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Date: 25 Aug 2005 12:34:33
From: Richard
Subject: Learning basic analysis
I have been playing chess for years but have always had trouble
improving past a certain point. I think some instruction on basic
postmortum analysis or positional analysis would help me quite a bit.
What is the best way to learn this stuff?

Also, my old Chessmaster 3000 program does a numerical scoring of each
move. Is this useful for studying a game after it's played?

Thanks for any help,
Richard





 
Date: 26 Aug 2005 02:46:19
From:
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis
Bs'd

> Fritz is fine for tactical analysis but will not help you with positional concepts.

That's OK, because as long as you are below master level, tactics are
MUCH more important then postional concepts.

Rule of thumb: The one with the material rules.

Eliyahu



  
Date: 26 Aug 2005 11:11:22
From: Terry
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis

<[email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bs'd
>
>> Fritz is fine for tactical analysis but will not help you with positional
>> concepts.
>
> That's OK, because as long as you are below master level, tactics are
> MUCH more important then postional concepts.
>
> Rule of thumb: The one with the material rules.
>
> Eliyahu
>

The original poster was asking about positional play.

As an expert for the last 40 years - I can assure you that
without postional and endgame skills I would be not be
anywhere near that level.

Regards




   
Date: 26 Aug 2005 14:34:02
From: bellatori
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis
There is very little substitute for discussing your games and openings and
positions and other peoples games i.e. as many games as you can - with a
strong player. I use Fritz 8 and CB 9 a lot. BUT all chess playing
programs suffer from the horizon problem. If you set the anlaysis depth to
say 15 ply (8.5 moves!) you will be defeated if the punch line falls
beyond that horizon. The analysis by the computer is not simply tactical -
there is a positional element (HIARCS is probably the best at this) BUT
again there is a limit to the depth (ply) that your computer can go to.
Computers are verhy good at eliminating blunders but they are less good at
long term strategies (that doesn't mean they are bad!) because of this
horizon effect. Bottom line... join a club - talk to players and most of
all play lots of games - win with grace and lose with dignity.... AMICI
SUMUS Jo



 
Date: 26 Aug 2005 04:18:38
From: Ron
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis
In article <[email protected] >,
"Richard" <[email protected] > wrote:

> Also, my old Chessmaster 3000 program does a numerical scoring of each
> move. Is this useful for studying a game after it's played?

Only sort of.

In my experience, the notes you'll get from a stronger human player at
much more valuable than the notes you'll get from a computer, because
what you really need is somebody who can help you understand why your
ideas didn't work - and with a program's annotations you'll often find
yourself incapable of understanding why a certain move is better.

Here's what I think you should do.

Start by simply going over your games, making notes about things that,
in retrospect, strike you as errors. Knowing how the game ended up,
you'll naturally be critical of some of your own moves.

Write all this down, as well as any other ideas that occur to you while
going over the game. Strong players may spent longer in post-mortem than
they did playing the game, but even spending an extra hour looking over
a 40/2 game will probably be helpful.

Then show these notes to a stronger player. If you don't know anyone
who's willing to do this, post them to this newsgroup, and we'll all
discuss them.

-Ron


 
Date: 25 Aug 2005 23:57:37
From: Bark!
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis
Na njuzima:[email protected],
Richard <[email protected] > mukotrpnim radom izna�e ovu umotvorinu:

> I have been playing chess for years but have always had trouble
> improving past a certain point. I think some instruction on basic
> postmortum analysis or positional analysis would help me quite a bit.
> What is the best way to learn this stuff?
>
> Also, my old Chessmaster 3000 program does a numerical scoring of each
> move. Is this useful for studying a game after it's played?
>
> Thanks for any help,
> Richard

The best way is by running an engine like Fritz. I have Fritz 8 and when I
review the game, Fritz shows numeric evaluation after each move. You should
identify the major blunders and look for engines recomendation what should
have been played and thus better. If you like different move, go ahead, play
it and see how can engine masacre you. There are numerous programs and books
about evaluation. Thats basic stuff so you should know about themes such as
pawn structure, development, king safety, pins, removing the defender etc.
When you acquire these skills, your analysis will improve and youll
undestand the point behind masacre moves of your engine.

Personally, I think the best way to improve is to analyze your own games
with i.e. Fritz. I never liked GM games because 98% of the game I wouldnt
understand. Today, things are very different.

For this CM 3k analysis, its useful, it tells you whos better but it doesnt
tell why and you cant see the engines best move.




  
Date: 26 Aug 2005 06:58:24
From: Terry
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis

"Bark!" <[email protected] > wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Na njuzima:[email protected],
> Richard <[email protected]> mukotrpnim radom izna�e ovu umotvorinu:
>
>> I have been playing chess for years but have always had trouble
>> improving past a certain point. I think some instruction on basic
>> postmortum analysis or positional analysis would help me quite a bit.
>> What is the best way to learn this stuff?
>>
>> Also, my old Chessmaster 3000 program does a numerical scoring of each
>> move. Is this useful for studying a game after it's played?
>>
>> Thanks for any help,
>> Richard
>
> The best way is by running an engine like Fritz. I have Fritz 8 and when I
> review the game, Fritz shows numeric evaluation after each move. You
> should
> identify the major blunders and look for engines recomendation what should
> have been played and thus better. If you like different move, go ahead,
> play
> it and see how can engine masacre you. There are numerous programs and
> books
> about evaluation. Thats basic stuff so you should know about themes such
> as
> pawn structure, development, king safety, pins, removing the defender etc.
> When you acquire these skills, your analysis will improve and youll
> undestand the point behind masacre moves of your engine.
>
> Personally, I think the best way to improve is to analyze your own games
> with i.e. Fritz. I never liked GM games because 98% of the game I wouldnt
> understand. Today, things are very different.
>
> For this CM 3k analysis, its useful, it tells you whos better but it
> doesnt
> tell why and you cant see the engines best move.
>
>

Fritz is fine for tactical analysis but will not help you
with positional concepts.

Regards




   
Date: 27 Aug 2005 00:51:42
From: Bark!
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis
Na njuzima:[email protected],
Terry <[email protected] > mukotrpnim radom izna�e ovu umotvorinu:

> "Bark!" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Na njuzima:[email protected],
>> Richard <[email protected]> mukotrpnim radom izna�e ovu umotvorinu:
>>
>>> I have been playing chess for years but have always had trouble
>>> improving past a certain point. I think some instruction on basic
>>> postmortum analysis or positional analysis would help me quite a
>>> bit. What is the best way to learn this stuff?
>>>
>>> Also, my old Chessmaster 3000 program does a numerical scoring of
>>> each move. Is this useful for studying a game after it's played?
>>>
>>> Thanks for any help,
>>> Richard
>>
>> The best way is by running an engine like Fritz. I have Fritz 8 and
>> when I review the game, Fritz shows numeric evaluation after each
>> move. You should
>> identify the major blunders and look for engines recomendation what
>> should have been played and thus better. If you like different move,
>> go ahead, play
>> it and see how can engine masacre you. There are numerous programs
>> and books
>> about evaluation. Thats basic stuff so you should know about themes
>> such as
>> pawn structure, development, king safety, pins, removing the
>> defender etc. When you acquire these skills, your analysis will
>> improve and youll undestand the point behind masacre moves of your
>> engine.
>>
>> Personally, I think the best way to improve is to analyze your own
>> games with i.e. Fritz. I never liked GM games because 98% of the
>> game I wouldnt understand. Today, things are very different.
>>
>> For this CM 3k analysis, its useful, it tells you whos better but it
>> doesnt
>> tell why and you cant see the engines best move.
>>
>>
>
> Fritz is fine for tactical analysis but will not help you
> with positional concepts.
>
> Regards

As I said - "Thats basic stuff so you should know about themes such as pawn
structure, development, king safety, pins, removing the defender etc. When
you acquire these skills, your analysis will improve and youll undestand the
point behind masacre moves of your engine. "





  
Date: 26 Aug 2005 01:15:46
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Learning basic analysis
Bark! <[email protected] > wrote:
> Personally, I think the best way to improve is to analyze your own games
> with i.e. Fritz.

The usual recommendation is to analyse the game yourself, without using
any computers. Then use a computer to see what you missed. This will
give you a much better picture of what kinds of things you miss during
games; one you know what you're missing, you'll know that extra things
to look for while playing.


Dave.

--
David Richerby Enormous Happy Robot (TM): it's like
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ a high-tech robot that makes your
troubles melt away but it's huge!