Journal and Goals

Hi I'm new here and i liked the look of this group so i thought i would join. Look forward to getting to know others here and help improve this group in some way. In what way i don't know yet. This is my Training journal and my goals for 2008 and the end of 2009.

My goal for this site is 2200+ want to achieve and maintain this by 30/12/2009 or sooner. Setting a date helps to make something more then a dream or wish list. 30/12/2008 I want to achieve 2100+ if possible. I'm over 2000+ now so its possible with serious effort.

Goal for Over The Board playing (O.T.B) is; I want to achieve 1700+ again for the ACF rating which is Aus rating system. Maybe even 1800+ its been about 4 years since i played in one so the one in Feb 09 ( Newcastle Open) is what I'm thinking of doing. I plan to play in about 2-3 tournaments next year which consist of 2 or more day's of play and see how much i have improved since i last played. I have not decided whether to play in a F.I.D.E. tournament yet as i don't know how much they cost and in these times being wise with money is important.

Whats needed 1st is:- Taking time to study my games while in play and not simply go over them or annotate them after. Examine games i have played already especially the lost games. I will go over games in my mind first and confirm them with the analysis board taking notes and saving them to get as much understanding of why i lost in the games i have played and lost in, and in what area's I'm struggling in is very important. Also i shall take advantage of the new feature chess.com has provided in the PC analysis. This could take 1-4 hours of my time a day.

2nd:- Spend 15-30 mins on tactics trainer to continue to improve my tactical vision. I will try to calculate the tactic's as fast as i can while trying to keep accurate.

3rd:- Continue in my endgame studies to become a very solid opponent overall. Im Starting with Yasser Seirawans book "winning chess endings" and go from there. This could take 1 hour a day 6 days a week.

4th:- Pay for a year's membership of chess mentor and see how or if it improves my skills. I will give 1 hour a week to this. This is like getting coaching from IM's and GM's so the add say's.

So All up could take up 5-6 hour's a day. That is a lot but to improve as much as i plan might have to find the time, such as watching a lot less TV. That wont be so hard as there isn't that much on these day's. Schedule my time so i can fit my part time job, my new business and chess into my day and nights. Will be difficult but i will try.

Well that's my goal's and journal for now. Signing off till next time:- Ian Sinclair.

That's a heck of a plan! With that much study, no way you won't improve a lot...

Keep us posted and good luck!

Andrea

Thank you i will . I find the better you want to become the more effort is needed to achieve it, even with a smart plan still takes time, money and consistent effort. All the best with your goal's too Andrea!

I am right there with you dear Friend.

That was an impressive plan!! Good Luck!

Thank you chessdadx2 for your support its much appreciated. And thank you also farbror i do have a lot to do before i can achieve the goals, but feel it shall be worth it.

It has been a long time since I have been seriuos about chess. I hope with a little motivation I will be back on my way to playing like I used to. I would be happy to help anyone if I can.

It has been a long time, but after starting to do some tactics puzzles again, I remembered something that may help some of the lower ranked people in the group. Doing the puzzles is important, but how you do the puzzles is important too! One way that I used to be better at chess, and puzzles for that matter, was how I examined the positions. Not just finding the answer. If you see the reason for the answer, it will be easier to find the solution. For example ... was there a checkmate because the king was not very mobile? ... was there a piece that was defending to many things at once? (overloaded) .

If you notice the motiffe? often times the answer becomes easy to find. So look for the reason that there is a weakness in the position, and it will help you to find the right move!

Thanks for putting me on the right track. :-)

Oops, was this the wrong place? I need to start my own journal I guess ... How do I do that? Thanks, heh