How to Get Better ... at Anything

Here’s how to get better: Do what you love.

Doesn’t matter whether it’s chess, guitar, skiing, birdwatching, gardening, metalcraft, or anything else at all. When your heart is in it, talent follows.

And for chess, the list from which to choose is extensive! For most of us, our enjoyment is a swirling, changing combination of facets like these:

Looking for social interaction? Drop into a local club.

Appreciate the flow of deep thinking? Play longer time controls — even one move per day, online.

A competitor at heart? Tournaments abound, in person and online.

Can’t get enough banter? Try variants like bughouse that practically demand trash talking.

Looking for camaraderie? Join a chess team. Our Maine team is currently ahead versus Alberta but trailing Wyoming and Utah. We need your help!

Building your self esteem? Savor the feeling when you first beat your parents or your bestie.

Like to cheer your favorites? Follow players like your favorite sports club (I’m Team Alireza!).

Want to keep yourself sharp as the years go by? Memorize openings or endgames.

Need the adrenaline rush? Play bullet or Puzzle Rush (My best is 27. Drop me a line if you can top it!).

Want to deepen friendships? Here’s your excuse to get together for a quiet evening — or a rowdy one!

Ready to take it seriously? Hire a coach. Even for a couple months.

There’s so much more that makes the game and everything around it so rich:

• Find the beauty in a spectacular combination or checkmate.
• Showcase your personality and build a community by streaming.
• Teach others and watch their skills blossom.
• Be a part of the cool kids club.
• Wrap yourself in the history of the game, reveling in the drama of past championships and personalities.
• Appreciate the craftsmanship of building beautiful chessboards or collecting exotic sets.
• Explore chess variants that boost your lateral thinking.
• Or just challenge yourself to track your rating and strive to keep taking it higher.

But above all, don’t let it be a chore. The game is too rich and the community too varied to have chess descend into drudgery. 

Want to get better at chess — or anything at all? Spend more time with the part of it that brings you joy. Improvement will follow (And, seriously, so what if it does not? You’re doing what you love!)