Day 159
Today I finished off the last problem set with an 84%. I usually got all of the decisive tactics, but missed draws/stalemates, and quieter moves. Once again, I got impatient and just flipped to the answers on some of the last ones, and those are the ones that I needed to concentrate on the most.
It seems that I am doing pretty well just doing tactics. I'm wondering, What do the Knights think about adding a thought process now, or just waiting until my success wears off?
posted by Calvin @ 9:26 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I've found that I play like crap without a thought process, and even then sometimes I get lazy and don't use it properly. I think you need one to play well, though. Go to www.chesscafe.com and look for Dan Heisman's Novice Nook article called something like A Generic Thought Process. That one helped me a lot.
FWIW I would definitely start now. Especially if you are serious about reaching master or higher. Unlike tactics, thought process will increase in importance the higher you go and at the higher levels separates the masters from the IMs and GMs. The earlier you start the better it will be for you later on down the road.
If you just want to play at the club level then maybe thought process won't be as important and tactics and openings will be sufficient. The last time I went to a club meeting the highest person there was around 1700 or so. That's about an 1800 FICS. Just my two cents anyway.
PS
I think "ideas first" is the best approach. Above all in games, but I think puzzles are also a good opportunity to try this. Moves (candidates) come second. So if you want to mate, ask where the critical escape squares are and what pieces you need and you need not for the task. The problem with trying moves first is that you follow patterns from most frequent situations, but many solutions in puzzles or best moves in games are very unusual or surprising.
Hey, welcome back. Sorry I haven't updated my blog, but my access to computers is very limited at the moment.
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