Which Do Ye Prefer . . .

I prefer a book as it's easier to look up answers. Since most people do everything on a computer now, a database would be easier. If you learn better by visual cues, the DVD would be better.

@YGNR You are correct for physical sports, but mental sports are different. For people who participate in spelling bees, they don't repeatedly spell words, they learn root words and common spelling rules. They do practice the spelling of irregular words just as a chess player may practice a BN checkmate.

@YGNR:

I'll both agree and disagree with you at the same time.

The "one move a game approach" was popularized by De La Maza and there's an article titled
"chess: building an opening repertoire" that can be found online that takes a similar approach. Basically, you make an improvement to your openings after you've analyzed each game you play. IMO that's the best way to learn openings. You try out your own ideas and if you're wrong you learn from your mistakes.

So, I agree there.

However, in general, chess is a game you have to study to get better at. I have seen a lot of players online who have played tens of thousands of games but still have beginner ratings. You have to study to get better at chess. Maybe its a case of immediate feedback. Maybe something else. I don't know. I do know playing bad moves over and over only reinforces bad habits. Learning from your mistakes is how you get better and you only get that by studying more and playing less. Sure there's a time and place for playing blitz and reinforcing your good habits but those good habits only come from study and learning from your mistakes.

To be honest I cannot answer the question of the to. I always took books, But

- there are several stages of learning an opening, which all may have their optimal medium.
- there are individual differences in learning and learning habits.

Ideas:

1. At the first stage you need a board and a chess set. Follow the instruction from book, film, trainer and try to understand.
2. Then you need an opponent to practise. For me best is an opponent otb. 2nd best is online opponent. 3rd is an engine.
3. Learn from your mistakes. Best is discussing them. 2nd best is reviewing them with an engine.
4. Find master games, best commented. Till 1800 you need a board, first a classical chess set, later a two dimensional graphical board (paper or screen), higher rated you can do a lot blindfold.

So each medium has its own right at a time.

Any thoughts about that are welcome!

See "Zoom 001 Zero Hour for Operative Chess Opening Models" by en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bent_Larsen

Some of this stuff is available here: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1018065

@jonesmh Even fischer said that a sound body = sound mind. You can't seperate them.

Chess is a physical sport, first and foremost.

Not to mention, games played directly correlates to elo.

Why do you think mayweather was the greatest boxer of all time? because he did a lot of boxing. Everyone who didn't make it just didn't try enough and were too lazy to actually box. Simple, true and efficient (:

@savage47 studying chess is like practicing trick shots to play basketball.

The real players actually play the game instead of hiding from it.

Play is the best practice.

It is like that in every sport, why would you say chess should be any different? Do you have any proof?

If you keep practicing the wrong things you're not going to play well... There are many players who haven't played many games and are still rated like 2000 because they PRACTICE WELL

@YGNR

Proof?
You won't find a single strong player anywhere who there just by playing and not studying.

@YGNR
Fischer also said many untrue things about Jews.

Thinking that "chess is a physical sport, first and foremost" and/or "games played directly correlates to elo" just proves your ignorance. Then you compound your folly by, once again, comparing a mental sport to a physical one. Just do everyone a favor and stop posting on this thread.

i've always had trouible with openings. currently i play correspondence chess and use opening books, YT lectures, and --- i don't know what you call it... oh, opening explorer where you can just move pieces, and see the % of win/draw/lose and popularity. (i discovered i always have to make sure the engine is turned OFF). to me the difficulty of the opening is one guy or gal might be just going on a script, and you may or may not know what that script even is.. or if there is one...

so, i like a variety of methods to learn openings, and i like studying them, rather than just playing a ton of chess and making mistake after mistake...... you could possibly just be building on your mistakes, unless you study openings. personally, i'm not clever enough to just play and figure i'll learn that way. i have to study, and a fair amount.....