drcorbett
31 ( +1 | -1 )
Chess Tips for beginners. Well, I'm a new chess player. Do you have any suggestions for me, as broad or narrow based as they are? Also, feel free to post for all new players, as this topic is about all beginners. If you post, a thank you in advance!
Oh, and please, no flames. This is in Chess Chat for a reason. :) Aside from that, thank you!
More: Chinese Chess Game
death_by_pawns
6 ( +1 | -1 )
Don't waste you time castling when you can checkmate the enemy!
More: Chess Vibes
drcorbett
17 ( +1 | -1 )
:) :) Very funny... I like to castle, it developes the rook and gets it near the centre so that you can develop an open file and bolster your c or e-pawn's defense.
More: Chess Queen
death_by_pawns
20 ( +1 | -1 )
Yes, it does *rubs chin*, but when you can play Qxg2++, it wouldnt help much would it... or maybe the delaying of a checkmate... no it's to early to share my theory with the world. *cackles evilly*
More: Chess Vs Computer
zdrak
40 ( +1 | -1 )
For a ~1000-level player, the most important advise is: SAFETY.
Before making a move always ask yourself: "Is it safe? Can my opponent simply capture something for free or checkmate me?"
From my experience, most games on this level are decided when one played "donates" a piece or two to his opponent. Just avoiding those unfortunate incidents will help you advance a long way.
More: How Do You Play Chess
zdrak
5 ( +1 | -1 )
sorry, dislexia strikes again Should have been:
"... when one playeR ..."
More: Chess Live
nottop
81 ( +1 | -1 )
time There is no need to rush here. There is no game faster than three days/move. Don't reply right away.
Ask yourself -
Why did my opponent make that move? Is he threatening anything? Should I defend against the threat?
Set the game up on your own board. Think of what you are trying to do in the long term, but don't neglect any immediate threats.
Think of playing the game as if you were your opponent - not yourself.
If this is not helping, consider putting the game away for a day and doing something else - come back to it. Don't rush.
Always watch for tactical threats by your opponent or yourself.
Never be discouraged by losing to a good player - think of it as a free lesson from which you will become better.
Never let your own mistakes irritate you - this is how to improve.
More: Chess
astinkyfart
drcorbett
49 ( +1 | -1 )
Yes... I know, I'm a little ready for more advanced theory (I'm ~1000 because of some unlucky timeouts [taking too long to think ;)?] but I've had some very good opponents that shouldn't be at this level, like drbmom or was it drvbmom? She's rated about 775 and she seems to be a far greater player than some 1200+ I've played against...
drcorbett
23 ( +1 | -1 )
Hey, what do you think of my game here? Please ignore the glaring error with the bishop... I was black, by the way, I won here.
1. e4 e5
2. Qh5 Nf6
3. Qxe5+ Be7
4. Bc4 d6
5. Qg3 Bg4
6. Qh4 h5
7. g3 Bf3
8. d3 Bxh1
9. Qg5 O-O
10. d4 Nxe4
11. Qxh5 g6
12. Qh6 Bf6
13. f3 Bg7
14. Qf4 Ng5
15. Qxg5 Bf6
16. Qd5 c6
17. Qe4 d5
18. Qe2 dxc4
19. Qxc4 Bxd4
20. Ne2 Re8
21. Nd2 b5
22. Qxd4 Bxf3
23. Kf2 Bxe2
24. Qc3 Qb6+
25. Kg2 Re3
26. b3 Rxc3
27. Bb2 Rxc2
28. Rc1 Rxd2
29. Bc3 Rd3
30. Rc2 Bf3+
31. Kh3 c5
32. Be5 g5
33. Rf2 Qe6+
34. g4 Qxg4#
victord
18 ( +1 | -1 )
drcorbett... That should keep you busy for awhile .. good luck in your quest for knowledge.
victord
zdrak
105 ( +1 | -1 )
You donated a pawn as early as move 2, then donated a bishop on move 7 (which your opponent didn't take).
Then, while being a rook ahead, you allowed your opponent to force a draw by a perpetual check on move 12, which he again didn't take (he could play 12.Qxg6+ since f7 is pinned)
On move 14 you donated a knight (Ng5?, when Nf6 was better)
On move 18 you could win his Queen, with Re8. Instead you played 18...d5, winning "only" a bishop.
We've counted so far about 5 glaring oversights over only 18 moves. Please understand, I do not intend to sound insulting, but with over 25% of your moves being short-range errors which either drop pieces for free or fail to capture loose pieces, you are not yet ready to move to the next level.
You need to eradicate those oversights from your play first. I know, it sounds boring, we all would rather learn some intricate positional concepts, but you have to learn to walk before you learn to run.
drcorbett
15 ( +1 | -1 )
I'm not insulted, zdrack... ...thank you. I'll try to notice that in my play... but I still did get her queen... oh well. That's probably why I'm so terrible, I keep on making short-range oversights.
drcorbett
48 ( +1 | -1 )
I'm reading some of these sites... ...they seem just fine. Thanks for the timely assist! (I would have gotten smoked if I kept continuing like this. I feel, for some reason, pressured to make a move. Although I've heard this kind of advice so many times before and try to take it to heart. However, with me, it feels like in one ear and out the other. Oh well.)
Again, thank you, and I hope others will continue to post -- and especially benifit -- on this thread.
victord
35 ( +1 | -1 )
drcorbett When you get HALF WAY through that site I posted you'll be playing much better...the truth is, like most things..you have to give the time and effort to your subject. The passion for the game is the only thing that keeps me comeing back to get my head handed to me again and again...
Less play .. more study.
paulvalle
19 ( +1 | -1 )
some tips: tip #1: Memorize as many opening variatons as possible
tip #2: Play a lot of blitz
tip #3: Don't waste valuable time analysing your games (play more blitz or memorize more variatons)
victord
27 ( +1 | -1 )
paulvalle What is the purpose of blitz chess? I've only tried a few times and am very bad..very VERY bad. How does it help one become better?
I get flustered right away .. I've never even played with a clock. I need time, I don't think that fast.
brobishkin
66 ( +1 | -1 )
Tips... Start by writing down the games you play in notation... When ever you loose or win... Study the game you played... (If you lost) note which move was the weakness (in your position) and try to correct the thought method that made you go down the wrong path... Vise versa if you won, note the weakness in your opponents position and how you exposed it and took advantage of it for the win...
Memorization of variations is a requirement... But understanding the positional strategies in an opening is much more important...
Blitz is good for the instincts and the coffee rush... But standard timed games will broaden your horizons on understanding the fullness of the game... Be quick to hear and slow to speak...
Bro...
tovmauzer
8 ( +1 | -1 )
Zdrak 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nf6 does not look like donation for me. I would play against Qh5 in the same way.
zdrak
56 ( +1 | -1 )
Maybe, but 2...Nc6 is far safer. Why sacrifice a pawn for a lead in development if you can get a lead in development for free ? Anyway, that's besides the point .... does it really matter if 4 or 5 oversights were made ? (And I only looked at the first 18 moves ...)
My point is, that it really doesn't pay to study various positional concepts like Isolated Pawns, Open Files, etc., if with each move you are 25%-likely to drop a Knight or something similar. It's much better to know nothing about Isolated Pawns and Open Files, but not drop any Knights. Don't you agree ?
bibip
9 ( +1 | -1 )
Paulvalle I totally disagree with your three tips. May be for intermediate players, but not for beginners.
brunetti
16 ( +1 | -1 )
1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Nf6? is a bad move, tovmauzer. If you want, I'll take White in a 24-game thematic match ;)
Alex
blindio
29 ( +1 | -1 )
Alex! A 24-game match. You're starting to sound just like EDMASTER! I'm surprised you didn't threaten to crush his skull!
paulvalle you are trolling, right?
refutor
7 ( +1 | -1 )
lol..paulvalle i think it was a tongue-in-cheek observation of how many players try and "progress"
tovmauzer
13 ( +1 | -1 )
Alex I'm not sure I'm ready for 24 games match, but it would be my pleasure to play one game. Challenge me with white, if you would like to.
jeffz_2002
208 ( +1 | -1 )
Wolff's "complete idiot's guide to chess" Hello,
a while back, someone posted an article about how to improve (can't remember the link - it was an article) starting from the ground up. IIRC, the author had 5 levels, the first of which was for rookies like me. He recommended Wolff's "complete idiot's..." as the first step, so I checked it out of the library and am working through it.
It's a really great book. Now, some will find it too basic, but for newbies, it's perfect. At first it explains how to move the pieces, so you might think it's silly, but it soon leaps into fundamentals, such as concepts behind the openings, simple tactics, the basic mates, etc. In later chapters, he talks about more advanced (but still basic) things like pawn structure and the control for space, using examples from Kasparov and other GMs. I find the explanations he gives really thorough and enlightening.
brobishkin's advice above (to study the weaknesses, etc) is valid, but as a beginner I usually don't understand the weaknesses of a board ... let's face it, I don't understand the board itself. Others have mentioned Silman's "Amateur's Mind" books, but I even found that too advanced at that point in time, and the author of the article mentioned previously also said that that book, while for amateurs, is probably only fully appreciated by those who have a better handle on the game (maybe over 1200 rating?).
If you are making easy mistakes in your moves, as zdrak states, try Wolff's book, or maybe simple (and I mean *simple*) tactical puzzles.
(deep breath)
And, of course, don't waste you time castling when you can checkmate the enemy! Actually, the best advice if playing white, or even playing black, is -- throw all your pieces at the enemy! Sacrifice knights! Sacrifice bishops! Sacrifice rooks! Sacrifice queen! You're bound to hit paydirt sometime! It's well known that the king is a strong piece in the endgame, but it's a little known secret of the grandmasters that the king is a strong piece in the opening too! So play 1. e4 e5 2. Ke2!!!! 1-0 Yes, you read it here first!
Got to go, I've worked myself into a lather,
jz
drcorbett
7 ( +1 | -1 )
How's this game going? Pardon the glaring tactical flaws. The link comes in a moment.
tovmauzer
11 ( +1 | -1 )
Drcorbett Ongoing game discussion is unethical. It would be better to dicuss the game after it will be finished.
drcorbett
22 ( +1 | -1 )
Right. Sorry. I understand exactly what you mean, I was unjust in posting that. It seems my board conduct is as short-sighted as my gameplay, I apologize. It should be over by end-of-day, I'll tell you then. Although, I'm sure you have a lot to say.
tulkos
13 ( +1 | -1 )
hey--- don't beat hoim up to bad,all he asked was how the game was going--- I'd say pretty good for white.that doesn't help white in any way,does it?
refutor
32 ( +1 | -1 )
drcorbett... white's doing very well, but seemed a little confused in opening principles (eg. the moves e3 and f3 out of the first four). a good website for some of these ideas would be www.ex.ac.uk/~dregis/DR/openings.html#general
drcorbett
25 ( +1 | -1 )
Thank you. I'm white. Check again, the game's pretty much over for black (I've pinned her king and rook, and there's nothing she can do about it... especially since, after that, she has 3 pawns and a king) Thank you for answering, though tovmauser has a point.
tovmauzer
6 ( +1 | -1 )
Drcorbett Sorry, if I sounded too strong. I surely did not mean to offence you.
drcorbett
42 ( +1 | -1 )
That's ok tovmauzer I'm not offended. I understand that your viewpoint is quite valid and, yes, you are mostly right that giving aid to a player who is in a game is unethical. Don't worry if you sounded too strong. However, if you check the game board #381434, it really is almost over... Just don't give me any specific moves in the future, and comment on my mistakes/good moves in the past.
tovmauzer
52 ( +1 | -1 )
OK. Though... I don't think that I'm good enough to comment it. But I can give it a very short try: opening was not great for white, 11...c5 is mistake - black lost castle priviledge for nothing, actually black did not care much about his king during the whole game; I don't understand 18. Ra2 - you dropped pawn and did not develop pieces; 23. f5 does not look like sacrifice:); 31...Qf2+ was bad blunder in the won position. Little bit sumbur game. And much more sumbur comments:) If you want we can play a game, probably I would be able to give you few hints.
bibip
35 ( +1 | -1 )
Victord This "stupid guy's" :-) motherlanguage is not english. Sometimes I miss the real sense of a post.
I had the doubt because is obvious that Paulvalle's tips are the oposite to the truth but I thougth that anyway they could be confusing for beginners and I took the risk.
(sorry again for my poor english but I enjoy the forum and I think you are going to excuse me)
refutor
17 ( +1 | -1 )
jeffz_2002 <sarcasm> yes i agree...you should sack all of your pieces</sarcasm>
anyone who agrees with jeffz_2002 is more than welcome to challenge me...i munch all pawns :)
drcorbett
28 ( +1 | -1 )
Sure, I'll play you a game. No problem Tovmauser. And also, this forum should be having some tips; I'll quote some Nimzowitsch: Develope your pieces in the opening, move them once and then move on, a pawn move is not developing unless it is an aid to developement. There, I paraphrased, but...
drcorbett
6 ( +1 | -1 )
Oh, on another note. I cannot challenge Tovmauser, my rating is hardly 1515 :(
drcorbett
8 ( +1 | -1 )
Does anyone else have any advice? I would like to see this thread still helping other people out.
theinvisibleman
69 ( +1 | -1 )
For Absolute Beginners *Attack the centre
*Always open pawn to e5 to keep things tactical rather than philosophically positional.
*Know the value of the pieces:
A pawn is worth 1 point.
A Knight is worth 3 points.
A Bishop is worth 3 points (though in the modern game, a Bishop has come to be regarded as slightly more powerful than a Knight).
A Rook is worth 5 points.
A Queen is worth 9 points.
The King has no value because if you lose the King you lose the game.
*Begin your analysis of a move by looking first at what the knights and bishops are doing.
*Castle early.
*Don't bring out your queen too early.
*Get your knights to the sixth rank if possible.
theinvisibleman
6 ( +1 | -1 )
~Correction~ I meant pawn to e4. Pawn to e5 is black's standard response.
drbmom
7 ( +1 | -1 )
My Low Rating.... Thanks for the compliment! My rating is as low as it is beacuse I am too hasty sometimes. I am learning.
drcorbett
12 ( +1 | -1 )
No problem DrBmom. I thought you were pretty good as you gave me a great fight in the beginning, you probably trump me in opening theory.
gunnarsamuelsson
40 ( +1 | -1 )
my advice The first thing to do is to give life to the chesspieces and the board by discussing it with someone who understands the the game in a magic way . An example how does this opening translates ; e4 b6 d4 bb7(?) Well my explanation would be : The commander (u) has decided to build a churchtower and put a sniper in it , the majesty and his noble guards r furious about your decision, and they demand your attention.. maybe its time we should listen...
drcorbett
27 ( +1 | -1 )
Well... tovmauser kicked my ... board #386946. Both of our ratings went up, so I'm fairly happy, and I've not failed, I've just found another way of playing Chess that didn't work. Bloody Queen kills ... mumbles ...
drbmom
17 ( +1 | -1 )
Challenges... My rating is so low I can't challenge many players, but I will accept challenges. But PLEASE don't send them if you just plan on sitting and not moving. I find that so annoying.
theinvisibleman
21 ( +1 | -1 )
~Regarding drbmom~ Yes, I agree that she is a much better player than her rating suggests. I notice that in her current game with Brunetti that she is causing him all sorts of interesting problems. It's exciting stuff!
drcorbett
7 ( +1 | -1 )
Does anyone else have anything to say? There's a lot of beginners here, anyone else have any tips?
paulvalle
84 ( +1 | -1 )
essential knowldege for beginners: ok, here is an inside tip, that will increase your rating with hundreds of points:
As you probably have experienced, deep knowledge of the variatons arising from 9.Bc4 of Yougoslav Variation of the Sicilian Dragon, is needed, to advance from the 1200-level.
A good place to start is:
www.chesstheory.de/html.php3?loc=dragonrc8.html
If you don't learn these lines by heart, you'll never excell in chess.
pay special attention to the 15...a5-line. as, this is quite common;
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Ne5 11.Bb3 Rc8 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1! b5 15.Rhe1!! a5 16.f4 Nc4
[ other moves ; Dragon index;
16..Neg4; 16..Nc6?]
17.Bxc4 Rxc4
[17..bc4
A: 18.e5 Qb6 19.Bf6! Rb8 20.Qc1 ef6 21.e6 fe6 22.Ne6 Be6 23.Re6;
B: 18.Bf6 Bf6 19.e5
B1: 19..de5 20.Nf3
B2: 19..Bg7 20.e6
B3: 19..Bh4 20.Rh1 Bg4 21.Nf3 Bf3 22.gf3 e6 23.Qg2!! d5 24.Qh2 Be7 25.Ne4 Rb5 26.Qh5!! gh5 27.Rdg1 Bg5 28.Nf6]
18.e5 b4
[18..Bg4 19.Bf6! ef6 20.e6 Qb8 (20..fe6 21.Ne6 Be6 22.Re6 b4 23.Qd5; 20..Re8 21.ef7 Kf7 22.Re8 Ke8 23.Ndb5) 21.e7 Re8 22.Ndb5 Rc3 (22..Bd1 23.Nd6 Rc3 24.Ne8) (Beliavsky - Huebner) 23.Nd6! Rcc8 24.Ne8 Re8 25.Qd8 Qb5 26.Qe8 Qe8 27.Rd8 Bd7 28.Red1 Huebner]
19.ef6
[ 19.Qd3 Rc3 20.bc3 Nd5;
19.Ncb5? de5! 20.Nf3 Qc8! Santo-Roman - Marin 1995 ]
19..bc3 20.Qd3 Rd4
[20..ef6 21.Qc4 fg5 22.hg5 Qb6 23.Qb3! Bd4 24.Qb6]
21.Qd4 ef6 22.Qd6 fg5 23.fg5
Thanks in advance for all the "+'s"
dozer
78 ( +1 | -1 )
You can't be serious.. Scisilian Dragon variation for beginners!! I haven't studied it and have managed thus far, maybe I will give it a thought in a year or two...
I have played chess only a year or so, so I might be able to help beginners... Look for a chessbook for beginners, describing basic openings, basic tactical and positional consepts and more importantly basic endgames (Pawn&King vs King, Rook&King vs King, Pawn&Rook&King vs Rook&King and so on...) Then give a thought for each subject, and analyze your games: try to understand what tactical or positional factors led to loss or win. When you understand why you lost or won, you can use that, you will more likely remember the patterns used, and it will even guide your intuition, I think...