I answer all your doubts to improve in chess. Alberto Chueca: International Master and FIDE Trainer

@MyGreatMethod1 I'm answering to a player who has got FIDE rating. Obviously if you haven't got any rating your unique reference is the online rating but always it will be a worse reference because in each platform (lichess, ICC, chess.com...) you can get a different rating. The FIDE rating is the real rating you've got and is the best best proof to see what's your level.

You can now get the best of both worlds, an online FIDE rating that ties with the over-the-board one. https://arena.myfide.net/

(which I appreciate it's probably not news for everyone else, but it was to me!)

hi I looked at the homepage of the rebel alliance. It's not totally clear to me whats inside. Are the lessons basen on videos or more like the lessons section here on chess.com? I would be great if there was a trial period to try things out.

@Dr_Strange_69 We've got 3 masterclasses on live every month like this one (a little proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17aTwUANHCw&;), they are recorded if you can't attend to some of them. And in addition, you've got videos where you can see them whenever you want, guides and the FB group where I will help you with all the doubts or problems you could have.  To sum up, I would be your chess coach

@jmlima007 The online rating doesn't say anything for me, I consider it's not important. It's true that the FIDE has got the Arena platform but it's another chess platform more. (Probably done to get more incomes). I tell you more, there are several kinds of FIDE ratings (blitz and rapid also) but the real rating which measures your real strength is the classical FIDE rating. You shouldn't be worried about the rating, less looking the others

Good evening Sir Chueca, My question is simple, can someone like me who start 6month ago at the age of 22 can expect to improve that much he could be a national master? Has it ever be seen ? Thank you for the answers

Good evening Sir Chueca, My question is simple, can someone like me who start 6month ago at the age of 22 can expect to improve that much he could be a national master? Has it ever be seen ? Thank you for the answers

@letstrychess2 You're still young! We put our limits! Be sure that with work and a good coach you can reach to a good level (1900-2100) more or less quickly.

If you refer to reach to FIDE Master or International Master... the goal is not easy but it's not impossible. I think you could reach but honestly not in less than 6-8 years training and working in chess regularly (in the best of the cases!). I know it's hard but I don't want to lie you Probably there aren't many cases but I'm sure that it's because nobody has done the effort required

This is the reason about why is easier to improve when we are young. It's because we learn better and we've got more free time, after you need to study/work etc...

Hi, when I play OTB chess I usually find it hard to create good plans based on positional chess. I tried having a coach, it didn't solve the problem. What would you recommend I do to improve my level at creating plans (positional ones in non tactical situation)?

@Aizen89 First of all I must tell you that if haven't played in ages, probably you will have lost strength and in addition, each year, the level increase due to the technology and the possibilities of the learning. A 2001 rating of several years ago is weaker than a 2001 rating of today. Then maybe you can improve and don't see any difference in the rating.

To improve from 1900-2000 to 2200 is an important step, it's not easy. You need to understand many concepts that now you don't control, we're talking about understanding. And there is nothing better than a coach to explain to you what you need (I'm available ). If you would ask me to practice tactic, I could tell you that you can do it by yourself without problems (although always is better be guided), but if we are talking about to understand new ideas the best is that a professional explain you every detail that alone is complicate to understand. My advice? I wouldn't try it alone, you will study for many hours and in a big percentage of the cases, it keeps the level and the rating and it's very frustrating. With a coach, it will not easy either, imagine without him!

And about the question, I would mix middlegames (pawn structures, strategy, plans...), endgames and I would continue practicing tactic. I don't like to be very focused on only one part of the game leaving the others. It's good to be trained in at least several parts of the game, not be focused on only one. Hope it helps you

@JamesAgadir I think that work with a chess coach always is a good idea when you want to work seriously and improve quickly.

Ask to yourself if you trained with him the strategical concepts of chess (for example "the dynamic in chess", the positional sacrifice of pawn", "the Grunfeld pawn structure"...) that you needed it or if you were working without any order, without know exactly what you were learning.

If you worked with a coach and you worked properly, ask yourself also if you keep the regularity needed for your goal. Sometimes we want to play better in some days and the processes in learning are long.

The plan is clear: you need to study many strategical concepts to understand better the positions, and the best for this is do it with a coach. The way to learn that you were doing was correct. Then, you need to check what was the point in the process that it was failing. (For example: not learn the hours needed, not have a regularity in your learnings, a bad organization of you and your coach about the topics to learn, be focused in only one thing like theory... you've got more information, sure you will know it better). I hope it helps you

Thank you very much for your answer. I will try to take it into account. Could I create a program and show it to you and see if you think it looks right? I noticed on your page you say you are willing to be a coach, what are your fees?

@JamesAgadir Sure! Send me an email (https://www.albertochueca.com/contact/). My fees are public in "PRICING" on the website.

*P.S: I only try to help. Although in some situations I can recommend a chess coach because it's the best solution for the problem, you can consider other coaches also.

https://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=2269902

His title is confirmed on chess.com. I doubt they would confirm it if he was impersonating another FIDE master.

@ilovesmetuna It happens when you play your first games with a poor internet connection
But about chess coaching, you can see the results of my students: https://www.albertochueca.com/chess-rebels/ 

@ilovesmetuna You made me play again and recover the initial 2200s (+200)  Maybe another day I try to improve it more.

I'm 1472 USCF and struggling with my chess development as I have been level at that for a long time. Do you have any tips for me to get better at chess? thanks

@CoolChess01 This rating means that you are starting. The best of this is that you could improve much (300 of points easily) if you learn chess properly and of course, you would win more games. Then first of all, if you want to improve you must have an attitude to learn chess (not only play games for fun).

 If you have it clear that you want to improve and do an effort to learn chess, I would start focusing on Tactic (solving many chess puzzles of the most basic level) combined with basic concepts (development, center, initiative...) and after adding middlegame and endgames concepts.

Soon you will see the results. Good luck, you can get it!

(If you're able to invest a bit, in The Rebel Alliance we do this. I could help you. Check it here: https://www.albertochueca.com/pricing/)

I'm about a 1500 player in 15 +10 time control. If I want to learn properly, what is the best time control to play?

@DNesbitt 15 +10 is a very good time control to practice (always better standard time controls than blitz ones) but remember that play chess is not the same as to learn chess. To learn chess you need to get new concepts for example with chess books, training with a coach... and after you can practice the new concepts playing games, but only playing games will not give you any new knowledge.

If you want to learn chess properly, you have said it, you must learn (new concepts) not just play