This is how I was able to improve my game:
https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/the-beginners-tale-first-steps-to-chess-improvement
If you don't have too much time to read, the short answer is this: long games (1 hour per side, or at least 30 minutes per side), analyzing your games, practicing tactics, learning basic endgame positions and movement like opposition and studying about chess in general (in my case through mentioned YouTube channels). You can do it with books, or lessons here if you have membership, and video library if you have diamond membership.
And you have to be patient, it will not come over night.
Unfocussed player needs advices! :)
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Nov 28, 2020
0
#2
Nov 28, 2020
0
#3
nklristic wrote:
This is how I was able to improve my game:
https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/the-beginners-tale-first-steps-to-chess-improvement
If you don't have too much time to read, the short answer is this: long games (1 hour per side, or at least 30 minutes per side), analyzing your games, practicing tactics, learning basic endgame positions and movement like opposition and studying about chess in general (in my case through mentioned YouTube channels). You can do it with books, or lessons here if you have membership, and video library if you have diamond membership.
And you have to be patient, it will not come over night.
Thank you for taking the time to reply to me Nikolas! This is nice advices, and I been reading a lot of articles lately! They are very useful and interesting!
That part of the normal route to progressing make sense to me. I'm wondering about my issue visualizing a little bit more ; did you experience the same problem when beginning? Would you have recommendation on that particular dimension of the game? I feel like it would ''unlock'' so much for me to be able to visualize just a little bit more. I was thinking at maybe writing down the ''tree'' while playing longer game.. would that be useful or would that slow down progression in your opinion?
Nov 28, 2020
0
#4
I wouldn' t write down simply because it makes it a bit easier. I still have the visualization problems - picturing a piece on c4 even though I moved it two moves earlier on d3 for instance.You will get somewhat better at it while progressing especially at tactics. Many people say blindfold chess is great for this, but you shouldn't try it as a beginner.
Nov 28, 2020
0
#5
Play
puzzle battle and puzzle
rush and follow
the lessons
subscribe to the page so You support the site and its grow/development and get a coach for like 10-5 bucks
What page are you talking about? It sounds interesting.
@AlexTheBlunderer -
Beyond just playing, improving at chess requires dedication, persistence and yes, work. Your success will be directly proportional to how much of those you exhibit. And that includes study. Also, be patient, realistic in your expectations of yourself, and don't try to bite off any more than you can chew at any one time. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day.
As a first step I would suggest to get a copy of "Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini. Read/study it slowly, taking time to think about and reflect on everything that is not immediately and intuitively obvious to you. Absorbing the lessons in this very instructive book may motivate and assist you in developing a personal plan for your goal of improvement going forward.
Finally, check it out.....you might well discover some things that help, interest or inspire you....
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell
Good luck!
AlexTheBlunderer wrote:
Hi folks!
First time posting in here! Thought it would be nice to introduce myself and seek for advices!
I'm a 35 years old dad that has been playing chess occasionally in the past few years. I think it is such a beautiful game and I'm really in fond of games that requires strategy and mental skills. I often get into craze where I become very intense about something and need to learn everything about it. For example, I learned how to solved a rubik cube lately, picked it up quite fast and am able to solve it kinda quickly now.
About a year ago, I got myself into practicing and studying chess a lot, however it seemed like I was unable to improve. No mather how much I studied, did puzzle, did lessons, watched videos, I struggle keeping an elo over 1000, which seems kinda shameful for somebody my age, haha.
I discouraged myself a little bit, so took a break, and now I'm back. Doesn't seem like I'm getting any better now either, but I'll take it slowly and steadily and improvement should come over time, I guess... I try to keep away from blitz game. I think I'll avoid daily's as well since I struggle to stay focus on these game since it's too long.
I feel like one of my main problem is having difficulty visualizing moves that are ahead, even for a single variation. I feel like I'm more than two moves ahead it kinda blurs out. I try to focus the best I can but it often ends with doing the move and hoping I didn't messed up. Maybe I have attention deficit disorder and should takes some pills like in the Queen's Gambit show, haha.
I would have love to have a chess coach to have some personalized imput but just can't afford that kind of money right now. And with that pandemic thingy going on, chess clubs aren't an option where I'm from...
What are your thoughts? Any advices for me?
Thanks folks!
It's not as bad with you as with many players I have seen, but it's still prevalent. Avoid clear blunders like giving away pieces or trading a stronger piece for something weaker, etc. As for tactical vision, that comes with time and practice. I looked over some of your losses and noted a few things. I would suggest doing something similar. Copy the PGN of your game and make a post with some of your close games/losses. Go over the moves yourself and look for flaws. Double check on an analysis board of some sort, (chess.com has one under learn-> analysis.) When you see noticeable swings, check their lines, see if they are comprehendible. You can play out those variations on the board, see what happens. If the computer looks likes it is ignoring a possible response, try it and see what it does in reply, etc. Check your ideas. If they are using ideas that are too far out there for you, (the computer sees way further ahead than people do, so that happens) don't worry about it. But if their next 2-3 moves are ideas you can see clearly, explore that line until it jumps to the next idea, (once they've gotten the material or advantage they mean to, seeing what they do after that gets a bit silly as it goes beyond what the moves in the game would show as believable.) You might find a pattern of things to look for, especially as others comment on said games and might notice things you did not, or can explain ideas you didn't necessarily follow at the time. One thing to note is as the player who made your moves, you can write the thoughts behind your moves as well. I didn't have it in the games displayed above because I wasn't either of the players in the game.
"Knights need to be close to important jobs". I like that. Good advice. @Alex... regarding vision, I found that regular puzzles helped me, 5 to 10 per day. Ignore the clock and aim to get them right first time. This means be careful and thorough enough to be confident you have the answer before moving a piece. It's about quality not quantity. Be patient (months) and your calculation and visualisation skills will strengthen. IMO puzzles done right are more effective at developing these skills than playing, as hard puzzles force you to do a lot of calculation. I'm 44 and started playing in january. In roughly the last 7 games I've not dropped a piece or pawn accidentally, and that consistency has added nearly 100 points to my rating. I dont actually play that much chess, maybe one daily game per week, but I put more time into study, maybe 7 hours a week, normally weekday evenings working through a book. I have a family and I find it easier to study more and play less. When I play, I absolutely focus on quality and learning from the game. My rating has gone from zero to 1450 ish in roughly 40 games. I guess my advice is to improve focus on quality and learning to play good chess. This may mean playing less games, longer controls and more study and practice like puzzles.
Nov 29, 2020
0
#10
@catmaster0 Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to analyze and comments some of my game! Thank you for your time and advices ; I'll take the proper time to re-analyze and replay these game with your advices, and I'll take the time to analyze my next games as you and other suggested!
@MarkGrubb I'm glad to see it is not foolish of me thinking I can start playing at my age and that other have done it with success. I've been doing some puzzle but often get stressed out by that clock ; I'll take your advice and focus on quality rather than trying to get a descent time.
@Russbell Thank you for the advices and the link! I'll put that book on my wishlist 
. Reading some of your articles I've came across some resources that seems interesting, I'll definitely gonna take a look at it.
Thank you so much folks, you are such a great community!
Hi folks!
First time posting in here! Thought it would be nice to introduce myself and seek for advices!
I'm a 35 years old dad that has been playing chess occasionally in the past few years. I think it is such a beautiful game and I'm really in fond of games that requires strategy and mental skills. I often get into craze where I become very intense about something and need to learn everything about it. For example, I learned how to solved a rubik cube lately, picked it up quite fast and am able to solve it kinda quickly now.
About a year ago, I got myself into practicing and studying chess a lot, however it seemed like I was unable to improve. No mather how much I studied, did puzzle, did lessons, watched videos, I struggle keeping an elo over 1000, which seems kinda shameful for somebody my age, haha.
I discouraged myself a little bit, so took a break, and now I'm back. Doesn't seem like I'm getting any better now either, but I'll take it slowly and steadily and improvement should come over time, I guess... I try to keep away from blitz game. I think I'll avoid daily's as well since I struggle to stay focus on these game since it's too long.
I feel like one of my main problem is having difficulty visualizing moves that are ahead, even for a single variation. I feel like I'm more than two moves ahead it kinda blurs out. I try to focus the best I can but it often ends with doing the move and hoping I didn't messed up. Maybe I have attention deficit disorder and should takes some pills like in the Queen's Gambit show, haha.
I would have love to have a chess coach to have some personalized imput but just can't afford that kind of money right now. And with that pandemic thingy going on, chess clubs aren't an option where I'm from...
What are your thoughts? Any advices for me?
Thanks folks!