THOUGHTS OF A CHESS ADDICT

Before I continue, best to read this first. I am revisiting this issue again after 3 years because once again I have to deal with it. 2 of my students have just enrolled in the National Junior Squad. I have not fixed what they should play as black, but I see disturbing signs such as this. PGN There were many such examples. My suspicion is that they were asked to play the Sicilian Defence during the first training day. As I have stated my viewpoint on choosing openings which should be, in Mark Dvoretsky's words : " Your choice of openings should be made primarily in accordance with your own tastes and style of play. This rule may sound obvious, but all the same it is quite easily broken,even by strong players" For those new in chess, Mark Dvoretsky is the world's top chess trainer. Having groomed world junior champions like Arthur Yusupov and Valery Chekhov, Sergei Dolmatov and Zvagintsev, I won't even dare challenge his views.   Forcing players to go against thei...

As Siegbert Tarrasch used to say, " It is not enough just to be a good player. One must also play well". Therefore it does not suffice that if one enters the national elite, one is automatically a good player. It is also important to apply oneself into executing the processes that make up a good move or plan. Perhaps parents should often ask what is the road ahead for a child that is interested in chess - should they equip him with the trainers to help him in his game, sign the child up for as many tournaments as possible in the hopes of improving his/her play, hoping to clinch the 4 points required to enter the National Junior Squad??   What is not clear perhaps is the heavy investment in terms of  5 hours a week or 20 hours a month, notwithstanding the hours spent in tournaments? Yet there is often the lament that there's simply not enough time for tuition, assignments and what not? What about the fees of approximately $300 a quarter or $1200 a year? That is the basic p...