The Beginning - Day 1

Monday 30th Aug 2021

I start Training

3 sessions, approx. 30 mins each 

- Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations (blockade)

- Mastering Positional Chess (Naroditsky)

- Training game with White (15+10) 

 1st Session (exercises) - took 54 mins (almost an hour). 

• Spent 30 mins on 2 questions, got 1 failed 1 = 50%
• I think I wasted time familiarizing with the book, and also for analysis, I had to use a board (should have been a bit faster if I had a study PGN so that I have a board on the computer with the positions.
• Due to time limit, I've carried forward some thoughts / unfinished analysis to look at later, probably during the weekend

Areas of improvement:

• Time - Search / Create for the book's / chapter's PGNs 
• Set a time limit for every question. maybe 5 mins per question (that means less writing). With this, I can do 4 questions and mark them, 30 mins should be enough
• Chess - Why calculate only one candidate move? Come up with more plans and candidate moves, and use elimination 

By the way, why are these exercises being called blockade?? I thought blockade involves using pieces to block passed pawns? these exercises are purely tactical and using blockade would be the last thing I'd consider so as to correctly solve the exercises

2nd Session (book) - took 41 mins (slightly more than half an hour).

• Wasted some time looking for PGNs. At least for this one I found one. This means it will be more interesting, interactive and fast
• Covered 3 pages (2 examples)

Areas of improvement:

• Time - Try and cover at least 4 examples (games) in a session (no calculations, just reading the book)

3rd  Session (game 15+10) - White - probably less than 30 mins for 2 games

• Played a game, vs Stockfish 2300. The game was so bad, I had to play another one
• 2nd game was also bad, nothing to write about. I should probably just learn how to play chess.

Areas of improvement:

• Chess - Just try to learn how to play chess. Come up with an approach / style / checklist of how to play, otherwise this is just embarrassing.
• 1st game, I was out of book after move 4, dint know the variation, dint know what to do, dint know how to develop my pieces, blundered a tactic in the middlegame.
• 2nd game was a bit better, although I was still out of book way early. I'm familiar with the variation, but honestly I don't know how it goes, so i just played safe moves. Blundered a tactic in the middlegame.
• First thing I should just work on is to get rid of the blunders. Blunder-check or something, but I just have to get rid of the blunders. 2nd thing is to learn the opening, and probably come up with an idea of how to play when I'm not in book / out of book (develop an approach / style / checklist)

No		mins		Comments	Improve
1	ECC- Blockade	54	2 exercises Score (1/2)	- prepare PGNs - 5 mins per Q	- calculations (come up with more plans)
2	MPC- Prophylaxis	41	2 games	- cover more pages / games
3	Game - White	30	2 games		- develop an approach /style of how to play - insert blunder check, blunder check, blunder check
		125

End of day 1