Nick, I'm a 60 year old retired accountant and I love chess, excel and accounting, not necessarily in that order. You're talking about evolution in adults. Obviously we can't follow the techniques of young people. So how about taking a more real shortcut? https://matthewsadler.me.uk/ is a good example. It shows that engines have evolved so much that they no longer use brute force, but rather good old strategies copied from humans. Have you ever tried something like this... if so, please enlighten us... thank you and please don't leave us orphans, keep producing...
Nick, just wanted to let you know that I've started reading your 'stack' a few months ago after seeing a referral from Ben Johnson. I am really enjoying it. Though I am a slightly higher rated player (1800+ OTB), I am now close to 51 and only about 6 months into a 'comeback' after taking a 22 year hiatus to focus on my family and career as an electrical engineer. I read a lot of parallels in your story that are in mine, so it is really resonating with me. Keep up the great work!
I recognize myself a lot in this text, I followed most of these steps : steps method, coach , Chess Dojo. I was not an MD during covid, but travelled Canada to train labs on PCR instruments. I never had much ambition about my chess, except the vague one of at least becoming a decent club player that can give anyone a good game at my local club. I played hockey as a kid and still play a bit and would find it very surprising that someone who’s almost never played could start training in his 30’s and become a good beer league player in a few years, so did not expect much better in chess. I have made steady improvements that people on Reddit would laugh about on Reddit for the time invested, but that I am personally fine with. To me, our rating is mostly just a number to pair us correctly in tournaments or online : when I calculate a 5 move tactics correctly, I know I was not able to do so 5 years ago and I think we can be proud of that. I am trying the Dojo a second time, I really like their plans and community but found it hard the first time to be active enough in the discord to make it work. Trying to get promoted to the next cohort and see Jesse Kraai analyze one of my game on youtube seems like a goal one can hope to reach haha.
That’s awesome. The Dojo community is a great one. I would love to see one of your games highlighted in the graduation show. I fear Reddit would be full of people trying to be time efficient with chess. I will say that at least for me consistent visualization work has helped accelerate my improvement every time I have used it in my training
You are absolutely a hero for your work during the pandemic. I'm so sorry about the loss of your father-in-law, and the illness of your dad. Glad to see chess has given you some of the enjoyment it's given me for most of my life!
Thanks for sharing Doc. Your personal reflections/experiences over that time period are extremely poignant. I've experienced many prolonged stressful periods during my life and having something like chess or any other activity to take your mind off the day to day stress IS and WAS extremely important of ones well being. Please keep your writing activities going your posts are excellent and I look forward to every one. Even my wife who is not a chess player (backgammon is her mental activity) finds you articles very helpful and entertaining. Thanks again.
Thanks! It's my hope and intent to expand my writing this year into something bigger. Stay tuned. I've learned a lot about how I write best and what habits I need to keep. It's been fun
I would encourage you to do so. Your outlook and attitude on life in general and the sharing of your chess learning experiences are an inspiration.
I'm turn 76 in a couple of weeks, getting back (going on three (3) years now) into playing & studying chess as my mental activity, along with my daily two (2) hour weight training routine at the gym. Age is just a number as long as we have our mental facilities. So being an adult improver is important to me and your column is part of my training regiment and an inspiration I might add.
What a great post about your road traveled. Having started chess just shortly before covid hit, it was a great place to visit with the work and life stress from those times to find enjoyment. I can relate to many of your posts with references to working in medicine as I have for many years myself. Taking on learning a new game later in life has challenges but is such a place of enjoyment. Being very successful and proficient in medical care, it’s been humbling to learn this game. I was lucky to have run into some adult improvement lessons from Han and introduction to the steps method. It is helping to fill gaps I missed by chasing various training methods out there. I highly recommend these books for anyone starting the game. Thanks for your writings and continued success with chess and your medical work.
Nick you have not mentioned the important matter of time controls. What has been your experienced with rapid v classical time training games. The Chess Dojo for example strongly advocates G/90/30 . Dan Heisman claims that rapid time controls may be detrimental to a player's improvement
For me I do think that slower is better, but that has to do with skill acquisition. Doing anything slower is easier to control. Driving, typing, handwriting, playing an instrument, etc…. But if people want to keep things fun, I get it.
The only argument for faster time controls is that some is better than none if you can’t make time for a longer game. Also blitz is a great way to test out openings and see what kind of positions you get after 10-15 moves. Provided you go back and study your games.
Nick, I'm a 60 year old retired accountant and I love chess, excel and accounting, not necessarily in that order. You're talking about evolution in adults. Obviously we can't follow the techniques of young people. So how about taking a more real shortcut? https://matthewsadler.me.uk/ is a good example. It shows that engines have evolved so much that they no longer use brute force, but rather good old strategies copied from humans. Have you ever tried something like this... if so, please enlighten us... thank you and please don't leave us orphans, keep producing...
I’ll take a look!!
Nick, just wanted to let you know that I've started reading your 'stack' a few months ago after seeing a referral from Ben Johnson. I am really enjoying it. Though I am a slightly higher rated player (1800+ OTB), I am now close to 51 and only about 6 months into a 'comeback' after taking a 22 year hiatus to focus on my family and career as an electrical engineer. I read a lot of parallels in your story that are in mine, so it is really resonating with me. Keep up the great work!
- Steve Smith
Thanks! Both my parents are electrical engineers so I can relate. Good luck with the comeback!
I recognize myself a lot in this text, I followed most of these steps : steps method, coach , Chess Dojo. I was not an MD during covid, but travelled Canada to train labs on PCR instruments. I never had much ambition about my chess, except the vague one of at least becoming a decent club player that can give anyone a good game at my local club. I played hockey as a kid and still play a bit and would find it very surprising that someone who’s almost never played could start training in his 30’s and become a good beer league player in a few years, so did not expect much better in chess. I have made steady improvements that people on Reddit would laugh about on Reddit for the time invested, but that I am personally fine with. To me, our rating is mostly just a number to pair us correctly in tournaments or online : when I calculate a 5 move tactics correctly, I know I was not able to do so 5 years ago and I think we can be proud of that. I am trying the Dojo a second time, I really like their plans and community but found it hard the first time to be active enough in the discord to make it work. Trying to get promoted to the next cohort and see Jesse Kraai analyze one of my game on youtube seems like a goal one can hope to reach haha.
That’s awesome. The Dojo community is a great one. I would love to see one of your games highlighted in the graduation show. I fear Reddit would be full of people trying to be time efficient with chess. I will say that at least for me consistent visualization work has helped accelerate my improvement every time I have used it in my training
You are absolutely a hero for your work during the pandemic. I'm so sorry about the loss of your father-in-law, and the illness of your dad. Glad to see chess has given you some of the enjoyment it's given me for most of my life!
I can claim that working on simple tactics can indeed help everyone teach 1800+. If I can do it anyone can for sure.
Amazing post, Nick! ❤️ Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks for sharing Doc. Your personal reflections/experiences over that time period are extremely poignant. I've experienced many prolonged stressful periods during my life and having something like chess or any other activity to take your mind off the day to day stress IS and WAS extremely important of ones well being. Please keep your writing activities going your posts are excellent and I look forward to every one. Even my wife who is not a chess player (backgammon is her mental activity) finds you articles very helpful and entertaining. Thanks again.
Thanks! It's my hope and intent to expand my writing this year into something bigger. Stay tuned. I've learned a lot about how I write best and what habits I need to keep. It's been fun
I would encourage you to do so. Your outlook and attitude on life in general and the sharing of your chess learning experiences are an inspiration.
I'm turn 76 in a couple of weeks, getting back (going on three (3) years now) into playing & studying chess as my mental activity, along with my daily two (2) hour weight training routine at the gym. Age is just a number as long as we have our mental facilities. So being an adult improver is important to me and your column is part of my training regiment and an inspiration I might add.
What a great post about your road traveled. Having started chess just shortly before covid hit, it was a great place to visit with the work and life stress from those times to find enjoyment. I can relate to many of your posts with references to working in medicine as I have for many years myself. Taking on learning a new game later in life has challenges but is such a place of enjoyment. Being very successful and proficient in medical care, it’s been humbling to learn this game. I was lucky to have run into some adult improvement lessons from Han and introduction to the steps method. It is helping to fill gaps I missed by chasing various training methods out there. I highly recommend these books for anyone starting the game. Thanks for your writings and continued success with chess and your medical work.
Nick you have not mentioned the important matter of time controls. What has been your experienced with rapid v classical time training games. The Chess Dojo for example strongly advocates G/90/30 . Dan Heisman claims that rapid time controls may be detrimental to a player's improvement
For me I do think that slower is better, but that has to do with skill acquisition. Doing anything slower is easier to control. Driving, typing, handwriting, playing an instrument, etc…. But if people want to keep things fun, I get it.
The only argument for faster time controls is that some is better than none if you can’t make time for a longer game. Also blitz is a great way to test out openings and see what kind of positions you get after 10-15 moves. Provided you go back and study your games.