Chess

3/24/2014

My oldest son, Xander, is in love with the game of Chess. Although I've played quite a few games at a very high level (poker, bridge, backgammon) I was never really into Chess -- I've always preferred games of "incomplete information" -- where some work in probability, psychology, statistics were more important than being able to see 10 moves deep.

That being said, I don't want my 6 year old to crush me in a year or two, and I definitely want him to continue to enjoy the game and learn. So, daddy needs to learn.

I've been watching some videos on chess.com, and actually playing a few games as well. Any other suggestions for books, videos, or otherwise to "kick start" my education? It is embarrassing how terrible I am at this game. I consistently lose to "easy computer" opponents ranked 1200, whatever that means.

Phil

11 Comments

Daniel

3/24/2014 11:53:16 pm

I saw this http://www.gautamnarula.com/how-to-get-good-at-chess-fast/ on Hacker news https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6791742 Sounded like it might be good.

Bob Crimmins link

3/25/2014 01:43:21 am

I learned from a cousin... whom I idolized and really wanted to beat! Lesson: competition is a good motivator to learn. I also learned a lot working through the Chessmaster 2000 trainer back in the DOS days... then Chessmaster 3000 when Windows came out... then finally Chessmaster 6000 back in the days of Windows 95... their probably up to Chessmaster 250000 by now and there are undoubtedly lots of great online tutorial game systems available these days. Try out a couple and see if one of them clicks for you.

I read books too, but always found that I learned best while actually playing a game against an opponent, whether a person or a computer. I played a lot of games... with folks around the world... over a bbs on a 300 baud modem... one at a pace of about three moves per game per day... with five games going at a time.

I haven't played a serious game of chess for at least 15 years... you've got me thinking about breaking out that old Chessmaster CD.

Ryan Burns

3/26/2014 02:25:09 am

Hey Phil, I play "Chess with Friends" all the time with my friends and brother. The best way to get better IMO is much like anything else, play against people who are better than you. You pick things up quicker than most so I'm sure the learning curve wont be that bad. Obviously books on tactics and strategy will help you progress faster but I don't know of any great books off hand. Studying famous chess matches will also help. (Adolf Anderssen vs Lionel Kieseritzky) I'm no master but I do like to play so if you want to get a game look me up on "Chess with Friends". My handle is burnzido. Hope you're doing well.

Chris Hanel link

3/31/2014 11:27:53 am

Have you checked out the interactive lessons on Chess.com yet? They are definitely one of my favorite features on the site.

Also, chessopenings.com is a great resource because it talks about the purpose and benefits of different openings in an easy-to-understand way. The host is really good and knows his stuff.

Some person

4/14/2014 03:53:19 am

I hear that Dan Harrington likes chess. Perhaps you might ask him if he'd be willing to play a few rounds between hands?

Andrew

4/21/2014 11:27:39 am

Pick up the version of Chessmaster entitled "The Art of Learning." It contains a fully interactive chess trainer with Josh Waitzkin - it is very easy to follow and can take you from the beginning to some deep level stuff. Also keep playing on Chess.com!! What is your screen name?

Austin

8/26/2014 07:21:52 pm

Go to chess.com and join
you can play for free and you can also play a tournament with a move every 3 or more days

Regards. Austin

Geoff Mikulka

11/26/2014 03:12:17 am

I was a chess captain in Highschool. I learned from my dad and the best way is to put in the time learning theory by readi ng and then playing. Playing chess will also teach patience and discipline that translate well to the tables. Remember he who controls the center of the board will have a significant advantage. I have read all your books and you are a huge contributor to my success. Thank you

Geoff Mikulka
Semi pro/amature Tampa, FL.

Mike M. link

3/27/2015 10:54:03 am

Hi Phil,

Chess is a great game. Like poker, skill at chess is developed with long experience, and there are many levels between the "best" and the "worst".

While all the critical information about any given chess position is known, that doesn't mean that the game is not subjective, or prone to chance. Here is one example - I was playing in a large chess tournament several years ago. Imagine a room filled with rows of tables, 200 players in intense concentration, and dead silence. All distractions are banned when the games start, so you will never be at a chess tourney and have someone munching chips ;). So an old friend, and long-time player, was sitting a few tables over when suddenly his phone rang (with the ring tone "Lord I was born a Ramblin' Man). This is normally considered a major faux pas during a tournament.

He ran from the room as he fumbled to try and turn the ringer off, utterly mortified. His high regard for the game and its players sent him completely "on tilt", and he was unable to play well during that game, and others which followed.

I have been playing chess for years for fun, and in competitions. Despite the perception that "seeing" many moves ahead is the key to chess, situations like I described can often swing results one way or another.

The psychological aspect of chess is extensive as well. When I sit across from a man my age (I'm 55), whom I know is a similar rating, I'm looking forward to the game. However, imagine how my thoughts and confidence may shift when I find myself sitting across the table from a 9 year old, rated 200 points higher than me! Pressure, man!

I hope you see my point...there are many elements to chess, far more than just the pieces on the board.

Chess is a game which requires a person to learn to master his own mind, first and foremost. This develops mental discipline, which makes chess a SUPERB pursuit for children, even younger ones. Children also benefit enormously from the social environment which surrounds chess. They shake hands before a game, study intensely during the game, and often go to a "skittles room" (a room set aside for casual games and discussion) to go over each move of the game afterwards. This accelerates the absorption rate, while also developing social skills and work ethics.

Go to any chess tourney, and you will see kids with their parents, integrating with friends, and yes - being completely silent when it's game time!

So encourage your 6 year old to play chess. Find a club in your area (start at uschess.org), and look for chess programs in your city. Scholastic (K - 12 chess) is really big, and attracts 100's of young players in every state. It's an environment which encourages respect, study, and having fun. It doesn't matter if a child is big or small, male or female, etc.

Here's a book suggestion - "How to beat your dad at chess". It's really a super primer, and I recommend it for adults too! Invest some time in learning chess, and playing and studying the game with your child. I GUARANTEE the implied odds are enormous!

mike

5/26/2015 11:18:52 pm

Read Josh Waitzkin "Art of Learning".
side note: FYI Tim Ferris is good friends with Josh so since you did that learning poker episode on Tim Ferris Experiment with him you can probably get him to get you in touch with him. Josh is good friends with GM Maurice Ashley as well who is a great teacher and player as well.

Learn to be good at "end game" chess first. One pawn one king each from different positions. Getting checkmate with queen and king. Practice solving for "mate in one" as much as you can. If you master that, go to mate in two. Then mate in 3 problems. Then try bishop or knight endgame and work your way back to middle game. Eventually you can learn opening but as long as you don't give away too much in the opening if you are good in the middle and end game you stand a pretty good chance.

The chess.com "tactics" trainer and lessons is also good.

I also use the app "SmallFish" sometimes as it is one of the most powerful chess engines in the world and will suggest moves as you play. So you can test what opponent opening might do against you that works and learn how to counter it and avoid traps in the opening.

And if you want to beat a grandmaster, the fastest way to do it is to play two of them at a time... one as black, the other as white. Simply mirror the moves and act as the middleman so you are essentially playing each grandmaster against each other. You will beat one of them or tie both. haha

Darren Brown beat 5/9 chess players using this "strategy"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evZmpsl3jI0

Aaron

8/23/2015 12:32:09 am

Hey Phil,

I've played chess recreationally my whole life. More recently I've read in more than one place, that chess has been proven to be more of a game based on memory than thinking and strategizing multiple moves ahead. The greatest players have studied, memorized/practiced the recorded games of the best players over the last few hundred years. Thus, once they see a particular arrangement, they can recall the best possible moves leading to a resolution in their favor. That is oversimplified I'm sure but is what I believe to be the best route to improving etc--studying games/arrangements.

Best of luck,

Aaron

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