Questionnaire Tag—Part 2

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:

• Silman’s Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master
• Webb, Chess for Tigers
• Stean, Simple Chess
• Rowson, Chess for Zebras

(The animal theme is just a coincidence. Really.)

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).

• Seeds and CT-ART
• Why Blog?

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

19.237%

I tag Globular.