You love chess and want to improve. This book definitely adds to your passion for playing chess and improving your skills.
I have many chess books but have not read them all.This is one of the books I have enjoyed reading.

• There are 6 chapters – Fabled Tree of Analysis, Blindfold Chess and Stepping Stone Diagram, The Art of Playing Bad Positions,Pattern Training, The Value of the Pieces, and Wisdom and Advice. At the end of each chapter, there is a summary of ideas covered.
• In the first chapter he talks about Kotov’s tree of analysis and variation processing.Have you ever analysed how you approach finding the move to play?
  He advises this approach – constant application of abstract assessment,scan for critical candidates, aim towards single critical variation.Then, he demonstrates the technique using an example.Which variations to tackle first? easier ones? or the difficult ones?
  He says “Constantly processing the information gleaned from concrete lines into verbal terms that can help us interpret the vitals signs of the position is an essential part of the technique.He conlcudes that “combined approach of concrete calculation and a verbal synthesis of the position is effective”.
• Stepping Stone – This technique is for improving the visualization of position on the board. This technique “consists of resetting the mind’s eye on the position at that point at which the student feels he is beginning to lose focus”.
  He explains that visualization and calculation are separate processes.He says “One calculates normally and uses visualization to provide stepping stones to increase the distance traveled from the original position”.
• In the chapter about playing bad positions, some ideas suggested are – create problems for your opponent, prolong resistance etc.
• Then, there is a whole chapter on pattern training – strategic and tactical.I feel patterns are useful as they become part of your subconsciousness and influence your choice of moves.
• Then, he talks about value of chess pieces and compensation.Its a long chapter with many brilliant examples on topics like bishop pair, don’t forget the value of king, sacrificing for attack, queen power, positional sacrifices.
• And, the last chapter has to offer wisdom and advice.The appendix consists of common mating patterns and tactical themes.

The author of the book is Jonathan Tisdall. You can look it up here.

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Practice visualisation and combinations

Tags: review

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