WEEK 10 REPORT

Week 10 Report

(1-7 July 2012)

 
Since this is 20 years project (or equal to about 1000 weeks project, 1045 to be exact)…this week marks the 1% completion of the journey, time wise….and another 99% to complete.

Not a good week for me…the bad news, the cough, fever, flu…most of the time I just sleeping…need to see the doctor again this Monday and maybe asked for a stronger cough medicine. Need to get well before Kasugi! Go Terengganu Go! :)

Toying with the idea of entering KLCA’s International tournament this September but later find out that my colleague had taken the leave on that time…hmm.

Most probably I could not take part in Nf6 Tournament schedule this November…

Week 10 Report 

Opening 

Nil

Middlegame 

Chess Strategy for Club Players: Chapter 7 – Weak pawns

Endgame 

Rook, pawn vs Rook :Understanding Chess Endgames- Checking from the side, Moving to the short side and handling rook pawn.
Tips: Defender, King move to the short side, rook move to the long side.

Cartoon of Jerry King.

WEEK 9 REPORT

Week 9 Report 

(24 -30 June 2012) 

A quiet one… My mind is already looking forward to Kasugi…it sure bring back memories of Merdeka tournament in 90s…minus Ghalam, pocket money and a colourful windbreaker!

 Managed to finish Capa’s Chess Fundamentals!

Week Report

Opening 

 Starts studying “Universal Opening.”

Middlegame 

Understanding Chess: Game 3 Aseev vs Reshkovsky
                                 Game 4 John v.d Wiel vs Vaganian
Chess Fundamentals: Part II-Illustrative Games.

Endgame 

Nil

Image from www.chess.com

WEEK 8 REPORT

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WEEK 7 REPORT

Week 7 Report 

(10-16 June 2012)

Plan to take part in Insofar Tournament tomorrow. For tomorrow tournament my aims are as below:
1. To write down all my moves on my new chess score book.
2. To finish better than my initial seeding.
3. To have fun!

I better achieve all that to make it worthwhile for me to be away from my family on Father’s Day…

This week is quite a hectic week for me and as such only able to spent little time studying chess (well, playing many games at chesscube is a contributing factor too)

Moro is leading Tal Memorial and Naka is catching up. Hope I could see 1,2 finishing in them!

Week 7 Report 

Opening 

Nil

Middlegame 

Chess Fundamentals: Middlegame Play-Placement of pieces and pawns
Chess Fundamentals: Advanced Endgame Strategy
Chess Strategy for Club Players: Chapter 6-Passed Pawns

Endgame 

Nil

 Image from www.verydemotivational.com

WEEK 6 REPORT

Week 6 Report 

(3-9 June 2012) 

Mr Logic, Chess Ninja, hinted on one blog about inspiring OZ chess players in search for GM title…make me notice…hey, I am yet to have Blogs I Followed here. So here it goes…few blogs that I followed. Yes, Ninja…a good blog there with lots of stories and games and humour too! Thanks mate.

Hairulov and John Wong gave their opinion about My System and Modern Chess Strategy which I generally find it useful. Thanks, Bro for the comments. OK, as at now I will not touch Modern Chess Strategy…I will only buy/read it after I have finished My System…and here lies the problem…so far I only finished a chapter of the book. I found reading and studying chess from netbook is not as smooth/effective as from a real book…hmm, maybe I should print it…there goes Ilham the Green Peace guy.

Played few blitz games (ok, LOTS of games actually) at chesscube and was surprised to win many games positionally and suddenly my rating is like 2100, I know I am improving (perasan)... but this fast? Just when I thought should my rating cross 2200, I will call Gilachess and demanded my name to be included on the Olympiad poll…I lost few games and my rating drop to 1900.

TAL Memorial! Time is perfect! Players are perfect! Games are perfect! (so far) even the draw lot ceremony is also perfect…I am rooting for Naka or Moro to win this tournament. Used to support Carlsen but after his boycott of World Chess Champion under reason that I no longer remember …no longer his fan.

Week 6 Report 

Opening 

Identified few lazy openings to study further…:)

Middlegame 

Chess Fundementals (Chapter 4: General Theory and Chapter 5: Opening)

Chess Strategy for Club Players (Chapter 5: Weakened king position)

Understanding Chess (Game 1: Chernin vs Van Der Wiel, Game 2:Khalifman vs Sveshnikov)

Endgame
Studied Standard Rook, pawn vs Rook…Remember Philidor/ Lucena.!

Image from http://www.motifake.com/31125

WEEK 5 REPORT

Week 5 Report 

(27-2 June 2012) 

My routine for most of this week is lunch time, went to DATCC to watch the final hour of the round and after called it a day at office, quickly rush to DATCC to catch the final hour of the round or perhaps few games of casual/blitz chess. Quite happy with my play since I am thinking of plan to achieve instead of move to make.

 Bought two chess books this week (must be influence by Peter Long’s advice on studying tactic) Nunn’s Understanding Chess: Move by Move and Dvoretsky’s Secrets of Chess Tactics. Well, at this rate of buying chess books (compare with finishing it, I think chances of me being a chess librarian is greater than being a chess grandmaster!)

Saprin mentioned about book that refuted My System titled Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy by John Watson…I know Mok got this book (for sale). I am split here…should I get it or shouldn’t i. Since I have not yet finished My System, I am afraid this book will be too advanced for me. By the way on Understanding Chess’ introduction, John Nunn did mention on how Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy had influence him…Help!

 A bit changes on Weekly Report. I will no longer put my plan for the week. Lazy is one thing but I don’t want to be tied up with my plan, so I guess no plan will gave me more freedom to do (or not to do :))anything that suit my mood…whatever, Ilham.

Ah yes, Anand won World Chess Championship again. I have the opportunity to follow the game live at DATCC with Live free commentary from IM Mok (Thanks Mok)! Mok can be seen concluding his animated analysis with “…drawlah. Don’t know why they still playing…Cannot do anything already”…Najib who seated next to Mok can be seen deep in thought trying to digest Mok’s commentary.

A few people asked me whether I will be able to join their team at Kasugi’s. Thanks, but I have already got my own team.

I am unable to take part in Lim Chong’s Memorial today since I am away on family trip.

Week 5 Report 

Opening 

Nil

Middlegame 

Finished Chess Strategy: Chapter 4: Material Advantage
Chess Fundamentals: Chapter 3 : Planning a Win in Middlegame play.

I did not finished My System: Chapter 2

Endgame 

Finished R vs 2 pawns (UCE and FCE)

Image from www.motivationals.org

WEEK 4 REPORT

WEEK 4 REPORT

(20-26 May 2012)

Received Master of Planning-Nimzowitch from John Wong…thank you very much, you have been very supportive!

Comment from Peter Long on studying standard opening makes me think…maybe I should study opening. For a start not specific line memorisation, the way I used to study opening before, but more of understanding theme…so, maybe starting from Week 6 onwards, I will start studying opening…play against/with isolated queen pawn, minority attack, queenside pawn majority etc.

Watched Anand-Gelfand match…Go Anand Go!

Download Free Chess to my hp! Thanks Kakak.

Week 4 Report

Opening

Nil

Middlegame

Finished
My System:Chapter 1: The Element…I love his comment to describe chess strategy i.e. intermezzo=Russian peasant…5-6 children born out of wedlock! Or on passed pawn=…so we either condemn the criminal to death (captured) or to a life sentence in prison(blockade/keep in check)
Chess Fundamentals. Chapter 2: Further Principle in Endgame Play.
Chess Strategy. Chapter 3: Thought Process and line of thinking…maximise your pieces.

Endgame

Finished R vs B (FCE) and covered R vs pawn (via UCE and FCE).

Plan for Week 5

Opening

Nil

Middlegame

To cover
My System: Chapter 2: The Open File
Chess Strategy: Chapter 4: Material Advantage
Chess Fundamentals: Chapter 3 : Planning a Win in Middlegame play.

Endgame

Rook vs 2 pawns (UCE and FCE)

 Image from cr1mson-king.devianart.com

WEEK 3 REPORT

Initially planned to take part in today Insofar Tournament, in fact already SMS Encik Mat Zaki about it but something happened and looks like I have to give this a miss.

Have started to study My System from my laptop but found it not as smooth as studying from book. For a start I cannot scribble on it, cannot accompany me inside restroom and cannot fast flipping the pages. Comforting myself that I have saved many trees and this is just a matter of familiarisation…

Week 3 Report 

Opening 

Nil

Middlegame 

Finished
Chess Fundamentals. Chapter 1: First Principles. Skipping the first few pages since I think I know how to deliver checkmate via lone rook.
Chess Strategy. Chapter 2: The eye of the Grandmaster. Interesting! Especially on the research done by de Groot that discovered strong players do not be a strong player because they calculate quickly and accurately but because they know how to access a position, finding the right orientation and eventually finds the best move. Well, that is a good news for someone who can count not many steps ahead… (me!)

Not Finished
My System: Chapter 1:The Element. Finished halfway. Need to finish the element by this week.

Endgame
Covered R vs N (via UCE and FCE). Covered R vs B (via UCE)

Plan for Week 3

Opening 

Nil

 Middlegame 

To cover My System: Chapter 1: The Element
Chess Strategy: Chapter 3: Thought process and line of thinking
Chess Fundamentals: Chapter 2: Further principle in Endgame play

Endgame
Rook and Bishop (FCE) and starts to look at the rook ending

Image from www.eons.com

WEEK 2 REPORT

Week 2 Report (6-12 May 2012)

Went to KLCC searching for good chess books, after unwraps many books, finally settled on Chess Fundamentals (Capablanca) and Chess Strategy for Club Player (Herman Grooten). Cost me about RM170 for both books but comforting myself that this will be a long term investment and I will enjoy tax rebate too.

On Chess Fundamentals, I have bought this book before (lend it to friend, never get it back) and I have twice finished reading it but every time I finished this book, I could feel that somehow my chess understanding (especially in simple position) increase and with this book you could feel Capa’s clear mastery of chess. Now attempt to finish it for 3rd time.

My second book is Grooten’s Chess Strategy for Club Players which I found very interesting for positional understanding. Later I discovered that this book is a winner for Chesscafe 2009 book of the year!

Announcement on National Close is out but have to give it a miss.

Kasugi. Have agreed to be part of Terengganu team. Most likely the line up are Fairul, Rahim, Arshad and yours truly.

Last but not least I have received My System! Thanks John Wong for support.

Week 2 Report

Opening
Have decided for next 3 months, will not study opening much. Loek van Wely once said “I only started to study opening seriously when I had a 2400 rating”

Middlegame 

Finished CSCP Chapter 1:Steinitz’s Elements

Endgame 

Covered Q vs R and Q vs R,p (via UCE and FCE). On Q vs R, remember Philidor position! However I still have to familiarize with the second rank defence and third rank defense.

Plan for Week 3 

Opening 

Nil

Middlegame 

To cover
My System: Chapter 1: The Element
Chess Strategy: Chapter 2: The eye of the Grandmaster
Chess Fundamentals: Chapter 1:First Principles

Endgame 

Rook and Minor Piece vs Rook (Especially the tricky Rook, Bishop vs Rook)

Image from http://www.bitrebels.com/design/12-inspiring-posters-that-form-a-message-to-the-next-generation/

WEEK 1 REPORT

Week 1 Report (30 April – 5 May 2012)

Opening

Toying with the idea of changing my opening’s wardrobe to something not to sexy …perhaps something solid and did not take much time to study. ..Dragon, Najdorf, Marshall is a no-no. Benko, Slav, Catalan…maybe. Or should I continue to play what I am playing now but study it much deeper?

Decisions!, decisions! By week two I have to come up with at least  6 openings that I need to study.

 

Middlegame

I have to study the classic 

1.  Re visit Capablanca’s Chess Fundamentals

2.      2. Study Nimzowitsch’s My System

(This lies a problem…I could not find those books)

Endgame

Back to basic. Spend many hours learning to checkmate a lone king with knight and bishop. After going through this ending via Nunn’s Understanding Chess Endgames and Kastern Mueller’s Fundamental Chess Ending, I feel Mueller’s explanation is easier to understand ( W manouver and all) and more systematic.

Apparently there  is debate whether is it worth to study how to execute this checkmate since chances are very small that one is going to encounter it in real game. Well, to me… Definitely it is worth it since it boast your confident in endgame, it also makes one appreciate the power of knight and bishop more (did you know it is possible for bishop and knight to imprison opponent king? now  I know) and ofcourse, my old favourite quote...

“An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less”

Wrap the lesson by testing my ability to execute this endgame against computer…manage to do it below 40 moves. I pass the exam! And hopefully did not forget it when I encounter it over the board.

By the way, wikipidea informed that few GM also sometimes did not know how to checkmate with knight and bishop…ok, since now I self considered myself expert on this type of endgame…basically now I am better than some of the GMs :)

Also spend few hours looking at Q vs R endgame (Offensive side should aim for Philidor Position) but not really satisfied with it, still much to know/learn about this tricky Q vs R endgame.  

Things to do on W2

Opening

Come up with list of openings to play/master as white and as black.

Middlegame

Find those two books or any good middle game books, most likely at Kinokuniya KLCC.

Endgame

Study Q vs R, B and R vs R…maybe starts studying  Rook endings. 

KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU...

Knowing me (Ilham)

Never really study endgames, save for a few very basic manouevre

Never really study my own games, the best is like run through the game through engines at blinding speed to see whether i missed any checkmate in three...most of my score sheets are everywhere around the house (below sofa, on computer table, inside dustbin, some could not even find its way to home...its everywhere except in a proper file where it belongs )

Study coffee house opening with high hopes of checkmating my opponent below 10 moves

Addicted to game that looks like chess, but more like F1 race..the objective of this game is to make as fastest moves as humanly possible...appropriately called Blitz.

Feels suffocate if cannot push f4 or g4 in middle game. Positional chess? That is coward way to win the game!

Knowing you (GM)

Endgame is your mother tongue

Dissect (autopsy) your own game...every single phase, single move of it...opening, middlegame, endgames, time management...recheck the analysis with Fritz, Rybka, Houdini to find the truth about the position...properly saved it in laptop, thumb drive, cloud for maybe later 'Disaster Recovery' retrieval

Study all type of opening especially those ‘standard’ openings

Prefer standard time control games...anything above allegro time control.

Familiar with both tactical and positional chess


Its very clear, it is time for me to change..to take chess more seriously...and systematically

.

No more carefree chess game
Silence ever after
Playing through an empty board, tears in my eyes
Here is where the story starts, this is a wake up

Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
There is something we can do
Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
We just have to face it, this time for real
Hardening up is never easy, I know but I have to try
Knowing me, knowing you
It's the best I can do

INTRODUCTION

This is a diary...no, maybe more of a journal,a note on a journey to fulfill my dream, every chess player's dream actually, in achieving the highest title in chess...you know what is it!

Hopefully, 10 years...20 years from now, there will be a posting from this blog under titled "AT LAST!"