Four Problems Part II

Posted by Glenn Wilson - December 9, 2007 on 5:01 am | In Houston Chess, Knights Errant, PCT, problem | Comments Off In a recent post comparing CT-Art and PCT the subject of the relative difficulty of their exercises came up. I had made the comment that at the highest level of difficulty they were about the same difficulty but some other posters commented that CT-Art had more difficult problems at the highest levels. So, I decided to investigate by selecting a couple problems from each to examine closer. I

 


Four Problems

Posted by Glenn Wilson - December 7, 2007 on 6:42 am | In Houston Chess, Knights Errant, PCT, problem | Comments Off Update: 12/8/2007: I've created a link where you can play through the problems and subvariations with added analysis and evaluation by Fritz. The link is: fourproblems. For each problem, ignore the first move as it is just setting up the problem and is not part of the exercise as given by PCT or CT-Art. Four tactical chess problems are below each with a main line solution. They are meant to

 


CT-ART 3.0 vs. PCT

Posted by Glenn Wilson - December 1, 2007 on 5:50 am | In Houston Chess, Knights Errant, PCT | Comments Off First, ordering CT-ART was bumpy. I ordered CT-ART Aug 26 and did not get a download link until 4 days later and then only after sending an email inquiring about it. Second, to install CT-ART after downloading requires a writable CD drive. The first time I went through the install process the software would not run. I later uninstalled it, make a new CD image and re-installed it and, finally

 


PCT and Circles Update

Posted by Glenn Wilson - November 23, 2007 on 6:59 am | In Houston Chess, Knights Errant, PCT | Comments Off I have finished Module 1 Tactics (after having previously completed all of Module 2) so I now have two completed Personal Chess Trainer Tactics Modules and I am now on Unit 4 of Tactics Module 3. There are 51 Units in each Module (with 60 to 720 positions per Unit) so that is 105+ completed tactics units since getting the software in August or about one per day. Some days I do none or part of

 


Goals and Circles Update

Posted by Glenn Wilson - November 11, 2007 on 6:15 am | In Houston Chess, Knights Errant, PCT | Comments Off I have continued using PCT for tactical training and I have completed 17 units since the last major update about 22 days ago which works out to about 3 units completed every four days. I continue to be impressed with the PCT software and their selection of positions. I use PCT and I am doing this form (circles!) of tactical training mostly because I enjoy it. The Knights Errant add

 


Blitz and Circles Update

Posted by Glenn Wilson - October 28, 2007 on 8:50 am | In Houston Chess, Knights Errant, PCT, problem | Comments Off I just played a few ICC blitz games. They did not all go well, but this one is fun: GlennWilson (1501) - Vercingetorix (1358) [B21] Smith Morra Gambit ICC 1 3 Internet Chess Club, 28.10.2007 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Bg4 9.Rd1 Ne5 White to move and win. I believe that I saw this tactic because of the tactical training (Circles!) I have been

 


Circles Update

Posted by Glenn Wilson - October 20, 2007 on 6:11 am | In Houston Chess, Knights Errant, PCT | Comments Off After completing Module 2 of PCT and then experimenting with Module 3 and Module 6 I ultimately decided to go ahead and complete Module 1 as my next task. I had initially skipped Module 1 after doing a few exercises as I deemed it as too easy for me. While I do still find Module 1 to be easy my attitude towards the value of lots of practice of easy problems has changed. Anyway, after wandering