The difference between Practicing Chess Tactics and Practicing the Application of Chess Tactics, some software reviews and the WORST advice I ever received about chess openings!

Happy Monday!!

I think there are many factors to the recent improvement in my chess game. One of the most important factors has been finally finding (and using correctly), the right tactics course!!

That course is the Chess Tactics Levels 1,2 and 3 in the ChessOK Peshka Software.

I tried Peshka a long time ago and was not impressed.  I do think they ironed out the bugs and I LOVE it now.  So I purchased these courses based on Wang's review at his blog.  And I am very glad I did.  The level of progression is just about perfect.  And Level 2 is hard for me for me right now.  I know that fellow chess blogger Empirical Rabbit did not like a similar course in the Peshka interface.  I don't know about that particular training course  but I don't agree with  his negative comments regarding the Peshka interface.  The interface is solid, easy to use, and the courses are fairly inexpensive.  I highly recommend Chess Tactics Level 1, 2 and 3 and the Peshka Interface by ChessOk!!

I have repeated Level 1 five times now and scored well over 90% on each individual lesson the last time through, so I am done with that course.  (I do believe that repetition is a fundamental key to improvement, I DON'T believe in the big circles blowout as described by MDLM)

So now I am going to repeat Level 2 roughly 5 times until I score over 90% on each individual lesson on a run through. (and then the same with level  3)  Notice I am not declaring any sort of "this many problems a day and this many problems a day the last time through by the first week of March" ultimatum.  I think that kind of thinking is poppycock and detrimental to one's improvement.  To repeat and learn and embed these tactics in my memory at a thoughtful pace and thorough manner is the important thing!

Which brings me to my main point on tactics training (actually chess training in general):

The difference between practice and application.

Practice is the repetition of a skill until it becomes second nature!  That is the part that MLDM got right.  (just like practicing scales in music).

Application is NOT playing games!  Playing the game is the final part!  Application has to be practiced as well and THAT is what you are doing when you do RANDOM puzzles at Chess Tempo OR take a swing at a Styoko type analysis exercise.  THEN you start to use the stuff in games.

This is key and it is the essential how and why of becoming a good musician.  (which I have already accomplished in my professional endeavors and continue to improve upon)   And Chess has A LOT  in common with music...especially jazz and improvised music.  (that is another post!)

The trick is knowing if one need to practice (the actual acquiring of a skill...such as basic tactical patterns or harder tactical patterns or pawn endgames) or if one needs to work on application (Chess Tempo site or Styoko's etc. etc.).  Now that I am done with Level 1 I need to move on to Level 2 but I need some application work as well.

And I need to continue to play because that is where it ALL comes together.

And another mini software review:

Scid vs. PC:

Scid vs PC is a GREAT (free) database management and Chess analysis GUI.  It is a fork of the famous free database application, SCID that I NEVER liked!  In fact, Scid vs PC is the first free Chess GUI I have really really liked.  It is easy to use, works like a dream and is showing signs of finally steering me away from longtime favorite, the Shredder Classic GUI.  (although not QUITE yet)  However, I do highly recommend Scid vs PC as it does everything Chessbase does, and seems to be less buggy and probably won't freak out on me like every Chessbase product I have ever had!

And it has the VERY important material search that is OH SO vital to endgame study and finding cool positions for Styoko exercises.  I am also finding Scid vs PC to be great for studying my opening trends!!  Which will help in a bit when I actually start to study openings again!

Which brings me to another point about chess training:

The common advice to pick an opening and stick with it is BOGUS!

Now let me explain that!  In a bit, I will pick a few openings and really learn them and make them mine.  But I am going to pick a few.  I want options.  I want to be exposed to many many chess situations!  I want to never fear any type of game or position.  And my current spike in rating and play has come at a time when I have played quite a few different openings.  And I haven't purchased an opening book in almost two years!! 

I do think that I eventually need to settle on a few openings but I want a broader and wider repertoire.  The game is more fun!  Playing ONLY 1. e4 would be akin to being a jazz musician who only wanted to play over Rhythm Changes.  Rhythm Changes are great, but man would that musician have a stale sense of adventure and a very stilted ability to think on his or her feet!  That is what is  wrong with the "pick an opening and stick with it" advice.  One can get complacent and stale!!  (and a little fearful when brought out of one's comfort zone!)

Oh and endgames are the main thing after tactics and Pandolfini's Endgame Course is WAY underrated!!  If I had to pick between Silman's Endgame book and Pandolfini's...NOT even close!  Pandolfini wins hand down.  (fortunately I don't have to make that choice!  and remember I LOVE Silman's "The Amateur's Mind" but his endgame book missed the mark.)

So that is my rambling software review/thoughts on chess training post!

Have a great week!!