Chess Routine for steady improvement.

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kindaspongey

"... thinking correctly in most positions takes time. Playing almost exclusively fast games obviously precludes practicing correctly, and so you will never get very good! Sure, fast games are fine for practicing openings (not the most important part of the game for most players) and possibly developing decent board vision and tactical 'shots', but the kind of thinking it takes to plan, evaluate, play long endgames, and find deep combinations is just not possible in quick chess. … for serious improvement ... consistently play many slow games to practice good thinking habits. ... I know that a large percentage of my readers almost exclusively play on the internet - after all, you are reading this on the internet, right!? But there is a strong case for at least augmenting internet play with some OTB play, whether in a club or, better yet, a tournament. Tournament play gives you the kind of concentrated, slow chess that often helps improve your game, especially if you are inexperienced at slow play. I would guess that players who have never played OTB usually gain 50-100 points of playing strength just from competing in their first long weekend tournament, assuming they play five or more rounds of very slow chess. ... Sure, an occasional weekend event takes a lot more of your time, but the benefits are comparatively greater if improvement is your ultimate goal. Don't have two day? Try a one-day quad (a round-robin among four similarly rated players). How often should you play? ... A minimum of 8 OTB tournaments and about 100 slow games a year is a reasonable foundation for ongoing improvement. ... Can't make 100? Then try for 60. If you only play three or fewer tournaments a year and do not play slow chess regularly at a club (or on-line, where G/90 and slower play is relatively rare), then do not be surprised that you are not really improving. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627052239/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman16.pdf

Caesar49bc

Stop playing blitz, and sit on your hands beween moves. If you see a good move, look for a better one. Better yet, try to find a reason your good move might not be so good.

When I do combination problems, I have sit and ponder a LOT why a move looks good, but isn't the best move. It can take some time to do that. Not because the move I picked won't eventually win the game, but an incorrrect move won't give the fastest clear advantage.

Problems are roughly equal to about 1800 to 1900 FIDE strength I think.

kindaspongey

"... Q: Hello Artur! … A question of level or complexity if you will. Everyone I know (including me) seems to think that The Fundamentals series (orange) is for players up to 1800, not 1500 – Beyond the Basics (blue) for up to 2100, not 1800 and if you master the material in the Mastery-series (green) you would be around 2300 in playing strength, not 2100. Is this something you agree or disagree with and why? ...

A [GM Yusupov]: ... about the level of the difficulty. This was quite hard to evaluate and some of the material shoots over the target of 1500 etc. I do not think it is a bad thing that the some of the material is 'too hard', because we also learn a lot from positions where we cannot see everything. Also, there is a weakness from the author. The rating and the points are actually irrelevant; a point of entertainment. The main idea is to go through the material and learn from it. We need to learn from the examples; even if they are a bit too difficult. Also, I probably got the estimate a bit wrong, but at least I tried. My task was to give the fundamental material, leaving it up to the reader to get the most out of it. If some of it is not suitable for the individual, I do not think much is lost. The books have enough useful stuff for anyone to learn something. ..."

http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/QandAwithArturYusupovQualityChessAugust2013.pdf

WackChiRain

Set up an actual chess board, set up a complicated position, get a notebook, write down your thoughts ideas and analysis, dont move any of the pieces. Come up with a conclusion about the position and who is better and why. Compare your notes and analysis with an engine and notes of strong players. Do this for 2 of your days. Do this with one of your own games but analyze the entire thing and take notes, then compare. Find a nice book series on chess and spend another 2 days going through with an actual board. The other 3 days continue tactics and blitz. Rinse and repeat this process.

RussBell

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

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627030447/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman115.pdf

also consider...

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-books-for-beginners-and-beyond

kindaspongey
rithvik wrote:

I forgot to mention, I’ll be playing at least 2x per week in a G45+ OTB setting, as well as a tournament every other month, so I will be getting long games in ...

 

BlackBear44

you should spend time with a new couch who doesn't recommend blitz.  You'll save time and money.

elky_plays_chess

I would also suggest managing the chess time within game as well. Since it will greatly help managing time itself. Through playing or learning really, this might help 

https://www.chessable.com/tactics-time-1/course/21108/