stuck at 1100-1200, limited time....

I am just a 16 year old amateur chess player and I don't play competitively at all. I don't have a particular goal to reach; I honestly just want to improve and become a better chess player. However, I seem to be stuck at 1100-1200 rating. I have studied openings a little in the past. I have started doing more tactics and learning more about the endgame as well. Do you guys have any words of wisdom and advice for me to improve as quickly as possible?

Also I will have a bit of a time crunch as school starts soon I will be very busy. I have a heavy course load which will give plenty of homework and also I am a dedicated tennis player. So any chess practice will have to work around those things.

Thanks very much. Even if you don't have any tips to offer, I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

Have fun playing chess! It's a great way to work and stimulate the mind!

After looking around some more, I feel as though this should have been posted in the general section. Sorry about that. Is there any way it could be moved?

Play 15|10 games on Chess.com, after each game review the game and using a chess database see who left "book" first and what should have been played and why. That's all the opening study you need to do. When reviewing the games, try to find the critical moments- usually there are several- and decide if you played the best move in that position or not. If not, decipher why that was. Did you consider that move but didn't see its strength by miscalculating it? Unfamiliar with a tactical pattern? Did you think another move was stronger because you miscalculated it? This gives you an idea of your thought process and can help you find areas you need to work on.

Tactics, endgame study, playing and analyzing. Those will get you learning and improving the fastest.

Consistency is key too- study in a manner than you can handle during your school year- for example solving the 5 tactical puzzles at Chess.com daily and playing a chess game would be a great way to keep your mind working on your chess. Like any muscle, you have to continually work it or it'll begin to atrophy.

Have fun!

Sounds like a good plan! I will do the things mentioned as much as I can.

Is there anything anyone sees in my games as a repeating mistake or bad habit? If so, please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks everyone

Hey I created a whole article about how to become a master at chess. you can check it out if you want. regards.

Sorry to hijack the thread but.....
I've been playing for about a year. I only play the ten minute games but haven't improved past a 900 mark. Is this very low and should I be reading about opening moves now to improve?
All info welcome. Thank you.

I'd limit opening study to only look at databases to see when you diverged from opening theory in each of your games and see what moves you should have played. I'd focus a lot more on solving chess puzzles, reviewing endgame material, and things like that.

All I can say is I don't read chess books or anything but if you look at my archive I was about 1100 about two weeks ago and now I am 1300. Just be enthusiatic about chess. I have been playing 10 minute games.

op your tactics rating is very low

TACTICS

what more can be said?  let me say like this then.  I have a 15 year old son, he is interesting in chess and we play some.  he is Absolutely not worse at openings or calculation- and takes sometimes takes advantage of my inaccurate calculations.

yet our games are, I win 11 games and he has drawed 2 and won 1.

 

the Difference?  Tactics and recognizing them!  I see the attack when he is worried about pawns, I am squirming out of attacks where he's sure I will lose.  this is all recognizing patterns. 

 

I also think it is not neccesary to obsess over many hours on tactics,  Steadily going through is very helpful.  even 5 hours a week, Studying them could go a long ways.  and that is is oc another problem with chess.com.  without premium there are big limits on how many tactics you can solve.  look for another place on the net- to solve tactics, make a free account and work your way up.

 

Here is a tip, play 2-3 games everyday max and anaylzye all of those game and see what mistakes u did and need to work on and stop blunders, also play center pawn openings and don't play to many games for fun u gotta anaylyze them, and finnaly if your not having fun stop playing and just take a break thats how i broke 1100 but sadly i went down, in conclusion have fun! and if u need any more tips just message me

A rating of 1200 is a sign of frequent blunders. Check each and every move is no blunder before you play it. That alone will bring you to 1500.

You guys do know that this is a 5 year old thread and the OP has long ago stopped playing chess altogether right? Why are you bumping a 5 year old thread smh???