Is Fritz technique trainer a special software package or add-on to the regular Fritz or are you referring to the "Sparring Partner" mode? If you are referring to Sparring (which I've noted, but haven't used) what settings have you found most intersting or fruitful in training. I'm thinking of using it to get a few more "long games" in, games which are hard to come by on the various servers out there against human opponents.

I'm a few years younger than you but I remember the simuls that used to go on in N.Y. Did you play Spassky when he came around? I think it was in 1973 and cost $100. I really wanted to play but $100 was way out of my price range as a young teenager.

This is just a general guideline, but if you are going to enter the under 1600 section in a tournament, you should train with the normal mode on the same time limit as the tournament, four games preferable (two black, two white, try to get the computer to play different openings, black obtains an insignificant advantage in the kings enlish, so practice with that, and the training against queenpawn games is pretty fun, though the computer is tougher in kingpawn openings play whatever you are comfortable with.

That is no way to speak about a well respected chess author! You will apologize at once!

Something good to play in a blitz game or perhaps in a low rated tournament, but if white sees the Qa5+ continuation, it will probably play something like 5. Nc3 and all the sudden the former bait on h6 doesn't look too promising.

As for the standard 3...Bf5, the problem is that White has 8 plans, and you need to know at least half a dozen of them. I don't think that the best-case scenarios for Black are significantly better there than on 3...c5!? or 3...Na6.

As for "worst" books, I don't understand the concept. I have over 2500 chess books in my library, and there isn't a single one with actual chess content that doesn't have something of interest or of use in some way. There are certainly many I don't need, and some that might not have been worth my investment, but even in those cases, I'm sure others find them useful. I think that on this site most of my bookls from the past decade or so have been mentioned both favorably and unfavorably, which is normal for an author. Please remember that the hype on a book cover never comes from the author, often authors don't see it until it is in print. Personally, I never pay any attention to it. I pick up a book, look it over (or read a chapter online) and decide for myself whether it would be useful for me to buy it. I suggest you all do the same.

Also, thanks for the insight on Nc3, I see now that c3 would give white a better position. Call it an oversight ;)

Also if anybody reads Killer Chess Tactics and Hypermodern repetoire for white among other books will find he is a good author, I rank him up there with Aagard, Lund, and Maddox. Schiller doesnt simply give a bunch of variations that are useless unless the ideas behind them are there (MCO). He gives the ideas behind the openings (SCO is better then MCO, as it has WHOLE games played out) Though I must admit that I do not like the fact white wins all kings enlish games in his book, I would include two white victories and two black vitories and a draw for every opening, but overall is quite a good read.

1.e4,c5 2.Nf3,e6 3.d4,cxd4 4.Nxd4,Qb6 is this sound? I often play 5.Nc3,Bc5 from here and black seems to have an advantage in alot of lines.

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