unfortunately I don't have much of a story to tell - I did it for the unlimited chess tactics and chess mentor. And the videos. I can't say that any of these helped me improve my rating, but certainly I kept sharp with these tools at my disposal.
Okay, good stuff. So far, Shadowknight's in the lead with his post on how the unlimited chess tactics, chess mentor and videos has kept him sharp using the tools. Thanks for participating and sharing with the rest of us. Much appreciated and I definitely see how that's true!
Hey Guys and Gals,
I know Erik and the staff here have worked really hard (and continue to do so) -- to provide us this amazing (and amazingly practical) premium membership and all for merely a fraction of what it costs for even an hour's time from a professional chess coach.
...And we get an entire year!
Of course, we know the availability of those pro coaches provided here are just one more feature of the many I've yet to fully explore.
Like each of us here, I read a few of the success stories on the membership signup page.
And seeing all those people's whose chess lives improved I have to admit, is pretty freaking exciting!
But, even with reading about the success of others,
it still can't even light a candle to the experience of when you:
-learn new exciting chess knowledge for yourself... and then... you put it to the test against real live action here with people all over the chess-playing world...and then...
-- You See your own results for yourself, agreed!?
Well, this is exactly what I'd like to discuss here in this thread with my fellow premium members.
The reason is simple.
When you surround yourself with people who have the same desires, same goals, same aspirations and heck, even same ambitions...
a most unusual thing happens...
You influence them and get influenced by them toward your common goal.
It's not too hard to see how this happens either.
I mean, when you get to mix it up with others who are just as intent on improving their:
*chess understanding
-- chess strength
* chess skills
-- chess knowledge and
* chess rating as you are...
it can only help you get better...
And get better faster!
Right?
Supposedly each one of us each earns the average income of the five people we spend the most time with in our personal lives.
I don't think it's such a stretch to see how hanging out with people who are stronger chess players than me for a good period of time will help me improve even more than I otherwise would without the motivation.
And I believe it's the same for you and each one of us.
So, with all the "why", "what", "who" , "what if" and "how to" out of the way...
let's get this ball rolling and let this thread become a valuable resource for each of us and future premium members.
How?
Your participation is encouraged.
I'd like for each of us to just share at least one way the membership has helped you improve your chess.
It doesn't have to be one certain area like rating or endgame or opening or tactics...it can be anything.
I'll throw my hat into the ring here and share some here now:
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My father taught me how the pieces moved when I was about seven years old.
We played a few games and I remember vowing one day to be as good as him.
I think he let me win a few times and my confidence grew.
As I grew older, I noticed girls, partied, played sports and focused on career, business, creating wealth and who knows what other kinds of distractions that without me noticing, had pulled me away from the sport.
But, I still remember playing every now and then with friends or acquaintances at the coffee shop.
My father always kept a set around too and we used it to bond when I was in my twenties.
I knew the fool's mate, scholar's mate and parham openings with a few trap variations, but that was pretty much the extent of it...
just winging it and tactics.
It wasn't until I met the guys who played at the coffee shop where this girl I was dating at the time worked...
that I saw the sharp contrast between novice, intermediate and advanced levels of chess strength.
It made an impact on me.
I almost viewed these guys as geniuses, magicians, gurus and specialized tacticians.
And they were!
One guy, had this chess set where he wrote on the d8 square "____'s victory square".
It was no joke!
Every time I played him, the last piece he'd moved invariably landed on that square with my king in checkmate.
This guy, needless to say, was held in very high esteem with an almost reverential awe and respect for his mastery of the sport.
It was a whole new level and I never dreamed I could get there too one day.
That is, until I found Chess.com and the diamond membership!
Now, I'm excited to learn and grow and hope my plan to stay here for the long haul is one I'll live to realize.
After just my first month as a member, I've learned endgame positions, strategies, opening theory and tactics galore.
Before I sprung for the membership,
I was just playing without any concept of study or even knowing what to study or how to begin.
Long story short, (and yes this is only scratching the surface)
Just a couple of weeks ago, my live chess rating went up to 1709.
That's not an expert by any means and after a few tournament losses it's dropped over a hundred thirty points or so,but I'm confident it will rise back up and even higher in the near future.
More importantly, I know I have virtually unlimited resources as a premium diamond member to help me continue to improve and that the rating will take care of itself as it follows my increase in understanding, knowledge and chess strength.
I watched the videos and have done about 5 hours of tactics training along with picking up a few recommended books.
To put this in perspective...
before I became a member, I hadn't played the turn-based games yet and only blitz and bullet.
My ratings on there were like 1100.
So from around 1100 to over 1700 in just my first month shocked me!
I definitely see the value and am excited to continue to learn and grow.
Am I alone in this excitement about the possibilities afforded to us here as premium members? Of course I'm not.
So let me and the rest of the premium members here hear your story!...
Post below at least just one way how your premium membership has helped your chess strength grow...
I'm excited to see what others are doing with the resources here and
feel certain those who participate here will help motivate other members to new heights once beyond our wildest imaginations if we continue to motivate and hold each other accountable for improving our chess, don't you?
Okay, let's get it going!...
Your turn...post here below now...
******For the most motivating and inspirational success story, after 30 days or ten pages, whichever happens first, as voted on by the other members, I will pay for your next month's membership access. Who knows, it could be you!?
*Disclaimer: Just to make it ridiculously clear...I am an individual diamond member of Chess.com who paid to become one. I'm not speaking on behalf of Chess.com and have received no monetary compensation from Chess.com These views are expressly owned by me and assigns and any/all gifts of Diamond Membership to Chess.com for the period to be no less than one month or 30 days will be paid for solely by me and/or my assigns. Good luck!