12-day training plan

1. By solid I can recommend the KID for d4 and the Ruy for e4 and both work fine in all levels. And since it’s played below master level I doubt you will get in trouble with both.

2. I’m not sure if you’re going to play full-time chess but the best way to play it with little time for those part-timers is, to avoid it. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t learn it; it’s going to develop overtime, in years but why not use the KIA instead of planning for the heavy theory work? You go straight into a king-side attack instead of being caught in a very tactical position (25/game!)

3. Tactics is fine but I would recommend endgames. If you’re strong in that area, you’ll do fine against most of the unrated players there. Understanding endgames easily helps you understand your objectives and goals instead of calculating various variations. There’s a wonderful book by Dvoretsky…

4. Exercise and diet. Right on!!

My RM 0.02

ps Good luck in Stonemaster’s Tourney.

This is not a secret but as I got better in the end-game, my middle-game knowledge increased to an extent. You could practically cruise to a full-point by choosing an endgame opening (Ruy ex variation), exchange some pieces and beat a clueless player in the end-game. I’ve won countless games with a pawn majority on one side of the board, concentrating on it while the other guy tries to play the whole board. And tactics become easier as we learn how pieces cooperate.

As you become stronger, you will eventually play games that don’t often get decided in the middle-game, even in 25/min games. Of course, we all love finishing off players in the middle-game a la Janowski and Marshall but today’s game requires us to be proficient in all phases of the game. Climbing the ladder you will meet no slouches and any weakness in any part presents yourself vulnerable.

I’m not criticizing but I have often watched players 2000+ reach a favorable position in the middle-game, and instead of liquidizing to an endgame and convert an easy technical win, force the issue in the middlegame and threw away the win.

Regards.

Hi Andrew,

Great article! I think you’re largely on the right track, with just some minor suggestions for your consideration:

1. Opening preparation.

a. I feel that for most main lines (e.g. French Defence), the choice of variations (e.g. Tarrasch, 3.Nc3, Advance, etc.) are not usually that critical, compared to understanding the typical middle-game plans that arises from the variation choice you made. E.g. if you play the Tarrasch, then, you must be prepared to meet the main variations that Black is likely to play against the Tarrasch, such as 3…c5, 3…Nf6, 3…Nc6, 3…dxe4, etc. Even after 3..c5 4.exd5, there are still sub-variations, the major ones being 4..Qxd5, 4..exd5, etc. The main point is that each variation could result in similar/different pawn structures, and if different, can lead to different typical middle-game plans … and I believe it’s more important knowing how to play the middle game in those type of positions, than trying to decide whether to play the Advance, 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2 … Choose 1 (based on any criteria so long as they are yours), and learn the middle-game plans … and I believe you’ll find your chess understanding will increase. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

b. If you can, study with a board. For each move, ask yourself what are the possible main lines, and only consult the “book” after that. I believe one only gets out of studying opening based on the active effort that one puts in.

c. Make sure you know clearly the typical middle game plans for each pawn structure - no point learning book moves and get a clear plus after move 11, only to execute the wrong plan and end up with a clear minus 4-5 moves later … you might as well not play book moves earlier.

2. Internet practice.
a. You might want to consider mixing it up, instead of playing just 1 or 2 minute games, to also include some 10 minute games and one or two 20 minute games. The latter is still faster than 25 minutes, and 10 minute games gives you and your opponent chances to think of deeper tactical lines that could be 3-5 ply deep, or alternative strategies/plans that may not be obvious when you only have 1 minute for the entire game.

3. To reduce studying, always analyze after 1 or 2 games, especially games that you lost. Try to get at least 3 lessons out of it. E.g.
i. Opening - who deviated from book first? What should you have played?
ii. Last mistake - where is it? Why did you make that mistake? What thinking process led you to make that move? What is a better move? Did you consider that move during the game? If not why not? In future, in the same position, will you consider that better move?
iii. Other - ?
In your analysis, try to figure out yourself first, before consulting Fritz.

4. CT Art tactics - suggest you mix it up too in terms of the Levels. Not sure which level you are at, but if you have completed Level 30, then, you may wish to spend say 60-70% of your time redoing the Errors there as well as errors in lower Levels, 20-30% on Level 40, and 10% on Level 50, or something like that …

As to how much time to split between 1 to 4, I’m not too sure, but as long as you’re learning new things that is most relevant to you (e.g. in relation to the openings your opponents are likely to play against you), then, probably that’s just as good as many other reasonable plans…

Cheers,
Seng Hong.