Starting to take chess more seriously and improve

Hi I have been playing for over a year now and am not making any progress (currently a crummy 200/400 in blitz/rapid) because I am just fooling around.  So I decided to start doing the following to play better and hopefully get to 1000.

• Play slower games (30 or 45 minutes), no more blitz or rapid
• Use a check list each turn - checks, captures, attacks  considering every piece
• Write down what I did wrong and remember it for the next game

Anything else I should do?  Does getting a coach help?  I know it doesn't sound like a big deal to get 1000 but right now it seems impossible to me.

Hi,

That’s a good list to start with, I’d also include daily puzzle solving (even a few a day adds up), and some ChessAble coursework (endgames, tactics, later on maybe openings). Make sure you thoroughly understand and follow good opening principles in the meantime. Coaching is excellent if you can afford it. However if you’d like some help getting started with your adventure I’d be happy to meet up on a Chess.com classroom and discuss your chess more with you and show you some fundamentals to get you going. Just send me a message if you’re interested in that. 

-Jordan

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a respected  chess coach and chess YouTuber who helps beginners out : 

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

I agree with your ideas!  Remember to slow down and think. I have faith that you can get to 1000!   

Here’s even more 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. 

-You are welcome to come to my free online beginner chess class on May 14:  

Thank you for your inputs.  I will add 5 puzzles/day to the list, and also considering opponents possible moves as well.  This is quite a lot to think about for each move, I'll need the time!

Lauren: I'll look into the beginner class.  I have done lessons on this website, as well as watching YouTube but not sure which are beneficial for me as there are a very wide range of topics.  Mostly right now I'm trying to prevent blunders.

Hi Dino, 

The ChessAble courses listed below are free and I think you'd find good use from them.

Opening principles

Chess fundamentals by former World champion Jose Capablanca

Introduction to tactics 

#1

"Play slower games (30 or 45 minutes), no more blitz or rapid"
++ Blitz is bad, but 15|10 rapid is Ok
"Use a check list each turn - checks, captures, attacks  considering every piece" ++ OK
"Write down what I did wrong and remember it for the next game" ++ OK
"Anything else I should do?"
++ Most important: always check your intended move is no blunder before you play it
"Does getting a coach help?"
++ It helps... the coach. a good book is better than a mediocre coach.

"I know it doesn't sound like a big deal to get 1000 but right now it seems impossible to me."
++ If you just do the blunder checking, you get 1500 overnight. Hang no pieces, hang no pawns.

Here’s a random game you played.

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

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

Good suggestions so far.  I'd like to add this:  I suspect that many beginners think that when they hear the phrase "opening principles " it means to study openings or learn/memorize openings like the Queens Gambit,  Ruy Lopez, or Sicilian, etc.  That's NOT what is meant by opening principles.  

Opening principles means in a broad sense to get ur pieces out fast. Pieces r on the back row, this doesn't mean make a lot of pawn moves. Getting those pieces out is called development.  Try to attack & control the center. That means as u develop ur pieces, move them to squares that hit the 4 center squares & to a slightly lesser extent the middle 16 squares.  Why r the center squares more valuable? Take an empty board & experiment with each piece, put them in the center & count the # of squares it can move to. Then keep moving away from the center & count again. You'll see the value decrease as it moves closer to the edges. Of course take time to handle threats by ur opponent, don't lose an attacked piece just because ur trying to control the center or develop.  Castle kind of early and connect those rooks. Don't rush to get ur queen out into danger so fast.  My point in mentioning these opening principles is that u shouldn't confuse them with learning openings specifically.  That can come later, in fact focusing too much on learning openings too early will stunt ur growth in chess. Keep it simple & basic.  Boring is good early on.

Also learn very simple & basic endings & do tactics puzzles.

Another thing,  as u play slower games pick opponents about 200-300 points higher than u. Not 1000 or so because u want to win some or at least make it a close game. And spend half ur time studying & half playing. 

This thread is Gold, so glad I found these forums. Has helped me to better understand Opening Principles.

You notice how every time jebko makes a new account, he always joins the chessbrah club first thing. Man has his priorities straight.

Chess should never, ever be “taken seriously.”  It is just a game, an overrated game.

Just have fun with it, don’t get wrapped up in it like the incels do.