Answers.Body: <p>I am going to make a few suggestions on reading material.</p>
  
  <p>Pay a visit to Dan Heisman's column at Chess Cafe called the <a href="http://www.chesscafe.com/heisman/Novice_Nook_by_Dan_Heisman.asp" rel="noreferrer">Novice Nook</a>. Pay special attention to what he writes on the topic of Real Chess (<a href="http://www.geocities.ws/goodchessclub/real.txt" rel="noreferrer">article 1</a> and <a href="http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman10.pdf" rel="noreferrer">article two</a>).</p>
  
  <p>Focus as much as you can on this "Real Chess" idea in your studies and games. Always remember you will play the way you train. Therefore put a lot of training into proper <a href="http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman89.pdf" rel="noreferrer">over-the-board analysis</a>. A book like <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1587368013" rel="noreferrer">Practical Chess Exercises</a> can be useful for this as it has a mixture of tactical and positional positions so you are never certain if you should be looking for a forced sequence or a positional idea.</p>
  
  <p>Honestly I would not spend a ton of time studying the openings. But software like <a href="http://www.chesspositiontrainer.com/index.php/en/" rel="noreferrer">Chess Position Trainer</a> can help you a lot. As far as which ones, stick with the ones you enjoyed in the past and learn new ones that you see in your studies.</p>
  
  <p>For literature I think Ludek Pachman's <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0486202909" rel="noreferrer">Modern Chess Strategy</a> is probably one of the first books you should read. I also really like <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1890085103" rel="noreferrer">Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master</a> for fundamental endgame theory that is highly practical.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T15:13:39.730Z
Answers.Text: Nice links. I had trouble with Chess Position Trainer. It kept crashing on my system. Another good software is Chessmaster.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T15:59:28.453Z
Answers.Text: CPT version 4 is now in full release. It should not have that issue any more. When did you use it?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Robert Kaucher
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T18:11:57.753Z
Answers.Text: I don't remember exactly, but maybe a 2-3 months ago.  Although there is a comparison chart between version 3 and 4, I had a hard time figuring out which one was best.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:27:07.143Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-07-11T22:37:36.507Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-07-11T22:37:36.507Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Robert Kaucher
Answers.Body: <p>First, what is your goal?  If it's just to have fun, don't do anything but attend your local chess club and play in tournaments.</p>
  
  <p>If your goal is to improve (1500 would be a fine goal) then new learning is needed.</p>
  
  <p>I recommend you get a chess engine (program) running. There are free ones that work fine, especially on the PC.  The reason is that you can use this to take your games apart to see where you made mistakes.  I took one of mine apart some time ago only to find I missed winning a piece and totally busting a 1900+ player.  Instead, I lost the game.</p>
  
  <p>Another recommendation is for you to find an instructor.  You only need an A-player (1800-1999) or expert (2000-2199), and these are easy to find.  According to the ratings, you don't have an appreciable chance of defeating either, so I would think that they'll be able to help you.</p>
  
  <p>Finally, you can play online for free at <a href="http://www.chess.com/" rel="noreferrer">chess.com</a>.</p>
  
  <p>Between playing a lot, using a computer, and taking lessons, plus typical online (free) resources, you should have enough to keep you busy.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:39:18.640Z
Answers.Text: That sounds excellent, I believe I have some of my old games in a box with my clocks. Any suggestion on a specific engine or analysis package?
Answers.UserDisplayName: JohnP
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:51:21.230Z
Answers.Text: I am running Scid and Stockfish which I downloaded for free. I'm on a Mac so in this case my choices are more limited.  As a B-player, I have no real chance of defeating Stockfish so it's strong enough.  If I were going to be serious, I'd be running Fritz and have all the libraries...  So play through the games you lost and I bet the engine finds all sorts of improvements.  You'll have to interpret the analysis to understand why it chooses what it does but it isn't too hard.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T23:00:12.763Z
Answers.Text: Again, most excellent. Thank you. (Odd, on other SE sites, the @ gives you a popup of a name, not here?)
Answers.UserDisplayName: JohnP
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T23:03:15.110Z
Answers.Text: @JohnP It does not because you're responding to my post; I get the notification anyway.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T14:15:40.660Z
Answers.Text: @JohnP Here's the sort of thing I'm talking about regarding computer analysis.  See the link below. In some examples, the players are rated 1300-ish.  Even so, the solutions are not obvious, at least not for me.  Imagine finding these moves if someone didn't tell you they were there...  The computer will find these.   http://www.chess.com/article/view/greed-and-two-king-hunts
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T14:21:33.810Z
Answers.Text: Thanks, Tony. I downloaded scid and stockfish, not at all sure I have it set up right and documentation is sparse at best, but hopefully I can figure it out. I am a programmer by trade, after all :-/
Answers.UserDisplayName: JohnP
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T14:28:17.640Z
Answers.Text: @JohnP I had to change the 'engine' in Scid to use stockfish.  The default engine, Phalanx, is something that I feel has been bypassed by time.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T14:38:01.480Z
Answers.Text: I managed that (I think) and scid promptly wiped the floor with me. twice. :p I will have to play with it to figure out how to add new opening libraries, enter my own games, etc. Right now I can't figure out how to get rid of the "no books" error when it starts. But, I only had an hour before TKD, so I'll play with it more tonight.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JohnP
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T14:49:02.940Z
Answers.Text: @JohnP I think mine came with an opening book.  It has no game database and I got tired of trying to find any that were downloadable. But such databases are available/browsable on certain websites so I don't need them on my computer.  I don't play against the computer; it's depressing.  I just use it for analysis of my OTB games.  Thus I really don't need an opening book or game database.  I just need it to chew through problems.  I may have some simple end-game tables loaded, if they came with the installation.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T18:51:12.323Z
Answers.Text: @johnP another example of a computer finding a surprising move came in about 1978, when I was in high school.  I was letting the computer (a TRS-80) analyse just because I thought it was cool.  It found where I missed a mate-in-2 starting with a "rook sacrifice."  Instead the game went on many more moves  (AKA more opportunities for me to screw up) before I won.  Taught me a lesson.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:25:24.293Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-07-12T00:13:30.390Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-07-12T00:13:30.390Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Body: <p>I played quite often in the mid 80's to mid 90's. My highest rating OTB was low 1300's (Edited, I had thought I reached 1415, but not according to USCF site-although that doesn't include my high school stuff in the 80's) under the USCF, with somewhat desultory study habits, although I did do a lot of reading on general tactics, pawn structures and some theory. Two best results were a round upset prize at the Western Open, and a $3000 check in the U1300 at the tournament in Vegas in December (Forgot the name).</p>
  
  <p>I have been getting interested in playing again, and started looking at what is out there, and I'm a bit overwhelmed with the tools that are available now.</p>
  
  <p>Where should I start? I'm probably way beyond most "pawns move one or two squares" beginner books, but probably not up to speed on even intermediate books, I vaguely remember bits of a couple openings, etc.</p>
  
  <p>And, what openings should I concentrate on learning first, that will allow me to expand? IIRC, I played Scotch, French and was toying with the Indian openings.</p>
  
  <p>I tried to phrase this so as not to encourage open ended debate, and I don't think it quite fits the suggested questions already existing. If it still is deemed too broad, make a couple suggestions and I can edit for fit.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:08:03.960Z
Comments.Text: Due to the general nature of the question, I think the admins might want to make this a community wiki. It doesn't really have an objective answer but it is quite useful.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Robert Kaucher
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:18:59.543Z
Comments.Text: I think the question is as good as any on the site.  The OP is looking for explicit advice.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:35:20.007Z
Comments.Text: I agree the question is good but any advice given would be subjective. That is the point of a community wiki. It enhances the informative nature of the site. http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/11740/what-are-community-wiki-posts
Comments.UserDisplayName: Robert Kaucher
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T22:53:08.483Z
Comments.Text: We're had a discussion about this on Meta.  There is _good_ subjective and _bad_ subjective.  I think this question is more of the former; it's very positive.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-11T23:38:57.847Z
Comments.Text: Tony- I am NOT saying it is bad subjective. It is GOOD. The problem is it lends itself to *multiple* answers over time. A community wiki encourages *more answers* rather than just having one selected.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Robert Kaucher
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T00:46:59.990Z
Comments.Text: I was told that 'good subjective' is ok.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-12T16:46:08.100Z
Comments.Text: @RobertKaucher, I'm not sure that community wiki mode would actually encourage more answers here. I am of the mind, at the moment at least, that this question is better left as is. I also think that community wiki mode might be appropriate in different contexts across different SE type sites. In any case, I think it's a good thing to discuss. Here is a meta post for just that: http://meta.chess.stackexchange.com/q/146/167
Comments.UserDisplayName: ETD
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2012-07-13T16:04:22.643Z
Comments.Text: I've been playing on and off for quite some time (though never a break that long), and every time after getting back, it is my tactics that suffer most. I use this site to help me get them back: http://chess.emrald.net/
Comments.UserDisplayName: Akavall
Tags: <opening><learning><theory>
Title: Practical study for a former player?
ThreadText: # Practical study for a former player?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-07-11)
  
  I played quite often in the mid 80's to mid 90's. My highest rating OTB was low 1300's (Edited, I had thought I reached 1415, but not according to USCF site-although that doesn't include my high school stuff in the 80's) under the USCF, with somewhat desultory study habits, although I did do a lot of reading on general tactics, pawn structures and some theory. Two best results were a round upset prize at the Western Open, and a $3000 check in the U1300 at the tournament in Vegas in December (Forgot the name).
  
  I have been getting interested in playing again, and started looking at what is out there, and I'm a bit overwhelmed with the tools that are available now.
  
  Where should I start? I'm probably way beyond most "pawns move one or two squares" beginner books, but probably not up to speed on even intermediate books, I vaguely remember bits of a couple openings, etc.
  
  And, what openings should I concentrate on learning first, that will allow me to expand? IIRC, I played Scotch, French and was toying with the Indian openings.
  
  I tried to phrase this so as not to encourage open ended debate, and I don't think it quite fits the suggested questions already existing. If it still is deemed too broad, make a couple suggestions and I can edit for fit.
  
  **Tags:** opening, learning, theory
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Due to the general nature of the question, I think the admins might want to make this a community wiki. It doesn't really have an objective answer but it is quite useful.  
  > **username_2**: I think the question is as good as any on the site.  The OP is looking for explicit advice.  
  > **username_1**: I agree the question is good but any advice given would be subjective. That is the point of a community wiki. It enhances the informative nature of the site. http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/11740/what-are-community-wiki-posts  
  > **username_2**: We're had a discussion about this on Meta.  There is _good_ subjective and _bad_ subjective.  I think this question is more of the former; it's very positive.  
  > **username_1**: username_2- I am NOT saying it is bad subjective. It is GOOD. The problem is it lends itself to *multiple* answers over time. A community wiki encourages *more answers* rather than just having one selected.  
  > **username_2**: I was told that 'good subjective' is ok.  
  > **username_3**: @username_1, I'm not sure that community wiki mode would actually encourage more answers here. I am of the mind, at the moment at least, that this question is better left as is. I also think that community wiki mode might be appropriate in different contexts across different SE type sites. In any case, I think it's a good thing to discuss. Here is a meta post for just that: http://meta.chess.stackexchange.com/q/146/167  
  > **username_4**: I've been playing on and off for quite some time (though never a break that long), and every time after getting back, it is my tactics that suffer most. I use this site to help me get them back: http://chess.emrald.net/  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-07-11. Score: 7
  
  I am going to make a few suggestions on reading material.
  
  Pay a visit to Dan Heisman's column at Chess Cafe called the [Novice Nook](http://www.chesscafe.com/heisman/Novice_Nook_by_Dan_Heisman.asp). Pay special attention to what he writes on the topic of Real Chess ([article 1](http://www.geocities.ws/goodchessclub/real.txt) and [article two](http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman10.pdf)).
  
  Focus as much as you can on this "Real Chess" idea in your studies and games. Always remember you will play the way you train. Therefore put a lot of training into proper [over-the-board analysis](http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman89.pdf). A book like [Practical Chess Exercises](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1587368013) can be useful for this as it has a mixture of tactical and positional positions so you are never certain if you should be looking for a forced sequence or a positional idea.
  
  Honestly I would not spend a ton of time studying the openings. But software like [Chess Position Trainer](http://www.chesspositiontrainer.com/index.php/en/) can help you a lot. As far as which ones, stick with the ones you enjoyed in the past and learn new ones that you see in your studies.
  
  For literature I think Ludek Pachman's [Modern Chess Strategy](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0486202909) is probably one of the first books you should read. I also really like [Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1890085103) for fundamental endgame theory that is highly practical.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_5**: Nice links. I had trouble with Chess Position Trainer. It kept crashing on my system. Another good software is Chessmaster.  
  > **username_1**: CPT version 4 is now in full release. It should not have that issue any more. When did you use it?  
  > **username_5**: I don't remember exactly, but maybe a 2-3 months ago.  Although there is a comparison chart between version 3 and 4, I had a hard time figuring out which one was best.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-07-11. Score: 5
  
  First, what is your goal? If it's just to have fun, don't do anything but attend your local chess club and play in tournaments.
  
  If your goal is to improve (1500 would be a fine goal) then new learning is needed.
  
  I recommend you get a chess engine (program) running. There are free ones that work fine, especially on the PC. The reason is that you can use this to take your games apart to see where you made mistakes. I took one of mine apart some time ago only to find I missed winning a piece and totally busting a 1900+ player. Instead, I lost the game.
  
  Another recommendation is for you to find an instructor. You only need an A-player (1800-1999) or expert (2000-2199), and these are easy to find. According to the ratings, you don't have an appreciable chance of defeating either, so I would think that they'll be able to help you.
  
  Finally, you can play online for free at [chess.com](http://www.chess.com/).
  
  Between playing a lot, using a computer, and taking lessons, plus typical online (free) resources, you should have enough to keep you busy.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: That sounds excellent, I believe I have some of my old games in a box with my clocks. Any suggestion on a specific engine or analysis package?  
  > **username_2**: I am running Scid and Stockfish which I downloaded for free. I'm on a Mac so in this case my choices are more limited.  As a B-player, I have no real chance of defeating Stockfish so it's strong enough.  If I were going to be serious, I'd be running Fritz and have all the libraries...  So play through the games you lost and I bet the engine finds all sorts of improvements.  You'll have to interpret the analysis to understand why it chooses what it does but it isn't too hard.  
  > **username_0**: Again, most excellent. Thank you. (Odd, on other SE sites, the @ gives you a popup of a name, not here?)  
  > **username_2**: @username_0 It does not because you're responding to my post; I get the notification anyway.  
  > **username_2**: @username_0 Here's the sort of thing I'm talking about regarding computer analysis.  See the link below. In some examples, the players are rated 1300-ish.  Even so, the solutions are not obvious, at least not for me.  Imagine finding these moves if someone didn't tell you they were there...  The computer will find these.   http://www.chess.com/article/view/greed-and-two-king-hunts  
  > **username_0**: Thanks, username_2. I downloaded scid and stockfish, not at all sure I have it set up right and documentation is sparse at best, but hopefully I can figure it out. I am a programmer by trade, after all :-/  
  > **username_2**: @username_0 I had to change the 'engine' in Scid to use stockfish.  The default engine, Phalanx, is something that I feel has been bypassed by time.  
  > **username_0**: I managed that (I think) and scid promptly wiped the floor with me. twice. :p I will have to play with it to figure out how to add new opening libraries, enter my own games, etc. Right now I can't figure out how to get rid of the "no books" error when it starts. But, I only had an hour before TKD, so I'll play with it more tonight.  
  > **username_2**: @username_0 I think mine came with an opening book.  It has no game database and I got tired of trying to find any that were downloadable. But such databases are available/browsable on certain websites so I don't need them on my computer.  I don't play against the computer; it's depressing.  I just use it for analysis of my OTB games.  Thus I really don't need an opening book or game database.  I just need it to chew through problems.  I may have some simple end-game tables loaded, if they came with the installation.  
  > **username_2**: @johnP another example of a computer finding a surprising move came in about 1978, when I was in high school.  I was letting the computer (a TRS-80) analyse just because I thought it was cool.  It found where I missed a mate-in-2 starting with a "rook sacrifice."  Instead the game went on many more moves  (AKA more opportunities for me to screw up) before I won.  Taught me a lesson.  
  
  ---
  
  