Help: How do I be a good chess player

Good players play good chess, but if you want to be a great player, you need to play great chess

lol true

Looks like Chess.com can start making a new title for some people:

DM = DELUSSIONAL MASTER.

Well, this is the only site that has Chess Mentor, might as well use it.  Also, tactics tactics tactics

I don't understand how that helps

Firstly, I recommend tactics, tactics, tactics for 3 month, as well learn two favorite opening of black and white; come back and tell me you finish you traning for 3 month and start playing. Then you will tell me how well you are doing and I will gladly  give you the next tip for next level.

Okay :)

I think Ill do that too :)

adderral makes you smarter, try some of that. you will be able to play like a computer. :P

I think Josh Waitzkin said one of the deepest things on improving when he emphasized the art of learning. If I can improve my learning ability I will find it hard to not improve my chess.

I have always liked mathematics so I think the logical thinking foundation is there. I learned english by repeting phrases till I fell asleep, so the same should apply to chess. Repete everything till you drop and store it in the long term memory part of the brain. That brainpart never forgets easily.

I play both. Its better than just one.

Ill dothat too.

Seriously guys, this is the best approach I've exmined and it work 80%.

Okay

A lot of what was mentioned in this forum is good advice.

People learn in many different ways, but they need to find ways that suit them best. For example, I am a visual person and learn best by studying youtube videos with commentary as opposed to reading chess books.

Just to give you a more in-depth point of view on what I believe needs to be done to become a good chess player:

1. For openings - Stick to a few openings per side (ex: Kings pawn, sicilian, Ruy lopez) and learn those systems using databases, video lessons etc.

2. Study tactics 1-2 hours daily for huge improvement (this will help see combinations many moves deep and once tactics are practiced long enough, you can visualize the tactics without a board in front of you)

3. Analyze your own games (it is best to analyze with your opponent, chess teacher, or player who is above your level)

4. Endgames - Build an endgame base before moving on to complicated endgame problems (for example, you need to learn addition before multiplication)

-I recommend a book called "Silman's Endgame Course" which is broken down into sections based on your rating, instead of showing you problems without indicating how tough the problems are.

-Once you've mastered this book, move onto Dvoretsky's Manual (for those players around 2400 and below)

Now I will discuss what resources you can use to further your chess career:

-Download SCID (free software that allows you to store your games, whether it be online, correspondence, tournament)

- If you cannot afford the purchase of chess databases (like the one for $100+ that contains over 6 million games) you can download pgn games from TWIC (this week in chess) website for free and load them into SCID to help analyze and build opening trees!

-For tactics - Chesstempo.com is a free website with hundreds of chess puzzles (puzzles increase in difficulty as you increase your rating)

I recommend 1-2 hrs of tactics daily for huge improvement

-SCID also has a powerful built-in engine you can analyze your games with


Now a big tip for those wanting to improve in tactics:

* Look at these three principles IN ORDER for both sides before making your move when solving chess puzzles:

1. Checks - look at all checks for both sides (of course look at the checks that stand out and are your top candidate moves)

2. Captures - Look at any captures in the position for both sides and narrow down your top choices (process of elimination)

3. Threats - When you have looked at checks and captures and haven't found anything that wins, look at threats for both sides.

*Keep in mind that in tactics chess sites may reveal what themes will be used to solve the puzzles (Ex: Skewer, material advantage, mate in 4, etc.)
- But in a real game over-the-board, this wont be the case.

*When solving tactics problems, the most forceful lines should be played (example, there may be two ways to win the game, but which one is more forceful - which way makes it so your opponent has no choice?!)

*When I say forceful, I mean play the line that makes it so your opponent must play a certain sequence - checks usually do the trick!

One more thing before I go - I mentioned briefly that I am a visual learner and like to study chess via youtube. Some great youtube commentators that come to mind include:

1. Kingscrusher

2. Chess Network

3. Greg Shahade

4. Chess Explained

As a paid member on chess.com, I love the chess videos on here.

Thanks and hope this helps everyone wanting to improve,

Chris

Wow, I have learnt a lot!! Yes, I do watch Kingscrusher's video's and I will try to do lots of tactics

I can't find the reply button, but I agree. Nothing teaches intuitive movement like live application. 

There are tribes in Africa where they have 6 year olds who can take down adult grapplers. They don't study formally. They just wrestle a lot. 

That's one way to approach it, but not many people can devote the amount of time required to learn entirely by experience. The best method for most students is a mix of play and theory. If you only play, you need theory. If you only study, go play. 

It's that simple. The best answer to the question is that they should study. You probably have a lot of raw talent. It's impressive what you've done without studying, but I almost guarantee that what you have done pales in comparison to what you COULD have done if you'd studied more.