Forum

Trying out a new location for nights here in Portland: Gift PDX 7pm to 10 pm1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd · Portland, OR   https://www.meetup.com/portland-chess-adult-learning-group/events/305905476/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link

I am super excited to improve this year!  Lets start by setting some goals.   Love the SMART Goals approach! Goals should be Process based goals over Outcome based. Yes I want a high ELO or a title, but staring a the numbers is not the way to get there. State the actions and make doing them the goal SMART goals are: - Specific (exactly what you want) - Measurable (track your progress) - Achievable (challenging but doable stretch from the past but not insane, you can make them harder in 30 days) - Relevant (makes sense for your chess improvement) - Time-bound (BY DATE X with regular check ins) Post your Goals Bellow and give feedback on other peoples goals. Here are 3 goals for me this year using SMART and Process Goal 1 (Tactics): Maintain Daily Tactical Practice Specifics: 30 to 120 minutes a day Use Structured Tactics Study with known resources 50 Day Tactical Challenge Part 2  for 1st 100 days on day 8 today Measurable: Keep track daily of time and share publicly (likely Notion ) Puzzle Rush Survival ( Starting 52  / Monthly Jan 30 1.7.25 / End) Puzzle Rush 5 min ( Starting 28 / Monthly (to do 1.15.25)  / End) Achievable: Yes! Relevant: Yes, this will help my calculation and pattern recognition Time-bound: 1 year Goal 2 (Play): Play 75 Classical Games Rated in 2025 Play in Dojo Classical Play in 6 OTB that include Classical Annotate 1 Game every 2 week (tough I did not do this last year) How to improve this, Make these videos for YouTube for community feedback. Measurable: Total Number of Games (0/50 (Online / IRL )) USCF Rating ( Starting 1564 / Monthly / End / Peak 1596 ) Lichess Classical Rating ( Starting 1982 / Monthly / End / Peak 2118 ) Chess.com Daily Rating ( Starting 1879 / Monthly / End / Peak 2199 ) Achievable: yes I did 54 in 2024 (34 online + 20 OTB ) Goal 3 (Endgames): Master 50 endgames from 100 Essential Endgames Measurable: Number Done (0/50) Create a Checklist of 100 and share publicly progress Spar them with ELO = or higher and score 75% at 5+10 Make 1 video a month explaining one I master Keep track of how many classical endgames I convert or save

What are you wanting to do in chess wise in 2025? Goal Tips Use Process based goals. It is better to make the goal play 100 Over the Board games than get to rating 1200.  Playing 100 games will help you improve and focuses on the path not each bump in the road ADD some Fun, Travel to play chess hustlers in NOLA, Read Fire on the Board Involve others - Challenge a friend, you are more likely to do things when you and a friend check in weekly

This is from Day 1 of the Speed chess championship.  More on the tragedy here  Naka explains https://youtu.be/TQ7I2zKOVHY?si=JZC_OziAvK__Io-B&t=650