Older novice

I played my first games (and all of them up to now) on chess.com.  Immediately I lowered my rating quite dramatically, and now am starting the long climb upwards because there are not a lot of members who will accept my challenge, and those at appropriate rating are hard to find.  I like to think that my game is improving, since it's taking longer and longer to beat me.  One day I'll start surprising myself!

challenge me a game, rated if you like, white or black doesn't worry me, 3days /move 

The more you play, the better you will get :)

Of course as _Chess_Boy_ said it definitely helps to analyze your games, do tactics and just watch GM games and try to figure why they do each move.

Maybe I shouldn't be giving advice cause I am low rated also buuuuuut that is what everyone tells me so I am just passing it on ;)

Good luck, fellow chess player :)

We can play as many games for as long as you want!

I am sure we might both learn somethin.

You are doing well at your stage of learning.  When I was there (very recently), I lost EVERY game for weeks...

Then, all of a sudden, I started winning 1 out of 3, a big improvement.  I'm still pretty much winning 30%.  You'll get there with practice!

I went down to 700 + and like you I thought players would not like to play a lower player as they would lose a lot of points IF I should sneak a win.

Join a tournament in your rank range that isw what I did.

I learned the rudimentary stuff I DO know after joining this site, as well. I learned it because I heard chess helps your concentration. So far I feel I'm just wasting my time trying to get anywhere with it though.

I've never heard that. I think you have to have the ability to concentrate first, because chess takes concentration.

That makes complete sense to me, Bur_Oak. I was adding the woodshover-variable into the mix: 'Okay, make me concentrate.'

I figured I would resurrect this old thread, and ask how's it going.

I did the same thing, and now I'm 1400, so don't freak out... yet. 

Not very well...I finally reached 300 points higher, and then fell again by 250 and don't know why, except that I joined a tournament where all levels participated and I really got socked then.

 You need to work on not hanging so many pieces. Don't trade major pieces for minor pieces, or minor pieces for pawns, and do tactics training.

A grand master told me, "Forget rating, work on your chess and your rating will take care of itself."  Play for the love of the game and improve so you can enjoy it more.  Tactics and Strategy are worth studying.  Tactics and Strategy are the poetry of the game.  The more you study, the more you will understand and the more you will enjoy.  Keep us posted :)

I just found out about Takeback games - would you like to try one?   This type of game gives you the opportunity to take back a bad move.

Sure, I'd love to try it.