What Are Your Goals?

Hi all, 

This isn't an obligatory thing, I'm just curious where we're all at. Some of our younger/lower rated members may be aiming for the stars, whereas some of us have been there and done that, and have more modest goals, if any. 

Where do you stand? And how will you get there? I'll go first...

For anyone that doesn't read my blog, my current goal is to attain a rapid rating of at least 1800 by August 19, 2019. But more than that, I want to really improve. So at each rating that I'm at, I will pick opponents of that rating or higher. (Maybe a bit lower, like 50 points, or of course, anyone that asks me for a training game.)

More than the rating goal, I want to have a better understanding of chess by that time. So, I'm trying to work on improving my understanding of positions, and in particular my problem with partiality and bias in assessment of positions. 

So, if you like, here's where you can share what your aspirations are. I look forward to hearing from you!  

Cheers,

Willy

Well...I’m just trying to reach CM title in three years. In my calculations, I just need to improve my chess.com rating by 500-600 per year...then enter some OTB tournaments (rated of course) and earn my title! I guess I’m one of those people aiming for the stars...I really need to improve my vision in chess.

That's pretty lofty!

Be careful though; there's a big difference between otb and online. Psychologically and also just spatially. So CM will require some OTB practice.

It’s good to have goals, as they motivate people. My lifetime goal is FM. I think I can get there eventually. But probably not soon, as I have too little time for my daily games - I’m on chess.com mainly for vote chess. I won’t give rating limits to myself, like I must have that and that rating in one year or anything.

On the contrary, let me give you a little piece of advice, everybody. It might sound unexpected, but it never is a good idea to measure one’s success in any sport through the number of wins or through gained results. (Ask any good personal psychologist.) How should one measure success in chess? I could ask myself these questions:

• Am I enjoying my games?
• Am I trying/learning/experiencing new things?
• Am I able to spot my mistakes afterwards?
• Am I able to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them?

I would define a successful chess player as a person who answered “yes” four times. And I believe that such a player has much better chances to improve their results.

That's an interesting perspective, Drake, I respect it.

I must say, I do totally agree. However, I am perhaps the most procrastinatory person I have ever met, so the number goal was an initial set of stairs to climb, by a certain time.

But you're right it's very easy to fall into the "achievement for achievement's sake" mindset. This not only takes all the fun out of chess. but it also tilts you when you're going "backwards". Bad days happen to everyone, and you just have to do your best and enjoy the ride.

The ultimate goal is one you can never reach. The fun, then, can be found in the pushing towards that goal, as opposed to being found exclusively in the achievement of it. If your only reward is achievement, you will never be happy because there's always a next level to achieve, until you decide to pack up your bat and ball and go home.

Yeah, I get where you're coming from.

I guess we all get "kiddy-Deirdre" days (I promise that won't become an inside joke), but as you say, you woke up the next day ready for more, and that's probably why you kept at it. When you wake up and say... "Do I have to?" It's an indicator to take a break, at least.

When I first started playing chess, I admit thinking how cool it would be to become a master in this game. The more I play, the better I realize how difficult it is to become one. The first months of playing (after the very first one) were so rewarding. I felt like I was learning at a tremendous speed, and I used to go up 100 rating points every month. Recently I have really started to understand the whole law of diminishing returns. Every month gaining even a bit of rating gets increasingly more difficult, and it's hard to know whether you're doing things correctly or not. So rating wise my goals have changed a lot since the start.

First I dreamed about becoming a GM one day, but soon I realized that it's too ridiculous goal for someone starting at age of 25. Especially for someone like me, who can't (or want to sacrifice all the free time) dedicate enough time for serious chess practice. I still hold onto the dream of maybe becoming a master one day, but I'll admit it's a dream - not a goal. I think I could reach expert level within few years if I keep going at the same pace as I've done the past 9 months.

But realistically I understand that the honeymoon with chess is already over. The time of fast gains (and the feeling of everything is possible) is quickly fading and every step of improvement will be more difficult than the previous one. I don't know how long can I motivate myself to study chess in a serious enough manner - until I just decide to maintain it as a fun pastime with no rating goals. For the time being I'm just trying to continue my slow and steady progress, and hopefully cross 1500 blitz and 1600 rapid rating before I have played for a year. It shouldn't be too difficult if I just continue doing what I have been doing so far (playing, analyzing, tactics, chess books and watching master games live/on demand).

I don't know how many of you have read my chess blog, but I have kept track of my rating gains for this whole time that I have played chess. Hopefully I can keep making at least a small progress for the last 3 months of the year, to make it a year of improvement every month.

My goal is to get 1500 rapid by end of October and 1700 daily by end of December. I didn't have any plans before this month except to play as best as I can. So that's it for me. 

I don't have a rating goal really, I kind of assume that if I focus on the things I know need improvement the rating side will take care of it'self. What I am trying to get better at here is taking the time to look the board over and really understand the position in front of me. Way to often I see a threat or and opportunity and get tunnel vision on that segment of the board. This often causes me to miss important details that require attention.

I play on Chess.Com because I enjoy playing chess. I know nobody who plays and nowhere to play OTB. We have a local chess club but it doesn't cater to newcomers. It is not worthy of the name, "Club".

I had a look online y'day but the nearest coach is attached to another chess club, 80 kms away. I WILL make contact with him, though.

The number of OTB games I've had in 50 years, until last year, could be counted on one hand and I found playing OTB simply confused me. Who knew that chess was a 3D game?

That's pretty lofty, but I'm sure you can get there!

Yeah, I think your approach is good; focus on the deficits in your play, fix them, and your rating should go up on its own.

I'm cooking up a "revolution" as far as that particular chess club is concerned; the fact that we had 6 participants in a certain tournament this year is one of my planned leverage points. 

They say we need to get more members, no, we've got to keep them once we've got them, then get more! I'm thinking more casual nights would be good; a club that has a core group of twelve is a bit ludicrous to take itself as seriously as it does. Never mind, it has the potential to be good, and I'm hoping it will change, with nudges and commitment. 

Yeah, OTB really is almost a different game. Online prep doesn't help me at all for OTB tournament!

Good question Will. 

I'm pretty new to chess (been playing club level for a little less than a year now, as you know) so I'm really just getting my footing. I'd like to gain an OTB rating of 1600 within the next year or two. I'm not too worried about rapid or anything atm, just classical. 

One of my main goals to achieve this is to play OTB much much more. 

That's certainly achievable, and we can help you get there!

I meant rapid here, which includes classical time controls. More as a benchmark and a motivations than anything else. I look like getting to 1800 before my goal, but I'll see what comes next when I get there.

Yeah I was going to say if we're going by chess.com ratings then you'll be at 1800 solid before christmas if you keep going the way you have been since your blog has been up haha.

Thanks! But we'll see how it goes. Honestly I think we're aiming at the same otb goal at the moment; 1600 will take some good results from both of us.

I played a lot of rapid/blitz when I first came on here but now avoid it like the plague. The minimum I play, when I find the time, is 30 min's though very few games go anywhere near that.

Prudent. It's good to make good habits before you play faster time controls.