Saturday 16 February 2008

How do you improve?

Endre Ambrus is a 2370+ Romanian player who moved to Canberra a couple of months ago. Already he is a regular at Street Chess, and a welcome addition to the membership of the ANU Chess Club. The other night we had an interesting conversation.

Endre: "This club only meets on 1 night a week?"
Shaun: "Yes, just on Wednesday nights"
E: "Not on other nights?"
S: "No. Our tournaments are 1 night a week"
E: "But on other nights you could get together and work on openings, positions"
S: "Clubs don't really do that in Australia. We just organise tournaments for our members"
E: "Then how do you improve?"

And that is a very good question. And this leads to one of my own. "Is this something Australian chess is missing?"

4 comments:

DeNovoMeme said...

This NOT "something we are missing," rather, it is "something have got." ie we use up all that valuable study time on our valuable family.

Anonymous said...

I think it is a valid point. Most of the rank-and-file players I know would like to get a bit of coaching, but they may not necessarily want to miss their weekly game to get it. There are certain obstacles that would need to be overcome, like cost, venue, and willing and able coaches, but I'd say that it is definitely worth pursuing.

Brian Thomas

Indigo said...

Who wants to improve at chess?
Personally, I only find chess enjoyable when it is played badly.
Reading over games of Kasparov, Fischer, etc I feel an immense sense of pity for them - their existences must be a form of 'living death'.
PS:
Sean
Sorry I missed the ANU competition tonite (Wed night) - may I asked if I have been scrubbed entirely or fluked a bye?
Mark Scully

Shaun Press said...

Half point byes for players who are in the tournament but failed to show (at this stage). Only 2 chances though.