Chien Ming Chess Blog

Many players in beginners and intermediate level put too much emphasis on opening study and not enough on other areas. Tactics and endgames are foundation of chess, and doing tactics and endgame exercises daily is recommended. Deep opening study is very important at higher level such as expert, master and beyond. It is enough for beginner and intermediate players, to understand basic principles of chess opening.

Solving tactic and endgame puzzles regularly (like 4-5 daily, it is much better than doing 50 puzzle at once but only once a month) is like repetition that will make you a better player. You are not memorizing the actual positions, but you will remember the idea, recognizing the pattern. Chess is a large pattern of recognition. The more pattern you know, the better player you will be.

Chess grandmasters have a database about no less than 20,000 pattern (tactical, strategical, and endgame patterns) in his mind. They are able to quickly pull relevant information from this mammoth database. With a mere glance, a grandmaster can then figure out how the configuration in front of him is likely to play itself out

Amateurs, by contrast, often use short-term memory while playing chess. When they take in new information, it stays in the "small hard drive" of working memory without passing over into the "zip drive" of long-term memory. Amateurs are often overwriting things they've already learned.

About opening study, the key is understanding the ideas. A mastery of a little theory which conveys real understanding of the game is infinitely more valuable than a memorized of endless moves. If you know objectives you are seeking and you have a complete understanding of this phase of the game, you will be able to play strongly in the openings without too much memorizing any series of moves or variations.

Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) once wrote : Chess, like love, like music, has the powers to make men happy.

Researches have shown that Chess and Music are the only two actitivities that connect the right and left brain. Some top level chess players are also musically talented. Below are some of the obvious names:

Vasily Smyslov - Baritone Singer
Emil Sutovsky - Baritone Singer
Lajos Portisch - Opera Singer
Francois-Andre Danican Philidor - Opera Composer
Igor Ivanov - Pianist
Mark Taimanov - Concert Pianist

Mark Taimanov's parallel career as a concert pianist was also of world-class stature. He and his long-time partner, Lyubov Bruk, were recognized as the best piano ensemble of the Twentieth century, and were included in the series "Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century" by the Philips and Steinway companies.
Taimanov is the author of more than 20 books on the theory and practice of chess, and has been published in many different countries and languages. Mark Taimanov has opening variations named after him in the Sicilian Defense and Nimzo-Indian.

In one of interview he compared certain Grandmasters with great composers:

"Well, for me the resemblance between Capablanca and Mozart is absolutely evident.
I would compare Lasker with Beethoven,
and Steinitz with Bach.
Alekhine with his wealth of ideas and sense of harmony is akin to Rachmaninoff.
Smyslov's harmony is closer to that of Chaikovsky's.
Fischer is as monumental as Liszt.
Tal reminds me of Paganini - the same self-abandon and fatalism.
Botvinnik is associated for me with Wagner.
Karpov's chess is as simple and as complicated as Prokofiev's music.
Kasparov with his dynamic play brings to mind Shostakovich and his symphonies..."

Interesting match of style :

Capablanca - Mozart
Lasker - Beethoven
Steinitz - Bach
Alekhine - Rachmaninoff
Smyslov - Chaikovsky
Fischer - Liszt
Tal - Paganini
Botvinnik - Wagner
Karpov - Prokofiev
Kasparov - Shostakovich

From one of message board of opening discussion, I found a funny humour article about why Sicilian Kan variation is less popular then Najdorf or Dragon or Sveshnikov variation. This is the the link

Sicilian Kan variation is : 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6
Sicilian Najdorf variation is : 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
Sicilian Dragon variation is : 11.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6
Sicilian Sveshnikov variation is : 11.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5

Here is some part of that posting article by one of discussion's member :

Well, I can tell you. The Kan got picked on at school. The Najdorf and Sveshnikov used to beat up the Kan and steal its lunch money. All the cool kids play Sveshnikov, Najdorf, or Dragon. The Kan is just a French defence that pretends to be a Sicilian. Like a wimpy surburban yuppie poser kid who pretends to be a ballin gangsta. Sveshnikov sounds like a weapon, that's why the book is called Sveshnikov Reloaded. Weapons are metal. Dragon is also acceptable. A dragon has teeth and breathes fire, that's metal! Najdorf sounds kinda gimpy (probably it's the "DORF" part) but Fischer and Kasparov played it so you won't get made fun of for playing Najdorf.

In other words, if you want to be cool and fit in with the "cool" chess kids, you really need to stop playing Kan. I'm sorry to have to be the one to tell you this. The other Sicilian players will not let you sit at their table. I wouldn't, and I play Scandinavian! Scandinavian is like the stoner/slacker opening for lazy underachievers. Sicilian players tell themselves they are cooler and "better", but secretly they are jealous that Scandinavian has 5% as much theory. You know you are. Your other option is 1...e5, the manliest opening. 1...e5 is where boys fear to tread. One misstep and it's game over. 1...e5 players are like the ripped bodybuilder dudes with Harleys and tattoos. Those guys have no fear. I try to stay away from them. French and CaroKann are also for those who like shortcuts; typically reformed Scandinavian players will go to the French or CaroKann after they get out of rehab and are sober for awhile. Kan used to be a French, but it started pretending to be Sicilian. Now the French doesn't even want it back anymore.

In my opinion : Some opening or opening lines might be more popular than others, but I don't agree that opening A is the only best, etc. All major opening or opening variation is playable and good, as long you understand the idea behind

GM Boris Gelfand was recently asked about the chess future of US Champion 2005-Hikaru Nakamura. His answer was very interesting: Nakamura is a player of a new generation. He does not hide, he shows off that he has not read a single book and does not know the endgame theory. Instead of studying the works of Tarrasch he prefers to be 24 hours on the ICC (Internet Chess Club). However, he has convincing competitive results. This is a very interesting phenomenon.

Gelfand puts his finger on a new phenomenon, whereas Petrosian called the generation of players who came to the fore in the 60s the Child of Informant, now we have the Child of the Internet, and Nakamura is a good example.Nakamura is still a teenager and his maturity level has not yet come to grips with his status as the leader of American chess, for example he still acts oftentimes like a spoiled brat and delights in pushing his weight around. There have been too many reported incidents of his shouting at his elders with stupid tirades like "what's your rating? do you know who I am??" (yes, that's why sometimes you read about him being beaten up in tournaments). Nakamura is something like Fischer, in order to stomach his games you have to ignore the person. Good thing it is his chess that concerns us today.Nakamura's willingness to bring the battle to his opponent, no matter who it may be, his tactical genius, the constant striving for the initiative, and the insistence on fighting to the last drop in any game, these characteristics distinguish him as a warrior trained in the internet.

A perfect example of such an internet warrior is Matthew Herman, a New Yorker who was 11 and rated USCF 1431 when he first discovered the Internet Chess Club in 1998. The ICC and its never-ending supply of opponents appealed to Mathman (his handle, or nickname) very much and soon he was logged in 24 hours at a time playing day and night. In a few months' time he was already rated 2600+ at blitz.His mother recognized the kid's talent and tested him by entering the prodigy in the Under-1600 section of the Philadelphia World Open. The result was a shocking 8.5/9 and a US $10,000 check for first prize. The mother and child then went to the Bradley Open in Connecticut, in the stronger Under-1800 section with identical result, 8.5/9 and a check for several thousand dollars.Then came the test of fire, they entered the Mohawk Valley Open in New York State, in the Open Section (the strongest section, where all the GMs and IMs play). He took clear second place and once again was several thousand dollars richer.These results must have scared them, for in 1999 at the ripe old age of 12 Mathman retired from chess. You can read the complete Bobby Ang's article here

1.d4 d5 or 1.e4 e5 or 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 or 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 is some of several openings that is a classical way of starting the game (that is putting pawns at center at the first chance),

while

Gruenfeld 1.d4 Nf6 2.c6 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3



Alekhine 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 (Four Pawns Attack)



Pirc or Modern 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 (Austrian attack)


is some of several openings that is hypermodern way of starting the game, as Black allowed White build a big pawn centre, then to counterattack it later.

But let's compare with this below

This position is from Topalov-Kramnik, Game-9, Wch Elista 2006
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3 Nbd7 9. g3 Be7 10. f4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. e4

GM Mihail Marin at chessbase.com quoted : Looking at this position, I cannot stop asking myself: what does it mean to play a hypermodern opening? 1...d5 is supposed to be a classical way of starting the game, but isn't here White's advantage in the centre just as big or maybe even bigger than, say, in the Gruenfeld? One of the reasons why the Slav is so popular nowadays is that it allows Black choose any type of structure he wishes, according to the style of play or, why not, the mood in that specific moment. It can lead to more or less symmetrical positions or to very unbalances situations. As a compensation for White's advantage of space and powerful pair of bishops in the current position, Black is few tempo ahead in development. It remains an open question whether this is enough. Black (Kramnik)'s play in the next phase of the game does not really sustain this hypothesis.

This is about the same as assuming the generalization that 1.d4 lead to more positional play, and 1.e4 lead to more tactical play, while Vaselin Topalov or Mikhail Tal is known able to play 1.d4 with dynamic and tactical aggresive style, and Michael Adams or Peter Leko play 1.e4 with positional style!"

The 14th World Champion, Vladimir Kramnik sharing his views on thirteen chess kings...

Should young chess players study the classics?

In my view, if you want to reach the heights, you should study the entire history of chess. I can't give any clear logical explanation for it, but I think it is absolutely essential to soak up the whole of chess history

A very interesting view from Kramnik about the style of each of former World Champion.

Wilhelm Steinitz The Experimenter
Emanuel Lasker The Undogmatic
Jose Raul Capablanca The Magnificent
Alexander Alekhine The Dynamic
Max Euwe The Versatile
Mikhail Botvinnik The Conceptual
Vasily Smyslov The Accurate
Mikhail Tal of Another Planet
Tigran Petrosian The Well-Balanced
Boris Spassky The Comphrehensive
Bobby Fischer The Vigorous
Anatoly Karpov The Amazing
Garry Kasparov The Flexible

the detail of each can be read here

This article was wrriten by Susan Polgar
for chesscafe.com
on February 2005.

At one time, the Internet Chess was mostly for those who were younger, hipper, and more technically astute. But today, it is for just about everyone and it has had a very big impact in developing younger and younger grandmasters. If you are an avid chess lover, there is nothing better than Internet Chess.

I strongly believe that Internet chess can help most players. Despite some drawbacks, the Internet offers a great opportunity for players, especially novices, to learn and play the game at their convenience, which is not true in over-the-board games.

Some of us are so busy with our daily lives that between our jobs, family, and other obligations, it is hard to play chess over-the-board. That is why Internet chess has thrived in the past seven to eight years. So, what can it offer that regular over-the-board chess can’t?

Overall , the advantages of Internet chess outweigh the disadvantages.

The rest of the article can be read here.