The Best Practice

For Purdy the best type of practice was playing over master games and below is his method:


1. Play one side only - usually the winner's side if the game is not a draw.

2. Cover the moves with a card in which a niche is cut out of one corner.

3. Think out each of your side's moves before you look at the game move, taking as long as you would in a match game. Use a chess clock if you have one.

4. Having thought of your move, actually make it on the board.

5. Then slide the card over until you see the move. If you guessed differently, find out why your move was bad.

6. Look at the opponent's move immediately. For one thing it may assist you in discovering some fault in the move you chose.

According to Purdy, it is absolutely necessary to play over games if you want to become a strong player, and this is Purdy's way to get the most benefit from this exercise.

Purdy Hints: Don't Gamble

Below are some great tips by Purdy on how to approach a chess game based on whether your are even, winning or losing:

Unless your game is a dead loss, don't gamble. With an inferior position, play for balance, not a win.

With a level game, set your opponent puzzles while keeping the balance. With a winning game, avoid lines needing much calculation.

Fundamental Principles : The Double Threat

You should at all times be on the alert for a chance to put the enemy under the necessity of doing two things at once - and you should try to avoid putting yourself into such a difficult situation. This means that the key to success in chess is A DOUBLE THREAT. A threat to one enemy piece alone is normally parried with ease and is worthless except for some reason ulterior motive. But a double threat is terrific.

How to Practice

You can play chess with the wizards of the chess world, living or dead, anytime and anywhere you like. The wizards' games are printed and you just play the games over, understanding a little at first but gradually more and more. You can imagine how a player would improve if he had a champion always at his shoulder to show him what that champion would play instead of the move the player himself had thought out.

At each move you should spend a little time thinking out a move yourself, then uncover the text move and compare it to yours. Looking first is useless.

From Guide to Good Chess pg. 10