You just learned the game.
Joined the site 1 hour ago.
Played 1 game of bullet chess, giving yourself 1 minute to play an entire game.
And you don't understand why you're not improving?
Despondent beginner here
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IMBacon wrote:
You just learned the game.
Joined the site 1 hour ago.
Played 1 game of bullet chess, ...
"I actually started chess for the first time late March ... I’ve ended up losing matches to ..."
pukowski wrote:
... I’ve been trying to learn, but anything aside from the rudimentary basics either don’t stick or I don’t have the proper motivation.
I’ve ended up losing matches to really bad mistakes that I only notice after the move and kick myself it. Beginning to think it’s something innate and maybe I’m just not cut out for this game. ...
I’ve ended up losing matches to really bad mistakes that I only notice after the move and kick myself it. Beginning to think it’s something innate and maybe I’m just not cut out for this game. ...
I think it is fairly common for beginners to have a lot of trouble in their first few weeks. One common beginner mistake is to focus on fast games.
"... 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
Stay away from blitz and bullet games. You need to play games where you have plenty of time to think about your moves (G/30 at a minimum).
Pattern recognition is an important skill to have as a player. Working on tactics problem will help you recognize potential mistakes that you make before they happen and recognize mistakes that you opponents make.
It does take time and work to become a good player. Stop beating yourself up because you are struggling during your first few weeks.
Apr 10, 2019
0
#7
Definitely read The Complete Idiot's Guide To Chess......It is a fantastic book for anyone in the early stages of the game....Good luck-
(Somewhere around 400 pages.)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708110052/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review587.pdf
Apr 10, 2019
0
#9
The sad truth is that it takes thousands of lost games to become a good player.
Certainly that was the route that I took.
Apr 11, 2019
0
#10
pukowski wrote:
I actually started chess for the first time late March and I’ve been trying to learn, but anything aside from the rudimentary basics either don’t stick or I don’t have the proper motivation.
I’ve ended up losing matches to really bad mistakes that I only notice after the move and kick myself it. Beginning to think it’s something innate and maybe I’m just not cut out for this game.
I’m on the spectrum if that helps and sorry for any bad formatting; typing this from my phone.
I’ve ended up losing matches to really bad mistakes that I only notice after the move and kick myself it. Beginning to think it’s something innate and maybe I’m just not cut out for this game.
I’m on the spectrum if that helps and sorry for any bad formatting; typing this from my phone.
Well, just check many posts made before yours. Many people feel the same way when they had just started playing chess. Some think since chess is "logical" then they should just see the right moves. But its not that simple since otherwise everyone would just rely on their "logic" and just the fact that they understand the rules. You only acquire intuitive understanding after playing at least I year, in my opinion. By that I mean either solving puzzles, or making moves in your daily games, at least few times per day.
Also if you have no motivation it could mean that you have little interest in Chess. That is also totally fine. Many people just don't find Chess fun. If it doesn't feel fun why would you have any motivation for it? If you don't enjoy it there is no reason to play it. But I wouldn't feel bad about it. Many people who don't like chess don't like it for reasons that are often pretty good reasons.
Also try doing the lessons
Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
Also play mostly longer time controls, including "daily" chess, so you have time to think about what you should be doing - blitz and bullet chess may be fun, but at this stage of your development they will do little to promote your rapid improvement or your understanding of how to play correctly.....
https://www.chess.com/article/view/longer-time-controls-are-more-instructive
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/how-blitz-and-bullet-rotted-my-brain-don-t-let-it-rot-yours
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627052239/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman16.pdf
Plenty of games are lost playing bad mistakes. I used to lose a lot when my opponent brought their queen & biship out early ...game after game.... didnt feel good. slowly I learned from the lessons how to defend against opening traps (commonly used against beginners) and practice playing from the positions I kept losing in and analysing my games after.
Recently I stopped playing blitz games to devote more time to studying play and certainly playing longer games inproves form ... having time to think ....reinforce ..apply to future games.
Since youre on the site ...you could look at an area u blunder in (openings perhaps) and improve from there. Expect lots of mistakes ... but each time you correct errors ...youre onto more chances of winning.
Like others suggested ...a book / course helps a lot.
Ultimitely , I find Im actually playing against myself. Play for fun and not to win ...when your outlook changes so too does your game :-)
Oh, and if youre on the spectrum as you put it- can work to your advantage as you may be better at 'outside the box thinking'. Practice is key or as Mr Myagi would instruct "wax on....wax off".
Also ... your avatar looks despomdant ...maybe change it 😀
https://youtu.be/0WGbkC0p8Ls Guys go through my video for basic chess And please subscribe Instagram page https://instagram.com/chess_warriors_?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1s59mtkmojqfu
Apr 15, 2019
0
#16
I just played you. I’m no expert but you had a decent opening and middle.
I’ve been on chess.com since Feb 2018 and and still finding my feet. I play everyday!
Keep playing. 😉
I’ve ended up losing matches to really bad mistakes that I only notice after the move and kick myself it. Beginning to think it’s something innate and maybe I’m just not cut out for this game.
I’m on the spectrum if that helps and sorry for any bad formatting; typing this from my phone.