Can this tactics book help me to get to 1500+ from 1200+ within 45days to 60days??????

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Raman33307
I got the book Back To Basic by Dan Heisman, as one of a chess.com user suggested me, now can I get to the 1500+ rating if i work with this book honesty. Cherub plz help
Raman33307

Thanks 2Q1C, Do you like your opponent with a beard or without one?hehe

Cherub_Enjel

300 points of rating is a lot! 

I think it'll get you at least 100 points though, and you'll probably break 1400 if you do exactly what that book says. Within 60 days, you can finish the book multiple times, and if you really really do the exercises repetitively (Heisman says you should see the solutions within 10-15 seconds - well actually, you should know them within 5 seconds wink.png ) you will get pattern recognition of basic tactics.

If you do Dan Heisman's safety check, then this will also really increase your rating - but you need to know tactics well to do safety checks. 

Heisman also teaches you the basics of chess calculation in the last chapter, which is a bit advanced for you, but if you learn this and do it well (which is hard, so I doubt you can develop these skills in 60 days) then you definitely will gain 300+ points. But this takes a lot of time! Don't rush. 

 

Just remember, this book is from one of the best chess teachers in the world! Almost all of his students grow a lot in rating and get a lot better. Just do exactly what the book says, keep doing the puzzles over and over again until you know them easily, and apply that in your games, and you will definitely improve a lot. But it takes time!

Raman33307

today is 13th feb 2017 lets see what happens after 13th april,

NationalPatzer

I dunno. Tactics are kind of useless. Just analyze your games or something

urk
Maybe?
Let us know how it goes.
Cherub_Enjel

Yes, good luck, and do exactly what the book says. 

Hopefully you can improve, because your expectations are rather reasonable.

 

There was another user, "Sohum" from India who wanted to a GM, even though he was allegedly 22 and only 1500 on this site, and never had played an OTB game in tournament before. He claimed that he would be 1800+ blitz by 2/6/17 (which has passed), and his rating has only decreased, and he's barely 1500 right now, I believe.

 

Keep your expectations reasonable and work hard, and do exactly what the book says.

Cherub_Enjel

The post I remembered is this: https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/is-it-possible-to-become-gm-without-coaching?page=6

Cherub_Enjel

And to the OP, your goals are the following:

(1) Develop basic tactical pattern recognition

(2) Make a habit of doing safety checks to avoid blunders

(3) Play combinations more often, using your tactical recognition

(4, Bonus/Optional) Develop a good calculation technique that you use often

 

I don't know any player rated <1500 rapid on this site that can do 1-3 properly. 

MickinMD
Raman33307 wrote:
I got the book Back To Basic by Dan Heisman, as one of a chess.com user suggested me, now can I get to the 1500+ rating if i work with this book honesty. Cherub plz help

I'm studying the same book.  I expect it to help me build a mental framework for recognizing tactics by name and seeing patterns on the board more quickly.  But just as in all skill sports, repetition over a long time is required so the book ALONE will not do it - you should spend as much time as possible working tactics problems (here, at chesstempo.com, with phone apps, etc.) while paying attention to the tactical motifs involved so you recognize them in the future, as well as playing games against humans and against chess engines at a similar skill level.  The list of tactical motifs here is all worth looking at repeatedly until you know them all: http://chesstempo.com/tactical-motifs.html

The last live game I played here ended quickly because right after I queened a pawn, my opponent moved into a pattern similar to what I learned on that site is a "Swallow's Tail Mate" and I needed just one move of the new queen for checkmate.

When you say "working" with the book, you should STUDY it.  I'm outlining as I go along to aid retention. Here's an example (the format here changed my leftmost column from A,B,C, etc, to 1,2,3, etc, but you'll get the idea):

  1. Counting: the process of determining if each piece for both sides is safe
  2. Advanced Players Counting: only update counting on squares affected by last move.
  3. Five ways to save unsafe piece:
    1. move it to a safe square
    2. capture the attacking piece
    3. block attack by interposition: putting a piece between attacking and unsafe piece, but results in a pin
    4. guard the piece: passive and ties down a piece of yours
    5. counterattack: tricky, often gives bad results, avoid if unclear when ahead in material
  4. Removal and Pinned Pieces: can not be counted as defenders
  5. Take time when recapturing and note it doesn’t have to be on the same square

The advice about not counterattacking when defending an attack unless there's a clear advantage is the best part of this section for me: too often I have done so only to overlook something that leaves me a piece down at the end of the combination.

Raman33307

thanks cherub,and everybody else, I will work honesty and try and achieve my goals,I will update once I cross 1300 and I will update again after 1400 and finally I will update once I get that 1500+ mark, cherup your advises are really good, thank you again

Cherub_Enjel

Good luck! Also, counting is very very important, don't take it lightly. Don't think "counting" is just for beginners, because it can be quite hard.

Raman33307

I don't know how you read my mind, I was actually thinking to skip that counting and safety check part because that seemed so annoying and not that important.

Cherub_Enjel

Don't skip it!!! Instead you need to listen to Heisman, and never make simple tactical mistakes in your games again:

https://www.chess.com/live/game/1947419893?username=Raman33307

For example, if you did "safety check" in this game, you would not have missed Nxc3 and Qxb1+. 

 

 

triggerlips

Depends on your age partly.  A young person learning chess can make huge strides during the first year or Two

ArtemonBerdyansk

Chess Tempo recomended

elephantrook

i believe in you that you can do it. i was around 1700 but have dropped because i havn't did my studying in quite awhile. so yes, you can do it. so long as you try and keep up with your chess game and practices. for heavens sake do not try to remember everything hahahaha but you can do it. hard work though