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What's the best way to learn chess? (1 Viewer)

SmoovySmoov

SmoovySmoov

The Way of the Samurai
So, I've been interested in chess for a long time, just never picked it up. What's the best way to learn for a beginner?

 
KnowledgeReignsSupreme is a retired IM ( :bye: )....at least he claims to be.

Kasparov is a very good player from this board, there's some other good players, and I was one of the higher rated members of our FBG chess team (:hi: Bogart). I can offer some help if you want some tips or are looking for someone to play some light games with....I haven't played in a few weeks. Let me know.

IMO, the best way to learn is to just play, and then go over your games with someone who has a better understanding than you do. They can point out what you did, what you should have done, etc....just soak it all up.

 
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Learn the basic principles of openings and learn/practice tactics.

That'll keep you busy for a couple of years.

 
I started with a great book, but can't remember the name. Logical Chess seems like like it might have been the title.

 
17seconds said:
Learn the basic principles of openings and learn/practice tactics.That'll keep you busy for a couple of years.
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Good ideas here.- Learn very basic King's Pawn and Queen's Pawn openings- Play open games (1. e4 e5)- Avoid Queen's Gambit (1. d4 d5 2. c4) and the Sicilian (1. e4 c5) wherever possible until you've played for a while.- Don't play speed chess....play with no time limits or play correspondence chess online....playing quick games will get you nowhere- Work on your tactics (quick moves, 1-2 moves in advance)....once you have a better handle on tactics, you can work on strategy (overall game ideas and direction)
 
I'm a low-level player, but am willing to play a game with you, telling you what I'm thinking as I move.

You could sign up at redhotpawn.com (doesn't have to be a subscription) and we could play.

 
Tick said:
I'm a low-level player, but am willing to play a game with you, telling you what I'm thinking as I move.You could sign up at redhotpawn.com (doesn't have to be a subscription) and we could play.
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I've heard good things about that site. Never played there though.Do they have teams? Maybe we could start up an FBG 3 team....
 
crazy that this was posted today. I played for much of my childhood and have since practically abandoned the game. Today, I played chess on the computer for the first time and thought it was remarkably easy to beat the lower level computer. I'm looking forward to pushing the computer until I meet my match.

Would be interested in any fbg league formed.

 
Team Legacy said:
crazy that this was posted today. I played for much of my childhood and have since practically abandoned the game. Today, I played chess on the computer for the first time and thought it was remarkably easy to beat the lower level computer. I'm looking forward to pushing the computer until I meet my match. Would be interested in any fbg league formed.
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Give me some time....I have a crazy week this week with tons of projects and presentations. I will look into setting up a team on one of the various correspondence websites out there.
 
I trained chess players for a time and I would teach skills in this order:

1) Set up board

2) Basic piece movement

3) Complex piece movement

4) Notation

5) Mate exercises

6) Tactics

7) Openings

8) Strategy

9) Theory

I hold off on openings until they are ready for strategy. So many great moves don't result in a captured piece which is hard to explain to a novice.

There are a ton of books but I taught out of Robert M. Snyder's Chess for Juniors. I guess he has a series out now. If he does it differently then go his way about it.

Start playing from step 4 on.

My small, rural school took 8th in the nation in the Varsity Section at Nationals in Little Rock, Arkansas. Almost all of the players had never even moved a piece two years prior.

 
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they also have programs like chessmaster 9000, and you can do different exercises. you can play different kinds of opponents that match your level. they also have a bunch of lessons, that teach you diff strategies. at diff difficulty levels.

 
whitem0nkey said:
they also have programs like chessmaster 9000, and you can do different exercises. you can play different kinds of opponents that match your level. they also have a bunch of lessons, that teach you diff strategies. at diff difficulty levels.
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I'm not so sure how much I like training against a computer when you're still new at the game.For example, my Mac has a built in chess application. When playing against the computer at the lower level, the computer always plays the French Defense (1. e4 e6). While it is certainly a viable defense (and my personal favorite, :nerd: ), a beginner shouldn't be trying to crack a semi-closed game.I still say that open games (1. e4 e5) are the way to go.
 
Steve Tasker for Prez said:
whitem0nkey said:
they also have programs like chessmaster 9000, and you can do different exercises. you can play different kinds of opponents that match your level. they also have a bunch of lessons, that teach you diff strategies. at diff difficulty levels.
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure how much I like training against a computer when you're still new at the game.For example, my Mac has a built in chess application. When playing against the computer at the lower level, the computer always plays the French Defense (1. e4 e6). While it is certainly a viable defense (and my personal favorite, :nerd: ), a beginner shouldn't be trying to crack a semi-closed game.I still say that open games (1. e4 e5) are the way to go.
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this program is real smart, it has hundreds of dif kinds of opponents, that play diff styles, or value certain pieces over other like knights over bishops or visa versa.and if your real bad you can play against rating of like 90 thats like a 4 year old.
 
Steve Tasker for Prez said:
Team Legacy said:
crazy that this was posted today. I played for much of my childhood and have since practically abandoned the game. Today, I played chess on the computer for the first time and thought it was remarkably easy to beat the lower level computer. I'm looking forward to pushing the computer until I meet my match. Would be interested in any fbg league formed.
Click to expand...
Give me some time....I have a crazy week this week with tons of projects and presentations. I will look into setting up a team on one of the various correspondence websites out there.
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:nerd:
 
To get the most out of what a computer does best (won't drop a piece), I would suggest that you don't put your computer on "stupid" mode. I'd also wait until you know openings (some) fairly well.

Now, you aren't going to win...and if you do, you aren't setting it high enough.

Play the computer and QUIT when you start losing. Analyze when you lost time, space, or tempo. It was probably before you thought. Replay.

Repeat.

It's a waste of time to play a computer to the bitter end.

Take your opening into the midgame and call this a victory. Your first real victory will be by using the crutch called simplifying. Not bad.

Mark how long you are into the game when you start losing. This is your obj.

The most important thing you can do is learn how to analyze.

 
Tick said:
I'm a low-level player, but am willing to play a game with you, telling you what I'm thinking as I move.You could sign up at redhotpawn.com (doesn't have to be a subscription) and we could play.
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Signed up as SmoovySmoov. Come wax me, and help me learn. :lmao:
 
Kibitz away!

e5 - I hate queen's pawn openings, so I always open with king's pawn. Queen's pawn openings always seem to end up in bogged down messes in the middle where I'm not sure what to do next.

 
I'm on that redhotpawn.com as SmoovySmoov. Me and Tick just started a game. I've played 3 or 4 on my phone against a computer, and finished one at RHP, and can safely say I suck at chess at the moment.

 
Sorry, I wasn't clear - I'm playing SmoovySmoov, and I'm making comments on the site to explain what I'm trying to do, but I thought others might want to chip in some feedback.

I'm white. So far, it's gone like this:

e4 - already commented on that one. I always use this opening because I like the games it produces.

Nf6 - SS's trying out openings. I don't like this response to my move much, though I'm not sure I've seen it before.

e5 - I make him move his knight, though it overextends my pawn. I've given away some control over the middle, but I think it puts him behind in development and that I still have a decent chance of supporting that pawn and getting at least a share of the middle anyway.

Ne4

d3 - I push his knight again while freeing up some space for my bishops to break out at some point. I'm really just reacting to his moves at this point with the general intention of trying to control the middle and develop my pieces.

Nc5

d4 - These are a lot of pawn moves, but at this point I've supported my hanging pawn, have a nonideal but decent hold on the middle, and he's got to move his knight again. I need to start developing soon rather than dithering around with my pawns so much.

This isn't an opening sequence I've ever seen, so I'm without any real master plan at this point. I'll just try to get into good spots and see what develops.

 
Tick said:
Sorry, I wasn't clear - I'm playing SmoovySmoov, and I'm making comments on the site to explain what I'm trying to do, but I thought others might want to chip in some feedback.I'm white. So far, it's gone like this:e4 - already commented on that one. I always use this opening because I like the games it produces.Nf6 - SS's trying out openings. I don't like this response to my move much, though I'm not sure I've seen it before.e5 - I make him move his knight, though it overextends my pawn. I've given away some control over the middle, but I think it puts him behind in development and that I still have a decent chance of supporting that pawn and getting at least a share of the middle anyway.Ne4d3 - I push his knight again while freeing up some space for my bishops to break out at some point. I'm really just reacting to his moves at this point with the general intention of trying to control the middle and develop my pieces.Nc5d4 - These are a lot of pawn moves, but at this point I've supported my hanging pawn, have a nonideal but decent hold on the middle, and he's got to move his knight again. I need to start developing soon rather than dithering around with my pawns so much.This isn't an opening sequence I've ever seen, so I'm without any real master plan at this point. I'll just try to get into good spots and see what develops.
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I'm breaking new ground in sucktitude. :no:
 
Tick said:
Sorry, I wasn't clear - I'm playing SmoovySmoov, and I'm making comments on the site to explain what I'm trying to do, but I thought others might want to chip in some feedback.I'm white. So far, it's gone like this:e4 - already commented on that one. I always use this opening because I like the games it produces.Nf6 - SS's trying out openings. I don't like this response to my move much, though I'm not sure I've seen it before.e5 - I make him move his knight, though it overextends my pawn. I've given away some control over the middle, but I think it puts him behind in development and that I still have a decent chance of supporting that pawn and getting at least a share of the middle anyway.Ne4d3 - I push his knight again while freeing up some space for my bishops to break out at some point. I'm really just reacting to his moves at this point with the general intention of trying to control the middle and develop my pieces.Nc5d4 - These are a lot of pawn moves, but at this point I've supported my hanging pawn, have a nonideal but decent hold on the middle, and he's got to move his knight again. I need to start developing soon rather than dithering around with my pawns so much.This isn't an opening sequence I've ever seen, so I'm without any real master plan at this point. I'll just try to get into good spots and see what develops.
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Ne6Nf3 - I'm finally developing a bit. I get a piece in play, cover both pawns, open up the path to castling kingside a bit, and get set up in a good defensive spot if I do castle kingside, since it blocks out enemy attacks while covering h2.
 
Steve Tasker for Prez said:
Tick said:
SmoovySmoov said:
I'm breaking new ground in sucktitude. ;)
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Nah, just not sure what to do in the beginning.When you get a free slot, challenge me to another if you'd like.
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He and I have a big-time battle going on here.....I haven't played in two months...hope I don't get crushed.... :clap:
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As I mentioned in a pm I just sent you, probably not so much. Saw Tick had made a move, and went to that game. Came back, didn't really think it through, and tried to castle my queen. Jeeeeeeeeeez. :mellow:
 
Chess has officially become my "golf". I have a couple of good games, start thinking I'm a lot better, then lose 3 or 4 in a row. Have gotten better, though.

 
Brave Sir Robin said:
I trained chess players for a time and I would teach skills in this order:

1) Set up board

2) Basic piece movement

3) Complex piece movement

4) Notation

5) Mate exercises

6) Tactics

7) Openings

8) Strategy

9) Theory

I hold off on openings until they are ready for strategy. So many great moves don't result in a captured piece which is hard to explain to a novice.

There are a ton of books but I taught out of Robert M. Snyder's Chess for Juniors. I guess he has a series out now. If he does it differently then go his way about it.

Start playing from step 4 on.

My small, rural school took 8th in the nation in the Varsity Section at Nationals in Little Rock, Arkansas. Almost all of the players had never even moved a piece two years prior.
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I think this was a :sleep: I'm not looking to become a grandmaster but would enjoy being competitive enough to earn some [respect].

 
I have a very good friend who is ranked between an expert and a master. He has attained the master rank but not by much. He has beaten international grand masters.

He stated that his game improved by learning the middle and end game. It helps you see the big picture. It can get overwhelming to learn all the openings. It is better to learn where you want to be at the middle game.

Simple hints for beginners:

Slow down - stupid moves happen when you don't think it through.

Center of board important strategically.

Get your pieces so that have maximum movement

Pawns are important.

Don't move the queen out too early.

Don't waste moves.

 
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golddigger said:
I have a very good friend who is ranked between an expert and a master. He has attained the master rank but not by much. He has beaten international grand masters.He stated that his game improved by learning the middle and end game. It helps you see the big picture. It can get overwhelming to learn all the openings. It is better to learn where you want to be at the middle game. Simple hints for beginners:Slow down - stupid moves happen when you don't think it through.Center of board important strategically.Get your pieces so that have maximum movementPawns are important.Don't move the queen out too early.Don't waste moves.
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:angry: Learn a few beginnings....I recommend:1. 1 for an opening as white....should be 1. e4 early on, but if you're adventurous, you can move to 1. d4 early2. Learn 1 defense as black for 1. e4.... 1. ... e5 is good at the beginning3. Pray like hell your opponent doesn't play 1. d4Don't play closed games in the beginning.
 
Fired up my chessmaster 9000(Subtitle is "The Art of Learning"). Going thru the lessons now.

Also ordered two Jeremy Silman books: "The Amateur's Mind" and "The Complete Endgame Course".

Joined www.chess.com the other day.

I hope to beat Magnus by August.

 
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