Hello!
I am only mentioning my age because I feel that I learn differently than younger people.
I posted on this forum before and got some excellent recommendations and friendly advice on how to study chess.
I am 67, but I have only started studying chess seriously in the past six months. I do not have an ELO rating, but I think it would be around 1400. I play on Lichess, and I enjoy the Zen mode. I win about 50% of my games. I am playing the Italian for white and find it fun and exciting.
I am semi-retired, and my goal is to have fun and exercise my brain.
I have been frustrated finding the right opening for black.
Before I started studying seriously, I used to play the Sicilian, but I feel it is better left for stronger players as I get crushed in the middle game, probably because I cannot think of 4 or 5 moves in advance. Also, there are too many variations.
By "dynamic," I would like a black position that allows me to be in an excellent place to start an attack or counter-attack, if possible, on the kingside after ten moves.
The French could be a good choice; I played a game last night as white. My opponent rated around 1650 killed me after just ten moves!
For studying, I use Chessable.
I analyze all my games on chess.com. In addition to the game's analysis, it has the new coach "review" mode where I can see my mistakes and blunders.
I also study GM games.
I try to study for one hour a day (I get tired after that) and play for two hours.
On Chessable, I have acquired:
The Dynamic Italian Game by Yuriy Krykun, which I enjoy because it fits my level.
I just started "Unleash the bull" by the same author, black, playing e5, but I find it hard to follow.
The Caro Kann looked interesting, and I studied the Short and Sweet by Christof Sielecki, but I found choices were limited after the tenth move.
On this forum, I have had recommendations for:
The Art of Attack in Chess
and Common Chess Patterns
which are great courses.
I am open to learning through videos (such as Ichess). I'm not particularly eager to study books, plus there are so many other options besides books. I do not like puzzles (even though some of my courses are disguised puzzles!).
Your advice for a good opening for black and how to continue to have fun studying chess would be welcome.
Thank you!
I use Keep it Simple for Black on Chessable. But it's a whole repertoire--no French. He uses Caro. It explains everything nicely.
The French defense is fun to play. You'll get a lot of people playing the Exchange variation against it which gets boring, but you get an equal game out of the opening when they do that. The other variations are more interesting.
Unfortunately for you, "dynamic" generally translates to "having lots of variations." It's tough to come up with anything sharp that will not involve tons of tactics.
What sort of MG do you want? What Sicilian did you play & what went wrong-- tactics or strategic play? What do you play vs d4? There are so many choices: Alekhine defense vs e4 narrows what you have to learn. Dragon Sicilian is direct & not subtle at all. Scandanavian/Center counter is also pretty much OK & narrows what you need to learn. French and Caro-Kann are solid and can be played more based on ideas.
-Bill [also 67 by the way]
Testudine2002, Yes Weet & Simple is an elaborate course that emphasizes the Caro Kann and the Queen's Gambit. I do not think I want to pursue the Caro Kann. Thanks!
swimmerBill . Not sure what you mean by MG? Sicilian I have played the and Najdorf. I lose control in the middle game as it gets rather complex. A friend recommended the Kan, but I could not find a decent course on it. Thanks for your feedback. I think we had exchanged before on the Caro Kann and you had told me that you were 67 too and still working. I am not sure that the Caro Kann works for me, especially in the exchange variation
I should mention that I prefer 60 minutes Classical game. I like to have the time to think! :)
There is a nice course on the Kan on chessable from a pair of Latvian grandmasters. I can’t remember their names. Honestly though, for you, just go with something classical like QGD and Kan and run with it. Learn the basics, but then get back to tactics and Endgames. All of the opening prep in the world isn’t going to do much if you are getting destroyed once the middle game comes or are getting outplayed time and again in the endgame. I’d recommend...
Silman’s Complete Endgame Course for theoretical Endgames. It’s probably on chessable. Or some other endgame book such as Shereshevsky.
Tactics, tactics and more tactics.
A basic strategy book. There are plenty out there.
Good luck.
Le_Partzers83 Thank you for your detailed response.
The course you might be thinking of for Kan is by GM Arturs Neiksans & by GM Igor Kovalenko on Chessable? On Chessable, I had tried the Kan course by FM Viktor Neustroev, which I returned because I could not follow it.
Tactics, tactics, and more tactics. How do you recommend studying tactics? Do you have a course or a video that you would recommend? (I don't particularly appreciate reading books, and I get frustrated with puzzles).
I rarely reach endgames (I either win or lose during the middle game), and I know enough about endgames (I have studied basic techniques) to deal with them in the few games where I have reached the endgame, so I will wait to study endgames for a while.
Thanks again!
Good chess! I looked at your stats. Congratulations on being a strong player!
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