Positions attached to the middlegame and escapes sessions
16th July Middlegame gym Middlegame gym
"What I think might be quite good is to take a few positions – possibly not highly tactical ones – but then just look how you come up with candidates and plans etc
I've lost my last 5 games of chess and familiar doubts about my
chosen hobby are pressing. I could park my grade and retire to publishing and
coaching, but that's not an admirable way to behave. Besides, having lost my
last 5 games, my grade wouldn't be quite as wonderful at the end of the season,
so, time to shape up!
We were on display last Sunday at CCANW [ http://www.ccanw.co.uk/ ], and one of the things I thought to show the crowds was Kriegspiel - one form of chess that might count as a spectator sport. It's a sort of a cross between chess and battleships. We had a go on Tuesday night with Jeremy, Charlie and Jon.
Richard was interested in the Urusoff Gambit and Eddie in the Scotch Gambit.
Gambits offer a pawn for fast development and/or control of the centre. I approve very much of this way of playing, and it's the first thing I offer juniors as an alternative to playing Old Stodge with both White and Black in every game.
Endgames are worth taking seriously - you can get extra points and
half-points by improving your endgame play.
Some endgames turn up rather often, certainly more often than some
of the odd bits of opening theory we end up looking at sometimes.
There are bits of theory to know, but as always the thing is to test
your understanding and practise.
The things you need to know are widely available, not least from our
website, so I won't trot through it all, just give some examples.
XLVIX."'Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and DaysWhere Destiny with Men for Pieces plays:Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays,And one by one back in the Closet lays. "Rubaiyat of Omar KhayyamRendered into English Verse by Edward Fitzgerald, First Editionhttp://www.teachersoft.com/Library/poetry/fitzgrld/chapt01.htm"Impotent Pieces of the Game He playsUpon this Chequer-board of Nights and Days;
