ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the ways to improve skill through training. More attention is paid to how to handle games psychologically. A coach will also be valuable in preparing a game against specific opponents, both technically and psychologically. The idea of psychological pressure has sometimes been taken to surprising extremes. Moving away from the chessboard, a number of techniques can be used to get on the opponent's nerves and disturb him. Playing the opponent is increasingly required to score full points as players' technical level is getting extremely high, and simply playing the position might not be enough to win a game between two players of the same strength. At the professional level, many theoretical novelties are the fruit of home preparation, sometimes weeks or months before the actual game. Technology has created new opportunities for cheaters. The chapter deals with training methods suitable up to candidate master level.
