2014-12-01

Competition

For the moment, I reorganize my weekday to get time for a new long-lasting book project. With that said, this blog will not be updated during the upcoming months. But Pump Up Your Rating is still there – now on it's third edition (with no changes).

As a final post, I remind of a competition starting the 1st of March (see below). Since the comment section has been occupied by aliens, competitors can e-mail at


"I try not to care too much about ratings, but it is difficult nowadays. So here is a challenge suggested by a reader for all readers: to pump up your rating as much as possible between today and 1st of January 2015.
It is not required to use anything from the book, even though it's recommended :) I will be very interested to read about your efforts, even if the rating diagram looks like this one.
The winner will get a free book from Quality Chess and a secret prize, and there will also be another prize to the most amazing story about your efforts."


Good luck!

PUMP UP YOUR RATING
Any man in the street knows how to increase his physical strength, but among most chess players confusion reigns when it comes to improving their playing strength. Axel Smith's training methods have guided his friends, teammates and pupils to grandmaster norms and titles. Hard work will be required, but Axel Smith knows how you can Pump Up Your Rating.

Every area of chess is covered - opening preparation, through middlegame play, to endgame technique. Smith delves into both the technical and psychological sides of chess, and shows how best to practise and improve.

International Master Axel Smith from Sweden has had great success as a coach. Using his methods on himself, in the space of two years he boosted his rating from 2093 to 2458. He is now closing in on the Grandmaster title

ISBN: 978-1-907982-73-6 - Released September 2013