[jmulho]

Take a beginner player who has been playing at the local chess club once a week (two hours) for 12 weeks. This player enjoys the game and wants to be better. He plays anyone who will give him a game. He occasionally wins against other beginners. He loses to the stronger players when he gets a chance to play them. This player has 24 hours available to work on chess over the next 12 weeks. What is the best way for this player to improve? Suppose the options are, 1) continue attending chess club for the next 12 weeks, or 2) stay at home and study two hours a week for the next 12 weeks. The study material is Logical Chess Move By Move by Irving Chernev (mentioned above by msluyter). The book covers 33 master-level games in two categories: kingside attack, and queen's pawn opening. Chernev, a Grandmaster, explains the reasoning behind every move in all 33 games. When the player shows up at chess club on week 25, will he be better off having chosen option 1 or option 2?