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Questionnaire Tag—Part 2

By Steve | July 28, 2007

Continued from my previous post, which answered the first two questions.

3. What is the single most helpful method of improvement that you have ever used?

Working my way through several tactics books in a sequence recommended by Dan Heisman:

  1. Bain, Chess Tactics for Students. Repeated this set seven times until I could solve all the problems in a few seconds.
  2. Fischer (Author) Margulies, and Mosenfelder, Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. This book is mostly about basic mating patterns.
  3. Woolum, The Chess Tactics Workbook. (There are lots of errors in this book; see my list.)
  4. Coakley, Winning Chess Exercises for Kids. Despite its name and its cover art that makes you want to hide it, this book is just fine for improving adults up through about Class C.
  5. Alburt, Chess Training Pocket Book. Not just tactics.

Now that I’m at the upper end of Class C, I’m trying to figure out what study practices might be most effective for me to get solidly into Class B.


4. What is your favorite opening to play as white? As black against e4? As black against d4?

I’ll buck the trend and answer this straight up. As White I play mostly the Vienna Game and the Grand Prix Attack. As Black I play the Leningrad Dutch and the Scandinavian.

That said, I am interested in expanding my opening selection to include more variety. I recently played a QGD Orthodox for the first time, and you might see something new from me as White soon as well. I might try both some solid, positional lines as well as some speculative gambits. I want to learn to deal with more types of positions and to have fun.


5. Who is your favorite chess player and why?

I don’t have a favorite chess player.


6. What is your favorite chess book?

I have way too many chess books to be able to pick out a favorite. Here are some recent reads that I’ve found particularly interesting, useful, or influential:

7. What book would you recommend for a friend who knows only the rules of chess?

For learning enough about basic mates, tactics, strategy, openings, and endgames to beat all your casual chess-playing friends: Wolff, Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess. Don’t be put off by the title; it’s really good.

For a different approach that focuses on thought process, board vision, time management, basic tournament etiquette, etc., try Heisman, Everyone’s Second Chess Book.

8. Do you play in in-person tournaments? What is your favorite tournament experience?

Yes. I generally enjoy over-the-board tournaments much more than online play, although I have also enjoyed playing in the Team 4545 League.

My favorite tournament experience was the 2005 World Open.

9. Please give us a link to what you consider your best two blog posts (on your own blog).

10. What proportion of total chess time should be spent studying openings for someone at your level?

19.237%

I tag Globular.

9 Responses to “Questionnaire Tag—Part 2”

  1. Edwin 'dutchdefence' Meyer Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 12:30 am

    “I’m trying to figure out what study practices might be most effective for me to get solidly into Class B.”

    I recommend solitaire chess.

  2. Blue Devil Knight Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 2:49 am

    It really is unfortunate that the Idiot’s Guide has that name. More than one friend has been quite incredulous when I suggest they get it, but it is simply the best beginner book I have seen, and I still learn from the chapters on strategy.

    As for directions you might go, you probably have much better ideas than I could provide, but I got a new puzzle book that is really good, Practical Chess Exercises. The review by jimmybob at amazon is good, and I’ll review it pretty thoroughly soon on my blog. A good coach is probably the best way to improve, though. Up in your neck of the woods there are probably a lot of really good ones that you could meet with in person.

  3. Edwin 'dutchdefence' Meyer Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 2:53 am

    Ofcourse (slap on the forehead)! Why didn’t i think of that? A coach is probably best. I was thinking more in terms of self-improvement ;-)

  4. Edwin 'dutchdefence' Meyer Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 2:55 am

    That should read “you can’t go wrong with a coach”. How can i say “probably” (another slap on the forehead)?

  5. Steve Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 7:18 am

    Thanks for your comments, BDK and EM.

  6. Globular Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 11:22 am

    I was waiting for someone to tag me! Not that I’ve written up my answers yet or anything.

    Check my blog in the next few days: http://globularchess.blogspot.com

    Check it now, and buy some damn stickers (see the sidebar)!!

    -Matt

  7. Globular Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 11:23 am

    (Steve, it looks like Wordpress added the comma to my URL above, can you fix?)

  8. Steve Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 11:52 am

    Globular - go to it, man! I fixed the link.

  9. Matt Says:
    August 1st, 2007 at 9:05 am

    I’m done. http://globularchess.blogspot.com/

Comments