Any tips for a slow beginner?

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MATleberger77

Hello, I started chess in July of this year. I work between 1h30 and 2h a day (25 problems and two to three games). I don’t really know any openings yet.

In 4 months I can not exceed 950 ELO (days of great forms). I am a little discouraged. 


At the beginning of each part I am focused, then I get tired and my attention drops and I get eaten pieces!! I can’t make plans and I feel like I’m taking more time to think than others (I do 30-minute games)...
Any tips for a slow beginner?

Thanks

ChessRetiMetaYt

If you cant stay focused for a longer time but also feel that even 30-minute games are too short, then something goes very wrong. Let tactics be tactis, makes not much sense to study them as an beginner ( or good playerlol) anyway, go to Youtube and watch some good opening videos. Also try to really think before every move: what nice things will this move do for my position?( something no beginner ever do ).

MarkGrubb

If you struggle to find a plan try playing fewer but longer games. Maybe one game a day but 45/45 for example. It will give you more time to think about the position and find a plan. You may find it less intense so dont get as tired. As you become more experienced you'll speed up. What also helped me was learning more about positional chess, like weak squares, outposts and weaknesses like backward pawns. Y then form simple plans around attacking a weak pawn or maneuvering your knight to a weak square

MarkGrubb

John Bartholomew's Chess Fundamentals series on you tube is very good. He has a video on pawn structures that introduces pawn weaknesses and many other great ideas.

Dsmith42

Learn the basic checkmates first (K+Q v. K, K+R v. K, and the back-rank mates), and learn the basic K+p v. K endgames.  The key to better results, especially in the early going, is knowing how to win the endings you should win, and draw the endings you should hold.  This is how you turn small opening/middlegame advantages into easy wins - once you have the advantage, simplify to an endgame you know.

The next step from there is tactics - pins, forks, skewers, deflection, destruction.  Until you build your tactical depth to the point you can see at least two moves ahead, openings and positional play won't count for much.

The best advice, though, is to try to play as many games as possible against stronger players.  The ideal opponent for learning is one who's about 300 Elo points above your current level.  At that level, you'll lose most of the time, but you'll understand what your opponent is doing and why.

practiceO

I think working on instincts and natural moves  is a good way to move faster. Like playing shorter time controls with increment and noticing patterns or certain positions as well as practicing tactics to the point where it's second nature to you. Play moves that are safe but still remember the basic principles of development. No need to worry about openings yet, people just play what they feel is right at beginner levels. Control the center with pawns/minor pieces, develop all your pieces, get your king castled.

Redgreenorangeyellow
YannMAT1973 wrote:

Hello, I started chess in July of this year. I work between 1h30 and 2h a day (25 problems and two to three games). I don’t really know any openings yet.

In 4 months I can not exceed 950 ELO (days of great forms). I am a little discouraged. 


At the beginning of each part I am focused, then I get tired and my attention drops and I get eaten pieces!! I can’t make plans and I feel like I’m taking more time to think than others (I do 30-minute games)...
Any tips for a slow beginner?

Thanks

You are working too hard. Don't put thought into a training routine yet. Just play and look at the occasional game played by the pros. No need for learning some advanced endgame, the obscure line of the Caro-Kann, or some in-depth analysis of a specific middle game position. You must first get to 1400 before you can start seriously applying a training routine. And even then, it is not necessary. I got back into the game during quarantine and without studying the game one bit, I got to 1600 from 1100 in the timespan of 3.5 months. \

Also I was a slow beginner like you. When I started in fifth grade, three years ago, it seriously took me an entire nine months to get to 1000. 

Antonin1957

If you started in July, and have already become discouraged, you are taking a self-defeating approach. Don't be in such a hurry. Read beginner's books, play games against the computer, play online against people of your own level. Relax and enjoy "the other beautiful game." 

Redgreenorangeyellow
saeadborji wrote:

challenge me a daily unrated if you like. I think I am able to recommend some good chess books, YouTube videos or other resources on this site to help you with your chess. You should not worry about your speed yet. Blitz or bullet are for those who just want to pass the time. Rapid games are not good either. I gave up rapid cuz EVERYTIME i send a challenge it takes forever to get paired. Daily is best for you for the time being

He doesn't need books, he is less than 1000. He can't apply the information, and honestly, the best way to improve at his level is to simply play. He can't improve if he is playing only three games a day. He should be doing as many games of 15|10 as he can, generally against opponents with a mixed skill variety within 150 points of his personal rating. Stupid training regiments won't do anything if he barely can identify basic patterns which occur in almost every other game. 

ooooeeeeooeeoe

u should know the rules of openings like

1.ConTrol ThE Central squares like e4 e5 d4 d5

2 In The Opening Do Not moVe The Pieces Twice

3 Castle aS soon as possible and keep ur king safe 

theres one more point but i cant remember please add the remaining points if i have missed thank you

Abemo
practiceO wrote:

I think working on instincts and natural moves  is a good way to move faster. Like playing shorter time controls with increment and noticing patterns or certain positions as well as practicing tactics to the point where it's second nature to you. Play moves that are safe but still remember the basic principles of development. No need to worry about openings yet, people just play what they feel is right at beginner levels. Control the center with pawns/minor pieces, develop all your pieces, get your king castled.

Right advice about not learning openings yet...see what happened to me...hilarious tournament incidents!

https://www.chess.com/blog/Abemo/the-pathetic-patzer

MATleberger77

Thank you all. Thank you Abemo, I felt the same way at my first Blitz tournament two weeks ago !!!

King_Trash

Play blitz 

destroyer8470_Inactive

Your slow? Just speed up!

Anyway seriously if you want help send me a message

unputin
YannMAT1973 wrote:

Hello, I started chess in July of this year. I work between 1h30 and 2h a day (25 problems and two to three games). I don’t really know any openings yet.

In 4 months I can not exceed 950 ELO (days of great forms). I am a little discouraged. 


At the beginning of each part I am focused, then I get tired and my attention drops and I get eaten pieces!! I can’t make plans and I feel like I’m taking more time to think than others (I do 30-minute games)...
Any tips for a slow beginner?

Thanks

I think catalan is better for you, that help your piece not to work really hard that make many trouble

chamo2074

I think you should make sure you know the principles, from what I Have read I think you struggle in the middlegame so the middlegame you should:

Take your worse piece and improve it

Play depending on what the pawn structure asks for

Play depending on the plans of the opening you played

ooooeeeeooeeoe

dont play blitz it spoils ur game try playing daily chess and time control 15l10 more

thenextlevelpro

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FlawlessJuice
thenextlevelpro wrote:

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cerebov

I checked a couple of your rapid games. Your main problem is that you are hanging your pieces all the time. See this one:

https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/5591147651

In move 18, you are up 2 pieces, the computer evaluation is even more brutal, +17. In the next 3 moves, you lose a queen and 2 knights. I am not even joking. You should stop doing this. Nothing else is impotant, only this.