improve but they only serve as a guide a Teacher is either an experienced Master or Grandmaster who can help a novice much more than books and knows what it takes to win at this game but like any Teacher there are really good ones who care about their art and craft and some really bad ones who have no interpersonal skills and are only in it for the money it pays to do your homework talk to his or her former and current students ask them what their experience was/is like find one that isn't just in it for his or her $80 an hour who wants to see his or her students really succeed. I once had a friend who hired a Chess Coach who spent the whole hour insulting him and even made some stupid comments about his race that kind of Coach is a disgrace or ones who always show up late for lessons or don't prepare homework.

I was quite lucky when I was a Kid 23 years ago to have a great coach named Mike Griffin from Montreal he took me under his wing for free I barely knew how to play he taught me to discipline myself and to see Chess as a complete whole I owe him for his patience and the many Chess Lessons he gave me. I'm very busy studying now to be a Master strength Player and I will succeed at my goal :)

[Event "Internet Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2008.04.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beginner"]
[Black "Alec"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]

1.h3

This move is no good it doesn't have a point and it doesn't contribute anything to the development of the white pieces in the opening every single move counts each move wasted is a loss of time! You want to get your pieces of the back rank on to the board as quickly as you can position them so they work together in a well coordinated way so each piece talks to each other and functions as one united force with the goal of checkmating the other armies King!

Special Note: I recently made an urgent plea on my Chess Blog to Coaches and Chess Teachers and repeat it please,please go back to teaching and stressing the importance of general principles and the basics to the Kids and young adults People are completely ignoring all of them the only result from ignoring them the way People are and not teaching the Principles to them is atrocious Chess.

d5 2.h4 e5 3.c3 Nc6 4.b4 Nf6



That's how to develop a Chess Army look at the big difference of my setup vs my opponents every move I'm making has a point and helps my army improve it's position on the board in the opening you bring out your pieces to prepare for the middle game always you never waste time or play moves that hinder your development!

5.Nf3



I can play 1.e4 and force him to lose time moving the Knight to safety and take squares and space from him

Bf5

I chose to play Bf5 first the black Bishop positioned here controls more squares than e4 the c8-h3 diagonal and the g2-c2 squares

6.Bb2 e4 7.c4

No this is wrong and had no point he had to move his Knight on F3 to safety

exf3 8.exf3




If you ignore real threats then you'll pay for it losing and throwing away your pieces is not good.

Bxb4 9.Ba3 Bxa3 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.g4 Bxb1 12.Rxb1 O-O-O 13.d3 Rhe8+



Were only 13 moves into the game and my opponents position is a train wreck if you study his moves up to this point there is cause behind why this happened to him:

1) He has no Knowledge of general principles or the right way to plan from the beginning of a game

2) Ignored obvious threats losing material

3) Poor coordination of his pieces they must communicate and move in a fluid way to either defend or attack

4) Very poor opening choice 1.h3 which had no point and wasted time

If your playing Chess without logical reason your just guessing and drifting that's the fastest way to get checkmated!


14.Be2 Bb4+ 15.Qd2 Bxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Qxa2+ 17.Ke1 Qxe2# 0-1




To avoid playing like my opponent in your own games or meeting a similar fate:

1) Develop your pieces properly around a good plan and have a point to every single move you make remember in the opening choose moves that don't waste time or slow you down!

2) Always use common sense and reason out your moves slowly don't play very fast take your time

3) Whenever your opponent moves always ask yourself what is my opponent threatening? look at the square your opponent just moved to what is the point behind his move or threat? next look at all his other men even the ones still on their home squares to see how the position has changed did he unmask an attack with his last move? is he concentrating fire? are two or more pieces threatening your Knight or Bishop? important to reason out what his plan is before responding with your own move!

4) Space time and force: you are fighting for space territory and squares on the board especially the center you want to take away and deny your opponents army the ability to control them.

5) Coordination/Team work see #1 this is important the pieces must function as one unit moving forward as a united force just like a real army!

6) Discipline yourself while you play and focus what you want to do focusing and having an aim is very important!

7) Castle Your King make sure it's safe and secure this is your first priority in a Chess game not attack!

[Date "June 2007"]
[White "Opponent"]
[Black "Alec"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Birds Opening: Froms Gambit]

1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.d4 dxe5 4.dxe5 Qxd1+ 5 Kxd1 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Bf4 O-O-O+ 8. Kc1 Bxf3 9.exf3 Nge7 10.h4 Nd5 11. Bg3 Ne3 12. Nc3 Bb4 13. Bf4 Nxf1 14. Rxf1 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Rhe8 16. Re1 Rd5 17. c4 Rd4 18. a4 Rxf4 0-1

[Event "Correspondence Chess Match May-June 2007"]
[Site "net-chess.com"]
[White "mi 2092"]
[Black "Alec 2121"]
[Result "0-1"]


1.d4 Ng8f6 2.Nb1c3 d5 3.Ng1f3 Nb8c6 4.Bc1f4 a6 5.h3 e6 6.e3 Bf8b4 7.Bf1d3 O-O 8.O-O Bb4xc3 9.bxc3 Nf6e4 10.Bd3xe4 dxe4 11.Nf3e5 Nc6e7 12.Qd1g4 f6 13.Bf4h6 Ne7f5 14.Ne5c4 Nf5xh6 15.Qg4xe4 f5 16.Qe4d3 b6 17.Ra1b1 Qd8d5 18.f4 Bc8b7 19.Rf1f2 Qd5e4 20.a3 Qe4xd3 21.cxd3 g6 22.Nc4e5 Rf8d8 23.Kg1h2 Nh6f7 24.g4 Nf7xe5 25.fxe5fxg4 26.hxg4 Rd8f8 27.Kh2g3 Rf8f7 28.Rf2xf7 Kg8xf7 29.Rb1f1 Kf7g7 30.g5 Ra8d8 31.c4 c5 32.Rf1f4 cxd4 33.Rf4xd4 Rd8xd4 34.exd4 h5 35.a4 Bb7c6 36.d5 Bc6xa4 37.d6 a5 38.d4 Ba4d7 39.c5 bxc5 40.dxc5 a4 {white resigned.} 0-1






[Event "Correspondence Chess Match"]
[Site "Net-Chess.Com"]
[Date "2007.06.??"]
[White "Alec"]
[Black "Mi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2121"]
[BlackElo "2092"]
[ECO "C00"]

1. e4 e6 2. Ne2 Nc6 3. Nbc3 Bc5 4. d3 Qf6 5. f3 Nh6 6. h4 Nd4 7. Bg5 Qe5 8. Bf4 Qf6 9. Qd2 Nxe2 10. Bxe2 c6 11. e5 Qd8 12. d4 Be7 13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. Qxh6 Bb4 15. Qd2 Qa5 16. O-O Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Qxc3 18. bxc3 b5 19. f4 Bb7 20. g3 Rg8 21. Kh2 O-O-O 22. a4 a6 23. axb5 cxb5 24. c4 bxc4 25. Bxc4 d5 26. Bxa6 Rd7 27. Rfb1 Bxa6 28. Rxa6 Rgd8 29. Rbb6 Rb7 30. Ra8+ Kc7 31. Rxb7+ Kxb7 32. Rxd8 Kb6 33. Rd7 Kb5 34. Rxf7 Kc4 35. Rf6 Kxd4 36. c3+ Kxc3 37. Rxe6 d4 38. Rc6+ Kd3 39. e6 Ke3 40.e7 1-0





Mi is a strong Player when I played him he was 2092 I beat him with both colors in our match the second game as White I played Keres variation Ne2. In the second game Black made a big mistake bringing his Queen out on move 7! By move 11.e5 Qd8 12.d4 Be7 13.Bh6 gxh6 I have the better of it (look what his Queen move cost him) at this point I planned on castling Queenside but he went on the attack with Bishop and Queen he stopped that.

Garbage way to play the Black Pieces #7 don't try this at home!


[White "Alec"]
[Black "PaulinaRubio"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qxg2 4.Bxg2 g5 5.Nf3 h5 6 Nxg5 b5 7.Qf3 e5 8.Qxf7+ Kd8 9.Bxa8 b4 10.Qxf8+ Kd7 11.Nce4 1-0



Absolutely dreadful!

To grow and improve and to become a good Player you need to listen to much better Chess Players by submitting completed games to them for unbiased honest opinion and valid criticism of your play but there's a right way and a wrong way to go about doing that on the Internet I have some advice and thoughts on this for Novices and Intermediate Players:

1) Pick and choose where you post your games and who reviews them very carefully!

The best way to get feedback you can trust is to send your games through the right channels to experienced Players they can give you balanced criticism with very helpful comments for improving your Chess at a very reasonable fee in my opinion this is a much,much better way to go than posting games on a Chess Forum it's like someone looking at your taxes folks would you trust your neighbor giving you his 2 cents or opinion if he isn't qualified or someone who makes his or her living as an accountant? the quality of the review of your games and who's doing it matters.

A) Most of the posters on these message forums are completely anonymous alot of them use fake names to disguise their true identity and who they are there is no way for you to know or be 101% certain if their 1300 or 2600 unless they prove that they have a title or that they are the GM or the Master reviewing your game there are lots of fake Grandmaster and International Masters beware!

B) You can never be certain if your really not experienced yourself if the analysis or feedback anonymous People gave you is correct or if it has mistakes in it or is just some Kid who fed your game to his Fritz program who doesn't know anything about Chess at all!!

C) If you post any of your games on a Chess Forum there is always a risk some troll will write an extremely nasty review of your game to discourage or really offend/insult you (unless it's moderated)

2) Write your own thoughts and analysis!

The only way any experienced reviewer can help you is if you write your own comments and the reasons for your moves alot of People are lazy they enter their moves in a Computer engine and send the Computer analysis to the reviewer this is not helpful don't do that it's a waste of time!

3) Choose which games you submit very carefully!

Carefully choose your games submit the ones that that were tough fights and you had a difficult time in or you aren't quite sure where you went wrong those kind of games are alot more useful for an experienced reviewer or Master to figure out where your weak and what areas you need to study or work on than games you easily won.

[Event "Friendly Game"]
[Site "Instant Chess Internet"]
[Date "2006"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alec"]
[Black "Bill Price"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 e6 4.Nc3 Ne7 5. Bd3 O-O 6.Be3 d6 7.Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Nbc6 9.h4 e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.h5 Bf6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Qxg5 Nd7 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.Rh6 Rf7 16.Nh4 Rg7 17. Rh1 Nf6 18.Qxf6 Qf8 19.Qg5 Bd7 20.Nf3 Qf7 21.R1h4 Rf8 22. Qg3 Qe8 23.Qh2



[Position after 23.Qh2]

Rff7 24.Ng5 Qf8 25.Rxh7 Rxh7 26.Rxh7 Rxh7 27.Qxh7#
1-0



When attacking make sure you have enough power to pull it off otherwise it'll come up just short! Good game to learn from on
how to execute an attack properly.

Alert! Garbage way to play the Black Pieces part #6 don't play like this at home!


[Event "Friendly Game"]
[Date "2006"]
[White "Alec"]
[Black "Mr.Barbaro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]

1.e4 b5 2.d4 a6 3.Nf3 Bb7 4. Bd3 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6. Be3 h6 7.Nbd2 a5 8.e5 e6 9.Be4 a4 10.Bxb7 Ra7 11.Be4 h5 12.Qc2 c6 13.O-O Qc8 14.Ng5 Bh6 15.Nxf7 Kxf7 16.Bxg6+ Kg7 17.f4 h4 18.Nf3 Na6 19.Ng5 Qd8 20.Nf7 Rh7 21.Nxd8 1-0



Mr.Barbaro's play in this game is another excellent example of how not to play the Black Pieces! I like to show this game to very young Children when I give Chess lessons it's a very terrifying glimpse for them of what kind of Chess Player they really don't want to be when they grow up!

Wow.....

It seems the hits on my Blog have gone way up I'm really not doing, anything special I just speak my mind about issues that concern me going on in the Chess Community. I'm honestly one of the very few Chess experts left on Blogger who cares anymore and is making a real effort to tell Kids and People as a whole to play Chess the right way don't cheat with programs in OTB or Internet Chess even if I only reach a very small percentage of People with my message to play the game clean and only some of them listen to me my effort is a success not a failure it's one less Young Chess Player becoming a complete disgrace to the game who won't have to wear a brown paper bag over his or her head the rest of their life with shame on you marked on the side of it wherever he or she plays in the World! As an artist I enjoy sharing my work with other Players and helping beginners and novices improve their Chess if they study my games and improve and they go on to be great Players some day then my mission is a success! Hey I'm happy if they at least give up 1.e4 e5 2.Qf3 and see the light terrible opening!

Alec

[Event "Online Game"]
[Site "www.flyordie.com"]
[Date "2008.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bangalter"]
[Black "Alec"]
[Result "0-1"]
[UTCDate "2008.02.11"]
[TimeControl "1200"]

1.e4 e5 2.d3 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bg5 Nge7 5.c3 f6 6.Bc1 Bg4 7.Be3 d5 8.d4 dxe4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.gxf3 exd4 11.cxd4 exf3 12.Qxf3 Qd5 13.Bg2 Qxf3 14.Bxf3 O-O-O 15.O-O Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Rxd4 17.Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Nc6 19.Nc3 Bb4 20.Nd5 Bc5 21.Bg4+ Kb8 22.Rc1 Bd6 23.Re1 Ne5 24.a4 h5 25.Bf5 Nf3+ 26.Kf1 Nxe1 27.Kxe1 Re8+ 28.Kf1 Re5 29. Ne3 Bc5 30.h4 Bxe3 31.fxe3 Rxf5+ 0-1



White gets badly crippled and smashed in this game the cause of his defeat can be traced to his early moves when he wasted time with his 5.c3 his 4.Bg5 and when he moved his pawn with 8.d4 which allowed me to attack his pinned Knight on f3......

1) Any well executed and thought out attack should sting your opponent and hurt him or her your attack must have a point to it never launch an attack against your opponent for the sake of attacking or because it's what you emotionally felt like doing!

2) Don't play fast or reckless whenever attacking your opponent if you try that against good Players they'll cut you to pieces!

3) Always make sure you double checked everything and you have not overlooked something very important when reasoning and considering the position or if your attack will put your own army and King in danger and thus lose the game!

4) Don't sacrifice your pieces for nothing if you do decide to sacrifice you better think hard about it before you do it because your not getting a piece back a sacrifice should give you something big in return e.g. exposed King that can be checkmated, bust opponents defense, cripple or hurt him or her in a big way or a sacrifice could also be made for defensive reasons if doing so would relieve pressure on the position

5) Watch out for traps good Players in a tournament can lure you in with traps that can bite you if you move fast and aren't thinking and reasoning it out slowly!

6) I've written many times in my Blog about the importance of piece coordination and good communication they are necessary for both attack and defense and to respond to unexpected developments in the game if you have a poorly coordinated army no attack is possible or will work against a well positioned defender who is ready.

7) You must be alert and be able to read the board when the conditions for any attack are present you have to trust your intuition and listen to your gut feeling when it says yes do it or no don't do it.

8) Strong Players have an eye for detail they look for small and big weakness that they can exploit and chip away at with a chisel (some use a nice sharp ax!) through out a game do likewise.

The advice I give comes from experience I've played Chess for close to 23 years I really hope it will be useful for People who aren't playing well and want to really improve.