USCF NM James Schroeder from Cleveland, Ohio
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 3:41 am
I never met him nor do I know anything about him. He self-published a little Chess Bulletin
that the Boylston Chess Club of Boston, MA subscribed to. Harry Lyman had me look at it and thought
JS's ideas were very interesting. I learned from it, and also about other ideas not having to do with Chess. All of this was long ago...
From the writings of James Schroeder: (some of his ideas for Chess players)
I want to play this game to the best of my ability, within the amount of time available.
I am playing amateurs, not Grandmasters - there is no need for me to be afraid of anyone nor anything.
I must have confidence and expect to win every game I play.
1.P-K4 is the strongest move, and the easiest way to win is to attack by creating open lines through judicious Pawn exchanges and then by making combinations.
I want to adopt a style of striving for attacking formations from the very first move. That style will make me into a successful Chess player because I am not playing a perfect machine but an imperfect human being.
My knowledge of Chess is small; I may therefore make a mistake. If I do make a mistake I will not be discouraged, surprised, or depressed - that mistake is probably not enough to lose the game. If I don't make another mistake I can draw, or win.
Success or failure is caused by my attitude:
If I expect success, my mind will analyze variations leading to success.
If I expect failure, my mind will analyze variations leading to failure.
Consequently, I must remain confident, even if I am losing.
Don't lose. Win, if possible.
Play good moves in the Opening. Do NOT try to find the "best" moves in the Opening.
You should NEVER make a mistake in the Opening.
I have aptitude for Chess; therefore, I will immediately sense the correct general strategy. I will develop my pieces reasonably and move Pawns forward. My goal will be to attack and checkmate my opponent and not permit him to checkmate me. I will easily see short-range tactics, and I will not lose a Pawn or a piece.
Because I don't have any pre-conceived notion of what is good or bad, I will not be concerned or worried. If I lose a Pawn it won't affect my play - I will still try to attack my opponent's King.
I want to try to attack and utterly destroy my opponent - "those that attack become the best".
The best way to play Chess is to attack and attack, and attack some more.
You don't become a great player by waiting for an error; you become a great player by forcing errors.
I am that most dreaded of opponents - the natural player.
I am a tactical genius because I lack sophisticated knowledge.
Help me to always visualize the move I am going to play before I play it.
I want my mind to tell me a good move. If it tells me the move to play, do not analyze long sequences of moves in order to determine if the move is good - a short sequence is enough.
If I don't trust the move, ask my mind to check the analysis, to analyze deeper, to analyze alternate moves, but do NOT look at alternate moves. DON'T THINK! - it interferes with my mind's task.
Relax, and idly think of the position in general terms. Note the tactical and positional features of it - this will help my mind analyze.
Don't analyze deeply - all you are doing is following one line of analysis from your mental chart.
Remember: when you don't think of a move (immediately) it is not because your opponent's move was good or bad; it is only because you have not anticipated it.
Examine both logical and illogical moves. Examine all checks and captures. You don't need to analyze them, just notice them.
While playing a game I must remember to have my mental scanners look at:
- every move: it weakens something and threatens something.
- short-range tactics; long-range tactics.
- strategy relevant to the position I have reached.
- the 16 tactical devices.
- the 110 types of combinations (combined tactical devices).
I must remember to continuously give myself new instructions, as needed, while I am playing. Chess is a game of constant change: I must adapt to it, be ready for it, indeed, welcome it.
When it is my opponent's turn to move make your analysis chart wider and deeper in the important variations. Consider not only the logical moves he may play, but also the illogical - but plausible - ones.
I must try to win by taking advantage of my opponent's weakness at Chess; help me to understand what that weakness is, during the course of the game. Think of his style of play, and try to anticipate his mistakes.
If I have an advantage I will change my instructions and tell my mind: "I think we have a win. Find the move that maintains the winning advantage in the most certain, or safest, or most efficient manner. Forget my opponent's strengths and weaknesses - if there is a forced win for me by sheer technique, then I want to use that technique".
Don't try any tricks.
If my opponent has an advantage, look for lines of maximum resistance.
If his advantage is not enough to win by force, then I should hold the Draw.
Say: "Swindle, swindle, little Grindle. Look for moves that may trick my opponent".
If he thinks he has an advantage he will be trying to win. If he does not have a forced win he may make an error. Be alert!
Remember - my opponent may not have the knowledge to win the position he has.
As long as I am optimistic I will analyze variations with a view to winning. Thus, if my opponent makes a mistake, I will know what is wrong with it because I have anticipated it.
I can think about anything during the game, provided I give instructions to my mind to continue analyzing the game.
I may get up and walk around. Don't look at other games - I want my mind to keep analyzing the position.
NB: I tried to look up JS on the USCF website, but couldn't find anything. Maybe I don't know how.
I believe he was a Life Master.
that the Boylston Chess Club of Boston, MA subscribed to. Harry Lyman had me look at it and thought
JS's ideas were very interesting. I learned from it, and also about other ideas not having to do with Chess. All of this was long ago...
From the writings of James Schroeder: (some of his ideas for Chess players)
I want to play this game to the best of my ability, within the amount of time available.
I am playing amateurs, not Grandmasters - there is no need for me to be afraid of anyone nor anything.
I must have confidence and expect to win every game I play.
1.P-K4 is the strongest move, and the easiest way to win is to attack by creating open lines through judicious Pawn exchanges and then by making combinations.
I want to adopt a style of striving for attacking formations from the very first move. That style will make me into a successful Chess player because I am not playing a perfect machine but an imperfect human being.
My knowledge of Chess is small; I may therefore make a mistake. If I do make a mistake I will not be discouraged, surprised, or depressed - that mistake is probably not enough to lose the game. If I don't make another mistake I can draw, or win.
Success or failure is caused by my attitude:
If I expect success, my mind will analyze variations leading to success.
If I expect failure, my mind will analyze variations leading to failure.
Consequently, I must remain confident, even if I am losing.
Don't lose. Win, if possible.
Play good moves in the Opening. Do NOT try to find the "best" moves in the Opening.
You should NEVER make a mistake in the Opening.
I have aptitude for Chess; therefore, I will immediately sense the correct general strategy. I will develop my pieces reasonably and move Pawns forward. My goal will be to attack and checkmate my opponent and not permit him to checkmate me. I will easily see short-range tactics, and I will not lose a Pawn or a piece.
Because I don't have any pre-conceived notion of what is good or bad, I will not be concerned or worried. If I lose a Pawn it won't affect my play - I will still try to attack my opponent's King.
I want to try to attack and utterly destroy my opponent - "those that attack become the best".
The best way to play Chess is to attack and attack, and attack some more.
You don't become a great player by waiting for an error; you become a great player by forcing errors.
I am that most dreaded of opponents - the natural player.
I am a tactical genius because I lack sophisticated knowledge.
Help me to always visualize the move I am going to play before I play it.
I want my mind to tell me a good move. If it tells me the move to play, do not analyze long sequences of moves in order to determine if the move is good - a short sequence is enough.
If I don't trust the move, ask my mind to check the analysis, to analyze deeper, to analyze alternate moves, but do NOT look at alternate moves. DON'T THINK! - it interferes with my mind's task.
Relax, and idly think of the position in general terms. Note the tactical and positional features of it - this will help my mind analyze.
Don't analyze deeply - all you are doing is following one line of analysis from your mental chart.
Remember: when you don't think of a move (immediately) it is not because your opponent's move was good or bad; it is only because you have not anticipated it.
Examine both logical and illogical moves. Examine all checks and captures. You don't need to analyze them, just notice them.
While playing a game I must remember to have my mental scanners look at:
- every move: it weakens something and threatens something.
- short-range tactics; long-range tactics.
- strategy relevant to the position I have reached.
- the 16 tactical devices.
- the 110 types of combinations (combined tactical devices).
I must remember to continuously give myself new instructions, as needed, while I am playing. Chess is a game of constant change: I must adapt to it, be ready for it, indeed, welcome it.
When it is my opponent's turn to move make your analysis chart wider and deeper in the important variations. Consider not only the logical moves he may play, but also the illogical - but plausible - ones.
I must try to win by taking advantage of my opponent's weakness at Chess; help me to understand what that weakness is, during the course of the game. Think of his style of play, and try to anticipate his mistakes.
If I have an advantage I will change my instructions and tell my mind: "I think we have a win. Find the move that maintains the winning advantage in the most certain, or safest, or most efficient manner. Forget my opponent's strengths and weaknesses - if there is a forced win for me by sheer technique, then I want to use that technique".
Don't try any tricks.
If my opponent has an advantage, look for lines of maximum resistance.
If his advantage is not enough to win by force, then I should hold the Draw.
Say: "Swindle, swindle, little Grindle. Look for moves that may trick my opponent".
If he thinks he has an advantage he will be trying to win. If he does not have a forced win he may make an error. Be alert!
Remember - my opponent may not have the knowledge to win the position he has.
As long as I am optimistic I will analyze variations with a view to winning. Thus, if my opponent makes a mistake, I will know what is wrong with it because I have anticipated it.
I can think about anything during the game, provided I give instructions to my mind to continue analyzing the game.
I may get up and walk around. Don't look at other games - I want my mind to keep analyzing the position.
NB: I tried to look up JS on the USCF website, but couldn't find anything. Maybe I don't know how.
I believe he was a Life Master.