Best Advice

I am not a titled player, nor claim to be a great player. I am a class player like most on here seeking advice from other who can actually help instead of those who just love to hear themselves talk while beating their e-chest on the forum.

This is just an observation of what I see.

Not everyone is cut out to be a GM or other titled player. And there is absolutely no quick formula for doing so. Many think that using an opening of a GM equates it to being a GM without requirement for "the other stuff a GM knows", i.e. high level of positional understanding, superior endgame technique and thousands of memorized tactical patterns. You can be a GM for as long as the line of theory goes, but when it comes to independent thinking, you will most likely be exposed.

At the class level, most games are lost by a fundamental/tactical oversight - i,e. the "bad move".  The idea is not to play bad moves. So the question is how does one go about not playing bad moves? I would like to know the answer to this question myself. I can only surmise that this probably goes back to basic fundamentals and simple tactics. But where do I go for information on the first question? You can resort to books, but they will only describe to you the elements in cold hard form. You can memorize by wrote, but it will only take you so far. A long time ago I took lessons from titled players (I am lucky enough to be around them in both a chess and non-chess atmosphere) and have gone over my losses only (not wasting time on my wins unless it involved a complex tactical sequence involving a several moves) and find that they had the answers to my questions. They can pinpoint your weaknesses and prescribe a course of action on eliminating your weaknesses. I would recommend a chess coach. Check credentials and reviews (where applicable) and find the best price you can afford. Hey, even Magnus Carlsen had a coach.

Eliminating your weaknesses. Not necessarily finding the best move, but also avoiding the move that loses immediately. Again, how do I go about this? All I can say is don't forget your fundamentals - i.e. does my move drop a piece? Sometimes we al forget that in the heat of the battle. No shame in that. But someone out there will probably have a better answer. And that is what this thread is about.

The best pieces of advice I received that actually improved my game at the very least:

"You are not going to be checkmated on the first move." As funny as this sounds, it has a calming affect on me when I remember this phrase before I play my game.

"What's the threat?" and "Take care of all immediate threats." These came from an FM (2400) and an IM, respectively. I used to think strong players were strong attackers. However, first and foremost they are actually defensive minded. No, they don't play the Hippo or just sit back playing 3rd rank openings. They play actively while keeping an eye on their opponents moves, especially the subtle ones - i.e. a knight moved backwards or a rook moved to a closed file.

"Connect rooks by move 10." This forces me to clear out my backrank and mobilize as quickly as possible. Of course, this may be dependent on the nature of the position, but it is not a bad rule to keep in mind.

I hope to hear from others, no matter what the level.

yeah I'm just here to beat my chest.

"Are my pieces safe?"

Yeah, I'm guilty of that at times.

As i tell my students.  This is why IM, and GM isnt in front of our names.

What level do you teach? My friends teach from absolute beginner to K-8 Nationals. Some of their kids are pretty sharp.

I teach from beginner up to USCF class B. 

I still could learn from you. It is only a matter of explanation.

We call all learn from each other, regardless of rating.

I believe in that. Even Fischer said "You can learn something from anyone." This was when he was doing an interview and asked the lower-rated player what he thought about the position.

Very true!  Once you start thinking someone lower rated cant help you, youre thinking incorrectly.  I routinely ask lower rated players what they think about a position.  It helps give me perspective, and brings back things i may be be forgetting.

LOL!!! Such a good movie.

How did you get a picture of my dentist?

I wish my dentist looked like that!

I agree with you : it doesn't mean they play passively. It means they're aware of what their opponents is trying to do, and make sure he can't land a hard blow.

I just played my first FIDE rated game last night (G/120). I didn't realize I would get tired after 2.5 hours into the game. I had an advantage against a FIDE 2000+ but things started to get blurry after move 30 - two and a half hours into the game. I need to get in shape....

Yes, stamina is a big part of the game, especially if you're over 35.

and don't work out.

Yeah, that's me! (@both of you)

So true!  Im almost 52, and routinely take byes on the last day of a tournament.  For the first time i am actually going to a tournament just to watch.  Always wanted to do that.