Strategy - Chess Forums

Dkoogler

Jul 12, 2019

0

#1

I began playing chess 20 years ago but never played against anyone outside of family until recently. Chess.com has taught me that I am not very good. I have been practicing by playing multiple games, going through the lessons, and solving puzzles. However, I have a lack of strategy when it comes to attacking my opponents and instead focus on 1- developing my knights and bishops, and then 2, looking for openings to attack. This isn't producing results as efficiently as I would like. What strategic tips does anyone have?

catnipper

Jul 12, 2019

0

#2

I would continue to work on teeth development especially around the center of the board with your Knights and Bishops is you're doing and learn to integrate all the pieces in the attack. the more the King has to defend himself or use pieces to block you, the busier you will make him thus allowing yourself to setup the perfect attacks

RussBell

Jul 12, 2019

0

#3

Good Positional Chess, Planning & Strategy Books for Beginners and Beyond...

https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/introduction-to-positional-chess-planning-strategy

kindaspongey

Jul 12, 2019

0

#4

"... 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

kindaspongey

Jul 12, 2019

0

#5

"... for those that want to be as good as they can be, they'll have to work hard.
Play opponents who are better than you … . Learn basic endgames. Create a simple opening repertoire (understanding the moves are far more important than memorizing them). Study tactics. And pick up tons of patterns. That’s the drumbeat of success. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (December 27, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/little-things-that-help-your-game
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess
https://www.chess.com/news/view/a-new-years-resolution-improve-your-chess-with-new-lessons

madcatsteele

Jul 12, 2019

0

#6

I tried to learn the beginners basics from this site but all it teaches is advanced. I can't play chess if I don't even know the rules.

kindaspongey

Jul 12, 2019

0

#7

Maybe you can find something helpful here:

https://www.chess.com/lessons

RussBell

Jul 12, 2019

0

#8

Good Chess Books for Beginners and Beyond...

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

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

Caesar49bc

Jul 13, 2019

0

#9

kindaspongey wrote:

"... 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

+1

RussBell

Jul 13, 2019

0

#10

Discover...

Primarily for beginner-novice...

http://www.chesskids.org.uk/

https://www.mark-weeks.com/aboutcom/caa-ltpc.htm

https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-beyond-the-basics

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-10-most-common-mistakes-among-chess-beginners

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-64-commandments

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-principles-of-the-opening

https://www.chess.com/video/player/everything-you-need-to-know-2-the-opening

https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-for-beginners-the-opening2

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

For exceptionally instructive articles on all aspects of chess check out Dan Heisman's "Novice Nook" column articles (and much more) here...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140625052220/http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm

Finally, as posted earlier, 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

Semiahmoo

Jul 14, 2019

0

#11

Do tactics training, a lot, daily, always, at least 5-20 per game played on average.

GringoVikingo

Jul 14, 2019

0