App or computer program for help with memorizing (esp. openings)?
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There are even phone apps if you search under chess openings.
Clifton_Prince wrote:
... here's what I want the app to do. I look at a chessboard, and I type in "Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Defense" (for example) and I make a move for White. The app goes "Yes, you got the first move right." I then move for Black and the app again tells me whether I got it right or not. If I mess up, then it corrects me and offers to back up to the beginning of the play for another go. I can choose ... how many moves forward into the openings I want to be tested on. ... It's ... a full TEST of my openings knowledge, move by move in order. I figured this would be a rather easy thing to program, given all the apps and chess-board-reading software and various ways to share games in PNG and other formats. But after searching, I haven't been able to come up with anything that would perform the TESTING of my knowledge in that useful manner; ...
Part of the problem is that, much of the time, there is no right or wrong for moves. Also, for many people, it is not a good idea to try to memorize a bunch of moves without explanation of what is going on.
"... I feel that the main reasons to buy an opening book are to give a good overview of the opening, and to explain general plans and ideas. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... If the book contains illustrative games, it is worth playing these over first ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
"... For inexperienced players, I think the model that bases opening discussions on more or less complete games that are fully annotated, though with a main focus on the opening and early middlegame, is the ideal. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2010)
"... Everyman Chess has started a new series aimed at those who want to understand the basics of an opening, i.e., the not-yet-so-strong players. ... I imagine [there] will be a long series based on the premise of bringing the basic ideas of an opening to the reader through plenty of introductory text, game annotations, hints, plans and much more. ..." - FM Carsten Hansen (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627055734/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen38.pdf
"The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)
"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf
if you wish to spend money there is a dedicated software Chess Opening Wizard for opening preparation. But you can use any data base system like chessbase / chess assistant ( professional ) or some free data base program for same purpose.
Memorizing is a very regular topic around here. Roughly, I think the two common positions are:
(1) Memorization should have no role in one's chess study.
(2) Memorizing should have little role in one's chess study.
To some degree, I think disagreements have been the result of different conceptions of what is meant by memorizing, but, in any event, I think that there has been much general sympathy with this sentiment, expressed nearly a century ago:
"... Memory is too valuable to be stocked with trifles. Of my fifty-seven years I have applied at least thirty to forgetting most of what I had learned or read, and since I succeeded in this I have acquired a certain ease and cheer which I should never again like to be without. If need be, I can increase my skill in Chess, if need be I can do that of which I have no idea at present. I have stored little in my memory, but I can apply that little, and it is of good use in many and varied emergencies. I keep it in order, but resist every attempt to increase its dead weight. ..." — Emanuel Lasker, Lasker’s Manual of Chess
In a nutshell, the answer that you have been getting consists of some suggestions for what you might try along with the observation that you may not be able to find precisely what you want because it is not generally perceived as possible to do what you want in a way that would be genuinely helpful for improving your game.
It definitely sounds like Chess Openings Wizard (software for purchase) or Chessable (online) are what you are looking for, except for the part about a written quiz and typing answers.
But those programs will drill you in your repertoire sequentially (COW can also do a random order... not sure about Chessable). Chessable does Bette Ewing showing commentary and keeping track of errors, but COW is easier to manage in some ways (one COW ebook will hold all the variations you play and don’t play, and you can select which move on whatever move number that you want to be drilled on).
That said, it is a colossal waste of chess study time for us low-level players, most certainly beyond moves 4-5. Colossal. But sometimes you need to dive in head first, satisfy the itch, and try it for a few months before you realize that your calculation and tactics are getting worse and you regret not having studied tactics and endgames in those lost months.
But those programs will drill you in your repertoire sequentially (COW can also do a random order... not sure about Chessable). Chessable does Bette Ewing showing commentary and keeping track of errors, but COW is easier to manage in some ways (one COW ebook will hold all the variations you play and don’t play, and you can select which move on whatever move number that you want to be drilled on).
That said, it is a colossal waste of chess study time for us low-level players, most certainly beyond moves 4-5. Colossal. But sometimes you need to dive in head first, satisfy the itch, and try it for a few months before you realize that your calculation and tactics are getting worse and you regret not having studied tactics and endgames in those lost months.
Sorry, mobile device, autocorrect... in my above-post, please replace “Bette Ewing” (whoever the hell that is) with “a better job”
Try a site called memchess. I don’t think they have an app, so it will be browser based. Otherwise I would have memorized all the openings and grandmaster games already. Obviously.
Please be aware that it doesn’t let you type in the opening but rather select it from a tree structure. Also you don’t get to select the depth you want to go to, only a subset of opening lines... As I am typing this I realised it is not exactly what you are looking for. Maybe don’t try it. Unless you feel like super open minded today ;)
Please be aware that it doesn’t let you type in the opening but rather select it from a tree structure. Also you don’t get to select the depth you want to go to, only a subset of opening lines... As I am typing this I realised it is not exactly what you are looking for. Maybe don’t try it. Unless you feel like super open minded today ;)
Fritz 16 has a similar function similar to what you describe, but you play just the one side of the opening.
Anki is a great tool for memorizing. However you have to creat your own material. It supports FEN format, you can use to memorize oppenings and to practice tatics
Jun 6, 2018
0
#13
I think chessable.com is probably the best for openings at least in my opinion. It basically reinforces memory with repetition.
dannyhume wrote:
It definitely sounds like Chess Openings Wizard (software for purchase) or Chessable (online) are what you are looking for, except for the part about a written quiz and typing answers.
But those programs will drill you in your repertoire sequentially (COW can also do a random order... not sure about Chessable). Chessable does Bette Ewing showing commentary and keeping track of errors, but COW is easier to manage in some ways (one COW ebook will hold all the variations you play and don’t play, and you can select which move on whatever move number that you want to be drilled on).
That said, it is a colossal waste of chess study time for us low-level players, most certainly beyond moves 4-5. Colossal. But sometimes you need to dive in head first, satisfy the itch, and try it for a few months before you realize that your calculation and tactics are getting worse and you regret not having studied tactics and endgames in those lost months.
But those programs will drill you in your repertoire sequentially (COW can also do a random order... not sure about Chessable). Chessable does Bette Ewing showing commentary and keeping track of errors, but COW is easier to manage in some ways (one COW ebook will hold all the variations you play and don’t play, and you can select which move on whatever move number that you want to be drilled on).
That said, it is a colossal waste of chess study time for us low-level players, most certainly beyond moves 4-5. Colossal. But sometimes you need to dive in head first, satisfy the itch, and try it for a few months before you realize that your calculation and tactics are getting worse and you regret not having studied tactics and endgames in those lost months.
I'd like to improve beyond 4-5 moves, but I honestly haven't put the work into it yet.
SeniorPatzer wrote:
I'd like to improve beyond 4-5 moves, but I honestly haven't put the work into it yet.
Yeah, a few years ago, I spent several months drilling my repertoire up to move 5. Now, let me be honest, I did a quick analysis of the games I played after I had this knowledge in me and found that if I got to move 6 within my repertoire without me deviating first, I won roughly 15% more of my games. But I lost a lot of my already-meager abilites to calculate tactics, offensive and defensive and my tactical blind spots were more laughable than they are now. The opening drilling really sucks you in... I am not sold on Chessable either for this very reason (though I am a paying member). I was just sick of losing to folks who I knew had roughly the same tactical skills as me (I do not believe a 1200 level player who beats a 1200 level player in the opening is ALWAYS tactically stronger), but were better versed in openings they had been playing... seems like all the advice at that time consisted of "well, become 500 points better tactically than your opponent and then their opening advantage won't mean as much."
Clifton_Prince wrote:
... I find it problematic, as do many beginning players, to both (a) wish to avoid mere memorization but also (b) consistently be unable to play effective games against people who have performed greater amounts of memorization. ...
My impression is that the usual advice is to try to follow an intermediate course, while seeking gradual improvement in one's opening play:
"... I feel that the main reasons to buy an opening book are to give a good overview of the opening, and to explain general plans and ideas. ..." - GM John Nunn (2006)
"... the average player only needs to know a limited amount about the openings he plays. Providing he understands the main aims of the opening, a few typical plans and a handful of basic variations, that is enough. ..." - FM Steve Giddins (2008)
"The way I suggest you study this book is to play through the main games once, relatively quickly, and then start playing the variation in actual games. Playing an opening in real games is of vital importance - without this kind of live practice it is impossible to get a 'feel' for the kind of game it leads to. There is time enough later for involvement with the details, after playing your games it is good to look up the line." - GM Nigel Davies (2005)
"... Review each of your games, identifying opening (and other) mistakes with the goal of not repeatedly making the same mistake. ... It is especially critical not to continually fall into opening traps – or even lines that result in difficult positions ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627062646/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman81.pdf
chessable is great. you can buy the books there (there are some free ones as well), or create your own book
Jun 13, 2018
0
#19
I would say a chess program like Fritz16 (2017) or Komodo 12 (2018). They have opening training function which have the position set up for every new game.
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