My Training Journal:

At this point there isn't that much to it, kind of unorganized but will work on that also

1. Practice tactics (cts) every day for 30 minutes
2. Work on understanding, "not just memorizing" my opening The london system.
I have a very good book on it "Winning with the london system" I do understand that games are not going to follow all theory.

3. Work on my endgame practice which right now is not easy.
4. Play 1 game a day.


Sidenote: I would like to keep reading my HTRYC but am finding that I can't seem to always fit that in everyday, just seems that I get overloaded with information & I don't think that is good.

Otherwords I really need to get better organization for studying

Robert_T,

Sounds like you've got a pretty good training plan. Let me know how that London system book is, I might have to check it out. Also I've been playing on the Chess Tactics Server more lately and I find it pretty fun. Although it's a little stressful...I hate when I can't get one! It would be cool if you posted your daily game in this journal. Later you could come back and see how much you've improved and also people can provide comments/suggestions.

P.S. How was your visit to the local chess club?

The London book is pretty good, but??? from one review I read a 2000+ player wouldn't gain much from it, for me it's pretty good.. It reads real good although I do have to go over some of the games a few times & that was excpected

As for the chess club, I will be going there about 6:30 p.m. today when it opens but can only stay for 45 minutes as I have a meeting to go to.

Ah...hope you have fun.

Chess Club update today:

Well I did it, there were 3 guys sitting just talking..

After introducing myself 1 of them asked if I had time to play a game.

1st off I wish I would've wrote down our moves as it was all just a blurrrr..

I played white & on move 12 I blundered terribly I took his pawn on b7? with my Queen but did NOT see his Bishop on c8

Nerves?? yea I had some......

Overall the guys were pretty good, had a few compliments and was told don't worry about it you were probably a little nerveous... that was an understatement lol....

The guy I played is a 1300 & the other 2 a 1700 & a 1200..

I will be back next week to have some more fun

So the Chess Club has only 3 other members? Or are most of the others on holiday?

Phobetor,

I can't answer your question as to " only 3 other members? "

Never asked, I was just happy that we have a chess club!

If they do have "only" 3 members & I join & my friend joins that right there will be a 66.6% increase

Smaller clubs are good. It makes it easier to study together.

Hi everyone,

Here is a game that I played yesterday against the guy that told me he can see 8 moves ahead

Maybe he was nervous?

I'm sorry that I couldn't get this game on the player but for some reason I can't get it to show after move 37, the game goes to move 39. I feel it's on my end.

If anybody is interested in trying to get it to work I appreciate it.

I was white.

1. d4 Nf6
2. c3 c6
3. Bf4 Qb6
4. Qb3 Nd5
5. Qxb6 axb6
6. e3 Nxf4
7. exf4 e5
8. fxe5 Rxa2
9. Rxa2 Bc5
10. dxc5 b5
11. Ra8 Ke7
12. Rxb8 Re8
13. f4 Kf8
14. Nf3 b4
15. cxb4 g6
16. Bc4 Kg7
17. O-O b5
18. Bb3 h6
19. Nbd2 d5
20. cxd6 Rf8
21. Rd1 Rd8
22. Ne4 Bf5
23. Rxd8 Bxe4
24. Ra1 c5
25. bxc5 g5
26. fxg5 Kg6
27. h4 Kf5
28. Re8 Bc6
29. Re7 Kg4
30. d7 Kg3
31. d8=Q Be4
32. Rf1 b4
33. Rxf7 Bf5
34. Nd2 Kxh4
35. g6+ Kg3
36. Rf3+ Kg4
37. Rf3xf5 Kg3
38. Qd3+ Kh4
39. Qh3#

Robert_T,

I'm surprised the PGN replayer is having trouble. I looked at your score and I can't figure it out. How did you get the moves to the game, did you type them in or get the score from a PGN logfile or a computer program that displays chess games in PGN notation? If you got it from one of the latter two (rather than typing it in), then there is definitely a problem with our converter and I'll notify our admin. Sorry about the difficulty.

Here's a game I played today....

ChessMaster 10:

Black: Bobby Fischer
White: Me

I knew going into this that it wouldn't be pretty

I've seen back-rank mates before, but never side-file mates. I don't know whether that's a good thing or not though.

I don't believe it is a good thing

That was a pretty nice finish for the computer. Is Bobby Fischer the strongest of the Chessmaster personalities? I would imagine so.

Actually ChessMaster is the highest & it is rated at 2923 ......