I have little to no experience playing chess. Am I welcome at the Club?
Absolutely yes! The Club includes and welcomes players of all
experience and ability levels. Experienced players will be happy
to offer assistance.
How can I improve my game?
Play (in tournaments, against computers, and with club members),
analyze your games (bring them to club meetings), study (tactics,
middle game strategies, positional elements, tactics, endings,
openings, tactics, complete grandmaster games, and tactics), and
attend the coaching sessions. There is no simple way to learn
chess (if there were, there would be more grandmasters). Chess
is a game of tactics, strategy, tactics, and psychology, and tactics---all aspects
must be mastered. Tactics are relatively easy to learn, and they
can be learned through solving tactical exercises. Initially,
improving your tactical ability will help you the most. After
becoming proficient in tactics, you should learn the positional
elements of chess and their relationships to tactics, pawn structure,
and middle-game strategy. It is also important to master basic
endings. (This advice is the opinion of the author only.)
What books does the author of this page recommend?
1. Nimzowitch, My System (for the more advanced player)
2. Chernev, Logical Chess Move by Move (an excellent beginners
book)
3. Pelts and GM Alburt, Comprehensive Chess Course (another excellent beginners book)
4. Mullen and Moss, Blunders and Brilliancies (beautiful tactics training)
5. Fischer, My 60 Memorable Games (good games by a great player)
A common error is to focus too much on the opening; many strong players give equal study time to the opening, middle game, and ending.
