How an adult can learn to play chess

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

How to start, which teacher to choose, what books to read and movies to watch, if one fine morning you woke up with the desire to turn your pawn into a queen.

If you are offered to play chess, never say: "I can't." Say: "I can, but I don't want to."

Vladimir Vysotsky "Story about the game of chess"

It was after such a situation that my desire to learn how to play chess appeared. True, I was able to say “I can”, but I couldn’t continue “but I don’t want to”. I had to play. Several deafening defeats after short games made it clear that knowing the rules of the game is not enough to win. There was something else that only chess players knew about. That helped them to see the board from a different angle, as if to look into the future and comment disappointedly: “Well, what have you done!”. I wanted to know this secret, and I decided to understand …

How an adult can learn to play chess

First, it was necessary to find out whether it is possible to learn to play chess on your own: using the Internet, mobile applications or a tutorial. A thorough survey of those who already know how to play showed that you can try to learn how to play yourself, but it is better to do it with a friend or teacher.

However, the first steps can and should be taken alone. Desirable:

• find or buy a board;
• get to know the figures;
• learn the rules of the game.

This will take you no more than an hour. Use YouTube videos, there are many videos on this topic. If there is a desire, excuses are unnecessary. Even a child (from the age of four) can start playing.

Vladimir Khlepitko head of the Wisdom chess club

After you understand this stage, it is worth looking for a teacher. Why can't you learn to play yourself? The answer is very simple. You can try doing it yourself and you will even start to succeed. It's only about the speed of learning. What you think of in a few days, the teacher will explain in an hour. Moreover, an experienced player or teacher will help you see on the board something that you simply will not notice due to lack of experience.

How to find a teacher

Sign up for a chess school or club

The only problem you may have is age restriction. But it can also be solved.

When I tried to enroll in the nearest chess schools, I was refused due to the fact that only kids are accepted for training. Instead, they offered to come and try to negotiate with the teacher about private lessons.

Even if there is only one chess school in your city, go there and try to find yourself a coach.

There are also chess clubs. Most often, they are played by older people, united by a great desire and passion for the game. It's a cool choice for those who love chess, but not always a good choice for a beginner.

Find a Chess Friend

When I tried to do this, it turned out that the chess players belong to a kind of "Fight Club". A simple post on social media showed that more than half of my friends have played or are playing chess. They just don't tell anyone about it. Try to ask your friends and you. I'm sure you will be surprised.

As for my personal experience, among my acquaintances and friends I found one who turned out to be a candidate for master of sports in chess. We quickly agreed on the lessons, and I got a little closer to my goal.

Hire a teacher

Without contacting organizations, schools, clubs and circles, you can simply find a teacher for private lessons. Try to meet with him in person before you agree on the first lesson, to make sure that you can learn with this person and do not be afraid to ask him again and again incomprehensible points. If you feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, or embarrassed, try to find another teacher.

“Anyone who plays better than you can already teach. But the teacher should not be a bore. And it's not worth spending money on super-professionals right away,”advises Vladimir Khlepitko.

What to read

While your coach will tell you what the opening, middlegame and endgame are, teach the theory and practice of chess, along the way demonstrating the art of composition, you can already start helping yourself to move even faster. For example, with the help of books. Literature by itself will not teach you how to play, but it will become a powerful help in this difficult task.

1. Self-study books and problem collections are suitable for beginners. For example, "" S. D. Ivaschenko, "" H. R. Capablanca and "" Y. Averbakh. Feel free to open books for children or those marked "For those who are just starting to play." After all, it is in them that the complex system of chess is explained very clearly and clearly.

2. Once you've gotten through the introduction and have had some fruitful lessons with your instructor at the same time, move on to the strategy and tactics books. Understand each stage of the game of chess, since a lot has been written about them. Knowing which book to choose can be tricky, so be sure to ask your coach for advice. You can pay attention to these works:

• "", A. I. Nimtsovich;
• "Strategic Techniques in Chess", A. I. Terekhin;
• "", Ya. I. Neishtadt;
• "Transition to the endgame", Y. Razuvaev, G. Nesis.

3. Look for inspiration. Read not only chess textbooks, but also books related to this great game. For example, Vladimir Khlepitko says that he likes Garry Kasparov's book Chess as a Model of Life.

Watch films about chess and chess players, for example:

• Bobby Fischer vs. the World is about the biography of the American champion and his legendary match with Boris Spassky.
• “Luzhin's Defense” is a film in which you should not look at chessboards in search of interesting combinations, but you can plunge into its unique atmosphere.
• Chess Fever is a black-and-white Soviet comedy, of course, almost not about chess. But Capablanca himself appears in the frame!

What else?

Of course, you shouldn't ignore online help. As long as you practice in real life, all other ways to make your lessons more effective will work as well.

Play online

If you like to fight with an invisible opponent or computer superintelligence, go to special sites or download applications. The most famous portal for players is, of course. When it comes to apps, here are some good options:

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Watching video tutorials

Reading and constant training is not bad. But if you get tired of the hard work, use the simpler training option. Good channels run in English (it's good that the language of chess is international and understandable to everyone), but there are also Russian ones.

• - a channel that explains basic and complex things as if only children are watching it. In a simple form, the author explains both the first moves for beginners and the most difficult games of champions.
• - a channel that makes chess understandable, adds excitement and inspires new achievements.
• "" Is a channel that specializes in organizing video tournaments between bloggers and everyone, after which it analyzes in detail the mistakes and successes of the players.

I will say this: if you really want to, you will definitely succeed. For me, trying to learn how to play chess was a real challenge. The game, to put it mildly, is not easy. But beautiful. Therefore, if you really like chess and are ready to devote a little time to it every day, or at least every week, everything will definitely work out.

Desire and love for the game will give success, and there are many ways to achieve success, the main thing is to keep moving the figures!

Vladimir Khlepitko head of the Wisdom chess club