tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15394464786701003382024-03-13T03:44:50.757-07:00Is It Recess Yet??? Exploring Chess From the Viewpoint of (an) "Edukator"The times and trials of a teacher (very new to chess) of the gifted/educational researcher/football coach and his efforts to wrap his brain around the world's greatest game. More importantly, how exactly do the skills fostered in this game relate to learning in general? My goal is to be at 1400 by 40 years old (June 2008). ... See me on ICC, RHP, or playchess as "Edukator". "Recess_bully" on Gameknot.Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-71487726870375273142008-01-01T09:50:00.001-08:002008-01-01T12:43:43.883-08:00Just What Does Chess Do?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Learning-Journey-Pursuit-Excellence/dp/0743277457/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199214069&sr=1-1"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZwM8mCUpSvq2iwp71881jMy00LHa2map6YNo5xjxUrGi1dj25DC8ZxiVVBmAnD0Ju9fT93INLIq4b3xZ_y-qD3MbEXj1GknLiMTk-4-q8FWkW0WHD8RJLsi5ce4EHB9GtmNoegv43HQ/s200/51W9E1ssKvL._AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150584821779233074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Current Status</span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">RHP: 1326</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gameknot: 1258</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Playchess: 1182<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span>note...my goal is reaching 1400 in each of these (and then tackle ICC) by June 28th.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/Self-Improvement-Chess-Mark-Borders/dp/1430327642/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_in"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4wd9o98bmxmlXYzGkkUkNGWWWcKBu6AFtCviP1CmtM13hAP2IPcrWR4rfXAuAoe8vsqDTMvuSJF23hge2k40o1o3vpitArl4qMqYR91HNPUMhPNrrSWsFOy3zvg0N1wkuIFg4jHsIVQ/s200/41oCXZ0wofL._AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150571657704470738" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/Every-Move-Must-Have-Purpose/dp/0786868856/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199211237&sr=1-15"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_1PoFy48g7FwHIPg_q-dAMYGyk-ccIHuOpVn5UZFIpMjfPr7bVBn1wvX6HE85yunflnT2aKDOBlqvarHCQ5AtXCGIFVwrT7TZB_6mV2aPknDBZ7YxglmPVBEY_QVxs_u30NOuZZ3zfc/s200/414DZZ18E1L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150573457295767810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78rKnVq4XXK9ECkKxbkW79xcsR42KOIlXgjUfziqvYIHiLZoNwM5E_JpqZC-vWUiY60JZggzVq0RkFHoaHheFyOZpCO3BQaPMQtTMDgzAv9GX2Vmi6_bbaaAG9fvToDCS9RIfCiY-0Ik/s1600-h/31CFpaBEwzL._PIsitb-dp-arrow,TopRight,21,-23_SH30_OU01_AA115_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 121px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78rKnVq4XXK9ECkKxbkW79xcsR42KOIlXgjUfziqvYIHiLZoNwM5E_JpqZC-vWUiY60JZggzVq0RkFHoaHheFyOZpCO3BQaPMQtTMDgzAv9GX2Vmi6_bbaaAG9fvToDCS9RIfCiY-0Ik/s200/31CFpaBEwzL._PIsitb-dp-arrow,TopRight,21,-23_SH30_OU01_AA115_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150572211755251938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Chess-Principles-Transform-Your/dp/1593370687/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199213781&sr=1-1"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 118px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpB9V96s-DmYXTkYnmYG7pyVy-HZ0aaCYR6DyKgEpXGzSrnYzaTqYgImNdkCwI1UGcRsKwEhf-36p9hU-K1DfoJb953lQk4zXvpFjZethGnUAOJZs74O0GJMUi4zTcBeNSMKxK2MyAms/s200/51F10C00G6L._AA240_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150583765217278242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am not a great chess player...and yet right now I have done reasonably well in life in terms of a very <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Life-Imitates-Chess-Boardroom/dp/1596913878/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199214269&sr=1-1"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU0CVFcbeuSBTyyTPdTjaBRH3BDP3jg3vKEYZJXuDN4z9zSFkBwALp1zEMP3dYE-PvHnzO6CWaHT2ZBBsk6J63RoB3lFEs2NlIwg0SlH6pUSXOpPKVgDoiwCOxq8Sph-sTYPT5xolNn4/s200/41XCg7rPUhL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150585573398509890" border="0" /></a>satisfying job and wonderful personal life. Perhaps I'm merely deluded. Basically my questions boil down to four loosely interrelated inquiries. First, what possibly can chess teach me and more importantly --- my students? Next, if I reach my goal of ELO 1400 by July will I be, say, 200 points wiser in some other way? Are the attributes that are supposedly enhanced by chess measurable in some quantitative way? And finally, can the use of chess to hone the various alleged skills be justified in the classroom (and not just chess club)?<br /><br />Clearly chess must enhance many qualities. Over 200 years ago <a href="http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7378/franklin.htm">Benjamin Franklin</a> argued in his essay <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/games5/chessodyssey/benfranklin.htm">"The Morals of Chess"</a> that chess has much to offer in terms of foresight, circumspection, caution, and an overall sense of dealing with adversaries and competition in real life. And even now, chess players such as Kasparov, Waitzkin, and others (see above) attempt to illuminate readers about notions of chess and its relation to topics ranging from making business decisions to meaningful life philosophies to learning in general. Empirically there do seem to be <a href="http://chess.photobooks.com/genesis/web_pages/html/smart.html">actual studies linking chess playing</a> to a slew of abilities...but in almost each study there is some question in how they chose to quantify variables in both terms of reliability and validity.<br /><br />I believe this is why I originally began this blog and where I would like to see it go in the future. Basically, what can chess do...both in the classroom and any insight it can offer me as both a teacher and a person. I would like to spend time looking at the current books out, the research, and hopefully insight from others (such as <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span>). I have read "The Art of Learning" by Josh Waitzkin (and loved it!) and am currently involved with Garry Kasparov's book "How Life Imitates Chess" (and enjoy it for reasons beyond what the title suggests) and have loads of ideas to put out into the blogsphere for anyone to munch on in the future. I will also continue to note any progress in my game and ultimately continue work on my chess club at school if anything for my own record.<br /><br />I look forward to this ambitious journey!Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-91871578797121463032007-12-09T17:45:00.000-08:002007-12-11T17:09:13.583-08:00A Reawakening<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blog.speculist.com/archives/3d%20spock%20chess.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.blog.speculist.com/archives/3d%20spock%20chess.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Playchess: 1205<br />Gameknot: 1316<br />Red Hot Pawn: 1225*<br />--> I just restarted playing RHP after 6 months off.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>I have not had the opportunity to blog for some time...as a matter of fact a new home and coaching duties with football really have kept me jumping (we did win the championship though...and the parallels to chess are astounding). I have made little progress on my dissertation...'nuff said. My chess is pretty neglected...I asked for PCT for X-mas but now the site doesn't work (!?!). I find it ironic that the debate between CT-Art and PCT is a minor topic right now in the blogsphere!<br /><br />I have started the <span style="font-weight: bold;">chess club at my school</span> and we have 21 members so far. I spent some of my own money on chess sets (BTW...the football budget from the Booster Club and fundraising was $24,000!!) and a few clocks. It is very hard to get the school to purchase such items. Anyway...we will elect officers and gear up for our own fund raisers next year. Mostly though...we want to play and get new members! This week we will go over ideas for 'classical theory' and then perhaps begin looking at recording a few of our games the next week.<br /><br />I am also looking into what it might take to <span style="font-weight: bold;">begin/administer a website</span> like Gameknot, uchess, or Red Hot Pawn for younger players -- one that is more protected and geared for middle school players. Mine will have teacher/sponsors that have been checked out and are responsible for the basic behavior of their students.<br /><br />All in all, it has been great taking the time to travel around and read the chess blogs! As for me, the goals are the same...1400 by the time I'm 40 (next June) --at least in Playchess and Gameknot.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-29294414088951976432007-04-02T07:13:00.000-07:002007-04-02T07:28:33.098-07:00A Long Winter's Nap....This has been a very busy time for me as work, school, and home seeking took much of my time. I played heavily on Gameknot and RHP. As a matter of fact I played the maximum number of games I was allowed most of the time. I now have mixed feelings about the sites in terms of chess improvement. Perhaps many people do well with this but I seem to have clearly lost any edge I gained over the last few months. My play on ICC and Playchess.com have been horrid!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blitz (5/12 or longer):</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ICC: 837</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Playchess: 1099</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Average: 968</span><br />My goal for April 1st was 1025. I am clearly well below my pace (although I was well above this a month ago).<br /><br />I think much of this has to do with trying to keep track of so many games at once. When I have blundered it has almost always due to confusing games. To be honest, I've seen my opponents do the same things as well.<br /><br />Currently my wife and I are in the process of selling our home in Naples, Florida (anyone want to buy a great 1-bedroom condo in paradise? <a href="http://www.marsharogers.remax-florida.com/RemaxFL/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=manuallisting&selected=mls&mlsnumber=206052237&mlsid=970&listing=true">click here</a>) and working on acquiring a home here in Atlanta. This has taken a long time...and I hate to use chess in an analogous manner...but dealing with builders and lenders takes a lot of the same thinking in terms of strategy!<br /><br />Nonetheless, I hope to devote more time to chess this month and especially ICC where I can quickly go back through my games when I'm finished.Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-87175237285090949822007-02-18T16:56:00.000-08:002007-02-18T20:52:54.360-08:00To Blitz or not to Blitz...<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735606056/chesscorner"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033043625280862514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 118px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" height="113" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMFgl_2d6qaQFE-O61kbOtbrenXYEIpl5zsUZ-rwFwOtwE-iutTaaKnzFoYvz3aMyyTpy7kGy9AMrjldnGel4OJWHZWzl766CRRTsE5c6juFAUWypYKySCNkioa96w879Q2avE1GJQL0/s200/0735606056.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" width="118" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The topic of tactics has come up amongst many blogs and, after taking all the ideas in, I've changed my routine to reading a concept from Seirawan's Tactics book and then practicing the same tactic in the "303 Tricky Tactics" book. That is all I plan to do for now in terms of tactics as I'm still an emerging player...I need to play and play often. I do think that I could be ready for the "Chess Tactics for Beginners CD" someday soon. Is there a better way to invest my next $23??? </div><div>.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Perhaps the best and worst that I've done the last few weeks is playing almost all of my games from the correspondence sites of: <a href="http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com">www.playtheimmortalgame.com</a> (see my games <a href="http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/core/viewpublicgames.php?isminiboard=on&uid=311074">here</a>) as "edukator" and <a href="http://www.gameknot.com">www.gameknot.com</a> as "recess_bully" (see my games <a href="http://gameknot.com/play_chess.pl?u=recess_bully&rnd=84694">here</a> ). I did this to slow down my games and perhaps lower my blunders (and perhaps it has done this) but it has also probably lowered my blitz ratings. I attribute some of this to the fact that I love to play the Scotch opening as white in blitz and I am certain that it confuses people at first (a definite plus in blitz) but it does little in the correspondence games. <span style="color:#ff0000;">I also wonder, however, if the fact that I've played fewer chess games as a whole in correspence than in Blitz has something to do with my lower blitz ratings as well.</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><div></div><div>I have been playing with the French defense with black just out of interest as it really seems to change the type of game in ways I'm not sure I understand (more later)....</div><div>.</div><div></div><div><strong>Blitz (mainly 5/12 Blitz) as "edukator":</strong></div><div><strong>ICC: 899</strong></div><div><strong>Playchess: 1163</strong></div><div><strong><em>Average: 1031</em></strong></div><div><strong>Disseration: Proposal to be worked on for President's Day :)</strong></div><div>Addendum (correspondence chess):</div><div>Playtheimmortalgame (RedHotPawn): <strong>1409</strong></div><div>Gameknot (as recess_bully): <strong>1301</strong></div><div><strong>.</strong></div><div></div><div></div><div>I have collected a series of "checkmate-in-one" games and my students seem to enjoy them...I can see them pointing to the sheets and trying to find the checkmate before their buddies. This is promising...perhaps I should add "Checkmate-in-two" soon.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-40680415342160994782007-02-06T20:12:00.000-08:002007-02-14T19:45:55.241-08:00A Surprising Change of Pace...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/core/viewpublicgames.php?isminiboard=on&uid=311074"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 68px" alt="" src="http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/img/brand/tig/tiglogo2.jpg" border="0" /></a>I've found a wonderful way to tone down the blitz habit. I (re)discovered <a href="http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/">this site</a>, which is really <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Red Hot Pawn</span> in disguise, on many other blogs but didn't seem to make any connections until recently (<a href="http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com/core/viewpublicgames.php?isminiboard=on&uid=311074">click here for my games</a>). It has allowed me to play six games at once but spend a good amount of time digging into the positions...and has greatly limited my blunders. The irony of it all was that I had joined it a few months ago but now vaguely recall thinking it was boring. I didn't do a thing with it until now. I've continued my solid play on the site and even improved my ratings on ICC and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Playchess</span> even though I've probably only engaged in 4 or 5 games on these sites over the last few days.<br /><br />Ultimately it is wonderful having the time to attempt grasping the details of each game and also more time to read other chess blogs (from the incredibly advanced to clubs [esp. in England] to people like me [or were like me not to long ago]).<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Blitz (5/12 and longer)<br />ICC rating : 948</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Play Chess: 1165</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Average: <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">1057</span></span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Dissertation: HELP!<br /></span><span style="font-size:+0;"><br />Plans: Continue with "303 Tricky Tactics"<br />I am thinking of purchasing: "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chess-Assistant-Tactics-for-Beginners/dp/1886846782/sr=8-1/qid=1170823368/ref=sr_1_1/102-5904390-8914520?ie=UTF8&s=software">Chess Tactics for Beginners</a>" CD on advice from <a href="http://chessconfessions.blogspot.com/">BDK's Blog</a>.</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /></span>Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-69478073400172913992007-02-01T15:10:00.000-08:002007-02-01T17:10:48.254-08:00Reconciling Both Marriage and a Burgeoning Chess Habit.<strong>Just a few observations on my part...but perhaps others could add to this?! (or is that "!?").</strong><br /><br />I don't want to have my wife feel like a "chess widow" and I've went to a few extremes to show her how I appreciate her patience. I have found a few promising practices:<br /><ol><li>Show "Searching for Bobby Fischer" and promise to work with children on chess.</li><li>Start a workout routine between internet chess games. I gained a few pounds that I can directly attribute to chess. Now I am beginning a regime emphasizing a different set of exercises after a game. So say, two sets of push-ups, then a game, a few sets of push-ups, then a game, etc. </li><li>Similar to #2...<span style="color:#3333ff;">solve chess problems (for circle training) while on treadmill</span>. I even have enlarged and laminated around 100 problems (mainly mate-in-2) for this purpose. Could this mean I am running circles around my competition? How about calling the session "circuit and circle training"?</li><li>Avoiding humor such as the last comments on #3. </li><li>Attempt to play people from the Philippines and then brag about how good they are (actually those on chessbase are almost always at least 500 to 600 points better than myself). My wife is orignially from the Philippines.</li><li>Time for her.</li></ol><p>Any suggestions for a spouse?</p>Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-82449579772454724662007-02-01T14:25:00.000-08:002007-02-01T15:07:00.850-08:00Ratings Inflation: You too can improve 112 rating points in two weeks...I'll show you how.........<strong>Tip for rapid improvement: It isn't quite as hard to gain 400 points in 400 days (if that is your goal) if you start in the low 900s. </strong><br /><br />Joking aside...certainly the biggest lesson I've found so far in this game is that of making sure to be alert and rested before I play. Caffine in moderation is a plus :) <span style="color:#ff0000;">Since cutting the late night "doh" sessions ("<strong>dohhhh</strong>...why'd I do that?", "<strong>dohhhh</strong>...I never saw that coming!", "<strong>Dohhhh</strong>...I fell for that AGAIN!") , and playing when I'm alert, I've clearly made gains -- in a very big way. </span><span style="color:#000000;">In many ways this has very little to do with actual chess skill though.</span><br /><br />My goals have been to gain at a pace of ~25 points a month. I figured this based on the fact that I'm starting very low to begin with...I have "regression to the mean" on my side!! I'm sure this will not be so easy to do if/as I improve. My goal for January was to average (between ICC and Chessbase/playchess) <em>975</em>, February <em>1000</em>, March <em>1025</em>... all of which would lead me to 1400 by the end of June 2008 (my 40th b-day). But I've been playing very well this week...very well. These are ratings from <strong>blitz</strong> games but I can only recall one game below 5/12 or 10 minutes (it was against one of the 'bots' on ICC). But...officially for January:<br /><br /><strong>ICC Rating: 952</strong><br /><strong>Chessbase: 1128</strong><br /><strong><em>Average: 1040</em></strong><br /><strong>Dissertation Progress: Desperately needed!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Basically I really did well...gaining over 110 points in two weeks. I know reality will set in sometime as if I had continued success at this rate I'd be at 1400 by the middle of March!! LOL. I'm sure there will be times when I regress but it has been fun to be on the winning side more often. Furthermore, I have played a lot of games and, as noted above, I will need to tone down and get more finished on my dissertation. Next week my plan is:<br /><ul><li>Continue playing (toned down) on ICC and Chessbase/playchess.</li><li>Continue working through "303 Tricky Chess Tactics"</li><li>Play challenging games with "Chess Genius" on my PDA and study moves w/ blundercheck.</li><li>Next Thursday (Feb.8) I have penciled in a trip to a chess club in Marietta.</li><li>Paying less attention to ratings...especially when seeking opponents!</li><li>Purchase a chess clock for my classroom (I use chess as a "center activity" and a 5 or 6-min blitz would work well in a class that often has 15 minute centers). </li><li>Optional: Begin replacing "Blitz" with "Standard" (based on numerous posts on other blogs...clearly seems like sage advice!)</li></ul>Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-81091631113955536942007-01-27T11:02:00.000-08:002007-01-27T13:45:07.956-08:00If My Wife's Hormones Were to Mimic My Ratings.......I would have had one of the worst months as a husband!! Fortunately my wife is not nearly as moody as my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">ELO</span> ratings have been. The last two weeks are good <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">testaments</span> to that. After nearly falling to the bottom of the scale in both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Chessbase</span> and ICC (at one time having an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">ELO</span> of 950 on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Chessbase</span> and 754 on ICC) I clawed back to not only beat my January goal of 975 but, for at least one game, average a wild 1006. My regime? I did five things:<br /><ol><li>Study some tactics from the "303 Tricky Chess Tactics" book as often as I could</li><li>Worked with the "Chess Genius" program on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">PDA</span>...utilizing the blunder check and studying my errors as I played</li><li>Avoiding play when I was tired (and trying my luck on Yahoo as "recess_bully")</li><li>Limit games with players whose ratings are 400 points above mine...at least avoid playing 3 or more games in a row.</li><li>Attempted to limit my game playing to 3 or 4 per session. No blitz games under 5/10.</li></ol>This morning I woke up early to play. I brewed some coffee (<span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>I believe coffee in moderation has added at least 50 points to my <span style="color:#ffff00;">ratings</span>...is this akin to doping?</em></span>) and, while brewing, played a few games against the computer (Dasher). As expected I was horrid and blundered quite often. After my first cup I beat the computer kids (Rated 1000 and 1100) twice and went on to play on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Chessbase</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Chessbase</span> is a great place to play on Saturday and Sunday mornings...there were over 7,700 players on today alone (my guess is that those in Europe and the Middle East are playing during their night). I played very well...I swear I anticipated moves and could see at least three or more moves ahead at times. I did not keep count but I believe most of the combinations I planned actually panned out! I also managed to play and win a game on ICC as well (it doesn't seem as busy at these times). Nonetheless...my status as of today (as "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Edukator</span>" of course):<br /><br /><strong>ICC Rating: 883</strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Chessbase</span>: 1088</strong><br /><strong>Average: 985.5</strong><br /><strong>Dissertation Progress: I've given it a lot of thought..perhaps I should hire help?</strong><br />My January goal was 975...February will be 1000 (for at least 2 different games).<br /><br />My plan for the next two weeks:<br /><br />Stay the course! Although I do have a new book "Best lessons of a Chess Coach" by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Weeramantry</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Eusebi</span>. I may take it more seriously as I get through the chess tactics book.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="color:#000000;">ALSO...as stated earlier...</span>if my average goes above 1000 I will join the local club and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">USCF</span>. I would possibly like to have some fun at a tourney similar to <a href="http://chessconfessions.blogspot.com/">Blue Devil Knight</a> has done. It would almost seem silly not to do so.<br /></span><br />As always...are there any suggestions for a guy whose ratings fluctuate so terribly?Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1539446478670100338.post-32074546951741169252007-01-27T10:34:00.000-08:002007-01-27T10:59:17.804-08:00Previous Posts........<strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The following 2 posts were posted as "recessbully.blogspot.com" but are being moved to this site:</span></strong><br /><br /><strong>Monday, January 15, 2007</strong><br /><a name="2972072159856560395"></a><br /><a href="http://recessbully.blogspot.com/2007/01/downward-spiral.html"><strong>Downward Spiral....</strong></a><strong><br /></strong>Let's face it, I suck right now. It would seem that the statistical property of 'regression to the mean' alone would be helping me at this point but ultimately I seem to only be merely regressing. Three observations:<br />It is possible to burn-out on chess. Symptoms include: making silly blunders, beginning games haphazardly, and/or seeing double.<br />It is possible not to know you are burned out when clearly, upon reflection, this is so.<br />While it appears obvious now, getting into a losing streak fuels burnout.<br />My current ratings (as "Edukator")<br /><strong>ICC: 811<br />Chessbase: 1034<br />AVE: 922.5<br />End of January Goal: 975<br />Dissertation: Pulled from drawer and on table...but have plans and great intentions.</strong><br /><br />All in all, my ratings took a nose dive in one night when I lost 19 of 11 games on ICC by both players near my level (there weren't too many below!) all the way up to the 1200 range. This sent my rating diving from the low 900s to the high 700s. My Chessbase went a bit better...I only took a dive only losing 7 of 8 (but the win was a much higher rated player) and sending my rating down to 950...which on Chessbase is pretty bad. All in all...I played way too many games that evening...almost all 6/12 blitz games or longer.<br /><br />I took two days off only spending time reading forking tactics (303 Tricky Tactics) and playing a few games on my PDA. This appears to have done something as I have now won 8 of 10 games since. My plan is to begin "circling" with the tactics book and limit my game playing to 5 or 6 a night (at the most).<br /><br /><strong><em>Lesson Learned: Burn-out happens and needs to be monitored</em></strong>.<br /><br />Ancillary lesson: Drinking beer and playing on Yahoo Chess is quite therapeutic...my name is "recess_bully" (rating:1199). I sure hope Yahoo ratings are generally higher as the notion that I'm better while drinking is both discouraging and, in some ways, enlightening...I just can't fathom being a better chess player under the influence of a few beers!?<br />Posted by Edukator at <a class="timestamp-link" title="permanent link" href="http://recessbully.blogspot.com/2007/01/downward-spiral.html">9:25 AM</a> <a class="comment-link" onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5785093039830234752&postID=2972072159856560395">1 comments</a><br /><br /><a title="Email Post" href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=5785093039830234752&postID=2972072159856560395"></a><a title="Edit Post" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5785093039830234752&postID=2972072159856560395"></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Monday, January 1, 2007<br /></span><a name="7268494735618539829"></a><br /><a href="http://recessbully.blogspot.com/2007/01/wowmy-first-blog.html"><strong>Wow...my first blog...</strong></a><strong><br /></strong>I am short on time but thought I'd go ahead and quickly explain where I'm at in my chess development at this time...the first day of 2007! Having just spent a few hours exploring the blogs of other 'like-minded' folk I felt compelled to try it on my own!I began playing for fun at the end of November 2006 and ended up hooked a few weeks later and ended up joining a few different internet clubs for Christmas. Most of my game are longer Blitz games (at the very least 5/10) but I do try to avoid lengthy games. Currently:<br /><br /><strong>ELO Rating ICC ("Edukator"): 871</strong><br /><strong>ELO Rating Chessbase("Edukator"): 1045 </strong><br /><strong>AVE for ICC/Chessbase: 958</strong><br /><strong>Progress on Dissertation: None</strong><br /><br />Certainly I'm not the best of players, and have a long way to go, but I do have a growing interest in the game and clear interest in the process of improving! Actually each of my ELO ratings are over 100 points better than what they were merely two weeks ago. So with this in mind, <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">my goals are to be at or near 1400 by July of 2008</span></em></strong> and then, God willing, I would like to progress to 2000 by the year 2018.Roughly, my plans are to work tactical problems, studying books such as "Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking" by McDonald, practicing on Fritz or Chessmaster, and playing online. Once my rating averages around 1000 I would like to join a club and once I'm beyond 1200 I will look into CT-Art software (or something similar). I'm assuming that, with effort, I will improve more quickly at first since my ELO rating is low at this time. All in all, I'm more interested in the process than the actual goals at this point butI do find having a direction helpful...I consider these goals as tentative. Any suggestions?<br /><br /><p>I do have a few quite general questions I would like to explore as I go about this process: </p><p><br />Which skills in chess transfer to real life (I'm using the term "real life" very loosely on purpose)? </p><p>I would also be intersted as to the extent of this transfer. "The Morals of Chess" by Ben Franklin sometimes comes to mind. </p><p><br />To what extent are Football and Chess related (I'm tapping into the 'Chess as Sport' theme)?</p><p><br />Currently I use chess in my classroom to enhance "visual" learning. I need this skill since, as an Earth Science teacher, I'm constantly preferring students to visualize processes (such as orbits, layers in an atmosphere, atoms, etc.) but I wonder if the time used on chess (about 30 minutes a week) could be better spent elsewhere?</p><p><br />I've been thinking of ways to use ELO in the classroom...perhaps having a rating might motivate some students to study more (especially boys). </p><p><br />I would love to see more girls involved in the chess events at school. How has this been done in the past? </p><p><br />I would like to have more tournaments with students from different schools involved. The club at my school has something similar since it places the chess club within the confines of other "strategy game" clubs (such as Warhammer or Magic). </p><p>I am looking for ideas.I could go on and on..but this seems to be a great start!</p>Edukatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407734308723960085noreply@blogger.com0