“My Chess Journey: From Beginner to 1200+”
I never thought I’d fall in love with 64 squares and little wooden soldiers.
My chess journey began one rainy afternoon when I stumbled onto a random YouTube video titled: "How to Checkmate in 4 Moves." I didn’t even know how the pieces moved properly, but the idea of outsmarting someone in a "mental war" was too cool to ignore.
🚧 The First 100 Games: Blunders and Rage Quits
When I joined Chess.com, I had zero experience. I thought forks were just for eating, and “castling” sounded like something from a medieval movie.
I hovered around 400–500 rating. Every game ended with me hanging a queen, missing mate in 1, or losing on time. I got crushed by bots, by kids, by people playing the Bongcloud… even Bullet Beth beat me. Brutally.
🔁 A Turning Point: Analyzing My Losses
One day, I decided to click that scary button: “Game Review.”
Instead of getting upset, I started laughing at my blunders.
Example: I once moved my king right into a discovered check and typed “???” in chat at myself.
But little by little, I learned. I watched GothamChess’s videos. I studied “opening principles,” played longer time controls, and practiced tactics puzzles like they were brain gym.
♟️ Openings That Helped Me:
White: London System (yep, I’m one of those players 😅)
Black vs e4: Scandi – love how aggressive it is
Black vs d4: Queen’s Gambit Declined – solid and safe
I didn't try to memorize 20-move lines. I just learned the ideas.
🧠 Tactics, Tactics, Tactics!
I credit my biggest jump (from ~700 to ~1000) purely to solving puzzles. Pattern recognition kicked in, and suddenly I was spotting forks, pins, and skewers like I had x-ray vision.
🥳 Reaching 1200: A Confidence Booster
The day I crossed 1200, I actually fist-pumped the air. Sure, it’s not a master rating, but to me, it was proof that I wasn’t hopeless.
My proudest win? Beating a 1300 in a 10-minute rapid game where I sacrificed a rook for a mating net. Chef’s kiss.
💬 Final Thoughts
Chess has taught me more than just how to win. It's taught me patience, resilience, and how to learn from failure.
Now I'm aiming for 1400 — but no matter the rating, I’ve already won by falling in love with the game.
🙋♂️ What’s your chess story? Drop your rating journey in the comments!