Jeremy Silman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeremy Silman |
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Silman in 2002
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| Country | United States |
| Born | August 28, 1954 Del Rio, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | September 21, 2023 (aged 69) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Title | International Master (1988) |
| Peak rating | 2420 (January 1995) |
Jeremy Silman (born August 28, 1954 – died September 21, 2023) was an American International Master (IM) in chess. He was also a very well-known writer. An International Master is a high title in chess, just below Grandmaster.
Jeremy Silman was born in Del Rio, Texas. He started playing chess when he was 12 years old. He won several big chess tournaments, including the American Open and the U.S. Open. He also coached the US junior national chess team. He earned his IM title in 1988.
Silman wrote more than 35 books. Most of his books were about chess, but he also wrote about casino games. He wrote many articles and puzzles for popular chess magazines like Chess Life and New in Chess. He also shared his knowledge on the Chess.com website.
Jeremy Silman was a teacher for a video chess course. This course was part of "The Great Courses" series by The Teaching Company.
Silman also worked as a chess expert for movies and TV shows. He helped with the 2001 Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. He also advised on TV shows like Monk and Malcolm in the Middle. Even though he helped with the Harry Potter movie, his name was not shown in the credits.
Jeremy Silman passed away in Los Angeles, California, on September 21, 2023. He was 69 years old.
Contents
Understanding Chess: Silman's Imbalance Strategy
In his chess books, Jeremy Silman taught players to look at "imbalances" in a chess game. Imbalances are the differences between the two sides on the board. He believed that a good plan in chess should use your positive imbalances. It should also try to make the opponent's imbalances less useful.
Here are the main imbalances Silman talked about, from most to least important:
- Superior minor piece: This means one player has better knights or bishops than the other.
- Pawn structure: This is how the pawns are arranged on the board. It can create strengths or weaknesses.
- Spatial control: This refers to how much room your pieces have to move. More space is usually better.
- Material: This is about the value of the pieces each player has. For example, a queen is worth more than a rook. Silman said this was very important because it affects the whole game.
- Control of open lines: This means controlling files, diagonals, or squares that are open for your pieces to move.
- Development: This is how quickly and well you bring your pieces into the game.
- Initiative: This means you are the one making threats and forcing your opponent to react. Silman noted that development and initiative are "dynamic" imbalances. This means you must use them quickly before they disappear.
Silman's Chess Thinking Method
In his book How to Reassess Your Chess, Silman suggested a five-step process for chess players. You should use this method after checking for any immediate threats for both sides.
- Find imbalances: First, look at all the good and bad imbalances for both you and your opponent.
- Choose a side to play on: Decide which part of the board you want to focus on. You should only play there if you have a good imbalance or can create one.
- Imagine ideal positions: Don't calculate moves yet! Instead, imagine different "fantasy positions." These are the best possible positions you would like to reach.
- Check if it's possible: Once you have a fantasy position you like, figure out if you can actually get there. If it's too hard, create a new, easier dream position.
- Calculate moves: Only now should you look at the actual moves you can make. These are called "candidate moves." They are all the moves that could lead to your dream position.
Books by Jeremy Silman
Jeremy Silman wrote many helpful books for chess players of all levels. Here are some of his popular titles:
- How to Reassess your Chess (4th edition): Chess Mastery through Chess Imbalances, 2010
- Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner To Master, 2007
- The Reassess your Chess Workbook: How to Master Chess Imbalances, 2001
- The Amateur's Mind (2nd edition): Turning Chess Misconceptions into Chess Mastery, 1999
- The Complete Book of Chess Strategy: Grandmaster Techniques from A to Z, 1998
See also
In Spanish: Jeremy Silman para niños
