Many people struggle most with middlegames and planning in this stage of the game.
If you like, maybe we could play one or two unrated 10 min games and then I can recommend some advice more tailored to you for what I think may help you improve.
Many people struggle most with middlegames and planning in this stage of the game.
If you like, maybe we could play one or two unrated 10 min games and then I can recommend some advice more tailored to you for what I think may help you improve.
To most of my students, I give this advice (and it's almost all they need):
The biggest reason people struggle in lower-level chess is because of blunders. They make them in almost every game.
A mistake can instantly put you in a bad position, no matter how well you played earlier: if you had great opening knowledge, great positional skills, great endgame skills, whatever; a single mistake can change everything (you lose a piece or get checkmated).
So, how do you avoid blunders? Follow these two simple steps:
1. After your opponent moves, think if it's dangerous. Ask yourself, “What’s his idea?”
2. Before you make your move, think if it's safe. Ask yourself, “What attacking replies can he play?”
If you feel like getting to levels like 1600, 1800, or 2000 in chess is super hard, let's look at it in a different way. Those players you're facing make blunders in nearly every game they play. Beating them isn't so tough if you stop making big mistakes and start using their slip-ups to your advantage.
Again, it does not require you to become a chess nerd or spend all your time on chess. Just doing this one thing can boost your rating by a few hundred points right away.
Lastly, while avoiding blunders is crucial, I also share a few basic principles with my students. These principles help them figure out what to do in each part of the game - the opening, the middlegame, and the endgame. Understanding these simple principles is like having a map for your moves. When you use this knowledge along with being careful about blunders, you're not just getting better at defending. You're also learning a well-rounded approach to chess. Keep in mind, chess is not just about not making mistakes; it's about making smart and planned moves to outsmart your opponent.
@1
"I don't always play the best end-game" ++ Study endgames
"many times in the middle game I'm not exactly sure what to do" ++ Not even grandmasters are sure. You have to apply logic and then decide on the best move without being sure.
"For the opening I typically bring out knights, bishops then try to castle." ++ That is good.
"I'd like to improve, but I'm not exactly sure where to start." ++ Analyse your losses.
"I used to train a lot of tactics."
++ It is good, but overrated. In a real game nobody tells you there is a tactic, or for which side.
"I definitely need to understand the opening" ++ No. Develop, the center, that is it.
"maybe some traps" ++ No, do not play for traps.
"I keep losing a minor piece from forks"
++ Always check your intended move is no blunder before you play it.
"I have a lot of books" ++ Books are good, but do not overdo on books.
"haven't seen any significant improvement in my game"
++ Improvement comes from analysing your losses and learning from your mistakes.
Hi, thanks for your responses. Many times I'll review a game that I lost and not exactly sure how I got in a worse position. Many times the chess engine will analyze the game for "inaccuracies" that it's difficult for a human to catch, unless they are like Bobby Fischer/ Magnus Carlsen level. Yes, many times I make blunders from moving too quick without thinking also. Chess is very difficult game to master.
@5
"I'll review a game that I lost and not exactly sure how I got in a worse position."
++ Find your decisive mistake
"the chess engine will analyze the game for "inaccuracies""
++ Do not mind inaccuracies, find your mistakes, especially your decisive mistake.
"I make blunders from moving too quick without thinking"
++ Always blunder check. Never move without thinking. Sit on your hands.
"Chess is very difficult game to master." ++ Yes, but not blundering is a simple mental discipline.
I'm about intermediate. I know the basics, but I don't always play the best end-game, and many times in the middle game I'm not exactly sure what to do. For the opening I typically bring out knights, bishops then try to castle. I used to play more so I was better, but my rating has dropped and I've kind of plateau'd.
I'd like to improve, but I'm not exactly sure where to start. I used to train a lot of tactics. I definitely need to understand the opening better, and maybe some traps. I keep losing a minor piece from forks and many times that will cost the game.
I have a lot of books, and typically the authors explain concepts by showing how someone won and the opponent lost, by not understanding a key concept, but I already understand things like putting a rook behind a passed pawn, or going after unguarded pieces, etc. and haven't seen any significant improvement in my game in a long time.