West Michigan Masters / Experts Panel
Joe Meyer
A newly convened team of West Michigan Masters and Experts agreed to examine some of Joe Meyer's recent games.
Please click >>here<< to see their notes to Joe's games!
Joe Meyer gives a simul in Traverse City
Photo from Joe Meyer's collection
Here are our contributing panelists:
- Ratko Bojanovic
- Michael Chen
- NM Eric Fischvogt
- Matt Hassen
- FM Seth Homa
- Tim McGrew
- Alisher Sanetullaev
Eric Fischvogt also provided these summary observations to help Joe to improve his game:
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Joe has a solid foundation at chess and is eager to improve, as shown by his willingness to have his games reviewed and annotated. For Joe to progress further and someday rise above the middle classes, he will need to put in the hard work necessary to advance. First, he would benefit from a stronger understanding of his opening plans. For example, in his Closed Sicilian game against Justin Chen, Joe combined several opening plans yet was unable to realize any of them effectively. He then did very well to outplay his opponent in the endgame.
As for Joe's middlegame, he would benefit from more clarity, which comes with experience. He's good at building up pressure but needs to strengthen his tactical vision to implement more successful attacks. He should be more patient when improving his position while pressuring his opponent into weakening theirs. Also, he would improve by adding the fine art of exchanging the proper pieces into his arsenal.
For his endgame, well everybody plays the endgame imperfectly, especially in the era of sudden death time controls. Study endgames!
RECOMMENDATIONS
To improve, Joe should reflect on what he would like to achieve in chess. If he wants to climb the rating charts, I would advise an overhaul of his approach. He should select solid, middlegame-based openings, with an eye toward building small advantages. This approach will greatly develop his understanding of the game. Of course, strengthening his endgame play should be the cornerstone of this approach.
If modest improvement and simple enjoyment are the primary goals, then I would also recommend studying the games of a sharp tactician like Spassky, Tal or Korchnoi. I am also convinced that Postal/Slow Chess gives people the chance to play their best possible chess.
THEORY AND PRACTICE
I believe in theory over practice! Studying great games (not your own so much), middlegame manuals, and practical endgame books, then take on a hero! I've learned much from Capablanca, Petrosian, Botvinnik, Keres and my favorite Smyslov. Making the time to study is a key to getting better at chess.
These are the books I recommend: Nimzowitsch's Chess Praxis, Pachman's whole series (Modern chess Strategy, Modern Chess Tactics and Attack and Defense in Modern Chess Tactics), Vukovic's Art of Attack, Keres’ The Middlegame. For the endgame, read Shereshevsky's Endgame Strategy, Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual and Analytical Manual. For game collections- Zurich International Chess Tournament 1953 by Bronstein and Most Instructive Games of Chess ever Played: 62 Masterpieces of Modern Chess Strategy by Chernev.