Legal's Pseudo-Sacrifice

Below, we see the classic example of this beautiful mating combination. This combination is attributed to the Sire de Legal. The game shown was played in Paris in 1750 (most likely at the Café de la Régence). This is one of my all-time favorites!!

CJS Purdy had it spot on!

As simple as it may sound, CJS Purdy wrote that the double-attack is the key to chess. And I couldn't agree more! Maybe once someone is up to an 2000-2200 level, positional play becomes the main concern. But I think for any average chessplayer, mastering the double attack means mastering the fundamental tactic of the middle-game.

Chesstempo Online Play

Dismantled Shredder on 1400 Playing Strength

I must be having a flash of "chess vision" tonight, or Shredder is just generally playing weak chess, because I managed to beat Deep Shredder on 1200 Elo AND as we see here, Shredder resigned while I stomped him on 1400 Elo playing strength. This is very promising! Now, if I can manage to beat Shredder with the black pieces on 1400, then my new goal will be 1600. Just a remark, however, Shredder plays pretty weakly next to Fritz or Chessmaster when set down to lower playing strengths, comparatively. So, I haven't gotten my hopes up. I'm sure I'd still score a flat 1000 in a real tournament. Nevertheless, this is my personal best against the engine.

Beat Shredder on 1200

Stappenmethode (or how to get free training material)

I have chosen a study method, consisting of 5 steps, which has shown great success in Europe, namely, the Stappenmethode (Step Method). See the following link for a good summary of the various levels and what can be expected:

The Step Method in Chess

The coolest thing is, that this 5-step method was implemented as a software training program, namely, the TASC Chess Tutorial 2, and this CD is being given away for free by chesshouse.com. One must only pay the shipping, and this is how I obtained my version of the software. Yet again, the price is right! $3 shipping and a program that can take you from novice to 1800 ELO? Wow! Nicht schlecht Herr Specht! Now, it's just time to put in the "blood pouring from the brain" hard work.

TASC Chess Tutorial 2 CD (free copy)

IQ and Chess Strength

Interesting article:

IQ and Chess Strength

So assuming that I have a dead even average IQ of 100, I could expect to attain roughly a 2200 ELO rating in Chess with dedicated training. This sounds about right, as I have read in many places, and from many authors, that this level is attaintable with hard work and practice alone and requires, "no special, predisposed chess intelligence".