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A beginners Guide to Progress pt. 2

A beginners Guide to Progress pt. 2

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LimeLime1
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      As part two, I should be continuing the topics I last spoke about, with training, learning openings, strategies, and Youtube videos, but I changed things up. I did no training, no learning strategies or openings, and watched very little Youtube videos on chess. Last time I spent less time in the game, and more about what might happen in the game. This time I wanted to see where my previous knowledge would get me. My goal was 1000 in rapid by the end of the year. I've achieved that in just 12 days. From 900 to 1000. When training it took 7 days to get to 900, with 50 points coming from the last day, when everything clicked. While getting to 900 was easier, due to worse opponents (no offence), 1000 felt easier. Just playing chess whenever I wanted to felt less like work, and more like fun. 

Highlights

     The first highlight would be the last game in the journey, against an opponent who got to cocky, and lost it all. While he was a great player, I was able to punish his choices.

     If you want the quick version, go to move 32, and watch from there. My opponent was ahead by three pawns, and mine was going to be taken. As the game continues, my opponent realizes I haven't given up, and slips up at move 46, when he protects his pawn, completely ignoring my king's charge to his rook. from there, the inevitable happened, and he forfeited. His play was incredible but one slip up costed him the game.

     The second highlighted game is one I played earlier in the day, where we both missed wins, while still playing 'well.' The game lasted 42 moves and had some interesting strategies in it.

     Again, this game was quite normal until move 21, where a long set of trades ended up with one extra pawn for me. This game was won in the midgame, just from the open nature of the white king's defense. If you want an in depth study of this game, I can always make more blogs and talk more about certain positions, if needed. What I can't explain, though, is this players use of the crab opening. That confused me, straight off the bat.

     I plan to continue my journey to chess mastery, and will continue these blogs, as I climb the ranks. My goal is to take a break from competitive chess, until January 10th, when i will hop back in. This doesn't mean I won't be playing on chess.com and responding to comments. I'm to addicted to drop that, but I won't be focused on rated games. If you're a newer player in need of help getting out of the lower ratings, feel free to leave a comment or message me, as my schedule is open... forever. If you want to play a round or two, send me a casual invite to a game. Check out some of my other blogs, and feel free to follow if you like them. Good night.