LeChess Club Study Buddies

 Study Buddy Groups for U1400's

Study Buddies for all ratings -  LeChess Club members of all ratings are encouraged to use the Study Buddy message board to find study buddies. 

This Study Buddy Group for U1400's  - This is a group of Study Buddies rated approximately 1400 and below who are gathering together for training activities that benefit us lower rated folks.  Basic chess books provide the "curriculum" for a group of 3-5, and one stronger player assists as needed.  The pace is as slow as necessary.  Current books in use are "Pandolfini's End Game Course"  or  "Logical Chess Move by Move" (by Chernev).  As a group, we might organize other activities geared to lower rated players later.

Why - Lower rated players need some input from stronger players, but often don't benefit from activities dominated by higher rated players because the discourse is well over the heads of the lower rated players.  This is our chance!  Let's make good use of it!

The Groups -  There is space available in some groups listed below.  Contact BosqueVerde if interested.

Group 1 - Mondays @ 20:00 - KingDestroyer
          Logical Chess Move by Move, by Chernev
          WCB, therookery, CoasterBrake, cbackous, < space for 4 more >
          NEW GROUP - NOW TAKING SIGNUPS - message BosqueVerde, if your standard rating is under 1400 or so, you will read the game in the book before each group meeting, and you can attend consistently.

Group 2 -  Wednesdays @ 14:00 - JimGrange
          Pandolfini's End Game Course
          IconoJett, supraholic, Stylites,
          NEW GROUP - NOW TAKING SIGNUPS - message BosqueVerde, if your standard rating is under 1400 or so, you will read the game in the book before each group meeting, and you can attend consistently.

Group 3 - Thursday @ 20:00 - <leader needed>
          Logical Chess Move by Move, by Chernev
          jocooper, BosqueVerde, Furrbrain  < space for 5 more>
 

   Group leaders -  Thank you for helping some of the lower rated LeChessies improve!  Some hints:

  1. Stick to the book for the most part.  You don't need to prepare lessons!   Let the book do that for you!  :-) .   Make it known that you hope your group will go over the game, reading the comments on the book, BEFORE the group meeting.  If you prepare anything extra, keep it simple, and use it to reinforce something that came up in the game of the week.
     
  2. At the group meeting, play through the game in a similar manner as you would for a mentor session.  Keep it under an hour and limit long variations.
     
  3. Encourage interaction.  Ask things like "What struck you as you went over this game?"  "Did anything confuse you?"  "What do you think of the opening (or the way white/black did...)?"    Occasionally when you're about to make a comment, instead turn it into a question to elicit ideas from the group.
     
  4. If covering the end game book, your sessions will be less lecture, and more practice DOING.  Lead the group members in practices of playing the needed moves. 
     
  5. At the end of the meeting, recap the game by highlighting one or two main points that the students should take with them from the game. 
     
  6. If you have to miss a meeting, please try to find another mentor to fill in for you, or message the group members as soon as possible.   If you find that you can no longer lead the group, let BosqueVerde know as soon as possible. 
     
  7. You might want to start a new thread at the game forum for each group:  The Study Buddy Under 1300 Message Board

(***Leaders needed ***)  =  If you are a LeChess Club member, would like to help us novices study these books, and can offer a time every week that you can commit to, please consider contributing to your club in this way!   Mentors and potential mentors are especially encouraged to consider this avenue for contributing.  You need not be master strength, just willing to show up consistently, and to share your insights.  Please talk to Invicta-Knight or BosqueVerde if you can help with these groups, or if you might be able to help with a future group (do you have a book in mind?).

Message to Study Group members  - Please do your best to follow through on this semi-commitment.  Your group is counting on your help.  And your group leader is volunteering his/her time to make this a valuable learning experience.  Let's make it work, and maybe even expand on it in the coming months!  Please share things you are learning, whether related to your book or not, with your group as much as you wish.  Please cheer your group members on when you see them playing tourney games (but no game interference, of course).   If you have quick hints to share with a group member, please do so. 

 The books  - all three books can be ordered from many places, for example:

http://www.chesshouse.com/Logical_Chess_Move_by_Move_p/6092.htm

http://www.chesshouse.com/Pandolfinis_Endgame_Course_p/3592.htm

  PGN Game collections:

          http://wwwu.uni-klu.ac.at/gossimit/c/book.htm

          http://www.chessgames.com/perl/collections

  For more information -  Read about this and other LeChess Club activities. 
  Watch channel 340 on ICC, and see The LeChess Club website