Improve your Chess via Active Learning

ACTIVE LEARNING is any strategy that involves students in doing things and thinking about the things they are doing (*)

Igor's Chess Doubles (ICD) #1

I enjoy coaching! Early in my coaching career, I realized that in spite of 1000s of books being available on virtually every chess subject, certain training options are not available those interested in improving. For example, I came up with a testing mechanism, aimed at helping players or all levels to assess their skills and improve them. My Chess Exam books have been praised by critics and readers alike. I enjoyed creating them!

Now, I am foraying into a somewhat new territory – something that I have done for years in my private coaching sessions but haven’t publicized much. Specifically, I often take existing puzzles with defined objectives and turn them into something different, all via a miniscule change to the setup. I believe that this enhances the training by creating a setup which is much closer to a real game – when sometimes you have opportunities to reach an objective and sometimes you don’t. Often, this is caused by a subtle placement of seemingly irrelevant piece.

My students have been telling me they enjoy studying these special exercises, which are often focused on the subject we are covering, or an issue, I determined, the student needs to work on.

Below, you will see some examples. If you enjoy them, please comment and share this article with your friends. I will consider making this a regular series if I see a substantial interest.

Check these pairs of positions. For each pair –

1. Determine what is different between setups (A) and (B). White is always at the bottom (a1 = bottom left corner)
2. You always have BLACK pieces, no matter Who is to move – determine if you would rather have position (A) or (B), or indifferent. Make sure you have a good reason!

Scoring: 1.  1 point for each pair; 2. 2 - 10 points, depending on complexity. Adjust your score, if your reasoning wasn't 100%.

Maximum score is 22. How will you do? Invite your friends to compete. Enjoy!

	#1 Easy <<A       B>> White to Move
	#2 Easy <<A       B>> White to Move
	#3 Moderate <<A       B>> White to Move
	#4 Moderate <<A       B>> Black to Move

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Copyrighted @ 2013 Igor Khmelnitsky

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(*Bonwell, C., & Eison, J. (1991). Active learning: Creating excitement in the classroom (ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report No. 1). Washington, DC: George Washington University, p. 2)