Just cannot improve

Hi All,

So as a teen my dad got me into chess. I took a beating for months and started to get fed up of the game. I just couldn't beat him. Then I realised I could just copy him. So I would play moves and he would play his.

I wrote down what he did each time and studied it.

Every time he made a move similar to mine in later games - I copied his move (as he always beat me so I assumed I could do this).

Despite copying his strategy he beat me - so I logged down his strategy to beat his usual strategy. And so this cycle went on for a week or two.

I got to a point where I realised no matter what strategy I copied from him - he had a strategy to beat it. No matter how many moves I logged a new one would appear. This made sense as the combinations in chess is...well I would run out of paper. So I got books and weirdly - they have set strategies and moves and known playstyles, which I found weird as I seemed to conclude the "fly by wire" approach my dad was using as in, change tact each move, and dont bother with a set strategy.

Either way, I am 30 now, 17 years on, and the current score is 0 - 2712.

I just don't get why I am so bad at this game...Not to sound like a trumpet blowing ass but I have a higher degree and a fairly above average IQ (146) which many associate with good chess learning.

It has got to the point where just 6-7 moves in I already know I have lost as I have seen his setup before.

I take pictures and run simulations and go 30-40 moves ahead slowly and I try some and he still manages to win.

The two options here are my dad is an unknown chess master or I suck - bigtime.

Is there some penny dropping moment I am failing to grab here?

The only way to find out how good you are is to play some games.

You can't be as bad as you say you are.

Yeah I will be playing some games here and try to learn some new tactics.

I am not terrible - I can win games against many people, including my chemistry masters lecturer to the point we were 50/50 - that cheered me up a lot as I discovered I can't be THAT bad but still...To have years go by and never win...Also means I play him rarely these days. I like a challenge but this is like running into a brick wall for fun...It isn't lol.

Had a lovely game nearing checkmate and the opponent won based on time despite having only king rook and bishop and 1 pawn...I had two rooks bishop and 2 knights...

Used to playing by piece score rather than time...

most likely your dad is a unknown chess master 

 This is an interesting story, especially the "copy" approach to the games you played. In this sense it was more of an experiment, or simulation, than an actual game. The key to chess (well ... one of many) is to not move only by reacting to each move of the opponent, but rather to play your own strategies - and capture the initiative of the game; of course, pay attention to the opponent's plans - just don't ONLY react to them. Often times the best move does more than simply blocking an opponent's threat, it often creates your own threat. However, do not fall into the trap that many beginners play by simply blocking threats, and playing your own soley (this is "hope chess", hoping they do not see the threat). Capturing the " initiative" is a chess term, not just in speak. However, controlling the game play not be a simple mating attack on the King (or another piece). Usually "silent moves" create the best threats simply by placement, or maneuverability. 

I too have an above average IQ, but do not assume the fallacy that this is the only link to chess; chess is really mostly pattern-recognition. Does chess really make someone smarter, or are smarter people just more likely to play chess? Clearly you have a "new" chess.com account, so it may take a while to get an "accurate chess rating", but you came to the right place to post this into a chess forum.  Once you establish an " accurate " rating, getting chess advice more specific to your current chess ability should help you improve. I highly recommend simply playing chess on chess.com and learning; I recommend the "daily puzzles", "lessons", and " tactics" (all of which are free, but paid memberships allow more of these training tools), they can all be found via the "learn" side bar under "home" and "play." Once you establish a rating reflective to your chess ability (no matter how high or low you think it is), advice for improvement plans, as well as games, will be more beneficial.

Perhaps post another forum (or even message me personally if you want) when you have this "accurate" rating, and then specifics can follow from there.

Actually your story has parallels to mine. I have not lost over 2000 games to a person, but I do have several friends of mine rated several hundred points higher than me (some of them I still have never won against). Therefore, I have some relatability to your situation - but I still say "have fun". You will play better in bursts, and if you are enjoying chess for the great game that it is. Perhaps your " chess-ability" is in progress, but then again - so is the world champion's chess-ability.

Good luck improving, you may win against the odds - even if it takes some time and effort, but I have complete faith in your ability to improve if you set your mind to it.