I have recently read a lot of comments about the type of puzzles and advices that I give. This has to do with my teaching philosophy. I know different people have different teaching methods and this is mine. I try not to teach any of my students to memorize chess. I teach them to understand chess and its many unique patterns. By understanding chess and its patterns, players can easily transpose their knowledge to various positions.
Why do I do this? Not everyone wants to be a world class player and not everyone has 8-10 hours a day to study chess. Therefore, I would like the players to maximize their time to gain the most benefits. Does it work right away? No. I do not teach people to improve in 1 day or after 1 lesson. I teach them the foundation for long term benefits. If people want quick fixes then I am the wrong person to turn to. My successes came from hard work, dedication and passion.
Some coaches teach their students to memorize a lot of openings and tricks so their students can win right away. In the long run, it will end up hurting the students more than helping. When I give puzzles, I hope you will do your best to try to solve them without using computers. Using computers will not help you at all during the games.
My Internet video classes for novice, intermediate and advanced levels are almost ready to go. I did a big test yesterday and the live feeds and sounds came across very clear. Again, thank you for your support and this blog is for YOU!
Your method is awesome!
Hi Susan,
I totally agree with you.
I ‘retired’ from chess for about 12 years and was rated mid 1800’s and decided to start playing tournament chess again. But before I dived in, I studied daily (Tactics, Endgames, Annotated Games) for about 2 months and I managed to not give away many rating points and even came in second in my second tournament!
I have learned so much recently working on the pawn puzzles. They have been very helpful. They are a fun way to learn.
Good luck with your Internet video program, Susan. I wish I had a teacher like you when I was a kid. For people who aren’t professional chess players, it’s nice to have some puzzles to solve. There’s a documentary about people who solve the NY Times crossword puzzle. I wonder if they’ll eventually do a similar documentary about people who solve chess puzzles.
“Using computers will not help you at all during the games.”
~ Ha!!! I do believe Topalov and Kramnik would disagree with that !!!
Dear Susan,
Your dedication to chess is appreciated by many. I have read your books and do a few chess problems daily from the “Chess 5334 Problems, Combinations, and games.”
Your teaching philosophy is quite respectable and, in the long run, what is best for students. You give students a solid foundation upon which to build if they so desire. It’s the same as teaching a freshman college course in, say, history. One does their best to give the student a solid foundation and, then, they can take what they learn and advance into further study, if desired.
There are so many people ready to criticize and say horrible things about people. I hope you never let those negative comments hurt you.
You are, in my humbe opinion, America’s #1 “Chess Ambassador.” I cannot imagine what chess would be like without your tireless efforts.
I thank you and, being an academic, believe your teaching philosophy is not only sound, but has proven itself from the success of your students.
The future of chess is children. Your work with them is most admirable. For this, I thank you.
Keep up the wonderful work!
And to those who post mean comments about GM Polgar, well, in 100 years whose name shall be remembered…an “Anon” or a Polgar?
We all know the answer to this question.
Most Sincerely,
Tim Harris