Learning

Five Chess Tips to Learn From Grandmasters

Five Chess Tips to Learn From Grandmasters

Why from Grandmasters?

Grandmasters are those who are currently or have previously occupied the position of being at the topmost pinnacle of their chosen domain’s hierarchy. The most significant thing to take away from this study is the fact that it takes a very long time to get to the very top in any field.

There is some truth to the adage that “success does not arrive overnight.” To achieve success at a high level, anyone needs to engage in regular conscious practice, work on improving self-regulation, be patient, and be persistent.

Start From the Endgame:

From the start of the game, keep in mind that every action you make could damage your prospects in the endgame. For example, in the game’s early stages, a knight and a bishop are roughly equal in strength. With fewer men toward the End of the game, the bishop can gain control across the board simultaneously, whereas the knight still takes a long to go there. So, before you exchange a bishop for a knight, consider the endgame and the next few moves.

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In the endgame, pawn structure is critical. When you capture one of your opponent’s men with a pawn, you’ll usually generate an open file that will aid your rooks and queen to reach the opponent’s side of the board, but you can also acquire doubled pawns. Doubled pawns are a liability in the endgame since they can’t defend each other. If your opponent makes it through the middle game, you may be up against it later.

Concentrate on your current plans and those of your opponent—-but never lose sight of the endgame!

Study Classical Games:

Most chess players like studying master and grandmaster games. Many of these games are genuine art pieces, and you will have a great time playing them. Of course, such games can teach you anything.

Many chess players believe that openings and problem-solving are the most significant aspects. Of course, this is critical, but what about the strategy? The more classical-strategic games you’ve played, the easier it will be to orient yourself in Chess. When you examine notable games by World Champions and Grandmasters, you will see a plethora of ideas and schemes. And thus, so much new practical knowledge is “installed” in your head.

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I am leaving a helpful directory of studying Classical Chess Games that I found in a chess forum comment thread captioned as

“The Mammoth Book of the World’s Greatest Chess Games”: https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233403/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review782.pdf

Great Games by Chess Legends, vol 1
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708112104/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review711.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104818/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review697.pdf

Great Games by Chess Legends, Volume 2
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234322/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review734.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092313/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review620.pdf

Great Games by Chess Legends, Volume 3
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090408/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review831.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140708100445/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review933.pdf

Modern Ideas in Chess by Richard Reti
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233433/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review317.pdf

Masters of the Chessboard by Richard Reti http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2012/4/1/book-notice-richard-retis-masters-of-the-chessboard.html

The 100 Best Chess Games 0f the 20th Century, Ranked by Andy Soltis
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708234327/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review246.pdf

500 Master Games of Chess
https://www.chess.com/article/view/my-bookshelf-quot500-master-games-of-chessquot-by-savielly-tartakower-and-j-du-mont

The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/

Study with a partner:

Training approaches must be considered when planning. Coached or solo? Two choices appear. Today is partner training.

Play a similar-level opponent. Local gatherings are helpful. Training sessions require teamwork. Self-diagnosis, brainstorming, or coach advice find difficulties. Then book “in-person” or Skype instruction.

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Analyze training games or important positions. By comparing your judgments and feelings with your opponent’s and using a chess engine, you gain a new perspective. This helps if your chess styles differ: one attacks, the other checks pawn weaknesses, etc. Truth-in-between.

Partner training is beneficial. The point is that you’ll grow via competition. Find a match. If one of you gets 100-200 points, cooperation may wane.

Regularity is a must. Many chess players are inconsistent. Laziness and apathy follow short-lived chess interests. Chess “exercises” won’t be missed. Again, he’ll need help.

It turns out definitely money-saving. Chess lessons are expensive. Partnerships are free and valuable. Synergy is “The more you help each other grow well-rounded, the more unique your styles get. Position and line-by-line reviews. Because nothing’s perfect, caveats exist.

Coaches aren’t partners. A coach can spot weaknesses and give solutions. Not a teacher.

Bothered about loneliness? Loneliness is common. There are no chess dating sites. You may have problems finding a worthy opponent if your buddies don’t play, are rude, or don’t study.

Companion training can supplement solo or coach-led learning. Chess practice helps. Grandmasters often study in groups. When I ask, my seconds/coaches phone pals for line analysis. Leaders rarely work together. Because there are fewer top women than men, they face the same opponents. Male grandmasters are more experienced and knowledgeable.

Chess-playing siblings make partner-finding easier. Kosintseva sisters, 25-26. 15-year-old Baraevas have 2200. Polugaevsky Memorial’s sister.

Choose Your Openings & Stick to Them:

First of all, I would like you to know that there is a fantastic article by softwarechess.com entitled “How to Choose opening repertoire?" Click here to see it.

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For here, in short I will advise to follow these opening tips. Even if you memorize move sequences, these principles are crucial for opening well. These ideas will save you if your opponent makes an unfamiliar play.

Central control pawns. Space control moves your pieces and denies opponent squares.

Early-castle. Having your king on its starting square is perilous after the center opens. Castling is valid for contesting open files in the middle game.

Watch your pawns. Each player’s back rank has eight pieces. Overlong loses games. Move pawns fast to control space.

When necessary, move the same piece. While your opponent slowly adds pieces, you’ll fall behind.

Prevent queen moves. Protect your queen if you relocate her. Why are knights and bishops developed before the queen?

Profit! If you’re ahead in development, move quickly (particularly if you’re castled and your opponent isn’t). Start a tactical skirmish before your opponent’s men leave their barracks.

Safety should be prioritized first. None of the above criteria allow risks that provide your opponent with free material. Evaluate the safety of each move in chess openings and other situations. It’s dumb to avoid capturing a free opponent queen to avoid moving the same piece again.

Using Chess Engines Correctly:

Technology transformed how individuals study Chess. In the past, chess players had to read many reference books, look for tournament bulletins and opponent’s games, and more. Today, you may go to a chess website with training exercises, view video lessons, look up opponent’s games on Chessbase, or turn on your preferred engine and evaluate a situation.

Using engines appropriately is one of the most critical topics in modern Chess. Amateurs, pros, and top trainers have addressed this. There’s no agreement yet, but understanding and using your chess engine correctly will get you closer to efficiently understanding your game.

In the End,

Know one thing. There’s no limit to knowledge, to learn. And when it comes to a tactical game like Chess, there are tons of ways to better it. Tips from the grandmasters help a lot. You already know that, of course! Do you know why? It is because they have been through a long journey.

They have already made the mistakes you are likely to make. They have pulled out a win from many crucial positions. There is no barrier to knowing Chess. The more you surf and seek, the more you will learn and grow.