Tash,

Chessplayers are rarely paid well. Why on earth would you want to learn something you likely won't make much cash at? Please explain?

In MOST things, people do it because they love it. They would do it if they got paid nothing. Is that you? Would you work at chess 8 hours a day for no pay and be happy?

People don't just "decide" to become a pro chess player. People don't just decide to be a pro poker player either. It has to be easy and fun for you.

Does this sound like your situation?

If so, find a GM who will teach you. Go to a near by university and play all the tournaments there and have fun, decide later.

Chess is a lot of work! Never forget that!

Thanks

Mulesmurf

hicetnunc wrote:

bronsteinitz wrote:

I wonder what advise young Fischer would have had from this community. He lived in other times, but chances are that some of these youngster have real talent. I really would have liked to be here with a fischer of 10 years old asking this same question to a community that he expected some help of.

Fischer wouldn't have asked the question...

Bronsteinitz :

He knew what he wanted and was kind of fiery. I would see Fischer playing on the web and asking questions. He probably would have been quite a difficult youngster on the site i estimate. Just think it is an interesting thought experiment. Not more than that :-)

The first point that I would have to make is that let's put professional players to onde side for the moment.

There are some very, very good "amateurs" [and I don't use that in any derogatary way] on this and other sites. I don't think that I will be as good as any of them. Let alone people who are in chess for a living.

Robert_K_Forney wrote:Yes - too many people with no belief passing it on. You could do it! If you love it, try! If you still have the dream then strive for it harder. You don't need to be Pele to be a pro footballer, or federer to play tennis etc and still spend your life making money doing what you love. GO FOR IT AND BELEIVE!

I'd like to point out that the best advice came from a twelve year old. Anyone with experience who would like to share constructive criticism? =P

Chess is similar to sport.

Must set achievement-targets at young-age or will be unlikely to progress & make sucesss of being chess-professional.

What is worse many of these types set themselves up as ''chess-coaches'', passing on poor-understanding & charging gullible-people for that.

This site should set more stringent-rules (FIDE-title minimum) on those operating in this sphere of chess.

Well if you are really serious you can train with a GM and hope to reach IM then transfer to a country where you are the highest rated player. You will be top board in the Olympiad and probably win the national championship in that country. Good Luck!

I wouldn't have thought that there's an age limit to being a pro at chess or not, I can't really see how that would make any sense. Sport, perhaps as it's to do with the muscles and their development which could be left too late, but chess I believe anyone could if they have the mind for it and the correct training.

It just so happens that Bobby Fischer and I were born in the same year and lived in Brooklyn not too far apart. I never met him although I was interested in chess in those days and I could have walked to his house from where I lived. Nowadays in New York City chess is encouraged and there are chess clubs and classes available in school because educators now realize that chess benefits school children. In those days chess was a desert, very few people played it, no computers, no internet. Fortunately for Fischer he bugged his mother out by playing with himself--chess not the other thing--and she took him around to chess clubs and so forth. And because he was so bright and talented adults became interested in him. Otherwise he would have had to go on to other things as I did. Then computers came along and the internet also so we can now enjoy chess at whole new levels. 

You don't think it, but every serious player does. There are almost no grandmasters who weren't strong players in their teens (if any), and players get worse in their top potential ability after a certain age. Take a look at how many 40+ are in the top 100, and see if the best 50 year olds are at their peak rating or if it was 15 years ago.

Chess improvement is easiest at an early age, and the mind like the body starts to deteriorate.

Hi Scottrf, I agree with you but all I'm just saying is that it's not impossible. There have been exceptions in every field

Maybe but it's not a sensible strategy to plan on being the exception, especially in something like chess where the rewards for success aren't even great.

just play chess