Forums

My coach does not like Jeremy Silman...

Sort:
SmyslovFan

Thank you for putting the quote in context.

kasanlivit

can any one put the titles of Silman's books?

kindaspongey

https://www.silmanjamespress.com/product-category/chess/

kasanlivit

Thank you very much

TobusRex

I bagged on Silman in the late 1990s at a chess tournament in Los Angeles. There were tons of GMs at the tournament and Silman was going over games of people in one of the side rooms (he wasn't playing). He had quite the crowd and was mocking some of the player's poor games. When he was done analyzing games he chatted for a bit and he started talking about "chess groupies" who kept hanging around him. I blurted out "Are any women?". He wasn't amused. 

ManWithABigPlan

If you want to gain rating at a good pace then you should obviously learn important stuff. I have never heard anyone say that a book is bad because it spoon-feeds you knowledge because that is the purpose of a good book. In a respectful way I would recommend you get a new coach because your current one doesn't sound particularly nice. Also, Jeremy Silman isn't just a random author he is one of the best chess books author the best chess book authors that exists and his books are always one of the first recommendations I hear from people. Well I wish you luck on finding a new coach or dealing with your current one. 😀

Vicente9999

The part about there is no bad book is true. The teacher sounds very opinionated. That is not necessarily a bad quality. Of the 5 books he recommended. I own 3 of them! Jeremy Silman has produced some wonderful books I am sure. I have NEVER read one. I guess I am with the teacher as far as study material!

DreamscapeHorizons

I like Silman. His explanations discus plans/ideas as opposed to just calling out the moves. I wish he made instructional videos. 

stickershock
DreamscapeHorizons wrote:

I like Silman. His explanations discus plans/ideas as opposed to just calling out the moves. I wish he made instructional videos. 

Actually, Silman has an introductory video course from 2015 called "How to Play Chess:
Lessons from an International Master."  I watched it on Kanopy!

RoobieRoo

Yes!

ThunderBolt3345

Silman is very nice coach

Itzamnaaj

may he rest in peace…

MhanZingDong

Tell your coach to become a Grandmaster first before criticizing Jeremy Silman. As amateur chess players, we need someone to hold our hand and show how things are done. Like a child, we need our parents to hold our hand to show us how to run before going on our own. This is where Jeremy Silman came in - that is to guide us before we can free ourselves and do things on our own.

SmyslovFan

Jeremy Silman passed away last night at the age of 69. Bruce Pandolfini described him as one of the great teachers in chess history. He will be missed.

Vicente9999

So sorry to hear about Silmans passing. He was an iconic teacher. Rip.

Crazychessplaya

R.I.P.

sbs2011
DragonSavage wrote:

Recently, I purchased two books written by Silman: The Amateur's Mind and Silman's Complete Endgame Course. So far I really enjoy the simplicity and the arrangement of the chapters based on rating strength, especially in the endgame book. But for some strange reason, my coach; a Candidate Master, was not happy when I showed him my new books. He is always the one telling me to purchase different chess books from Amazon in order to improve tactics, strategy, endgame, etc. But out of rotten luck, I just happened to pick the ones written by an IM player he doesn't like. (I might as well play the lottery...)

He claims that Silman is "spoon-feeding" amateur players and not making them work hard enough to get better at chess. It may not sound like much but this is a BIG CONFLICT between my enjoyment of Silman's books and my coach's philosophy of chess improvement.

Please help me solve this struggle if you can!

Simplest explanation is you're not strong enough or doesen't have the need to work on his books.I once buyed a book of tactics which was too high level .