Wednesday August 18, 2004 More Chess Stuff
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I've posted previously asking about good ways to teach Chess to young kids and got some great recommendations via the followup comments. Recently I mentioned that I'd just finished reading a good book that helped me with my end game and was now looking for helping with starting strategy. This bought on lots more comments, but it also gave two recommendations for some software called Learn to Play Chess With Fritz and Chesster. Combine this with a posting from Jamin Philip Gray with some suggestions on good books to get for improving my chess game, and it was time to put in an Amazon order. The order arrived Monday night, and I finally had time to unpack it and look at it last night. |
The computer game is primarily for my son but it's clear I'm going to enjoy it too. We bought the Windows version but it's also available for the Mac. It uses fun games to teach you the basic ways each piece moves, then takes you to the Intelligym where you put it all together, and start training for your upcoming duel against King Black. Here is a review (with screen shots) by the Four Fat Chicks. Your kids with love smashing toilets (yes really) to show how the Bishop works. Lots of giggling from Duncan and his friend while they were playing that. It uses Sumo wrestlers to show how the King moves. And much much more. We are only just starting to discover all the things that you can do.
There has been one very minor irritation so far with it. On my sons computer (Pentium III, 700 MHz, Windows XP, not sure what speed CDROM drive but circa 1999), the game had problems initially finding the CDROM. I had to continually click "Continue" on the popup that appeared. After about 6-7 of those, it all started up nicely. This was not a problem when we tried it on my ICE-Cube.
The one Chess book I bought, based on Jamin's recommendation (and there are several others on my list to get at some future date) was 303 Tricky Chess Tactics. I've only just started it, so no real comments yet, apart to say that I enjoy the puzzle style approach to learning (which this book uses) over the more pedantic approach adopted by a lot of other chess texts.
More chess feedback in a few weeks.
( Aug 18 2004, 09:15:00 AM PDT ) [Listen] Permalink Comments [1]
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