That’s how I’ve always done it, but there’s that inevitable part of the game where I guess 0-0 or Re1 5 times in a row and obviously missing what’s going on. Maybe I’ll hybrid it up a bit, using the spots where I’m obviously not seeing the big picture to catch up to that point in the annotations.

When playing through a master game “Guess The Move”-style, do you check the annotations as you go or wait until you’ve finished the game? Anyone feel strongly about one way or the other being more beneficial? #chesspunks #chess

Pretty basic, but I usually screw this stuff up so I’m sharing a win. Black to mate in 5. #chesspunks

I’ve tried a couple times, because I miss my own candidate moves, playing a bot game and writing down each move what I think are the 3 best moves (could do more), marking what I think was best, then comparing to engine after the game. Seemed to help a bit, but I probably miss easier moves than you.

I've played 229 games in the variation and won a free piece or checkmate by move 6 in 24% of them. These two positions are common spots where black blunders a piece with Bg4. (2/2) #chesspunks

If anyone is looking for something new to try against the Caro-Kann, I can vouch for the Goldman Variation, especially at lower levels, though it scores just fine at more advanced levels and StockFish 17 calls it dead even (0.0) at depth 50 after 3 Qf3. (1/2)
#chesspunks

Going through a game a day from Zenon Franco's excellent "Learn from Sammy Reshevsky". Enjoyed the quick turnabout of this counterattack vs. Salo Landau, 1937

www.chessgames.com/perl/chessga...

#chesspunks

Bc6-Kh8-Bd7-Kh7-Be8-Kh8 gets us back to the same position, but with the white king on h8. Now f6 can be played, followed by Bg6 to trap the king in the corner and forcing white to give up the f pawn and eventually black can free a pawn to promote, though if white plays b2-b4, it will take awhile.

Was low on time and took the draw here, but there was a way to break through as white shuffles his king back and forth between h7 and h8 that I though made for a fun and instructive little puzzle. Black to play. #chesspunks

I keep it about 50/50, any heavier in either direction and I start to burnout. Right now, study is probably 70% basic tactics, 25% harder tactics, 5% opening review.

What is this from?

Played some 10+5 games for the first time tonight. Was it just a small sample thing, or is the 10+5 pool significantly weaker than 15+10? #chesspunks

Modern Chess Strategy Modern Chess Strategy by Luděk Pachman

@drscull.bsky.social

You mentioned on the podcast your favorite strategy book, Pachman's Modern Chess Strategy being in old notation. An updated version came out on Forward Chess just a week or two ago.

forwardchess.com/product/mode...

I’ve watched the first 17, I think. I enjoy seeing how someone better than me, but at a level I may one day reach, thinks about positions. The end point is in the title, 2200 or bust!

What’s your typical method and time spent going through a master game?

Caught the end and was glad I did. Cool ending. What was the game? Couldn’t make out Keres’ opponent’s name.

I ran it through Lichess, it gave you 96%, so I’d go with that one. 😜

I just want the website to work right.

You played “Szpote” on Dec 18th and they subsequently got a little too blatant with their use of computer assistance, were probably reported and then banned on investigation. Chesscom doesn’t reveal their detection methods, but a 200 rated player playing every game mistake free is a bit too obvious.

After 4 months of scatter-shot study, I’m looking forward to taking a more practical, improvement-focused approach to start the year. Play a 15+10 each day, analyze it, study/solve/spar based on game, repeat. Tactics and the occasional master game to fill in the gaps. #chesspunks

Ok. I’ve got to show my ignorance here. What exactly is a full-game composition?

Not sure I like getting these End of Year Review things from chess websites. I suppose it’s supposed to be marketing or whatever, but it feels more like an intervention. #chesspunks

Yes, black to play and not throw their laptop at the wall a second later.

Was looking through some of @chessable.com’s “Tactics You Missed” from my first couple months of playing. I might have had some board vision issues. #chesspunks

Definitely. Pretty sure I could add 200 points to my blitz rating by quitting when I get that slightly off feeling. But alas, that’s not how addiction works.

I’m good at chess now. Someone tell my low rated opponents to stop beating me. #chesspunks

The term “adult improver” seems cringingly milquetoast-y to me. Just be a chess-player. Also, the chess-study police roaming the internet looking for people to chastise for studying stuff above their level or for not maximizing their study efficiency.

I assumed if you flagged, you flagged.

Didn’t realize your opponent could run out of time and still make a draw. #chesspunks

Yes, physical. Looking to make remembering the button pushing sequence to set increment or whatever a little less difficult than remembering my opening lines.