Self Tutor One Intro
Chess books have tried to approximate a method of teaching by asking the reader questions
at the end of each chapter and printing the answers on a later page, but this does not
sufficiently elucidate the point missed by the student who has failed to find the correct reply.
Besides, test questions are often skipped by readers eager to go on to the seceding lesson. The
result is that many of them finish a textbook without getting much benefit from it.
Recent research into automatic teaching has led to an entirely new technique of self-instruction
which overcomes these disadvantages. Programmed instruction has proven so successful that it has
been adopted in a series of books called Tutor Texts, which deal with a variety of subjects
formerly considered appropriate only for study with expert teachers.
The new technique discusses the subject matter in a way resembling conversations between a
tutor and his pupil. After a point has been explained, the reader's understanding of it is tested
by a pertinent question. Several answers are suggested, and he is asked to pick the one he thinks
is right. If his selection is incorrect, the page discussing his reply proceeds to clarify the
point at issue and asks him to make a different choice. Only the page dealing with the proper
answer tells him where to continue reading. In other words he cannot skip any questions. He must
find the correct replies before he can finish the course.
This tutor is similar to programmed instruction and self-instruction training by asking questions
that require you to give the correct reply before going on to the next problem.
The order of the tutor training has been changed in the three phases that are commonly treated
in chess books. A player can more fully understand the principles governing the proper conduct of
the opening only after he has learned what line-up of the pieces is best suited to lead to their
effective cooperation in the middlegame.
Tutor one deals with end-game tactics before dealing with mid-game strategy because the latter
must be guided by the player's correct evaluation for his prospects in an ending which an
inconclusive middle-game maneuver would bring about.