Help me improve

Hello everyone, 

I am new to chess and hooked!

I feel like I'm getting better, but still make terrible mistakes. 

I was wondering if someone could look at a few of my games, and help me with what my weaknesses are. 

I will try to play slower games in the future and think each move more. I think time has been a factor for dumb mistakes. 

Thanks in advance!  

Opening Principles:

1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5

2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key

3. Castle

4. Connect your rooks

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

Pre Move Checklist:

1. Make sure all your pieces are safe. 

2. Look for forcing move: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) this will force you look at, and see the entire board. 

3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board. 

4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece. 

5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

Middlegame Planning:

1. Expand your position:

a. Gain more space.

b. Improve the position of your pieces.

2. Decide on what side of the board to play.

a. Queenside: a-c files.

b. Center: d-e files.

c. Kingside: f-h files.

Compare, space, material, and weakness(es)

Play where you have the advantage.

3. DO NOT HURRY.  Regroup your pieces, and be patient. 

Thanks for the reply! 

Glad to help!

 Learn the different tactical themes. Study them well. Here is the link.

http://www.chessfornovices.com/whatarechesstactics.html

Don't feel bad. I've been playing for years, and still suck. Key is to memorize 10,000 moves and tactics. Almost impossible for a dummy like me. 

I took a look at your recent 5 Blitz games. Other aspects aside, you lost all 5 on time. Your most recent game had you running out of a time by spending over a minute on a move.

My recommendation? Play longer games. Try 10 minutes instead of 5|5, at the very least. If you're going to play 5|5, you can't spend that long on a single move, though I'd recommend longer games because being able to think through each move will help you improve better.

i look at 3 of your rapid games.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/2769908400?username=john_redtail

i wont mention all the tactical mistakes. 17. e4 is a mistake because your king is in the center. when you are behind in development, usually opening up the position is bad. 18. rxd5 is a bad move as it open up your king to pressure. yeah you won a pawn but under a cost of your king being exposed to pressure. 20. ne4, you miss the f5 move. you can't move your knight because it is pin. at critical moments, spend more time before you make a move.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/2769949191?username=john_redtail

here instead of 10. ne5, you should have castle king side or move your queen to castle queen side. you have move this knight many times in the opening. unless  you have a good reason, dont move the same piece twice in the opening.

https://www.chess.com/live/game/2769812129?username=john_redtail

here you have material advantage. you are not under time pressure, but you commit the blunder 18....Bxf3 losing your bishop. you must have solve harder problems than this. this is really an elementary blunder. think about it, why do you think you made this mistake? the answer is, you are not looking at the whole board. always look at the whole board. just following this, your result will be better.

hi

hi

If you want I am giving a free lesson, just message me

Chess is stupid. 

Chess is a stupid game! I hate it! I HATE IT!!!!

Glad to hear you are interested in approving!

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Send an email to premierchess64@gmail.com with your availability over the next few days for a quick 5 minute call about your goals.