Best way to Improve Game - Chess Forums

Empathy1

May 2, 2014

0

#1

Hello friends and fellow chess enthusiasts from around the world. I am 51 years old and started playng chess when I was 13. I am an amature and never truly made an attempt to improve my game accept buy a few books many tears ago but I quickly lost interest. I absolutley LOVE the game and due to a recent horrific accident at the end of 2012, I am currently disabled and at the moment can not work. So I have the ability to put 12 hours a day into becoming a better player. So here is my questions? What is the best pay to use my time to become an extremly proficient player and try to get my rating to 1700 - 2000 within 1 year. Right now my 10 minute blitz rating is 806 and my 30 minute rating is 1196. I know playing is the only way to get better and is the true enjoyment of the game. But should I spend a certain number of hours with a regular chessboard offline and playing out the games of the masters and reading the analysis of each move? I am so overwhelmed by all the different videos, chess trainers, chess sites (this is the only one I go to now) that I just want to make sure I am allocating my time correctly to improve my game. Becuase I am out of work for the past 17 months, I do not have the money to hire a private teacher. So Just wondering from any person reading this post who went from an amature to a semi pro, what method did you use to improve ypur game. I am also a classical guitarist to I want to split my days between guitar and chess. I had a bran injury and my neurologist said there is not a better way to get my brain firing on all cylinders than by playing chess and playing guitar. And if you can recommend one specific book that I should purchase and fully study, which one should it be. Thanks again and hoepully next time I post my 10 minute rating will be over 1000 and my 30 minute rating close to 1400. God Bless

orstaboc

May 2, 2014

0

#2

Im certainly not a master but The Complete book of chess strategy by IM Jeremy Silman is a really great book for beginners. I have read through many times and still find interesting tidbits. Good luck

Wayward_Bishop

May 2, 2014

0

#3

i'm a beginner myself but i'm mostly self taught too. don't buy a lot of books, online has many free resources and cheap prices for other stuff. i spend a lot of time going over masters games. just see how the best play...you'll be surprised how much you learn from that after awhile...chesstempo.com is a great free site that you can practice and learn tactical patterns and motifs. if you buy a book...buy an ENDGAME book. most important part of the game to learn first because it will help you in all parts of the game. endgames require good principles of various pieces, accuracy (one move wins, all others draw! in some positions for example...), and you learn how each piece can be used effectively before being overwhelmed with loads of them. i am going back to endgame studies because i noticed when i stopped focusing on my endgame skills, my overall skills have stalled to. maybe its just coincidence but i doubt it...

and dont forget to play some too. but my advice, DONT play fast games. play on this site what they call "online chess" (NOT live chess!), where you have DAYS per move. it will give you plenty of time to really look at the positions and try to find the best moves you can see...i love this site for that game feature alone. its amazing.

we're beginners now, but we can learn and improve our games to greater heights. i like what the Lasker world champion said, he said you can be a master with proper study of the game. so you begin later in life, so what. you have time, you have the will, you'll find the way!

Empathy1

May 11, 2014

0

#4

Thanks for both replys. I am upgrading to premium membership, and want to know how people who use Chess.com exclusively, allocate their time because to me, I am a bit overwhelmed as to where even to get started. I play like 6to 8 10 minute games a day and my rating when from 622 to 835. Not exactly a GM, but I feel with proper guidnace and a roadmap to follow, I don;t think it's unrealistic to be at a 2000 rating in 2 years. I say this because at the moment I am disable and have the ability to put 12 hours a day into chess. But my other love is classical guitar, so I want o make sure that my "chess" time is used wisely. And I like the advice for the endgame book. That seems to be where I make the most blunders. And I will pick up the book that ortaboc recommeneded. I remeber for a brief period of time, I NEVER used online studying and had one of those large roll up plastic chess boards that I picked up in a chess club in Greenich Village NYC. I found just playing out the games of the masters and reading the author's explanation and anlyization of every mood really improved my game because it gave insight into the minds of the freat masters. I am not sure if the "old" school method is better or the online world is the way to go. The only live games I can play are online, but I have two different options for studying the game. Online or offline. Thanks everybody for taking a moment to read this post. I know we are all busy and I respect and appreciate taking your valuable time to help me out.

2200ismygoal

May 11, 2014

0

#5

Doing tactics alone can bring you to 1700 easy. There is a little more work after that. If you are able to hit 1700 through tactics than you want to read Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman.2

kleelof

May 11, 2014

0

#6

Empathy1 wrote:

Thanks for both replys. I am upgrading to premium membership, and want to know how people who use Chess.com exclusively, allocate their time because to me, I am a bit overwhelmed as to where even to get started.

Once you are a member, under the menu item 'Learn' you will find 'Study Plans'. Tons and tons of stuff to guide you along.

I think even free memebers can see part of this. However, I think to get the full benefit you need to be a platinum member. The others don't have full lesson videos. But, you can still get a lot of great stuff even with the gold membership.

rtr1129

May 11, 2014

0

#7

If you have the time, read The Process of Decision Making in Chess by Ochman. He outlines a full list of steps for you to go through on each move. Play correspondence games (chess.com calls them "Online Games"). That way you can go through the full process every move. It will take you a while at first (maybe hours per move). That's fine, eventually you will get faster. Once you have mastered that process you will have a much deeper understanding of how to get better and what areas you need to work on. At the same time, do tactics problems. Use chesstempo.com with a gold membership. They allow you to do specific types of problems. For instance, you can do problems on only knight forks, or pins, or other specific themes. It is much quicker to master one theme at a time. With chess.com's tactics trainer, you just get any of dozens of themes. It makes for a good "final exam" but it will take you forever to learn anything. Chess tempo gold membership is also cheaper, but chess.com provides more, especially videos. Videos are good because it helps you learn how strong players think and how they try to improve.

VLaurenT

May 11, 2014

0

#8

Hi Empathy,

I would recommend playing and analyzing one long game (1hr+ per side) every day, and use one of the systematic training resources I've presented here.

Empathy1

May 21, 2014

0

#9

Great advice from everyone. Achja....I played a blitz game with someone on chess.com and next day they invited to play a game of corresponsdonce chess which I thought was the boring thing imaginable. Guess I was wrong and it makes sense that it allows you seriously think about the next move with no time contraints. I am going to except her offer today. Hicetnunc... thinks for the thorough reviews on all the chess books/courses you wrote about. And thanks to everyone else for your words of wisdom andtaking timr out of your day to respond to my post. Greatly appreciated.

JamieDelarosa

May 21, 2014

0

#10

Sorry about the accident, Bob. I took an early retirement to stave of the cardiac surgeon again. And reconnect with my garden. And decompress from a career.

I am just getting back into chess after a layoff from competative play of 30 years. Family, career, responsibilities did not allow me the time to focus on chess, like I could when I was younger.

So my approach? Ease back into the chess culture - it has changed - changed a great deal. Everything is new.

Second, I pulled my chess library out of boxes in the garage. It was like seeing old friends again at the high school reunion. A few are missing :-( Found my boards and tournament pieces. Couldn't find the clocks though.

Third, study a few openings, practice endgame technique, and meet some people here.

Fourth, start playing some games. Don't worry about ratings - focus on improving.

Good luck to you.

LLCA123

Nov 15, 2016

0

#11

Play a mix of bullet, and very, very long games. Bullet will help your tactics and awareness. The long games can be played at tournaments or online-- they help with you overall play. Lots of videos online are great (GM Igor Smirnov is my favorite). Find a local friend that likes the game, play him! Also, books are great resource!! My favorite is "Think like a Grandmaster" -By Alexnader Kotov-- u will have to get it in algerbraic format-- which is more pricey. It is very complex yet helpful!! It will take a year or too to undertand it. 2000 isn't far away at all! Good luck! hope this helps!!! Give me a reply if u want details!

LLCA123

Nov 15, 2016

0

#12

Also, go to as many tourneys as possible. Ask around-- PLAY CHESS! That's the simplest way to improve! good luck!

FunkNumber48

May 4, 2018

0

#13

Sorta new here. I'm reading this about 17 months later but find it very informative for my own use. Empathy1, where do you stand now? Just curious. I'm beginning my own journey.

kindaspongey

May 5, 2018

0

#14