Is there a point playing real people?

You can always set the challenges so that the ELO are plus and minus close to your rating. I recommend adjusting the custom challenges plus and minus 100 within your range.

When I did my rating climb from 700 to 1200, I actually set the ELO ratings plus/minus 25. I found it was the right balance of fun, challenge and growth.

I quickly looked at your profile and few games, you have a 1200 puzzles rating which is great for a 500 player and just need to play more. You know how the pieces move. You fell for a few basic tactics and hung a piece then and there, which we all do.

Do not worry about mistakes and losses, you will learn from them. Please review and analyze all your games. I noticed you need to do that.

So play more, keep doing the puzzles, analyze your games and learn from them. Stick to rapid which you have done.

I would also recommend watching YouTube Chess Brah’s “Building Habits” by Aman Hambleton. I have seen guys climb from 500 to 800 very quickly.

Hope you find this encouraging.

You only have 45 games though. You still need to settle where you belong and then you should win about half your games, or a little more as you improve. That is how rating work in games.

I always prefer playing people. I recommend having a few "Daily" games going with 3 day time limits for each move. That way I never run out of time and so long as I have plenty of games going I usually always have some game that I can work on when I decide to play for a bit. 

Of course there's a point playing real people, but if you want easy, unrated games, playing the bots will be the best option

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Thanks for the encouragement and the advice. I forgot about setting the point range for opponents. I'll make sure to do that. I was getting discouraged, but your comments are a real boost for me. I appreciate your taking the time to make such an in-depth response for my benefit.

I feel like I “get more” out of playing real games. Now, finding someone to play against is pretty difficult for me - maybe you live in a town where that wouldn’t be the case!

I’ll add that I’m a beginner, otherwise I wouldn’t be here, reading this. I’m rated in the lower 800’s now but was around 975 before a brief hiatus - just an escape from my frequent phone use..

Anyhow! I think that playing REAL games - anytime you can, at least - would likely lead to better playing across the board (no, I really did not intend the pun until it just happened lol) whether it be other in-person games or online games. Again, for me, I get more out of the real games. To briefly elaborate on what I mean by that I guess I would have to chalk it up to simply being more focused and into the game than I am when playing on the phone/computer. It’s just a different feel. A REAL feel. And obviously, the GM’s out there have played more real-life games than you could imagine! They do play online as well of course...

I would have to assume that for a beginner (someone brand new to the game) to play online exclusively would be backwards in terms of education/advancement of skill level. Let’s say you did only play online and, eventually, you achieve a rank of 1,500+.... well then you go to the local library and get curb-stomped by some child in a real life game because you’re so used to playing on a screen!
It’s totally different in every way (for me)!!

Almost everything I’ve said here is purely my opinion (which is practically worthless in regards to the game as I’m no GM, or even close) and logic-based speculation. The one thing I DO KNOW for sure is that a REAL game with a REAL board and REAL pieces - sitting face to face with another person who has the same goal that you do, to win - has a feel to it that can’t be accomplished through online play..

I'm a new father, and I know what you mean. Amazingly, I can get a few games in each day.

As a parent, I understand completely! It's one reason I play mostly daily games - in which I have 24 hours per move. I load up on them, so a few dozen are in play at once. That way, when I get a chance, I check to see who's moved, and how I can respond. Very little pressure.

I'm trying this now, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's hard to get into the rhythm of it. Of course, I'm on my first daily game so I will have to try a few to see how it goes.

We can play with any one in the world its amazing.

True - it takes some getting used to. Some opponents will respond fairly quickly, so you get in several moves per day. Other people will *only* make one move per day. I still try to fit in a rapid or blitz game when I think I'll have X free minutes. :-)

Play bots when you are busy and people when you have free time.

the bots i have played play the strangest moves in the opening and hang pieces for me like a christmas present, then seem to start playing better in the middle game.

Yes, exactly. Beat a Kuwaiti last night, and my first victory was against a Slovenian. Facing people from around the world is part of why I'm here.

No shame to lose to them.

Playing against real people builds mental toughness and prepares you for real-world chess events if you’re ever interested.