Our first match

ByDrDave

Our First Match

Well, ouch! We lost four-nil, but I hope you thought that, however
big and strong they were, they weren’t that much better than us, and
they didn’t do anything very special to beat us. (Is that a good
thing?)  But I was very pleased and proud with how well you
played, how well you fought, and how well you concentrated.  It
wouldn’t have needed much luck for us to come away with 2-2. 
They’re just tall, that’s all…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di1-bB1w4wM

In the end, we fell
for a few simple tactics and there were a couple of chances that we
missed, and that all comes with time and practice.
The best books to start to practice spotting tactics are the blue one I
wrote with Tim ([b]Chess Puzzles in One
Move[/b]) and a yellow book by Tony Gillam, [b]Simple Chess Tactics[/b]. If you think
those are too easy, try the website http://chess.emrald.net/

These will help, but the main thing is to [b]think for both sides[/b]. There’s
no point in spotting all the ideas for your side, but ignoring what
your opponent can do to you.   Check each check and each
capture on every move.

Also, we do need some better openings to put pressure on our
opponents. I have written a little guide that I think I’ve given to all
the team players, but everyone can have a copy
[url=/chessx/ftp/JuniorRepertoire.pdf]PDF[/url]
if they like. The idea is
to play the Scotch Gambit against 1…e5 and to go for IQP positions
against everything else.

[blockquote]
“[em]There are no hopeless positions; there are only inferior positions
that can be saved.

There are no drawn positions; there are only equal ones in which you
can play for a win.

But at the same time, don’t forget that there is no such thing as a won
position in which it is impossible to lose.[/em]”

— Grigory SANAKOEV
[blockquote]
“[em]Playing safe is too dangerous[/em]” — Dr.Dave.

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    The old Arab form of chess had a piece called the elephant, which, unlike most elephants I know, could jump two squares at a time, diagonally. And ‘al-fil’ means the Elephant in Arabic (Pil in Persian).

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