I agree wth chessroshi about physiology but in a different light. After Bluegene, the supercomputer, beat Garry Kasparov in 1997 he took a long walk. While on the walk (if I have the story straight) he rethought how to play chess. Then he beat the crap out of the Bluegene. I try and take breaks in between games even if I win. It gives you time to reflect and your brain time to get some oxygen.
I am no master but one thing I noticed nobody commented on is emotion. You must be a stoic philosopher to win. Well, not really but the point is to NOT be vengeful for that is how you will surely loose.
In chess a clear head and intense focus are your biggest psychological advantages. If you're too caught up in your ego like fischer was you will underestimate your opponent and lose. Its surprising he got so far with that attitude if you ask me.
Remember: EVERY single move in chess is a struggle to achieve an unstoppable advantage in force. This advantage in force is the ONLY way to overpower the opposing king and win. Study the elements like time, space, force (potential and applied), and study the mechanics of chess such as piece movement and tactics.
Be patient! I allow the attacks to come to my well defended pieces, and soon my opponent's position is so weak, that my attack is usually unstoppable
If you're under 2000 stop studying those opening books and stick to tactics and basic critical endgame positions, I see so many 1400-1800 players spending hours and hours studying openings when really most games at that level are all about tactics. Its really not going to matter if you know the sicialian 15 moves deep in every variation, you're always going to go out of book eventually and that's where the real chess starts.
Stack u're rooks, it's just so cool and threatening at the same time.
Heres a good tip have fun!
Dont play drunk! Wine is fine, but liquor your rating drops quicker!
Oh my goodness...I'm a living testament to that. As a matter of fact, avoid all chemical abuse whilst playing.
Fritz tried to organize an intervention once, but he couldn't get everyone in the right place at the right time to pin me down (my drinking buddies and wife got in the way, I'll post the board diagram some time).
Analyze your long games at the club with stronger (human) players.
Try to control space, meaning having your pieces and pawns occupy more of the space on the board than your opponent, this is called: having a quality advantage when playing a game, but even if you do not have a master's skill to exploit such an advantage, it is still better to have it as it is like having an additional tool in your arsenal.
With each move you make, try & attack more squares deeper into your opponent's side of the board to restrict/prevent his/her development. If your pawns & pieces are well defended, you will have more room on your side of the board giving you more control of the tempo in the game.
It's also good to force exhanges when it will be to your advantage in controlling more space on the board as well.
~The Doctor
Tactics....need I say more?
Tip #1 : If you wanna get better avoid listening to overall chess tips or advice that don't reference specific position. Chess isn't golf, it's more of an art. Try telling Picasso to paint more geometrically XD.
Edit: xMenace's plan suggestion aside, that's always a good idea in chess. Ryan makes a good point too, sometimes it's just about playing what seems to be right and trusting your ability to recognize familiar patterns.
P.S. Just an aside to circlesquared, why lots of blitz chess? You don't get good at normal time controls by playing at fast ones, its the other way around.
Actually chess is so like golf, it is a game of misses, the good moves do not count anymore when you miss the next important move or shot.
Last weekend at the masters, Kenny Perry was leading by 2 shots going to the seventeenth hole, round 4, and lost in sudden death, this is just like chess. You are ahead and a wrong move or a blunder and you loose the game.
good point, Paul
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