Questions tagged [study]

Questions relating to learning about chess or analyzing positions on the chessboard. Not to be confused with the concept of an "endgame study", a kind of chess puzzle.

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What do modern chess players understand about the game that previous generations did not?

In an interview, Garry Kasparow stated that each generation of chess players knows more about the game than the previous one. He applies this thought concretely to the question of who is better - him ...
boot4life's user avatar
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37 votes
8 answers
51k views

What's a good way to learn opening theory?

I'm a hobbyist chess player and usually play online. While I've seen thousands of great chess games and win a fair number of games online, the one thing that I have struggle with is studying openings. ...
Sean Bernardino's user avatar
23 votes
8 answers
12k views

Is learning opening theory necessary?

I have never studied opening theory. The closest I've gotten was briefly reading about several openings in books, but never memorizing or using any. While I haven't ever played in tournaments I have ...
Seth's user avatar
  • 897
22 votes
7 answers
5k views

How much time should be spent playing versus studying?

I have been learning fairly rapidly lately (will probably go about 400 points in about a year), although I am sure that pace will slow with time. However, my learning is actually slowed down because ...
Jeff Davis's user avatar
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19 votes
3 answers
5k views

Balancing chess and work

I started chess 2 years ago at 500 ELO and have climbed up to 1900 ELO (chess.co) recently. I have fallen deeply in love with the game and have made it a life goal to achieve eventually a mastery ...
hexaquark's user avatar
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15 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why do Chess GMs need coaches?

Today chess.com did an interview with Carlsen's coach. Someone like Carlen or Anand, why do they still need coaches? Their Elo is higher than their coaches, they can use engines to analyze the games, ...
Lynob's user avatar
  • 5,774
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

What are the advantages of keeping the identity of a second secret?

At the top levels of chess the identity of the coach/assistant is sometimes kept secret. What are the advantage(s) of this? I found: That mystery [second] turned out to be the intensely creative ...
stevec's user avatar
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14 votes
10 answers
4k views

How to study a chess tactics book?

I've been playing chess for quite a while now, but I still consider myself a beginner. I play with friends most of the time. Now I want to get better so I bougth a tactics book (Yusupov: Build up your ...
DocFeelgood's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
3k views

How is mate guaranteed - Bobby Fischer 134

I am working through Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess and #134 asks If White plays Rook-takes-Rook-check, can he mate? The answer is Yes, the mate is delivered by the white Queen. However, can't it be ...
BruceWayne's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
3k views

Are there rules for categorising all pawn-only endgames into won/drawn/lost?

If a situation containing only pawns and kings is displayed is there a simple set of rules for determining if the position is won/drawn/lost? I know for single pawn and double pawn endgames this is ...
silent-tiger's user avatar
12 votes
6 answers
6k views

How to study chess?

I am a beginner, I have been playing from time to time with friends since I was a child, but I never studied seriously. A couple of months ago I decided I want to become better, to play more seriously,...
Romeo's user avatar
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12 votes
4 answers
441 views

Playing chess with a mentally demanding job?

For those with mentally demanding jobs, how do you manage to play/study chess after work? I am a software engineer and I'm deep thinking pretty much all day long at work. I feel mentally exhausted ...
hexaquark's user avatar
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11 votes
4 answers
969 views

My bishop is attacked by a rook-pawn, now what?

I usually get into this position, where I just recently moved the bishop to g5 (or b5), and his response is moving h6 (or a6): Usually here, I only consider two possibilities: Take the knight ...
ajax333221's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
777 views

Because of the distortion of the computer era, is it preferable to study mainly old opening lines?

I realize that you get rather a lot of questions from lower-rated players who ask, should I try this? should I play that? how can I improve? Many of you have been extraordinarily patient with these ...
thb's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
904 views

Has there ever been a game where multiple humans play against a single chess computer?

I'm wondering if the following scenario has ever been played out: Once side of a chess game is played by multiple humans at once, collaboratively determining what the next move will be. This ...
Ten Bitcomb's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
928 views

Is there some resource of non-tactical positions to practice analysing?

In point 3 of this answer RemcoGerlich implies that a good way to improve, for a class player, would be to develop the skill of “[taking] any position and [figuring] out what’s going on”. It seems to ...
11684's user avatar
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7 votes
8 answers
3k views

How can I make my child interested in playing chess?

I am just an OK player and I wish for my eight-year old kid to learn chess and be interested in it too. Can you please give tips/ideas as to how can I make my child interested in it?
Mitesh Budhabhatti's user avatar
7 votes
8 answers
1k views

Can one improve their chess without playing online?

I have been playing chess for almost a year and I'm addicted to playing chess on Lichess. My stats there are: 2100 classical 2000 rapid 1800 blitz I feel that playing chess online ruins my life and ...
user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
4k views

How to make a self study plan to become a good chess player to play rated tournaments?

I am a programmer and a chess player who knows the moves and the basic rules but never played professionally. I am a complete novice. I tried in FICS and failed to win a single match. I was playing ...
Indzi's user avatar
  • 173
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is it possible to reach master level without studying theory?

Wikipedia page for GM Granda from Peru says: Julio Granda does not study opening theory. He has said that he has only read a chess book, the third volume of the General Chess Treaty of Roberto Grau. ...
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6 votes
2 answers
404 views

Is it true that Grand Master Julio Granda has only read one chess book?

Wikipedia spanish entry for GM Julio Granda says (Google translates): Julio Granda does not study opening theory. He has stated that he has only read one chess book, the third volume of Roberto Grau'...
user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
270 views

Making the best use of a coach?

Currently I pay for lessons, and I surely see value. I've gotten from the low 600s to being able to give USCF 1200s a run for their money. It's not much, but it makes me pretty happy. But I feel ...
user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Benefits of studying annotated grandmaster games

I've started reading about the 1960 Tal vs Botvinnik match and I'm planning on studying many annotated games like these. I was curious about what benefits I can get out of doing this. I've already ...
randomlad's user avatar
  • 423
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Similar opening positions and structures

When I first started chess, my mentor asked me to learn one opening that I like and stick to it, study it and master it. But things will not always go the way you think, your opponent might not always ...
Mc Kevin's user avatar
  • 191
6 votes
1 answer
315 views

Book series to improve

I have an Elo score of about 800 and I am looking for book series to improve (projecting even up to very high scores). Do you have any recommendations? Possibly even more than one series, so as to ...
Luckenberg's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
192 views

Studying Lost Positions

I like to study my games after I've played them. Often, I find myself identifying mistakes and moving on to play another game or study something else. I was wondering if it is worthwhile to continue ...
студент001's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
350 views

How important is playing chess games while you are working on to improve your chess?

I am trying to improve my chess and I spend about one hour in morning doing tactics and around one and half hour in evening studying endgames. I am following this schedule for about 2 months now and ...
srk_cb's user avatar
  • 677
5 votes
5 answers
1k views

Getting the most out of chess books

I have a bunch of chess books that have been given to me on my favorite openings. I usually try to do a few games from them after I play my daily games and go over how I could improve with a chess ...
user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
331 views

How to Learn Chess Comprehensively

I'm a pretty new to playing chess - I understand the fundamentals and can implement some of the basic ideas like forks and pins, but have never properly learned how to play. I'm looking for a ...
Kobo's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

How long to get a 200 rating point increase from serious chess study alone according to this academic paper?

In the academic journal article "The Role of Deliberate Practice in Chess Expertise" from APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY Appl. Cognit. Psychol. 19: 151– 165 (2005) At the top of page 162, the authors ...
MorphyWormhole's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
2k views

Method to study chess puzzles way above your level

I have a collection of middle-game chess puzzles classified in levels. I can solve most puzzles in the first level after a few minutes, and some of the puzzles in level 2. But for higher levels there ...
Mephisto's user avatar
  • 272
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Lowenthal-LabourdonnaisSicilian Kalashnikov Variation

I have been studying the Kalashnikov Sicilian: e4 c5 Nf3 Nc6 d4 cxd4 Nxd4 e5 (signaling the Lowenthal variation) Nb5 d6 (d6 signals the Kalashnikov variation) I have two books I have been studying ...
enikhelA's user avatar
  • 221
5 votes
3 answers
307 views

How to start learning theory? (1850 Elo)

I have been playing online chess (lichess.org) for three years at the rate of a few hours a week and I recently reached the score of 1850 Elo points in bullet mode. So I want to take more seriously ...
user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
293 views

How to exercise an opening variation with a chess engine?

I am reading an opening book in King's Gambit, and been writing down the lines to study later. But I wish there was a chess engine, that goes for those lines so I can play against them. I want to play ...
eguneys's user avatar
  • 473
5 votes
1 answer
479 views

What's so important about the h4 square in this endgame?

I'm reading John Nunn's book Grandmaster Chess Move by Move, and it stresses the importance of the h4 square in the following endgame. 8/2p2p2/5k1p/2B1p1p1/4P3/1P3P2/2n1K1PP/8 w - - 0 1 1. Kd2? Nd4 ...
ktm5124's user avatar
  • 515
5 votes
3 answers
367 views

What's the best way for someone to use their time with a chess coach?

Let's say you have a 2 hour session. What questions would the serious player studying with a chess coach ask? Could you provide some examples?
user122965's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
251 views

What Are Some Good Tools for Learning Chess Openings?

I have an online rating of 1900, and about 30% of my lost games have been lost because I clearly messed up in the opening, so I want to focus on my openings to improve my rating further. I am looking ...
Emre Bener's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
818 views

Sicilian Lowenthal-Labourdonnais

I am very interested in the Lowenthal Sicilian, specifically the 5. Nb5 a6 line: e4 c5 Nf3 Nc6 d4 cxd4 Nxd4 e5 (signalling the Lowenthal) Nb5 a6 (5 ... d6 is the Kalashnikov variation or what Silman ...
enikhelA's user avatar
  • 221
4 votes
2 answers
392 views

Why is it important to study classical games?

Many masters have always recommended the study of classical games. Why is it important to study them and what is so special about classical games?
Phemelo Khetho's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
630 views

Which endgame manual?

Which endgame manual do you recommend and why? • Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual • Fundamental Chess Endings (Muller & Lamprecht) • Silman's Complete Endgame Course • Some other book I am ...
Hanyanrou's user avatar
  • 529
4 votes
3 answers
656 views

Highly inconsistent playing level

I have a very inconsistent playing level, which is very strange to me. Sometimes I'd make an almost-brilliant move (usually a tactical sacrifice, which once made an IM stare at me with awe) and other ...
Amr Ayman's user avatar
  • 416
4 votes
1 answer
214 views

Guide to using a book

I am currently twenty years old. I learned the rules of chess when I was eight and played on and off for a long time. However, I did not take it seriously. Recently after joining chess.com and trying ...
Pranav's user avatar
  • 43
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Making my own chess studies (like Lichess) with SCID vs PC

I am learning how to use SCID vs PC on my Linux machine and I find the program very useful and well-written. I am reading through Lasker's book Manual of Chess and I would like to create my own "...
smilingbuddha's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can I host lichess server to my local machine to use the study offline?

Lichess is a free, Ad-free and Open-Source chess server. To me, it has the best STUDY option over the internet. I am thinking whether it's possible or not to host a localhost setup using the source ...
Amlan Saha Kundu's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
441 views

Good and in-depth books on Queen's Gambit and French Defense?

After following the studying advises of a Chess Stack Exchange fellow (PhishMaster, if you read this, thank you!) I'm about to break 2200 Lichess elo finally. I think it is time to truly and deeply ...
lafinur's user avatar
  • 1,264
3 votes
3 answers
1k views

Suggestions for endgame study

I'm an unrated player with some experience playing and studying various aspects of the game. If I had to give a subjective rating to myself, I would say 1000-1100. In all my quest for improvement, I ...
Pradeep Puranik's user avatar
3 votes
5 answers
2k views

How to master 1.e4 repertoire from scratch

I was a hardcore 1.c4 player. But, for quite some time, the popularity of Nakhmanson Gambit, Jerome Gambit etc. has encouraged me to experiment with 1.e4. I have read 1.e4 with backup plan before. Now ...
Amlan Saha Kundu's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
240 views

Adding "summary" comments to an analysis

When I analyze my chess games for studying, I like to write a high level summary or action items. For example, a summary of a game might include some positive feedback for myself, as well as ...
smg's user avatar
  • 131
3 votes
1 answer
539 views

Differences between normal chessbase and chessbase Steam

I just recently realised that the chessbase software is available on Steam, which would seem normal to me if it wasn't almost half the price compared to the version on the official website. I have ...
Lixue Zhao's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
643 views

Where to find specific endgame practice exercises/puzzles/practice bots?

I'm looking for a set of exercises (contained in a book, website, or chess engine) where I can practice what I know in regards to rook and pawn vs. rook endgames. I could find a friend to randomly ...
Jossie Calderon's user avatar