Mixed Sheet of the Month

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We have started a tradition; the first Monday of the month I will put up six exercises of reasonable difficulty (for difficult stuff – see my collected works :-)). The exercises are meant to get progressively more difficult, but as always, what is difficult for some, might be easy for others.

Spend 60 minutes maximum for the sheet. If you are a strong player, you will probably have a lot of time to spend on the last exercise; but since a 2700 player missed the right continuation, you are likely to need the time when you get there!

Write down your main line. Consider writing down a move to be the same as it would be in an old correspondence game: writing it means playing it! Thus you cannot have two moves, as some of my students have from time to time.

Points are awarded for the key ideas/moves that need to be anticipated. You are awarded the point ONLY if you have written down the move. The maximum you can score is 20 points.

Please confess to your rating and your score for others to compare with.

If you want to download the sheet, you can do so here.

If you want to download the exercises as a cbv-file with questions per move, you can do so here.

The solutions can be found here.

 

 


20 thoughts on “Mixed Sheet of the Month”

  1. Clement

    I can only count 19 points available! I missed Black’s main line defence in puzzle 5. Other than that I got 18/19, rating:2244

    Reply
  13. SovietSchool

    I was wondering as a general point is it more effective to train by using a book of test positions like these or a book of complete games?

    For example do people think it more effective to go through say Karolyi’s 2 bookson Karpov or Jacob,s books Positional Play And Calculation?

    Are the book of training positions more instructive than complete gamesbut can they be a little bit artificial eg would I ever have found the correct move in position 5 or had confidence to play it in a game

    Reply
  14. Indra Polak

    I enjoy replaying complete games more than starting from a “random” position. But I think it is much more time effective to train your skills starting from an interesting position. Your mind gets much more in “working mode” when doing the exercise. If I replay games my mind is mostly at rest and just marvels at the moves, no need to analyze for myself. And the “solve the puzzle” element can be a rewarding thing. So I suggest you first do “the dirty work” by training the positions and then “as a reward” you replay complete games from the big champions.

    Reply
  16. SovietSchool

    Thanks Indra, I think you are right I have found these sheets made me feel similar mentally to having a swim or exercises physically so will try training books.

    Reply
  17. JB

    Thanks Jacob

    8 (11?) points
    45-50 mins
    Fide 1870

    1 – got it
    2 – right first move but had no clue why 😉
    3 – nope
    4 – nope (will have to check with rybka why my alternate idea doesn’t work)
    5 – yep (easy one imo)
    6 – yes (but mixed up moves 35 and 36 in my calculations)

    Reply
  18. Jimmy

    Unrated
    7 points
    Less than 50min

    1. Easy
    2. Got the first move right and didn’t bother looking further
    3. Nope
    4. Beautiful solution! Obvious once you see it. Missed it though
    5. Easy. Didn’t look much beyond Rh2 though
    6. Argh! Tried all the moves and ideas but couldn’t put them together.

    Anyway, I certainly learn a lot about my weaknesses by studying these positions. Thanks Jacob!

    Reply

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