Expert: Len Molden - 12/23/2009

Question
Greetings Mr. Molden,
         I have already asked a question before!(Closed sicilian & Alapin). I am not a beginner. So please don't mistake me and give me beginner's advice. I know all tactics( I think ) and I am aware of some strategies(ex. miniority attack)(,even though I don't get a chance to express my strategic power because I start with 1.E4)Anyway, my question is how do improve my game??? I know the first few moves of the openings I play with W&B.
To give you a detailed sketch:-
W - 1. E4 if 1...E5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 etc
1... E6 (Exchange variation, but I'm thinking about changing to Tarasch var.)
1...c5(Closed Scilian)
B- 1. E4(Sicilian Najdorf)
1. D4(mixture of Q.indian and Nimzo ind.)

Answer
Hi Ganesh,

Based on your opening repertoire, you would benefit from playing over the games of a player like Alexander Alekhine:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=10240

There are many good books about him as well.  The reason I mention Alekhine, is because he played in an era when there were still many wide open, attacking games occurring.  Playing over the games of Grandmasters will always help one improve and you don't lose interest either.  I remember as a junior, I gained over 100 rating points just studying Alekhine's stock sacrifice with Bxh7+ (or its black counterpart, ...Bxh2+) from some of his games.

I generally don't recommend more modern masters (other than Bobby Fischer), because sometimes their ideas can be difficult to understand and put into practice.

For studying the specific aspects of chess, I recommend this study plan for allocating your time:

Opening - 15%
Middlegame - 15%
Endgame - 40%
Tactics (solving White/Black to play and win type positions) - 30%

Regards,

Len Molden