Best way to follow Fischer's "My 60 Memorable Games"

Hi dntfeedtemnkys, 

 

Check out also yusupovs award winning training course. It't a collection of 9 books to build up you level of chess from beginner to advanced.

I was also recently looking for a good book for updating my knowledge. After long search on the internet, I found an existing nine books collection. The advantage of this large collection of books was that it was a very long (and extensive) series that was written by a same author, and in the nine books there was a clear line and pattern without much overlap or repetition in the books. I have repeatedly noted this among other books among different writers. The series is built for three levels (1500 - 1800 and 2100) and in each series of three books (basic, advanced and master). This way you build the knowledge in both the breadth and the depth. Each book covers about 25 chapters and a chapter takes a few weeks/months to complete. It contains a few sample diagrams with explanation and 12 excercies by each chapter.

The author expects to study 1 series (of three books) for 1 year, thus providing a three-year course. It is precisely this long-term construction that attracted me. I can tell you that I'm halfway through the first book and have learned a lot. It is definitely worth checking out.

Greetings,

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

 

I imagine you are already aware, but if not, you can set up and play out any position, game etc., using the chess.com analysis board...

https://www.chess.com/analysis-board-editor

Also from the internet, you can download the text of a PGN file and copy-paste/load it into the Chess.com analysis board, for any of Fisher's games, and play through them that way...

Here are a couple of good online chess database sites from which you can get the PGN...

https://chesstempo.com/game-database.html

http://www.chessgames.com/

 

 

Crawl back into your hole...

The best way to play through high-level games is to make a move from the game - on real or computer board - then explain to yourself why the move was made: what threats does it make, what protection does it cause, what opponent threats does it stop and what disruption does it cause to the opponents position.  Does the move help create a knight outpost, backward pawn, doubled pawns, etc.?

If you are not knowledgeable to think in those terms, then study tactics and strategy until you can.

After you evaluate each move, try to predict the next moves.  Then look at the game and try to understand how you were right or wrong in terms of seeing/not seeing tactics or strategies.

Good Positional Chess, Planning & Strategy Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-positional-chess-planning-strategy

 

The first game I ever played through was a Fischer King's Indian, 55 moves long, which I found in a newspaper column. 

I was twelve. I was so inexperienced reading notation I couldn't reach the end of the game. But I was thrilled to look over Bobby's shoulder.

Of course I didn't understand much of the game. Nonetheless it was still a valuable exercise. I gained experience reading notation. I got the idea of the basics of the KID and the curious business of a fianchettoed bishop. I whet my appetite to learn more.

Fischer's 60 is a beautiful book. You won't get it all when you play the games, but you will get something. And if you get tired of standing on your tip-toes trying to follow Fischer's genius, you can withdraw to easier books then come back later when you're stronger.

Chess is an ocean. You've got to start somewhere and the only way to get better is to get wet.

 

Love this.

an older thread but this came up as i have had more time to “home study” chess

i have heard both sides of the difficulty level of “60 memorable games” and whether or not it is appropriate for lower rated players

and the quality/caliber is top of the charts world class

but what i have learned from bobby fischer games (coach gave positions from some of his game and wanted annotations and analysis) is that there is some of the most brutal, principled, beautiful, and “simple” ideas, executions of moves, etc

if one my level is willing to sit down at a board; take notes; annotate and give analysis and really work at it it really pays off

the process of analysis itself is what leads to improvement and there is something for everyone in this book

 

+This.

Not everything has to be done as part of a ruthless 110% effort drive to increase your rating.

Games can be enjoyed for their own sake. Even when you do not understand everything. (That' what the annotations are for!)

It's perfectly OK to play through a game collection and marvel at a deep combinations and strategies that you know you'll never be able to pull off yourself.

Consuming chess as pure entertainment is just as valid a reason to play through '60 Memorable Games' as going through the games as part of your chess studies would be. 

Just bought this book, so keen to start studying and enjoying it. I’ll take all of your advice on board.

I bought this book in the 1980s. I've been through it so many times it's literally in three sections now. You don't have to understand everything in a grandmaster game to appreciate the development, piece coordination, and surprises it contains. To me, it's like appreciating fine art or music. I may not have the knowledge or training to appreciate the subtler points but I can still appreciate it's overall beauty.

The best way is WITH a coach/stronger chess instructor.

Remember, even Fischer himself was coached throughout his teenage years.

I will have to dig out my books on all the unrecognized chess coaches, trainers and analyzers who were in Fischer's life until the 1972 match.