Zwischenzug

Zwischenzug focuses on chess improvement through data-backed insights, exploring practical strategies, the psychological aspects of play, and the importance of understanding basic to advanced concepts. It emphasizes learning from mistakes, the role of creativity, and the significance of both theoretical and practical knowledge in enhancing chess skills.

Chess Strategy Learning and Improvement Psychological Aspects of Chess Training Techniques Game Analysis Tournament Preparation Endgame Study Opening Preparation Risk Management Use of Technology in Learning

The hottest Substack posts of Zwischenzug

And their main takeaways

Why You Should Be A Control Freak

432 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🚌 Education Chess Learning Strategy
  1. Control in chess means knowing what your opponent can do and being ready for it.
  2. Maintaining control is crucial, especially in winning positions.
  3. The engine's evaluation may not reflect the full complexity of a position, so human perspective is key in strategic decisions.

Chess is 99% taking pieces

628 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Chess Strategy Learning Competition Instruction
  1. In chess, 99% of the game is about taking your opponent's pieces and not hanging your own.
  2. For many players, improvement comes from mastering basic concepts like piece safety rather than advanced strategies.
  3. Efficiency matters, so seek out resources that help you practice and improve on keeping your pieces safe in chess.
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Is Chess A Waste Of Time?

845 implied HN points • 04 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Chess Art Science History Philosophy
  1. Chess can be seen as a serious pursuit or a wasted talent.
  2. Some individuals regret dedicating their life to chess, while others find it to be a form of art.
  3. Chess may offer a unique training in structured thinking, attracting scientists and proving fruitful for a shift in focus.

Ratings Are Broken

412 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Chess Statistics
  1. Lower rated players are winning more often than expected.
  2. New underrated players entering the rating pool are causing downward pressure on ratings.
  3. Proposed solutions include a one-time rating boost for players under 2000 and changes in rating calculations.

Tournament Preparation Update

334 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🎾 Sports Chess Tournament Preparation Strategies
  1. Commit to a narrow repertoire for a chess tournament to feel confident.
  2. Focus on board vision and opponent's resources rather than just hard tactics before a tournament.
  3. Consider the role of endgames in a tournament based on game analysis and advice from experienced players.

Is Chess a Game of Luck?

471 implied HN points • 14 May 23
🎾 Sports Chess Luck Results Training
  1. Chess is a game of skill, not luck. Players have full control over their moves.
  2. There is still some luck involved in chess, such as external distractions or unexplained variations in performance.
  3. To improve in chess, focus on the process, consider long-term results, and seek outside perspectives for feedback.

OMG, I registered for an OTB tournament

353 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Chess Tournament Preparation Goals Training
  1. The author registered for an OTB tournament after a long break due to COVID and personal commitments.
  2. Chose a shorter tournament for their comeback to OTB chess to ease back into the competitive environment.
  3. Preparing for the tournament involves focusing on openings, calculation, and getting used to a physical chess board.

Database Review

353 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
🎾 Sports Chess Strategy Analysis Games
  1. In poker, understanding strategy requires looking at the big picture over many hands.
  2. Chess is a game of specifics and calculation, unlike poker which has too many possibilities to calculate precisely.
  3. In both chess and poker, it's essential to have a global view of your strategy to identify and correct systematic mistakes.

What's The Point Of Studying The Endgame?

432 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Chess Improvement Training
  1. The importance of studying endgames is debated in the chess community.
  2. Practical endgames are underrated compared to theoretical endgames.
  3. Playing blitz can be beneficial for improving your chess skills, but it's important to maintain focus and avoid developing bad habits.

Beating Hikaru

373 implied HN points • 25 Feb 23
🎾 Sports Chess Competition Tournament Strategy
  1. The importance of strategic moves in chess and unexpected turnarounds in a game.
  2. The experience of being selected for fair play screening in chess tournaments and the stress it can bring to players.
  3. The challenges and implications of cheating suspicion in online chess tournaments, and the need for transparent and fair anti-cheating measures.

Spaced Repetition

334 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🚌 Education Chess Tools Application Effectiveness
  1. Spaced repetition helps you remember by reviewing just before forgetting.
  2. Tools like Chessable and Anki can automate and personalize spaced repetition for chess.
  3. Use spaced repetition for openings, tactics, and reviewing mistakes in chess, but remember it's just one tool among many for learning.

Analysis: Engine On Or Off?

334 implied HN points • 20 May 23
🚌 Education
  1. Analyze your games without an engine initially to focus on self-improvement.
  2. Record your thoughts during the game before checking with the engine.
  3. Understand why the engine suggests certain moves for better future gameplay.

Openings vs. Ratings

314 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Chess Strategies Competition
  1. At lower levels, expect to face 1. e4 often and focus more on Black opening preparation.
  2. In mid ratings, the London system is common, so be prepared for it.
  3. As you climb the rating ladder, face a variety of moves, so focus on preparing for the most common ones at your level.