Need Help: Improve playing - Chess Forums

akirha9

Jan 28, 2021

0

#1

Been playing for one year looking to see how I can improve to reach my goal of 1800 rating any coaching going or just tips and advice.

thanks so much !

FM Bgabor91

Jan 28, 2021

0

#2

Dear Akirha9,

I am a certified, full-time chess coach, so I hope I can help you. Everybody is different, so that's why there isn't only one general way to learn. First of all, you have to discover your biggest weaknesses in the game and start working on them. The most effective way for that is analysing your own games. Of course, if you are a beginner, you can't do it efficiently because you don't know too much about the game yet. There is a built-in engine on chess.com which can show you if a move is good or bad but the only problem that it can't explain you the plans, ideas behind the moves, so you won't know why is it so good or bad.

You can learn from books or Youtube channels as well, and maybe you can find a lot of useful information there but these sources are mostly general things and not personalized at all. That's why you need a good coach sooner or later if you really want to be better at chess. A good coach can help you with identifying your biggest weaknesses and explain everything, so you can leave your mistakes behind you. Of course, you won't apply everything immediately, this is a learning process (like learning languages), but if you are persistent and enthusiastic, you will achieve your goals.

In my opinion, chess has 4 main territories (openings, strategies, tactics/combinations and endgames). If you want to improve efficiently, you should improve all of these skills almost at the same time. That's what my training program is based on. My students really like it because the lessons are not boring (because we talk about more than one areas within one lesson) and they feel the improvement on the longer run. Of course, there are always ups and downs but this is completely normal in everyone's career.

I hope this is helpful for you. Good luck for your chess games!

akirha9

Jan 28, 2021

0

#3

Bgabor91 wrote:

Dear Akirha9,

I am a certified, full-time chess coach, so I hope I can help you. Everybody is different, so that's why there isn't only one general way to learn. First of all, you have to discover your biggest weaknesses in the game and start working on them. The most effective way for that is analysing your own games. Of course, if you are a beginner, you can't do it efficiently because you don't know too much about the game yet. There is a built-in engine on chess.com which can show you if a move is good or bad but the only problem that it can't explain you the plans, ideas behind the moves, so you won't know why is it so good or bad.

You can learn from books or Youtube channels as well, and maybe you can find a lot of useful information there but these sources are mostly general things and not personalized at all. That's why you need a good coach sooner or later if you really want to be better at chess. A good coach can help you with identifying your biggest weaknesses and explain everything, so you can leave your mistakes behind you. Of course, you won't apply everything immediately, this is a learning process (like learning languages), but if you are persistent and enthusiastic, you will achieve your goals.

In my opinion, chess has 4 main territories (openings, strategies, tactics/combinations and endgames). If you want to improve efficiently, you should improve all of these skills almost at the same time. That's what my training program is based on. My students really like it because the lessons are not boring (because we talk about more than one areas within one lesson) and they feel the improvement on the longer run. Of course, there are always ups and downs but this is completely normal in everyone's career.

I hope this is helpful for you. Good luck for your chess games!

Thank you so much this was incredibly helpful and will be saving this response for the future. Do you know, as I am not an adult, where I can find free coaching.

FM Bgabor91

Jan 28, 2021

0

#4

Sorry, I don't know that.

SupernovaUK

Jan 28, 2021

0

#5

akirha9 wrote:

Bgabor91 wrote:

Dear Akirha9,

I am a certified, full-time chess coach, so I hope I can help you. Everybody is different, so that's why there isn't only one general way to learn. First of all, you have to discover your biggest weaknesses in the game and start working on them. The most effective way for that is analysing your own games. Of course, if you are a beginner, you can't do it efficiently because you don't know too much about the game yet. There is a built-in engine on chess.com which can show you if a move is good or bad but the only problem that it can't explain you the plans, ideas behind the moves, so you won't know why is it so good or bad.

You can learn from books or Youtube channels as well, and maybe you can find a lot of useful information there but these sources are mostly general things and not personalized at all. That's why you need a good coach sooner or later if you really want to be better at chess. A good coach can help you with identifying your biggest weaknesses and explain everything, so you can leave your mistakes behind you. Of course, you won't apply everything immediately, this is a learning process (like learning languages), but if you are persistent and enthusiastic, you will achieve your goals.

In my opinion, chess has 4 main territories (openings, strategies, tactics/combinations and endgames). If you want to improve efficiently, you should improve all of these skills almost at the same time. That's what my training program is based on. My students really like it because the lessons are not boring (because we talk about more than one areas within one lesson) and they feel the improvement on the longer run. Of course, there are always ups and downs but this is completely normal in everyone's career.

I hope this is helpful for you. Good luck for your chess games!

Thank you so much this was incredibly helpful and will be saving this response for the future. Do you know, as I am not an adult, where I can find free coaching.

No such thing as free coaching, as there's nothing in it for the coach unless he's a good friend of yours. Money makes the world go round; if you want coaching you will have to pay or ask your parents to pay.

akirha9

Jan 28, 2021

0

#6

SupernovaUK wrote:

akirha9 wrote:

Bgabor91 wrote:

Dear Akirha9,

I am a certified, full-time chess coach, so I hope I can help you. Everybody is different, so that's why there isn't only one general way to learn. First of all, you have to discover your biggest weaknesses in the game and start working on them. The most effective way for that is analysing your own games. Of course, if you are a beginner, you can't do it efficiently because you don't know too much about the game yet. There is a built-in engine on chess.com which can show you if a move is good or bad but the only problem that it can't explain you the plans, ideas behind the moves, so you won't know why is it so good or bad.

You can learn from books or Youtube channels as well, and maybe you can find a lot of useful information there but these sources are mostly general things and not personalized at all. That's why you need a good coach sooner or later if you really want to be better at chess. A good coach can help you with identifying your biggest weaknesses and explain everything, so you can leave your mistakes behind you. Of course, you won't apply everything immediately, this is a learning process (like learning languages), but if you are persistent and enthusiastic, you will achieve your goals.

In my opinion, chess has 4 main territories (openings, strategies, tactics/combinations and endgames). If you want to improve efficiently, you should improve all of these skills almost at the same time. That's what my training program is based on. My students really like it because the lessons are not boring (because we talk about more than one areas within one lesson) and they feel the improvement on the longer run. Of course, there are always ups and downs but this is completely normal in everyone's career.

I hope this is helpful for you. Good luck for your chess games!

Thank you so much this was incredibly helpful and will be saving this response for the future. Do you know, as I am not an adult, where I can find free coaching.

No such thing as free coaching, as there's nothing in it for the coach unless he's a good friend of yours. Money makes the world go round; if you want coaching you will have to pay or ask your parents to pay.

Thanks for letting me know I wasn’t sure how coaching worked but if you have to pay you have to pay I completely get your reasoning thanks for replying!

MarkGrubb

Jan 28, 2021

0

#7

What are you currently doing to improve? If you set out your study and play regime and any resources you regularly access (books, websites, etc) you might get some specific feedback. A better approach might be to look over your last 10 losses. Try and tease out some common themes that you think you need to improve in and ask for some specific advise on

akirha9

Jan 28, 2021

0

#8

MarkGrubb wrote:

What are you currently doing to improve? If you set out your study and play regime and any resources you regularly access (books, websites, etc) you might get some specific feedback. A better approach might be to look over your last 10 losses. Try and tease out some common themes that you think you need to improve in and ask for some specific advise on

All I’m doing is puzzles so trying to recognise the best moves and occasional drills. I’ve already analysed that my end game is terrible I could completely dominant for the entire game and then I end up losing right at the end due to poor end game so that’s something to work on. Currently, I don’t have the finances to purchase books and thank you for your feedback I will make sure to look over my losses then.

MarkGrubb

Jan 28, 2021

0

#9

In terms of learning endgame techniques have you looked at Chessable? Google it. It uses spaced repetition. I've been using it to simply get endgame techniques into my head. The courses are called 'books'. You can have up to 5 free books before you have to pay. They are generous with the free content. I'm using Basic Endgames, Essential R+P vs R Endings, and Endgame Bootcamp with John Bartholomew. While you are there, I also recommend Smithys Opening Fundamentals which is also free.

catmaster0

Jan 28, 2021

0

#10

akirha9 wrote:

MarkGrubb wrote:

What are you currently doing to improve? If you set out your study and play regime and any resources you regularly access (books, websites, etc) you might get some specific feedback. A better approach might be to look over your last 10 losses. Try and tease out some common themes that you think you need to improve in and ask for some specific advise on

All I’m doing is puzzles so trying to recognise the best moves and occasional drills. I’ve already analysed that my end game is terrible I could completely dominant for the entire game and then I end up losing right at the end due to poor end game so that’s something to work on. Currently, I don’t have the finances to purchase books and thank you for your feedback I will make sure to look over my losses then.

Play a slower time control like 15-10, giving yourself more time to go over your moves, and have even more time to grind that endgame. I took a look at one of your games.

RussBell

Jan 28, 2021

0

#11

Improving Your Chess - Resources for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/improving-your-chess-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBel

akirha9

Jan 28, 2021

0

#12

catmaster0 wrote:

akirha9 wrote:

MarkGrubb wrote:

What are you currently doing to improve? If you set out your study and play regime and any resources you regularly access (books, websites, etc) you might get some specific feedback. A better approach might be to look over your last 10 losses. Try and tease out some common themes that you think you need to improve in and ask for some specific advise on

All I’m doing is puzzles so trying to recognise the best moves and occasional drills. I’ve already analysed that my end game is terrible I could completely dominant for the entire game and then I end up losing right at the end due to poor end game so that’s something to work on. Currently, I don’t have the finances to purchase books and thank you for your feedback I will make sure to look over my losses then.

Play a slower time control like 15-10, giving yourself more time to go over your moves, and have even more time to grind that endgame. I took a look at one of your games.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do that I will be looking over your notes thoroughly!

akirha9

Jan 28, 2021

0

#13

RussBell wrote:

Improving Your Chess - Resources for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/improving-your-chess-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBel

Thank you so much for bringing this resource to my attention I will defo be using this to get better

Jocinell1

Jan 28, 2021

0

#14

who wanna play with me

Paleobotanical

Jan 28, 2021

0

#15

Akhira9: Regarding free coaching, as a kid you may have some options. First, if your school has a chess club, and while it’s unlikely that they have high-caliber coaching, that might be a path to get access or become aware of more serious “scholastic” (aimed at school kids) programs in your area. Also, if there is a local chess club not affiliated with the school, they might know of such things. Usually instruction costs, but not always, and particularly sometimes not for youth.

You might also try asking about local scholastic programs in the “Scholastic Chess” forum here.