Russell Sherwood Friday, June 1, 2018
Introduction
Today we are joined by GM Matjaž Pirš. of Germany. He is little known in the UK but should be, having until recently been responsible for the development of promising German CC players and captaining a number of successful teams. Matjaz is highly regarded by those “in the know” and his website and coaching programmes are well worth checking out at http://www.schachschule-pirs.com/
Some of his methods will be familiar to Welsh players, having been shamelessly copied in our works!
1. Briefly Tell us about Yourself?
born in Slovenia. For the last 20 years, I have lived as a chess trainer and chess player in Germany. I run my chess school based in Roedermark, which specialises in the training of correspondence chess players. My training takes place via Team Viewer and a video is created for the customer for each training unit.
2. How did you get involved in Chess?
I hurt myself in another sport and spent 6 months in bed, my grandfather kept me company and chess away the time.
3. When and how did you get interested in Correspondence Chess?
As a chess trainer, I realized in 2008 that correspondence chess is the best training method to systematically learn close chess.
4. What do you like about Correspondence Chess?
correspondence chess enables scientific research and systematic learning of all chess topics. You have enough time to look at everything systematically and also to prepare. I also communicate this to the members of my chess school.
5. What are your Correspondence Chess Career Highlights?
as a player, I am the fastest player who has needed the least time from the first game for standards until the GM title.
As a coach and TC, it was important for me to win with the German women's team at the 10th Olympiad.
6. What do you think an aspiring player should do to improve their game?
the following factors are important for a player's development:
6.1. databases on games and theory updated monthly.
6.2. the possibility to learn the basics of chess.
6.3. access to good engines and try to understand and learn the way they play.
6.4. a solid PC with fast SSD M.2 hard disk and hash minimum 64 GB.
7. Do you have an overall strategy when you start a game or Tournament?
each correspondence chess player must have a clear goal and strategy at the beginning of the game and tournament.
8. How do you select your moves, what is your general method?
For me, the decisive criterion for B-method train selection.(Basic method after chess school Pirs.)
9. With so many draws in Correspondence Chess, what do you try to do to generate wins?
It is important to select the openings that have a profit potential after 15-20 moves and which the engines do not understand
10. What are your future aspirations in Correspondence Chess?
My goal for the future is the development of perfect correspondence chess openings and the training of correspondence chess players.
11. What are your favourite Openings and why?
with white and black, I play aggressive openings that allow me the transition to a promising final. Basically, I strive for the Botwinik farmer structure.
12. If you could ask a Legendary player, alive or historical, once question about Chess, what would it be?
I was lucky to ask my favourite player personally why he likes to buy new men's suits?.( James Robert Fischer)
13. Do you have a Favourite Chess Book or DVD? If so what?
My book is by Dvoretsky-Jussupov attack and defence.(1999 OLMS edition)
14. Do you have a Favourite player? If so who?
James Robert Fischer because he fought alone against the whole world and turned chess into a well-paid sport.
