Not improving - Tips and advice

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RebelGunner

Hi,

My rating in Blitz stays around 400-500. I'm not improving. I had a previous account on here a while back and closed it in a knee jerk reaction because it was frustrating not getting above this rating. I'm around 900 in Rapid but that's mostly from not playing too many games. I fear that it would drop down quite a bit if I play more in this format. I'm looking to break 1000 in the next year in both formats. I'd enjoy the game a lot more if I got to that level. 

 

Is there any good free content online or any advice you have? 

 

I have only started playing in the last year and a half.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. 

nklristic

In short, it would be beneficial for you to start playing longer games. You don't have enough time playing speed chess. 15|10 should be a minimum time control you play for learning purposes.

I've written a guide on chess improvement for beginners, and it helped me get to where I am now. I hope it will help you out:

https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/the-beginners-tale-first-steps-to-chess-improvement

Good Luck.

RebelGunner
nklristic wrote:

In short, it would be beneficial for you to start playing longer games. You don't have enough time playing speed chess. 15|10 should be a minimum time control you play for learning purposes.

I've written a guide on chess improvement for beginners, and it helped me get to where I am now. I hope it will help you out:

https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/the-beginners-tale-first-steps-to-chess-improvement

Good Luck.

That's a great post with some very good external links. Bookmarked it now.

Thank you very much and straight away I will take on board longer games from now on. 

nklristic
pgriff82 wrote:
nklristic wrote:

In short, it would be beneficial for you to start playing longer games. You don't have enough time playing speed chess. 15|10 should be a minimum time control you play for learning purposes.

I've written a guide on chess improvement for beginners, and it helped me get to where I am now. I hope it will help you out:

https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/the-beginners-tale-first-steps-to-chess-improvement

Good Luck.

That's a great post with some very good external links. Bookmarked it now.

Thank you very much and straight away I will take on board longer games from now on. 

You're welcome. Try to have some patience, improvement is not easy to achieve, and sometimes it will be one step forward, 2 steps back kind of thing, but you can get better. Feel free to ask if you need anything else. happy.png

Solmyr1234

The Reason People Don't Get Better At Chess According to Ben Finegold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbF1bRwxIWY&t=109s

---

Stuck At Chess? Click here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK6rAfukA44

---

Picking The Correct Opening Repertoire

https://www.chess.com/article/view/picking-the-correct-opening-repertoire

 

daxypoo
do you use twitch?

if so, then check out chessbrahs most recent stream

yasser works with dan(1300ish)

in the lesson dan plays a game with yasser “advising” - not a big deal and not out of the ordinary

however,

after dan’s game (and post game analysis) yasser does what i havent seen anyone do yet

he visually demonstrates how the pieces are assigned their point values (long story short- it is based on the amount of squares the pieces can control in the opponent side of board)

and he does this with each piece; he spends excellent time demonstrating the knights most optimal squares(c6/f6)

yasser spends an hour or so going over this info- i have heard this stuff before but not explained so expertly and articulately

next, yasser has dan play another game where the main focus is to try and focus on giving his pieces optimal values whilst limiting opponent

and then they analyze the game again after

i would strongly recommend this for anyone here

i think the stream starts with aman going of the nepo vs. carlson game first and then eventually gets to “yasser and dan”
daxypoo
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1227687442

here is a link (prob doesnt work via app but y’all can figure it out)
RussBell

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

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

laurengoodkindchess

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a respected  chess coach and chess YouTuber based in California: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP5SPSG_sWSYPjqJYMNwL_Q

Here’s some ideas to help you get better.  

-I recommend two books for you: “50 Poison Pieces”   and “Queen For A Day: The Girl’s Guide To Chess Mastery.”  Both books are available on Amazon.com.  Both books are endorsed by chess masters!  

-If you are serious about chess, I highly recommend you hiring a chess coach to help you.  

-Also consider all checks and captures on your side and also your opponent’s side. Always as, “If I move here, where is my opponent going to move?”. Do this for every single move!  

-Play with a slow time control, such as G/30 so you have plenty of time to think before every move. 

I also offer 500 two-choice puzzles on my website: https://www.chessbylauren.com/two-choice-puzzles.php

-Send me one of your games and I'll be happy to analyze your game on my YouTube channel for free!  

I hope that this helps.  

 

I

RebelGunner
daxypoo wrote:
do you use twitch?

if so, then check out chessbrahs most recent stream

yasser works with dan(1300ish)

in the lesson dan plays a game with yasser “advising” - not a big deal and not out of the ordinary

however,

after dan’s game (and post game analysis) yasser does what i havent seen anyone do yet

he visually demonstrates how the pieces are assigned their point values (long story short- it is based on the amount of squares the pieces can control in the opponent side of board)

and he does this with each piece; he spends excellent time demonstrating the knights most optimal squares(c6/f6)

yasser spends an hour or so going over this info- i have heard this stuff before but not explained so expertly and articulately

next, yasser has dan play another game where the main focus is to try and focus on giving his pieces optimal values whilst limiting opponent

and then they analyze the game again after

i would strongly recommend this for anyone here

i think the stream starts with aman going of the nepo vs. carlson game first and then eventually gets to “yasser and dan”

I have a twitch account. I follow chessbrah on it but haven't watched a stream of theirs for a while. I will check it out. Thanks.

RebelGunner
laurengoodkindchess wrote:

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a respected  chess coach and chess YouTuber based in California: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP5SPSG_sWSYPjqJYMNwL_Q

Here’s some ideas to help you get better.  

-I recommend two books for you: “50 Poison Pieces”   and “Queen For A Day: The Girl’s Guide To Chess Mastery.”  Both books are available on Amazon.com.  Both books are endorsed by chess masters!  

-If you are serious about chess, I highly recommend you hiring a chess coach to help you.  

-Also consider all checks and captures on your side and also your opponent’s side. Always as, “If I move here, where is my opponent going to move?”. Do this for every single move!  

-Play with a slow time control, such as G/30 so you have plenty of time to think before every move. 

I also offer 500 two-choice puzzles on my website: https://www.chessbylauren.com/two-choice-puzzles.php

-Send me one of your games and I'll be happy to analyze your game on my YouTube channel for free!  

I hope that this helps.  

 

I

Thanks for the suggestions. I will subscribe to your YouTube. Think the analysis of other games that I see on there will be worth watching. I will send on one of my games shortly.  

magipi

The number 1 reason why the opening poster is not improving is: 0 puzzles solved.

Getting better at chess is mostly about improving your calculation skills. And the best way to do it is this:

https://www.chess.com/puzzles

RebelGunner
magipi wrote:

The number 1 reason why the opening poster is not improving is: 0 puzzles solved.

Getting better at chess is mostly about improving your calculation skills. And the best way to do it is this:

https://www.chess.com/puzzles

I have started to do puzzles more regularly on lichess in the last few days. 

Kowarenai

do the best you can and join clubs, watch youtube videos, maybe hear music while playing and just try to get your mind to be calm and focused. besides that i really just recommend you to stay determined, grind, and always be you as you just gradually improve step by step

GeorgeWyhv14

If you can be in a zen mode you will notice more of what is on the board. You will make better choice by channeling your energy to make a correct decision.