committing games to memory

committing games to memory

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rc

Joined
26 Aug 07
Moves
38239
06 Feb 09
1 edit

i was on a site, which said that unless you can remember 43 games you don't get in the their club, ok i did not want to join the club anyway, but i do want to commit to memory certain games. therefore i needed a hook, so what i did was limit the games to under twenty moves, (some are just a little over, some are under) and starting with the alphabet pick two games each of masters beginning in alphabetical order, so for A, i chose Alekhine, for B, i chose Bird, for C i chose Capablanca, and for D i chose Diemer, so far i have committed to memory eight games of chess, each of about twenty moves duration, all ending in mate. this was fairly easy, because the moves are remembered via opening principles and most of the sequences are very sharp and forcing, what i want to know is, will this make me a better chess player or will it have a detrimental effect, or make no difference whatsoever

any thoughts appreciated

regards Robbie.

i
SelfProclaimedTitler

Joined
06 Feb 06
Moves
23543
06 Feb 09
1 edit

Well, for a start, you are practicing your memory. Isn't that a good thing..?

j
NeighborhoodChampion

Joined
24 Feb 07
Moves
3422
06 Feb 09

Hi,

A.J. Goldsby recommends on one of his webpages memorising chess games. He even provided a "success story" - a few of his students who memorised X games (I don't remember the exact number) in their early stage of chess study becames masters/very strong players.

jarrasch

rc

Joined
26 Aug 07
Moves
38239
06 Feb 09
1 edit

Originally posted by jarrasch
Hi,

A.J. Goldsby recommends on one of his webpages memorising chess games. He even provided a "success story" - a few of his students who memorised X games (I don't remember the exact number) in their early stage of chess study becames masters/very strong players.

jarrasch
Hi, do you happen to know the site address - regards Robbie.

its ok, i think i found it

http://www.geocities.com/lifemasteraj/

b
Enigma

Seattle

Joined
03 Sep 06
Moves
3298
07 Feb 09

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
i was on a site, which said that unless you can remember 43 games you don't get in the their club, ok i did not want to join the club anyway, but i do want to commit to memory certain games. therefore i needed a hook, so what i did was limit the games to under twenty moves, (some are just a little over, some are under) and starting with the alphabet ...[text shortened]... mental effect, or make no difference whatsoever

any thoughts appreciated

regards Robbie.
I doubt that memorizing 20 games will make a big difference in your playing strength. It may help a little, but without understanding the logic or reasons for these moves, the only thing you'll accomplish is being able to join that club. 😏

p

Joined
15 Jan 08
Moves
1989
07 Feb 09

I think the key is to memorize the games with the ideas and analysis in mind. Example: if you like the particular themes of a game, or how a master closed the deal on a win, it may even be easier to memorize because you will remember what the analysis said and then be able to remember the move(s) in that position that led to the conclusion. I've been trying this with some Kasparov games. What I like about some of his games that I've been playing over is how he is aggressive, but also very patient in order to convert the win. Even though he builds up a strong attack he knows when to simplify or when to make a quiet preperation move instead going all out on an attack. There is also a particular game where Tal did this, basically he got a better position and material advantage of a piece, simplified to an endgame, and then sac'd his piece, the position resulting was a textbook king vs king and pawn winning endgame. It shows that master's don't try to hang on to material or try for a flashy win when they know they can secure a win by simplyfing.

The point is that these few games I've been playing over I have been able to memorize (or at least getting there) AND I now realize why each move is played. When I get stuck I think: What was he trying to accomplish, and when I remember the idea the move jumps out. I think in the long run your brain stores this info and can apply it to games you play in the future.

rc

Joined
26 Aug 07
Moves
38239
07 Feb 09

Originally posted by passedpawn22
I think the key is to memorize the games with the ideas and analysis in mind. Example: if you like the particular themes of a game, or how a master closed the deal on a win, it may even be easier to memorize because you will remember what the analysis said and then be able to remember the move(s) in that position that led to the conclusion. I've been ...[text shortened]... the long run your brain stores this info and can apply it to games you play in the future.
yes this is the key i think, infact, the only practical way to try to remember games is to remember the ideas behind the moves, the principles that were involved or indeed the violation of principles or even the violation of principles that led to an advantage! thus not only are we learning why a move was played, but we are able to avoid scenarios when the principle was violated and even further than that once we know the principles we can violate them if we think it will lead to an advantage! its interesting is it not?

MR

Joined
19 Jun 06
Moves
847
07 Feb 09

I might be able to memorize 43 fool's mate games... I wonder if they'd let me into the club based on that. 😏

Idk, my guess is that trying to memorize entire games is too inefficient. Probably better to just go over annotated master games and hope that certain patterns, positions, and ideas stick with you. Just my two cents worth.

STS

Joined
07 Feb 07
Moves
62961
07 Feb 09

Memorizing games will do nothing except make you an enormous geek.

rc

Joined
26 Aug 07
Moves
38239
07 Feb 09
1 edit

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Memorizing games will do nothing except make you an enormous geek.
but i am already a chess geek, plus i have an anorak! in fact i love my anorak, Geeks are now cool my friend, cool dudes got nuthin! plus chicks dig Geeks! just ask my rather beautiful wife!

W
Angler

River City

Joined
08 Dec 04
Moves
16907
07 Feb 09

Every 20 memorized games will improve your Elo by fifty points.

M

Joined
06 May 08
Moves
1908
07 Feb 09

Originally posted by Wulebgr
Every 20 memorized games will improve your Elo by fifty points.
Splendid, if I can memorise 1120 games I'll be world number 1.

I'd better get cracking then...

F

Joined
11 Nov 05
Moves
43938
07 Feb 09

I remembered... Oh, I forgot.

e4

Joined
06 May 08
Moves
42492
07 Feb 09
1 edit

Remembering the key ideas is the main thing.

The more games you play over the more ideas you get.

You will find you will do very little original thinking - 99% of what
you play you will have seen before. (even the one move blunders).

No harm in knowing off by heart loads of short sharp wins.
It's good to have a bucket load of games to show on tap to
students of the game.

Agree - Geeks are cool.

rc

Joined
26 Aug 07
Moves
38239
07 Feb 09

its really difficult to get a chess player whose surname begins with E, all i can find is Max Ewue, who will never the less suffice!