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villain1973uk
Nov 24, 2016
0
#1
Hi all, I suppose this has been asked a few times on here already but I'm using the app and can't search, I'm rated at around 1350 to 1450 which isn't that strong but my aim is to try and get to 1600 or even higher if at all possible, I know I may never get good enough to even become 1600 but was wondering what is the best way to improve to reach my goal, I've been watching the championship match and listening to the commentary which has helped a little but also hard to follow for a player of my standard, so any suggestions would be more than grateful.....cheers
Hi villain I am the same rating band as you and have the same aspirations. Im finding the you tube videos by John Bartholomew really inspirational - not the bullet videos but the chess fundamentals and climbing the ratings ladder videos. The guy explains things so clearly and I've picked up so much already. Good luck.
Nov 24, 2016
0
#3
Excellent thanks a lot for that I will look at that later, thanks again 👍
Nov 24, 2016
0
#4
Play many games (rapid are the best imo), practice tactics, analize high level games (some youtube channels are good for this), learn opening traps (this will make you more aware), and if you can find a partner around your level that would be great. If you have any questions, doubts or comments just send me a message.
Nov 24, 2016
0
#5
What do the gray and black bars that appear after moves mean? Do they measure strength of a move, and if so, how?
1600 is not an unreasonable goal I went from 1100 to 1600 online rating in 6 months or so with a lot of tactics and study
Nov 24, 2016
0
#7
twogreatminds the gray and black bars measure how much time you and your opponent took for a move.
Possibly helpful:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/7192.pdf
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Winning Chess Strategy for Kids by Jeff Coakley
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094112/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review332.pdf
Essential Chess Lessons by Steve Giddins
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708100833/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review534.pdf
Starting Out: Attacking Play by James Plaskett
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708101549/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review467.pdf
Simple Chess by Michael Stean
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104258/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review400.pdf
The Amateur's Mind by Jeremy Silman
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708094419/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ammind.pdf
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1949)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Nov 24, 2016
0
#10
I will give IM John Bartholomew a personal plug.
I was able to analyze with him at a camp a couple of years ago and he has a very clear explanatory style which makes him a great instructor.
I was able to analyze with him at a camp a couple of years ago and he has a very clear explanatory style which makes him a great instructor.
Nov 24, 2016
0
#11
I can't offer much in terms of advice, as I never floated around there, but I will say it's highly unlikely you aren't good enough to reach 1600. Everybody I've ever known hovering around your level has always made it past 1600, as I truly don't think there's much separating a 1450 and a 1600.
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Having started playing Daily Online chess relatively recently and having passed on up through 1400 and 1600, I would say that 1600s may be a little more tactically astute but what really marks out the difference is that they have significantly greater positional and strategic understanding, as well as more sense of the general ideas behind particular openings. Endgame technique is also often significantly better demonstrating appreciation of the fact that playing endgames involves a completely different mindset (e.g. understanding of the need to place your pawns on certain color squares, the greater need for kingly activity, etc.). The games of 1400s are often settled before the endgame and so many players at this level have comparatively little experience of endgames with more or less equal material. It might be in those areas that you need to work if you wish to improve your rating and win games against 1600s.