This is just a post to say hello and introduce myself.
After being laid off about a month ago from a local aircraft manufacturer here in Wichita (with a few thousand to follow, soon), I decided this was the perfect opportunity to re-learn chess after almost 2 and a half decades away from the game. It is something different to do and beats sitting in front of a television all day and night. My other interests are bicycling and running but those can only be done for so long. Chess can be done any time, any place and I like that. The lore of chess is also quite interesting.
Since I actually live in a small town a few miles away from Wichita (closest recognizable city name) where the OTB playing opportunities are slim, I have decided to explore the correspondence route for advancing my game. Once I have waded through all the information on the CC subject here on the USCF website and feel I understand it well enough, I intend to start playing games to establish a rating and then hopefully advance as time passes by.
Currently, I am using a Chessmaster X program on my computer to study and play the game. I go into the training mode and advance through the different player profiles after I beat them two consecutive games with white and then two with black. I don’t know how that program’s ratings compare with USCF but I am about to start with player “Eddie”, rated 944. I think that I am beyond simply moving pieces around to actually thinking in terms of tactics and strategy although the temptation to go “pawn grabbing” still takes over from time to time. This, too shall pass.
That is super! As the economy implodes, due to extreme over-spending and finally a radical socialist annihilation of value, there are going to be a lot more job losses. Chess playing is a really good idea. It kept the minds of Eastern Europeans and Russians alive for decades, when there was almost nothing going on in their societies. When the work life is too vapid or nonexistent, we need something to feed to our minds. Muscles unused grow flabby and useless.
I would recommend Rybka. Put positions from didactic books into Rybka, and then play both sides to see what the book is really saying. Use your library to get books. Store your resulting data in pgn files and review them periodically.
And when comrade Obama finally fails, and the country wises up and selects a saver rather than a spender, our brains will still be sharp!! :mrgreen:
First, I also wish to extend my warm welcoming wishes to another devotee of our beloved game.
Next, I’d like to let you know that Kansas has actually been pretty active in recent years on the national chess scene, and it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to get involved (as you see fit). Much like with the rest of the country, there’s plenty there–if only we knew the people who could plug us in to it {in the good way, not the ‘Matrix’, slightly-shady, way}. Lindsborg, for instance, is the home of the Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess [and has hosted the former World Champion himself, in addition to Mikhail Gorbachev, and numerous other prestigious Grandmasters and professional players], which runs annual summer camps/monthly events/lessons/etc. {www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org}. Another driving force in the area is Mikhail Korenman, who brought the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championships to Wichita back in 2004 (I know, I played there, bringing a team from my school in Tennessee–really liked what of the city I got to see), and who is currently running for a term on the USCF Executive Board. Also, the 2008 US Junior Open was in Kansas. Those are just the first big things that popped into my head when thinking about chess in that state.
So, regardless of whether you intend to play correspondence, over-the-board, attend special events, read the magazine (in print or online), learn & discuss with others on the Forums–there is a ton of ways to express yourself through your membership in the USCF. As fellow members, we look forward to getting to know you, too!
I kinda went through the same type of lay off (from chess) and went over 20 years before picking up the game again. I would like to suggest starting out with some good books. One is by Jeremy Silman, “How to Reassess Your Chess.” It is designed for people who have a crumbling foundation of chess knowledge (like me!) and builds on many basic themes. Silman’s book will help you understand a lot about the game that often veterans of the game overlook. Also, I still like the older book by Irving Chernev, “Logical Chess: Move by Move.” Both of these books will help a novice player understand why certain moves are better than others. If you don’t mind another classic book, I also really like “Lasker’s manual of Chess” and I understand that it is now available in a newer, algebraic version. A very solid book for those starting out with little or no understanding of the game.
As far as using Chessmaster X, I haven’t used that program since about version 6000 but I remember that it did include many other features such as endgame training, etc. It might be well worth looking into the added training features of that program to see what all it has to offer. It is also my opinion that neither Chessmaster or any other chess playing program is worth much time when it comes to playing them. They all have very strong engines and can beat extremely strong players, so what is the point of lower rated players even playing them…it only leads to frustration! However, they do seem useful in doing studies of particular openings, and to help you train on tactics and such, but as far as playing them…well, for fun only, maybe. But if you are serious about wanting to learn look at what other training features they have and wear them out.
Anyway, welcome back to the game and hope that you will enjoy it for a lifetime.
Welcome back to the Game of kings, And welcome to the USCF Forums.
Look up local chess clubs in your area, we have a lot of Chess Players from Kansas come down to play tournaments in Oklahoma. I am sure there are a number of clubs up there.
Fritz is also a good program to get for your computer.
If I can ever be of help, in anyway feel free to e-mail me at lovtoplaychess@yahoo.com
I kinda went through the same type of lay off (from chess) and went over 20 years before picking up the game again. I would like to suggest starting out with some good books. One is by Jeremy Silman, “How to Reassess Your Chess.” It is designed for people who have a crumbling foundation of chess knowledge (like me!) and builds on many basic themes. Silman’s book will help you understand a lot about the game that often veterans of the game overlook. Also, I still like the older book by Irving Chernev, “Logical Chess: Move by Move.” Both of these books will help a novice player understand why certain moves are better than others. If you don’t mind another classic book, I also really like “Lasker’s manual of Chess” and I understand that it is now available in a newer, algebraic version. A very solid book for those starting out with little or no understanding of the game.
As far as using Chessmaster X, I haven’t used that program since about version 6000 but I remember that it did include many other features such as endgame training, etc. It might be well worth looking into the added training features of that program to see what all it has to offer. It is also my opinion that neither Chessmaster or any other chess playing program is worth much time when it comes to playing them. They all have very strong engines and can beat extremely strong players, so what is the point of lower rated players even playing them…it only leads to frustration! However, they do seem useful in doing studies of particular openings, and to help you train on tactics and such, but as far as playing them…well, for fun only, maybe. But if you are serious about wanting to learn look at what other training features they have and wear them out.
Anyway, welcome back to the game and hope that you will enjoy it for a lifetime.
Don
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So far the books on my shelf are a couple by Pandolfini that I got to help get a feel for the general guidlines of piece development, pawn structure, etc. Right now the one I am reading is an old one, “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess”. I like this book. It is the one I will credit with letting me think beyond merely moving pieces around and actually feel like I’m playing chess for real. I now can recognize patterns and combinations of pieces that I didn’t before.
I use the other features of Chessmaster such as tutorials, drills, etc. but have a tendency to fall into a pattern of moving pieces around until I solve a drill or problem rather than think it through (you know, “White to mate in one move…”). For those sorts of exercises I actually prefer a printed page since I am forced to think and ponder over a situation deeper than I do on the computer. To date, I am happy with my chess development progress but expect to bog down at some point in the near/medium feature and will likely adopt a few suggestions I’ve read here on USCF’s site.
Thanks for everyone’s responses. I will likely stay with chess 'til the grave.
Forget about books, software, etc. Your first goal should be to have fun. In Swiss tournaments you don’t get eliminated just because you lose – you still get to play in every round.
Just step out to your favorite local tournament site and play.
i dont think he is ready for stuff like rybka yet. i would recommend sticking with chessmaster for now. I think books are the most hopeful tool, though.
I saw you said you have a few pandolfini books and bobby fischer teaches chess, good. I also recommend “play winning chess” by yasser seirawan and “Chess” by Lazlo Polgar (this one is an assortment of a lot of puzzles, mostly mate in 2s; it has a subtitle but i forgot it).