Descriptive vs. Algebraic Notation
David Woolf
I learned to play chess as a youngster and read a couple of chess books as a
teenager. I had no trouble dealing with the descriptive notation that was
popular at that time. I put chess away for 30+ years and have just begun to
study seriously in the last 3 years (I'm 49 now). All of this recent study
has been with algebraic notaion, of course, and I actually feel like I know
the board fairly well. I can mostly "see" it in my head. This is a good
thing.
However, there are a few game collections I have which are in descriptive
notation. When I try to work with these books, I find I am plodding along.
The descriptive notation is a real hassle and an impediment to my reading
(and certainly enjoying and benefitting from) the games. I just can't seem
to pick it up easily.
I've talked to several master level friends who say they are "fluent" in
both. (One actually said he doesn't even really notice which kind of
notation he's reading.)
Does anyone else have trouble with this? Any suggestions, other than the
obvious "brute force" approach I've been using? (Trying to learn this game
at my age is enough of a challenge; this is just one additional hurdle I'd
like to try to lower.)
Thanks in advance for your replies.
-David
Knob Nose
Stay away from Opening books like the plague, but don't forget to get a
recent endgame book.
Here are two lists. One for general works and one for endgames.
Przewoznik & Soszynski How to Think in Chess 2001
Silman The Reassess Your Chess Workbook, How to Master Chess Imbalances 2001
Pedersen Test Your Chess 2000
Rowson The Seven Deadly Chess Sins 2000
Schiller 100 Awesome Chess Moves 2000
Ward It's Your Move 2000
Ziyatdinov & Dyson GM-RAM Essential Grandmaster Chess Knowledge 2000
Berliner The System A World Champion's Approach to Chess 1999
Davies The Power Chess Program, Book 2 1999
Dunnington 101 Winning Chess Strategies 1999
Schiller Encyclopedia of Chess Wisdom 1999
Silman The Amateur's Mind Turning Chess Misconceptions Into Chess Mastery
1999
Wilson & Alberston 303 Tricky Chess Tactics 1999
Avni Surprise in Chess 1998
Davies The Chess Player's Battle Manual 1998
Davies The Power Chess Program, Book 1 1998
Dvoretsky & Yusupov Attack and Defence How Creative Thought Develops in a
Chess Player 1998
Evans The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes . . . and how to avoid them 1998
Keene & Schiller World Champion Combinations 1998
Silman The Complete Book of Chess Strategy Grandmaster Techniques from A to
Z 1998
Watson Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy Advances Since Nimzowitsch 1998
Wilson & Alberston 303 Tricky Checkmates 1998
Alburt Chess Training Pocketbook 300 Most Important Positions and Ideas
1997
Alburt & Parr Secrets of the Russian Chess Masters: Book 2 Beyond the
Basics 1997
Hartston Better Chess 1997
Holloway Winning Chess Psychology Vol. 1 Modern Ideas & Useful Theory 1997
Kopec Practical Middlegame Techniques 1997
Levy Play Chess Combinations and Sacrifices 1996
Palatnik & Alburt The King in Jeopardy: The Best Techniques for Attack and
Defense 1996
van Reek Hypermodern Strategy 1996
Bronstein The Modern Chess Self-Tutor 1995
Crouch & Kulagin Against the Maroczy Bind 1995
Davis & Norwood Grandmaster Meets Chess Amateur 1995
Dvoretsky & Yusupov Technique for the Tournament Player 1995
Kasparov Gary Kasparov's Chess Puzzle Book {2 copies} 1995
McDonald Planning 1995
Palatnik & Alburt Chess Tactics for the Tournament Player 1995
Povah Chess Training 1995
Silman The Amateur's Mind 1995
Soltis Pawn Structure Chess 1995
Waitzkin Josh Waitzkin's Attacking Chess: Aggressive Strategies and Inside
Moves 1995
Walker Test your Chess Piece Power 1995
Avni Danger in Chess: How to Avoid Making Blunders 1994
Capablanca Chess Fundamentals 1994
Crouch Pawn Chains 1994
Dvoretsky & Yusupov Opening Preparation 1994
Euwe & Kramer Middlegame Book 1: Static Features 1994
Euwe & Kramer Middlegame Book 2: Dynamic & Subjective Features 1994
Evans New Ideas in Chess 1994
Evans, Silman & Smith Modern Middlegame Lessons 1994
Gufeld, et. al. The Art of Mastering Chess, A Complete Course for Beginners
1994
Hartston How to Cheat at Chess 1994
Kopec How to Visualize Chess Combinations (VIDEO) 1994
Kopec Pawn Structures & How to Play Them (VIDEO) 1994
McDonald Positional Sacrifices 1994
Mednis Middlegame Analysis (VIDEO with booklet) 1994
Mikhalchishin, Srokowski & Braslavsky Isolated Pawn Theory of Chess
Middlegame 1994
Polgar Chess 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games 1994
Saidy The March of Ideas in Chess 1994
Seirawan & Silman Winning Chess Strategies 1994
Shereshevsky The Soviet Chess Conveyor 1994
Smith & DeVault Test Your Opening, Middlegame & Endgame Play Vol. II 1994
Soltis The Inner Game of Chess: How to Calculate and Win 1994
Tal & Damsky Attack with Mikhail Tal 1994
Utterberg The Dynamics of Chess Psychology 1994
Wetzell Chess Master at Any Age 1994
Wolff Defense & Counterattack (VIDEO) 1994
Wolff How to Play Winning Attacks (VIDEO) 1994
Ault The Genesis of Power Chess 1993
Bondarevsky (& Smith) Combinations in the Middlegame, Theory & Exercises
1993
Dvoretsky & Yusupov Training for the Tournament Player 1993
King How Good is Your Chess? 1993
Levin Position & Pawn Tension in Chess 1993
Shumilin Chess Tactics Training {In Russian} 1993
Silman How to Reassess Your Chess 3rd Ed. 1993
Weeramantry & Eusebi Best Lessons of a Chess Coach 1993
Agur Bobby Fischer: A Study of his Approach to Chess 1992
Alburt & Pelts Comprehensive Chess Course, Volumes I & II 3rd
Edition 1992
Dvoretsky Secrets of Chess Tactics 1992
Love Positional Ideas in Chess 1992
Norwood Chess and Education 1992
Schiller Strategy for Advanced Players 1992
Schiller The Chessplayer's Laboratory, Vol. I 1992
Seirawan & Silman Winning Chess Tactics 1992
Smith & DeVault Test Your Opening, Middlegame & Endgame Play Vol. I 1992
Suetin A Contemporary Approach to the Middle Game 1992
Avni Creative Chess 1991
Benko & Hochberg Winning with Chess Psychology 1991
Evans, Silman & Roberts How to Get Better at Chess: Chess Masters on their
Art 1991
Gelfer Positional Chess Handbook 1991
Hays & Hall Combination Challenge 1991
Littlewood Master Class: The Counter-Attack 1991
Mednis From the Opening into the Endgame 1991
Mednis How to be a Complete Tournament Player 1991
Neishtadt Attacking the King 1991
Neishtadt Queen Sacrifice 1991
Neishtadt Test Your Tactical Ability 1991
Nesis Tactical Chess Exchanges 1991
Nimzowitsch My System 1991
Romanovsky Chess Middlegame Combinations 1991
Seirawan & Minev Take My Rooks 1991
Suba Dynamic Chess Strategy 1991
Crouch Master Class: Delayed Castling 1990
Dvoretsky Secrets of Chess Training 1990
Heisman Elements of Positional Evaluation 1990
Kmoch Pawn Power in Chess 1990
Littlewood Master Class: Planning in Chess 1990
McDonald Master Class: Defence in Chess 1990
McDonald Master Class: Typical Mistakes 1990
Nesis Exchanging to Win in the Endgame 1990
Romanovsky Chess Middlegame Planning 1990
Seirawan & Silman Play Winning Chess 1990
Shaskin Attacking the Queenside 1990
Webb Chess for Tigers 2nd Ed. 1990
Alburt Test and Improve Your Chess 1989
Mednis How to Defeat a Superior Opponent 1989
Pandolfini Weapons of Chess: An Omnibus of Chess Strategy 1989
Schmidt How Chess Masters Think 2nd Rev. Ed. 1989
Short Nigel Short's Chess Skills - A Step by Step Guide to Winning Play 1989
Taulbut Positional Chess New Ed. 1989
Unger Strategical Themes 1989
Walker Attacking the King 1989
Estrin & Romanov The World Champions Teach Chess 1988
Pfleger & Trepper Chess: The Mechanics of the Mind 1988
Plaskett Playing to Win 1988
Polugayevsky & Damsky The Art of Defense in Chess 1988
Smith & Hall The Modern Art of Attack 1988
Suetin Plan Like a Grandmaster 1988
Buckley Practical Chess Analysis 1987
Furst Theme Artistry: Encyclopedia of Tactical Themes 1987
Mednis From the Middlegame into the Endgame 1987
Shamkovich & Schiller Saving Lost Positions 1987
Tarrasch The Game of Chess Dover Ed. 1987
Averhakh Chess Tactics for Advanced Players 2nd Ed. 1986
Dunne How to Become a Candidate Master 2nd Ed. 1986
Kostyev 40 Lessons for the Club Player 1986
Pafnutieff How to Create Combinations 1986
Schiller Attacking the Castled King 1986
Silman How to Reassess Your Chess 1986
Taulbut & Jones Chess Exchanges 1986
Bellin & Ponzetto Test Your Positional Play 1985
Chandler, et. al. Mastering Chess: A Course in 21 Lessons 1985
Furst Pawn Artistry: The Encyclopedia of Pawn Tactics 1985
Kasparov Kasparov Teaches Chess 1985
Pandolfini Bobby Fischer's Outrageous Chess Moves 1985
Hartston & Wason The Psychology of Chess 1984
Flesch (Reti) Planning in Chess 1983
Florian Defence and Counter Attack 1983
Nimzowitsch Blackade 1983
Bronstein & Smolyan Chess in the Eighties 1982
Evans The Chess Beat 1982
Furst The Middlegame Artistry: Encyclopedia of Material Winning
Combinations 1982
Griffiths Better Chess for Club Players 1982
Harding Why You Lose at Chess 1982
Mednis King Power in Chess 1982
Pachman The Middlegame in Chess 1982
Suetin Three Steps to Chess Mastery 1982
Karpov & Gik Chess Kaleidoscope 1981
Kotov Train Like a Grandmaster 1981
Sheffield Tension in Chess Positions 1980
Timman The Art of Chess Analysis 1980
Znosko-Borovsky The Middle Game in Chess Dover Ed. 1980
Horowitz & Reinfeld How to Think Ahead in Chess 1979
Soltis Catalog of Chess Mistakes 1979
Kotov Play Like a Grandmaster 1978
Lasker, Ed Modern Chess Strategy 1978
Stean Simple Chess 1978
Lisitsyn & Cafferty Second Book of Chess Strategy 1976
O'Kelly de Galway Assess Your Chess Fast 1976
Sokolsky Pawns in Action 1976
Soltis The Art of Defense in Chess 1975
Thomas Chess Technique 1975
Abrahams Technique in Chess 1973
Evans What's the Best Move? 1973
Keres & Golz Chess Combinations as a Fine Art 1972
Krogius Chess Psychology 1972
Saidy The Battle of Chess Ideas 1972
Shamkovich The Sacrifice in Chess 1972
Kotov Think Like a Grandmaster 1971
Coles Dynamic Chess: The Modern Style of Aggressive Play 1966
Fischer, Margulies & Mosenfelder Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess 1966
Lasker, Em Common Sense in Chess Dover Ed. 1965
Vukovic The Art of Attack in Chess 1965
Keres & Kotov The Art of the Middle Game 1964
Pachman Modern Chess Strategy 1963
Znosko-Borovsky How Not to Play Chess Dover Ed. 1961
Mason The Principles of Chess Dover Ed. 1960
Reti Modern Ideas in Chess 1960
Reinfeld The Complete Chess Course 1959
Euwe, Blaine & Rumble The Logical Approach to Chess 1958
Mason The Art of Chess 1958
Barden How Good is Your Chess? 1957
Chernev Logical Chess, Move by Move 1957
Reinfeld 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate 1955
Reinfeld 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices & Combinations 1955
Euwe Judgement & Planning in Chess 1953
Renaud & Kahn The Art of Checkmate 1953
Horowitz & Reinfeld How to Improve Your Chess 1952
Spielmann The Art of Sacrifice in Chess 1951
Lasker, Em Lasker's Manual of Chess 1947
Capablanca A Primer of Chess 1935
Rubin & Emms Chess for the Rank and File
Alburt & Krogius Just the Facts! Winning Endgame Knowledge in One Volume
2000
Flear Improve Your Endgame Play 2000
Muller & Lamprecht Secrets of Pawn Endings 2000
Lutz Endgame Secrets 1999
Seirawan Winning Chess Endings 1999
Mednis Advanced Endgame Strategies 1996
Beliavsky & Mikhalchishin Winning Endgame Technique 1995
Donaldson Essential Chess Endings for Advanced Players 1995
Mednis King & Pawn Endgames (VIDEO) 1994
Mednis Rook & Pawn Endgames (VIDEO) 1994
Averhakh Chess Endings Essential Knowledge 1993
Speelman, Tisdall & Wade Batsford Chess Endings 1993
Mednis & Crouch Rate Your Endgame 1992
Nunn Secrets of Rook Endings 1992
Shereshevsky & Slutsky Mastering the Endgame, v.2: From the Closed Games
1992
Silman Essential Chess Endings Explained Move by Move Vol. 1 Rev. 2nd Ed.
1992
Smith Essential Chess Endings Explained Move by Move Vol. 2 Intermediate
thru Master 1992
Mednis Strategic Themes in Endgames 2nd Ed. 1991
Shereshevsky & Slutsky Mastering the Endgame, v.1: The Open & Semi-Open
Games 1991
Pandolfini Pandolfini's Endgame Course 1988
Speelman Analyzing the Endgame 2nd Rev. Ed. 1988
Shereshevsky Endgame Strategy 1985
CHESS DIGEST Unusual Endings 1980
Brieger Imagination in the Endgame 1973
Chernev Practical Chess Endings 1969
"David Woolf" <dwo...@emory.edu> wrote in message
news:9sboo3$adc$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net...
Ricky Robbins <
wrote:
>This one's driving me crazy. Any helpful ideas?
>
>I learned to play chess as a youngster and read a couple of chess books as a
>teenager. I had no trouble dealing with the descriptive notation that was
>popular at that time. I put chess away for 30+ years and have just begun to
>study seriously in the last 3 years (I'm 49 now).
I put it aside for 20+ years, I'm 42 now, so similar situation.
>All of this recent study
>has been with algebraic notaion, of course, and I actually feel like I know
>the board fairly well. I can mostly "see" it in my head. This is a good
>thing.
>
>However, there are a few game collections I have which are in descriptive
>notation. When I try to work with these books, I find I am plodding along.
>The descriptive notation is a real hassle and an impediment to my reading
>(and certainly enjoying and benefitting from) the games. I just can't seem
>to pick it up easily.
Same here, though not game collections, but instructional books.
>
>I've talked to several master level friends who say they are "fluent" in
>both. (One actually said he doesn't even really notice which kind of
>notation he's reading.)
>
>Does anyone else have trouble with this? Any suggestions, other than the
>obvious "brute force" approach I've been using? (Trying to learn this game
>at my age is enough of a challenge; this is just one additional hurdle I'd
>like to try to lower.)
I'm not even going to try to relearn the descriptive language. I'm
starting to think my brain must have lost half of its chess-thinking
cells over the last twenty years, and that's tough enough. What I
would suggest is that you wait about a week, then sell the descriptive
books on ebay and start replacing them with algebraic ones. (The
reason you need to wait a week is so my auctions, which I hope to get
online tonight, will be complete <smile>.)
They may not go for much, but I'm not making use of them at all and
maybe someone who can read both "languages" will be happy to pick them
up.
Ricky
Reinhold Stansich
you are under the best 90 years old players of the world. ;-)
Knob Nose wrote:
> I suggest you start studying the most recent books and work your way back.
> Stay away from Opening books like the plague, but don't forget to get a
> recent endgame book.
>
> Here are two lists. One for general works and one for endgames.
> <snip about 1000 suggestions>
--
Reinhold Stansich
Vienna, Austria (No Kangaroos, but Mozart)
reinhold...@gmx.at
Reinhold Stansich
not very common. But when I tried to read "Simple Chess" I had real big trouble.
I'm glad I found at Ossimitz's page a pgn holding all the games/positions given
in the book, so I can play through them at least on a computer. Maybe there are
files for the books you need, so you can go over them in connection with your
compi.
Knob Nose
and finish it.
______________________________________
"Reinhold Stansich" <reinhold...@nospam.gmx.at> wrote in message
news:3BEA4409...@nospam.gmx.at...