Advanced Beginners Chess Guide : Section 2
Section 2 is a compilation of unrefined, ‘raw’ discussions between myself and my mentor, Ken Wilsdon.
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How it works:
- 1Play alone
- 2Play with AI
- 3Play in room
- 4Watch the rooms
- 5No Ads, Clean Play Room
During my excellent discussions with Ken, in the process of getting my bearings with the material covered in Point Count Chess, Ken’s input was immense. There was some cracking insight and advice that I feel is too good to just sit on my computer.
What I’m showing you now is how we went about discussing Point Count Chess, to get the above ‘refined’ guides created …
Play Chess Online - Free Games
How it works:
- 1Play alone
- 2Play with AI
- 3Play in room
- 4Watch the rooms
- 5No Ads, Clean Play Room
Basically, I thought it best if I read through Point Count Chess and then write down what I understood. Then, Ken would step in, using his 45+ years of chess playing experience to ‘redirect’ any misguided views and to help fill in the blanks about the stuff that I just didn’t quite get.
GW-KW Discussion, File #1
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”.
GW-KW Discussion, File #2
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 …
GW-KW Discussion, File #3
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 …
GW-KW Discussion, File #4
Date: May 25th 2011
The fourth file contained just the one, solitary issue that I still needed Ken to help clarify …
GW-KW Discussion, File #5
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”) …
GW-KW Discussion, File #6
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.”.
GW-KW Discussion, File #7
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.
The focus remained the same: understanding Control of the Center …
GW-KW Discussion, File #8
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.
GW-KW Discussion, File #9
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”.