What's the best way to learn chess

[Emilio Lizardo]

Mrs Lizardo and I have decided that since we are grown-ups, it's time to learn how to play chess. The basic moves seem simple, but of course the strategic details are almost overwhemlingly complex. Thus, I appeal to you, my fellow dopers, for some advice: what's the best way to learn? Take a class? Buy a book? Educational software? Any and all suggestions greatfully appreciated, and DC-area dopers are invited to drop by and mop up the board with our faces.

[Triskadecamus]

Play. Play experienced players, who are a bit better than you are. At first, of course, everyone is better than you are. But, in a year or so, you will know a few people you can beat regularly. Play someone else, as often as you can. Now, some caveats, don't play someone so good that you don't even understand how you got beat. Don't let people let you take back moves! You touch it, you move it, you let it go, it stays there. That's how the big boys play.

A book is good, if it is a good book. I think playing endgames from a good book on endgames is a good start, since it starts with a part of the game that is a bit less complex. Three pawns and a king vs three pawns and a king is a more complex game than you might imagine.

Good books on openings are best when you begin to understand why you are getting creamed so easily in the early game.

Tris
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"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever." ~ Anonymous ~

[Urban Ranger]

Play with a friendly mentor.

[RickJay]

You can get a lot of practice in by buying "Chessmaster 9000" or some such program and slowly increasing the difficulty level.

However, play with humans, too. Humans play differently.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Bobby Fisher published a book about 10 years ago that almost immediately produced a marked improvement in my game. Unfortunately I couldn't find it in Amazon, or I would link to it. Essentially it presented a series of problems in programmed format; if you got a wrong answer you would be directed to another page that would reinforce the lesson, otherwise, you'd be directed to the next lesson.

In general, I would give two pieces of advice. First, try to keep your eye on the big picture. Decisive attacks can be made from the opposite diagonal of the board. Second, don't be afraid to attack, or in some cases, sacrifice pieces. Depending on the opponent, I was sometimes able to simultaneously attack his queen and a rook simultaneously very early on. This resulted in the loss of the knight. But since my opponent had to move the king to take the knight and protect his high valued pieces, I deprived him of the castling option and was able to win the game just by relentlessly continuing to harry the king with other pieces.