Is chess a matter of understanding or memory?

[stevencarr]

I finally managed to get over 200 on the latest grading list,thanks to the work I put in. My nighest ever rating at the age of 58, which shows it is never too late to improve.

My last 2 games published on my blog were rather nice, I think.

http://from150to200.blogspot.com/

[Jonathan Bryant]

I finally managed to get over 200 on the latest grading list,thanks to the work I put in

Excellent effort. Well done.

[Brian Towers]

Will my strength improve as a result of rote memorisation of chess positions?

I can keep you posted.

So, mission accomplished!

Are you going to leave it at that or do you plan on reporting back in another 3 or 4 years when you clock up your first IM norm?

[Mick Norris]

I finally managed to get over 200 on the latest grading list,thanks to the work I put in. My nighest ever rating at the age of 58, which shows it is never too late to improve.

My last 2 games published on my blog were rather nice, I think.

http://from150to200.blogspot.com/

Very well done

Roughly speaking, how much time have you put into improving your chess?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Excellent work.

If I may ask, in this game from your blog:

http://from150to200.blogspot.co.uk/2015 ... lasey.html

Carr,S (192) - Redmond,J (191)

How long did it take you to calculate the (complicated at first glance!) tactics around 27.Rxd5, and how long did it take you to see this idea after your opponent played 25...Bf6 (which allowed the tactic) and what had you planned if he had replied 26...dxc4 to your move 26.Bxc4?

And in the second game:

http://from150to200.blogspot.co.uk/2015 ... -2015.html

Mazek,Marek (199) - Carr,S (192)

With the tactics beginning with 22...Qxd5, how far down the line did you see? Did you see that after 25.b3, you would have the resource of 25...Ng6 (I think that is the only move to win?), or did you only see that later on as the moves were played?

[stevencarr]

I finally managed to get over 200 on the latest grading list,thanks to the work I put in. My nighest ever rating at the age of 58, which shows it is never too late to improve.

My last 2 games published on my blog were rather nice, I think.

http://from150to200.blogspot.com/

Very well done

Roughly speaking, how much time have you put into improving your chess?

About 3 hours per day.

I never watch TV, which saves a lot of time, and means I can avoid Eastenders.

[stevencarr]

Excellent work.

If I may ask, in this game from your blog:

http://from150to200.blogspot.co.uk/2015 ... lasey.html

Carr,S (192) - Redmond,J (191)

How long did it take you to calculate the (complicated at first glance!) tactics around 27.Rxd5, and how long did it take you to see this idea after your opponent played 25...Bf6 (which allowed the tactic) and what had you planned if he had replied 26...dxc4 to your move 26.Bxc4?

And in the second game:

http://from150to200.blogspot.co.uk/2015 ... -2015.html

Mazek,Marek (199) - Carr,S (192)

With the tactics beginning with 22...Qxd5, how far down the line did you see? Did you see that after 25.b3, you would have the resource of 25...Ng6 (I think that is the only move to win?), or did you only see that later on as the moves were played?

Redmond game.

I had seen Rxd5 and Ra5 before I played Bxc4. It took about 3 mins to calculate according to my scoresheet.

I had planned 27. c3 if he had played 26... dxc4. 27. c3 might not be the best move, but it is what I had planned.

In the Mazek game, I never looked at 25. b3, as it seemed obvious to me that anything other than 24. Kxc2 would lose trivially. If he didn't take the Rook, I was a piece up with a Rook on the 7th and a big pawn on f3.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks. Three minutes is impressive. I wonder if your opponent was lulled into a false sense of security by that. If you had spent 10 minutes over the move, that might have alerted him that something was amiss.

[Mick Norris]

I finally managed to get over 200 on the latest grading list,thanks to the work I put in. My nighest ever rating at the age of 58, which shows it is never too late to improve.

My last 2 games published on my blog were rather nice, I think.

http://from150to200.blogspot.com/

Very well done

Roughly speaking, how much time have you put into improving your chess?

About 3 hours per day.

I never watch TV, which saves a lot of time, and means I can avoid Eastenders.

I never watch soaps, but you certainly have more time with avoiding TV