What a Strange Feeling

What a strange feeling it is to actually be reading the chess books I've bought over the years. After finishing the MDLM plan I went through Chernev's Logical Chess, and tonight I just finished Snyder's Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors. It is a nice feeling to actually finish going through a chess book instead of watching it collect dust on a shelf...

I just went rummaging through my book collection and found a few more game collections I want to go through: Weeramantry's Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, Snyder's More Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors (I just bought this a few weeks ago), and Nunn's Understanding Chess Move by Move. I also have game collections of Morphy and Marshall that I would like to get through as well. The first three are all extensively annotated, so I'll probably tackle them first. The Nunn book may be a bit over my head, but I'll give it a go.

I've been lacking in my tactics practice since finishing the MDLM plan, though I have finished Bain's Chess Tactics for Students (but I will continue to review it a bit more until I can do all the problems instantaneously). However, in going through the Snyder book I was pleased to see that when asked to find a move I nearly always quickly saw any move that was a simple material win, so I suppose that is encouraging.

Since OJ is now back I need to get back into the groove. He's up 11 wins versus my 9 (with a few draws), so I need to work at getting that in line. :-) We were supposed to play last week, but we ended up doing happy hour with some of our mutual friends from our grad school days. After all, no one had seen him yet since he got back from his several month long trip...

Anyway, Thurday the gauntlet will be thrown down again when OJ and I square off. OJ has a new white opening he said, but I have white this week. What to play, what to play...? Maybe I'll actually plan on something this week beyond just 1.e4...

Wish me luck!

The Return of OJ

Wow, time sure flys by when you are not slaving away over chess problems in every spare moment. I regret to say that I have been quite lax in my chess studies of late. However, now that my friend OJ is back from an extended vacation, my Thursday night chess matches will resume which should provide fresh motivation. OJ says he has a new opening, so I'm looking forward to our first game in several months this Thursday. It's my turn to play white, so maybe I will surprise him with 1.d4 (I play both 1.d4 and 1.e4, but mostly I play 1.e4 with OJ). Or perhaps I'll boldly play 1.e4 and see what he's got...

Sorry I've not been keeping up with the blogs of the other knights. I will have to get back on track with that. I also need to play online at FICS so I can join in the other Knights in team play...

In chess news I am almost finished with "Unbeatable Chess Lessons for Juniors" by Snyder. It's a good book (game collection with every move commented), and I like his style and explanation better than in Chernev's "Logical Chess". Recommended.