| |
Main
Date: 18 Mar 2007 19:32:35
From: Ray Gordon, creator of the \pivot\
Subject: Does anyone here know how to play the middlegmae?
|
I don't mean Nimzo's basic stuff, but complicated theory like they have for
openings.
I've been trying to build a middlegame for several months now, and have been
having success, but I don't feel the theoretical grasp that I have in the
opening (obviously, since I spent years on that).
What makes a GM able to decimate a 2200 player so efficiently in this part
of the game?
--
Ray Gordon, Author
Price And Probability (The Value Handicapper's Bible)
http://www.cybersheet.com/horsepix.html
Would someone PLEASE become Ashlee Schull's new #1 fan? She deserves
better.
|
|
| |
Date: 21 Mar 2007 18:39:13
From:
Subject: Re: Does anyone here know how to play the middlegmae?
|
Playing slow time control games with significantly stronger players
and doing post-mortems with them after the game is one good way to
improve middlegame skills. Another excellent approach is to get a
well-annotated game collection (anything book of Botvinnik's games
annotated by Botvinnik would be good) and then use the "solitaire
chess" approach. You can learn a lot from putting in some real effort
trying to analyze a middlegame position (or any kind of position
really) and then comparing your move choices and thoughts to those of
a great player.
I am a bit skeptical of these books that try to hand you positional/
strategical wisdom on a platter. You can learn concepts from these
books, but I'm not sure how much you can learn about how to apply them
in practical play. IMO, the best way to learn is to try to figure out
a position yourself, then compare your conclusions to those of a
stronger player, then try to figure out where you went wrong (if you
did). Then repeat the process a few thousand times.
- Geof Strayer
|
| | |
Date: 22 Mar 2007 13:27:59
From: David Richerby
Subject: Re: Does anyone here know how to play the middlegmae?
|
<[email protected] > wrote:
> Playing slow time control games with significantly stronger players
> and doing post-mortems with them after the game is one good way to
> improve middlegame skills. Another excellent approach is to get a
> well-annotated game collection (anything book of Botvinnik's games
> annotated by Botvinnik would be good) and then use the "solitaire
> chess" approach. [...]
>
> I am a bit skeptical of these books that try to hand you positional/
> strategical wisdom on a platter. You can learn concepts from these
> books, but I'm not sure how much you can learn about how to apply them
> in practical play.
Well, the good books, like Nimzowitsch, give you the plateful of
positional/strategic wisdom and then give you a bunch of annotated
example games that you can use for solitaire, to reinforce the ideas
you've learnt about.
Dave.
--
David Richerby Moistened Sword (TM): it's like a
www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~davidr/ razor-sharp blade but it's moist!
|
| |
Date: 19 Mar 2007 10:25:21
From:
Subject: Re: Does anyone here know how to play the middlegmae?
|
There's a book on the middlegame by Keres and Kotov that's pretty
good.
Euwe has a two-volume set on the middle game.
Pachmann has a three-volume set on the middlegame.
Older is Fine's middle game book.
Else, any good annotated set of games, Capablanca's, Fischers,
Karpov's, Tarrasch's, or tournament books like Bronstein's 1953
Candidates tournament is good.
|
| | |
Date: 19 Mar 2007 16:13:27
From: Ray Gordon, creator of the \pivot\
Subject: Re: Does anyone here know how to play the middlegmae?
|
> There's a book on the middlegame by Keres and Kotov that's pretty
> good.
> Euwe has a two-volume set on the middle game.
> Pachmann has a three-volume set on the middlegame.
>
> Older is Fine's middle game book.
>
> Else, any good annotated set of games, Capablanca's, Fischers,
> Karpov's, Tarrasch's, or tournament books like Bronstein's 1953
> Candidates tournament is good.
I've read most of the above, but that's basic stuff. Opening theory is so
much better defined. Sounds almost like players are WINGING IT in the
middlegame.
--
Ray Gordon, Author
Price And Probability (The Value Handicapper's Bible)
http://www.cybersheet.com/horsepix.html
Would someone PLEASE become Ashlee Schull's new #1 fan? She deserves
better.
|
| | | |
Date: 19 Mar 2007 23:19:03
From: Hans
Subject: Re: Does anyone here know how to play the middlegmae?
|
On 2007-03-19 21:13:27 +0100, "Ray Gordon, creator of the \"pivot\""
<[email protected] > said:
>> There's a book on the middlegame by Keres and Kotov that's pretty
>> good.
>> Euwe has a two-volume set on the middle game.
>> Pachmann has a three-volume set on the middlegame.
>>
>> Older is Fine's middle game book.
>>
>> Else, any good annotated set of games, Capablanca's, Fischers,
>> Karpov's, Tarrasch's, or tournament books like Bronstein's 1953
>> Candidates tournament is good.
>
> I've read most of the above, but that's basic stuff. Opening theory is so
> much better defined. Sounds almost like players are WINGING IT in the
> middlegame.
===============
What makes a GM able to decimate a 2200 player so efficiently in this part
of the game?
===============
I know what you're looking for. It has a name.
It's called TALENT.
Also known as insight, experience, inspiration, feeling, personality
and several other terms.
Untill the time that the starting position has been completely analysed
we have no other instruments than opening theory, endgame techniques
and middlegame talent.
As a matter of fact it is clear to everyone that one will not be
searching for skills or attributes that one already has. This is
especilly true for a feature like talent.
Problem is that talent can't be found. One either has it or doesn't.
Hans
|
| | | | |
Date: 20 Mar 2007 01:40:11
From: Ray Gordon, creator of the \pivot\
Subject: Re: Does anyone here know how to play the middlegmae?
|
> ===============
>
> What makes a GM able to decimate a 2200 player so efficiently in this part
> of the game?
>
> ===============
>
>
> I know what you're looking for. It has a name.
>
> It's called TALENT.
Likely as measured by tactical ability and honed by expeirence.
I kind of figured this out myself, but was wondering if there was some
middlegame wizard out there who knew of something beyond open files,
overprotection, outposting, etc.
> Also known as insight, experience, inspiration, feeling, personality and
> several other terms.
Kind of like the way one gets good at video games.
> Untill the time that the starting position has been completely analysed we
> have no other instruments than opening theory, endgame techniques and
> middlegame talent.
Well I chose to dive into the middlegame after the opening for the same
reason I studied the opening in that the middlegame must first be survived
for an endgame to be reached.
I also believe that the key to being a good endgame player is to know how to
win a won ending rather than play an equal one.
> As a matter of fact it is clear to everyone that one will not be searching
> for skills or attributes that one already has. This is especilly true for
> a feature like talent.
>
> Problem is that talent can't be found. One either has it or doesn't.
Patience in developing talent is also required to bring out whatever nature
did provide.
I'm not coming along poorly, but am always looking for any theory I can
incorporate into my game.
--
Ray Gordon, Author
Price And Probability (The Value Handicapper's Bible)
http://www.cybersheet.com/horsepix.html
Would someone PLEASE become Ashlee Schull's new #1 fan? She deserves
better.
|
|
