Hi all,

How do I improve my rating significantly.

Is studying with books good?

Do I study via software?

Should I get lessons?

Do I just play and play and play?

I find if I don't get better I get bored and stop and I would like to break the get bored - stop - start again - get bored cycle.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Play a lot of slow games, analyze the slow games and solve tons of Tactics Problems.

I think computers are a great tool for learning chess. Have you tried the tutorials in, say, Chesmaster? No need to get the most recent version but I guess that one also is going on sale by now?

Develope some rhino skin and post your analyzed games. You will get some wiseguy replies but also some very friendly and usefull advice. Focus on your thought process when annotating your games.

You are going to have to get used to hitting plateaus because everyone with the exception of Kasparov and Carlsen go through the same phases. Like I bore everyone with on this site, I'm gonna tell you too, fundamentals first. The object of chess is to checkmate the opposing king. You do this by attacking him with more force than he has attacking him. Obtaining this winning advantage in force is what chess is all about. Study books, with the aide of a computer, and learn technique. You can read books, which is excellent, to try and gather as many ideas as you can. If you suppliment this with serious play that you analyse afterwords for weak moves, then you are certain to improve. If you have any questions, just let me know.

Do wahtever is fun for you. If it is not fun , you will not stick with it or have your heart and full effort into it.

I study my chess books for a bit, take lessons, use my chess software, chessmaster, ct-art, do tactics on chesstempo.com, watch master games online, watch videos on ChessFM ( Try Dan Heismans videos ) or chessvideotv,com.

I believe whatever you do has to help your game.

Tony

Good point and very overlooked! The Fun Factor!

IM Martin claims (if I understand correctly?) in is column that 15 intense minutes per day should be enough to improve by more than 1 ELO/week.

I don't think, that you should be worrying about rating.But how to improve your skills and learn from your mistakes

I have to agree, being shown my mistakes make learning this game a lot more fun than worrying sbout my rating

I do not really have the raiting to answer on this one..... I do not like to study meself. But just want to tell you that you could also put out youre games here in your blogg, in the forum or in a forum in the groups you are member in. With a coment or a question from you people will write back - and to hear what other players think is usefull!!