Some thoughts on chess improvment.

I am a 40-year-old man, and I remember the pre-computer era. Back then, attention spans were measured in hours, not seconds. Today, we live in an age where everyone is obsessed with their "screen-tapping" ratings and is deathly afraid of actually thinking.

As a coach, I frequently receive messages from beginners with questions like: "How do I reach this rating?" or "My rating is X. What should I do to improve it?" These questions are symptoms of a global cultural crisis that can be called the "Cult of Stupidity." We crave the dopamine spike from a rating increase while refusing to learn the wisdom of the game itself. Who needs understanding anyway, right? Just tap the screen, flag your opponent, and farm ratings! That is where we have arrived today. But true mastery is built on understanding; true mastery is not about tricks that work once—it is about the principles and skills that work forever. The real secret to Grandmaster strength isn't just a bag of tricks—though they certainly have those. It’s their deep understanding of the game. They see the board with incredible clarity many moves ahead, maintain focus for hours on end, and evaluate positions with a depth that most players simply can't reach.

The "Fast Food" Trap: Why Information Consumption is Not Growth

In a world drowning in information but starving for meaning, chess is no exception. The YouTube feed is a buffet of "deadly traps" and clips titled "How I won in 10 seconds." This is Chess Fast Food. It’s engineered to give you a quick hit of dopamine, making you feel like you’ve learned something new without ever forcing your brain to actually work. But if you want to become truly stronger, you have to lift "heavy weights." In chess, this means the ability to maintain focus and deeply analyze a position for a long period of time. Today, only a rare few are capable of this.

The problem is that consumption is not competence. Watching a Grandmaster’s "speedrun" is entertainment, not education. When you rely on these "shortcuts," you fail to build a Thinking Algorithm or develop your skills. Information is knowing a move; wisdom is understanding why it works.

Idolatry of the Number: When ELO Becomes Your God

Modern society has traded meaning for metrics. In chess, that metric is your rating. Many players worship this number: they rejoice when it rises and feel crushed when it falls. But if the rating has become your god—you have lost the game before it even begins!

This is the definition of "Ladder Anxiety." When your self-esteem is tied to an external, fluctuating number, you lose power over your own peace of mind. Ironically, this very worship makes you a weaker player. You tighten up, trying to "protect" your points instead of focusing on finding the objectively best move in the position.

It is vital to understand that reaching a rating of 1000, 1500, or 2000 is not a destination you "arrive" at. It is a byproduct of the person you become. When you stop chasing the number and start building a reliable decision-making algorithm, the points will follow you like a shadow.

What to do?

Forget about ratings and focus on the chess itself. Forget the search for shortcuts or "magic" openings. Learn how to play good chess. My suggestion is:

• Principles: The laws that govern any position.

• Algorithm: A step-by-step thinking process that will eliminate "stupid" blunders forever.

Stop being a "gift-giver" at the board. Develop your skills and understanding, and become stronger!

Feel free to leave comments and ask questions. Bye