How to study theory presented through annotated games?
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Jun 6, 2021
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Four options to recommend. Chessable has both of Moret’s books in the Move Trainer format. Each course (White/Black) is about the same price as the book, but all the work of inputting the lines has been done for you. The Lichess studies feature could be used to create the lines and for you to practice. You’d have to create all the games (or import if you have the PGN), however. You may find a smartphone app that suits your needs. Last, there are dedicated openings trainer programs for Windows or Mac (like Bookup), but they tend to have a higher upfront price.
CaptainPoldark wrote:
Four options to recommend. Chessable has both of Moret’s books in the Move Trainer format. Each course (White/Black) is about the same price as the book, but all the work of inputting the lines has been done for you. The Lichess studies feature could be used to create the lines and for you to practice. You’d have to create all the games (or import if you have the PGN), however. You may find a smartphone app that suits your needs. Last, there are dedicated openings trainer programs for Windows or Mac (like Bookup), but they tend to have a higher upfront price.
Oh great, thanks for the recommendation. Will look into it, I don't mind having to create all the games it helps with retention anyways.
Chessable +1. Also, I think ChessTempo has a feature where you can input lines and the computer will play one side while you do the other. I like Chessable though, its spaced repetition automatically regurgitates the lines, and shows the ones you get wrong more frequently. It's also very configurable. Learn a few lines everyday, little and often, then log on and do your reviews.
I've been going through My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White by Vincent Moret. The way the book is structured is that opening ideas are presented through a series of annotated games, with explanations as to why a certain move is bad and what the general idea is.
I've found this style very easy to follow (not sure how other books are written). I've been playing through the presented games on my chessboard with the help of the book and then later trying to recall how the games went without the book and I honestly retain a surprising amount of information.
However, there's many variations presented and it makes me wonder, how does one approach this ? Do you use some sort of website to replay the common lines / themes? Or do you just play through the annotated games a couple of times, then apply it in future games and when your memory fails you, go back to the book and look at what the correct line would be?