While working the Tactics Trainer on Chess.com, I came across this position with Black to move.
I failed on this problem, and so far I've failed on 1117 other problems. I've also succeeded at 959. My percentage is under 50% because I am sometimes unfocused, and because success always brings harder problems.
I've honed my skills through nearly fifteen hours on Chess.com's Tactics Trainer since late January. This effort has displaced my Tactics Training Plus as a priority. For those of you following my Resolutions, a kind of failure is in evidence. I have been consistent in spending ninety minutes per week with tactics training, but the form differs from the plan that I had resolved to follow. I will be returning to training against Hiarcs and other silicon beasts from the positions in Reinfeld, but I think it is good to vary the methods of training from time to time.
Chess.com is an excellent chess site. It is the newest member of a small group of top class turn-based sites, joining ChessWorld, Red Hot Pawn, and Game Knot. The other dozen or so sites at which I've played have their merits, but cannot compete as equals with these four. The quality of Chess.com's tactics trainer is matched by a similar feature at ChessWorld, but is missing or no where nearly as good at the other two. Of the four in the top class, two stand above. ChessWorld was created in 2001; Chess.com arrived in 2007.
Chess.com is also a Gold sponsor of the 2009 Washington State Elementary Chess Championship just over four weeks away.
Ok, i give up. Does that diagram have a solution?
ReplyDelete1...Rb1+ 2.Kh2 Rh1+ 3.Kxh1 Ng3+ 4.fxg3 Qxg2+ 5.Kxg2
ReplyDeleteOh, i knew you played for a draw with black but i overlooked Ng3+. I always looked at Nf2+. Darned.
ReplyDeleteHow does the score on Tactics Trainer compare with your USCF rating?
ReplyDeleteIt ranges from my USCF rating (on bad days) to +400 or so when I am doing well. My Tactics Trainer score is usually a little higher than my Chess.com rating.
ReplyDeleteThanks. My chess.com rating is pretty low, but a lot higher on the trainer, too, so I thought something was wrong.
ReplyDeleteEvery week my trainer rating drops below 1900, or so it seems. When it does, I'll be keep playing until I get it back over 2000. I've eaten dinner late more than once on account of this obsession.
ReplyDelete