Just started today. 49 years old. Played a bit with a friend of mine in my 30s. Thought I would be 500-, but just beat a 1000 bot, so getting hopeful...
Are there other old beginners here?
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Aug 17, 2021
0
#23
I’m on the downhill side for certain. Learned the “moves and rules” when just a child. Playing mostly for fun and to keep my brain active. I spent over forty years studying code, standards, and such so studying to improve my game is a chore.
Aug 17, 2021
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#24
Come on now... if a 65-year-old can break 2350, then you young sprouts should be able to break 2000.
Aug 17, 2021
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#25
blueemu wrote:
Come on now... if a 65-year-old can break 2350, then you young sprouts should be able to break 2000.
You do give us saplings hope. I should take my own advice and “suck it up buttercup.”
Aug 17, 2021
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#26
blueemu wrote:
Come on now... if a 65-year-old can break 2350, then you young sprouts should be able to break 2000.
must be all that free time to study from retirement lol
Aug 17, 2021
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#27
I am 74. Started last November. I'm terrible, but enjoy the game, puzzles, and learning.
Aug 17, 2021
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#28
If anyone here is interested in improving, I am offering free coaching sessions for a limited time. Message me if you would like to schedule something.
38 and only really becoming obsessed with it now.
I’m 60. Learned how the pieces moved as a kid from a set and instructions but never had anyone interested in playing. Tried later playing early computer chess. Didn’t have concentration to read so was confused. Trying again, this time reading :)
Aug 17, 2021
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#32
LexNederbragt wrote:
49, learned the game as a kid, never played after, started on chess.com again last February. Sticking to Daily (correspondence) games so I have enough time to consider my moves. I am learning a lot from each game!
me too, however I still hang pieces
I started chess about a year ago and just turned 41 on the 9th.
Aug 18, 2021
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#34
I started playing in my teens, moving the pieces. I loved the game, but it took effort to find any real players. I studied the Chess Made Simple book and beat everybody. Chess.com is a miracle! You can talk as much about chess as you like and not seem weird. You can learn here and play other people 24/7.
llib2 wrote:
I started playing in my teens, moving the pieces. I loved the game, but it took effort to find any real players. I studied the Chess Made Simple book and beat everybody. Chess.com is a miracle! You can talk as much about chess as you like and not seem weird. You can learn here and play other people 24/7.
Yeah, definitely... when I DID try learn chess 20 odd years ago, the internet wasn't what it is now, and the available resources were way fewer (YouTube etc was not really a thing on a 56k modem). I looked at my own profile last night and saw that I joined Chess.com in 2015.... but I honestly do not remember doing it, or why. Either way, I'm having a blast using this amazing resource now!
It's really quite inspiring to see people in their 60s and 70s still actively playing and learning this game.
Aug 18, 2021
0
#36
I'm 38, started playing at age 18. (have 10 years experience).
For you I'd say, and to others as well:
"”I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”" - Bruce Lee.
In other words, please don't make the young people's mistake - build your opening repertoire right now, instead of "flowing with the game" and having to remember 100s of variations and eventually hate it. (because you don't improve, because you're stuck on opening moves which require to remember 100s of lines... - only a genius can improve with this)
I've build myself an opening repertoire after a long thinking:
As White: c4. (you're in the English - no need to remember what to do against... Sicilian, Caro Kann, French...[20 openings and their variations, same thing goes if you play 1.d4])
As Black:
against e4 - c5 (Kan var.) (yes, you do need to know the sidelines - Alapin, Smith Morra, Mcdonnell, Grand Prix, Closed Sicilian, but... not so bad).
against d4 - Benko Gambit.
against c4 - e5. - Just normal kingside development usually wins me the game.
against Nf3 ... Best by engine is d5, best by Karpov - Nf6. Your opponent tries to play a system here - Nf3 is not an opening - it's a preparation-move. If he plays KID, the correct is the 'Samisch' but give a chance to the Sokolov & Averbakh:
Averbakh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqJkqqPMm8E
Sokolov:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctXiDFjNPo&t=564s
against 1.g6, 1.b6, just grab space with pawns, you'll have the easier game - I speak from experience.
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Good luck, good man.
blueemu wrote:
Not a beginner, but I didn't pass 2000 rating until my early 60s.
Man, I congratulate you from all my heart.
Your way in Chess is stimulus for all us!
What the hell is going on with my photo on the avatar?
Chess.com tilts my picture stubbornly.
me too
Started playing november 2020 at 28 years old, i knew how the peices moved but not en pesant or castling lol