coaching???
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Been making a steady progress since my last post. But now been stuck in the 750-790's is a coach the next option?
A real life chess club would be good to join. Players are generally friendly and love to help beginners. Plus they usually meet once a week, so it gives you time to decide what online games you've played to have them look at.
"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.
Play opponents who are better than you … . Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess
https://www.chess.com/news/view/a-new-years-resolution-improve-your-chess-with-new-lessons
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5856bd64ff7c50433c3803db/t/5895fc0ca5790af7895297e4/1486224396755/btbtactics2excerpt.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Studying Chess Made Easy by Andrew Soltis (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
http://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf
It's good to play people around 50 to 100 points above you, then have a much stronger player go over your games with you.
I don't live anyplace near a OTB chess club, but miss the organic nature of them. Having someone higher go over your games, or play time odds, etc, and comraderie of meeting the same people every week.
i have used a chess coach and it really helps
but what makes it even more helpful is to have an annotated game from an otb tournament under classical time controls ready to give the coach before lessons
sure- a coach can go over your chess.com games but much better to go over games where you had the longest amount of time to think and select your moves
that said- a coach cannot help if we are making catastrophic blunders every other game; the coach will just say “you cant do this if you want to improve”
if you can afford a chess coach you can probably afford a really good tactics book (chess.com is good for testing tactics but the puzzles selected in a reputable tactics book will really help- this, essentially, is where we learn to not only take advantage of tactics in our favor but, also, to spot areas in our position where we are soft
and a chess coach does not have a magical elixir which will cure and boost your ratings
i still had to put in the hours and go over the positions and exercises for our homework in between sessions
but what makes it even more helpful is to have an annotated game from an otb tournament under classical time controls ready to give the coach before lessons
sure- a coach can go over your chess.com games but much better to go over games where you had the longest amount of time to think and select your moves
that said- a coach cannot help if we are making catastrophic blunders every other game; the coach will just say “you cant do this if you want to improve”
if you can afford a chess coach you can probably afford a really good tactics book (chess.com is good for testing tactics but the puzzles selected in a reputable tactics book will really help- this, essentially, is where we learn to not only take advantage of tactics in our favor but, also, to spot areas in our position where we are soft
and a chess coach does not have a magical elixir which will cure and boost your ratings
i still had to put in the hours and go over the positions and exercises for our homework in between sessions
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#6
In this game, there are a lot of issues but I can notice some major problems clearly :
1. You go for an early attack in the opening instead of developing. Yeah sure, go for an early attack if you calculate it all the way to the end of the combination and see that at the end of the combination, you are winning either with a checkmate or a huge material advantage. Don't go wasting moves just to grab one extra pawn. Try to complete the development first without moving the same piece twice in the opening unless It's and emergency. The developing in the opening is so important. You will understand if you watch some spectacular games of muzio gambit opening. Although it’s not completely sound, it does create a huge attack on opponent. In this opening white sacrifices the knight just to complete the development. Not suggesting you to apply this opening but the point is how important the development is.
2. Undefended and hanging pieces. Okay. You hang your pieces a lot. Every time you make a move, always ask yourself that if any of your pieces becomes undefended or not. Don't worry about the attack. For now, just play safe and worry about your undefended pieces and opponents threat. If you can manage to play safe the entire game, I believe you can improve your rating. Because I have seen lower rated opponents, especially below 1000 rating.. Hangs their pieces a lot. Always keep your pieces defended and prevent opponents plans with prophylaxis.
Looks to me as though some reading could help (and be a lot cheaper than a coach). Even without reading, one could ask oneself questions like: Why not 13 Qxb7 ? After all, at that point, it was two knights to one. What was the time control for this game? Is RighteousInc practicing slow games?
You could try having a real life coach, who either comes to YOUR house or you go to their place.
Books ARE cheaper than coaches, so I can recommend you some.
Books by Jeremy Silman are great.
Not familiar with Jeremy Silman other than Reassess Y9ur Chess which about 1400 to 1750 elo.
For anybody under 1000, I recommend Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. That should get you close to 1100 to 1200 range.
Very easy book on mating patterns, and you don't need a chess board to use it.
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#10
1.Do lots of tactics everyday. Try to be accurate and review the ones you don't get right multiple times.
2.Study lessons.
3. Make sure to analyze and learn from the mistakes you make in every game before playing another one.
4. Go over games of master players in the openings you play.
Actually, looking at your game, I'd recommend getting a book on openings for beginners, and focus on that for a month or two. As far as tactics, do lots of mate-in-ones for now.
The mating problems will help you visualise the board.
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#12
Do all tactics. Focus major portion of time on tactics. You will learn openings through analyzing your games and going over master games. No need to specifically study openings.
hikarunaku wrote:
... and going over master games. ...
Books like First Steps: 1 e4 d5 and First Steps: Queen's Gambit
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7790.pdf
https://chesscafe.com/book-reviews/first-steps-1-e4-e5-by-john-emms/
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7652.pdf
can be used as sources of games with explanations intended for those just starting to learn about an opening.
at 750 just study tactics mate.. no need for a coach yet. find a nice book with mate in 1 to 3 and maybe another with basic tactical motifs like pins and forks.. solve puzzles for an hour or 2 each day and you'll get to 1200 in no time... then maybe consider a coach
It might be of interest to look at the table of contents of A COMPLETE CHESS COURSE by Antonio Gude.
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/A_Complete_Chess_Course.pdf
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