Sure thing 
Perhaps one of these days, I could play unrated 15/10 or 30 min for learning (I don't care for Daily much though).
In the meantime, read this over; it will probably be of use to you
https://www.chess.com/blog/KeSetoKaiba/opening-principles-again
I can help a bit... Started playing competitively OTB and took almost 2 years to break 1000 USCF... But if you follow some checklists like what @IMBacon has on his profile you should be fine.
I can help a bit... Started playing competitively OTB and took almost 2 years to break 1000 USCF... But if you follow some checklists like what @IMBacon has on his profile you should be fine.
+1 Good checklist they have there!
I can help a bit... Started playing competitively OTB and took almost 2 years to break 1000 USCF... But if you follow some checklists like what @IMBacon has on his profile you should be fine.
+1 Good checklist they have there!
Thx I will read them!
Could you post some games here, please? I'd play with you, but unfortunately I don't have the time to do anything slower than 10|0 usually.
A couple things I'd ask: Do you know your basic checkmates and endgames? Do you know opening principles and maybe a little bit of theory? Grinding puzzles on chess.com can really help to improve your calculation and speed it up somewhat.
Sure, I'll figure out how to do that later today.
In terms of checkmates/endgames, I know how to win K+Q vs K and K+R vs K, also K+R+R vs K... Back-rank checkmates I spot more often than not... I know about opposition, so some pawn endgames I can manage, though those can get confusing for me. K+two bishops or K+B+N, forget it, I tried to watch a video about it once and felt very dumb failing to replicate it against an engine.
I know about opening principles such as develop your pieces - control the center - connect your rooks - castle... and I do try to apply them. My knowledge of specific openings and theory is close to zero. I did read winning chess strategy for kids (even though I'm no kid) which has some more "advanced" ideas, and I could follow them fine, though I'm quite sure there's no way in hell I would spot them and apply them in an actual game.
Could you post some games here, please? I'd play with you, but unfortunately I don't have the time to do anything slower than 10|0 usually.
A couple things I'd ask: Do you know your basic checkmates and endgames? Do you know opening principles and maybe a little bit of theory? Grinding puzzles on chess.com can really help to improve your calculation and speed it up somewhat.
Sure, I'll figure out how to do that later today.
In terms of checkmates/endgames, I know how to win K+Q vs K and K+R vs K, also K+R+R vs K... Back-rank checkmates I spot more often than not... I know about opposition, so some pawn endgames I can manage, though those can get confusing for me. K+two bishops or K+B+N, forget it, I tried to watch a video about it once and felt very dumb failing to replicate it against an engine.
I know about opening principles such as develop your pieces - control the center - connect your rooks - castle... and I do try to apply them. My knowledge of specific openings and theory is close to zero. I did read winning chess strategy for kids (even though I'm no kid) which has some more "advanced" ideas, and I could follow them fine, though I'm quite sure there's no way in hell I would spot them and apply them in an actual game.
That's pretty good. And yes, I have that book at home, it's very helpful and not as it sounds for the absolute beginner (when I was reading it at 1000, it seemed downright advanced ) I would suggest at first that you maybe learn a little bit about one specific opening. Even something as simple as "I play e4, if he plays e5 I play Nf3 to attack his pawn" is better than nothing.
(And don't worry, I can barely mate with K+two bishops, much less K+B+N...)
Wth king and two bishops is simple but okayyyyyy
Wth king and two bishops is simple but okayyyyyy
If all the pieces are in the corner already, then I can manage, maybe, if I just had my coffee, but otherwise, believe me, I tried, not that simple for me !!!
Even something as simple as "I play e4, if he plays e5 I play Nf3 to attack his pawn" is better than nothing.
Thanks! That's pretty much the extent of my knowledge. I play e4 as white, and then proceed with Nf3, then the bishop, then the other knight, etc. The Italian game I think.
I have a super low rating, I'm that bad at chess, but I recommend ChessBrah's youtube series of Building Habits. It's really helped me improve.
Hi there! I started playing back in February. I've been stuck in mediocrity for months now (850-to-950 rating in rapid, closer to 850 honestly). I'm very slow and often run out of time in 15|10 and 30. I even managed to run out of time in a 60-minute game! The other times I lose I make dumb blunders. I do my puzzles and I eat my peas, I've read a couple of books, but I'm not seeing much improvement. Frustrating. I do not play a high volume of games, as I don't have much time and I get tired/can't focus for too long.
I've started playing daily games recently, which I hope will help. But I think I need to play some games with stronger players who can give me pointers on how to improve. Or maybe I can post some of my games here for commentary?
Anybody interested in helping this poor soul? 15|10, 30, daily... All work for me.