Advanced Beginners Chess Guide
[Index: Section 2]

Date: May 18th 2011

So, here's the first of nine files of discussions, between Ken Wilsdon and myself, about strategy elements found in H&M-S's Point Count Chess.

It's split into three groups, about:

• "What I thought I knew";


• "What I needed Ken to clarify";


• "What I just didn't get".

Date: May 19th 2011

The following series of discussions were merely additions to some of the points discussed in File #1.

We're now into tackling points that I needed clarifying, leaving the stuff I didn't get 'til last.

I have more questions; Ken has more answers ...

Date: May 24th 2011

The original thirty-two elements in the Point Count Chess table had now been whittled down to just four outstanding points, that I needed Ken to clarify ...

Date: May 25th 2011

The fourth file contained just the one, solitary issue that I still needed Ken to help clarify ...

Date: May 29th 2011

There was one more discussion of the Hanging Pawns (below); then, I felt ready-enough to tackle the first of the two points I didn't get ("Weak-square Complex") ...

Date: June 2nd-3rd 2011

Includes GAME 1:

• A random Opening is discussed and dissected, in an attempt to understand Control of the Center, while also highlighting my current chess-brain's chronic lack of conditioning:
  
  "When I attempt to turn what I've read into practice - by playing openings against Fritz - ideas clash and progress grinds to a halt.".

Date: June 3rd-6th 2011

Includes GAME 2:

• Another random game, but this was one of Ken's own games, that he played with his son, Jonny.

Date: June 7th-July 6th 2011

Includes Game 3:

• The plan here was that Ken and I would both share the same army (White) against Fritz 12 @ Level 5 (Black). With Ken in Canada and myself in a pokey little room in England, we'd play 'correspondence style'

Also includes:

• "Ken's Major Digression", a set of 7 Patterns to KNOW off-by-heart, to help you determine who Controls any given Square.

Date: July 7th-September 19th 2011

Includes Game 4: The plan here was pretty much the same as Game 3, except this time I was interested to see how we'd cope if we unleashed Fritz 12 at its highest strength setting (Level 50, Optimum Strength).

Also includes additional lessons from Ken Wilsdon:

• "How to Develop a Plan";


• "Ken's 2-Point Principle for Assessing Moves";


• "Ken's explanation of Bent Larsen's 8-Point Method for Assessing Moves".