All you're playing is bullet, and blitz. And you cant understand why you're not improving? The answer is right in front of you.
Can't get passed 1400
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#3
Was that the only way you improved? By increasing the time? Because often I find myself lost in the middle game, not saying my openings are good, but would be nice to at least have an idea of what should be done, and the things to avoid
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#4
I got this book and worked out of it 2 to 4 hours a day
https://www.amazon.com/Sharpen-Your-Tactics-Sacrifices-Combinations/dp/1880673134
I also played some friendly OTB games once a week at a casual club. Games were usually around G/30
I played blitz online just about every day, and after nearly every game I checked the opening vs a database to compare our opening moves to what is commonly played.
I'm not saying this is the best way to do it, just saying what I did.
Pensak wrote:
Was that the only way you improved? By increasing the time? Because often I find myself lost in the middle game, not saying my openings are good, but would be nice to at least have an idea of what should be done, and the things to avoid
If you don't know what to do, concentrate on the pawn structure and improving pieces. Learn about pawn breaks.
But what will probably improve your rating is considering your opponents objectives by their moves and possible responses to yours.
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#6
Pensak wrote:
Was that the only way you improved? By increasing the time? Because often I find myself lost in the middle game, not saying my openings are good, but would be nice to at least have an idea of what should be done, and the things to avoid
My major improvement came when i quit playing blitz/bullet, and taking my time doing tactics. Again...how are you going to learn to implement things youre learning if all youre playing is blitz/bullet? Youre not allowing yourself enough time to improve.
Send me an invite sometime for 30 min game. I'm not much stronger than you, but I understand the aspects of your game you're struggling. I'm happy to share my thoughts. I bet it's not tactics, its what you describe, understanding middle games, which is very complex, but can be simplified.
paragoncd wrote:
he is gonna crush you
Send me an invite sometime for 30 min game. I'm not much stronger than you, but I understand the aspects of your game you're struggling. I'm happy to share my thoughts. I bet it's not tactics, its what you describe, understanding middle games, which is very complex, but can be simplified.
Scottrf wrote:
If you don't know what to do, concentrate on the pawn structure and improving pieces. Learn about pawn breaks.
Try reading a book like Pawn Power in Chess (Kmoch) or Pawn Structure Chess (Soltis). And play slow games.
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#10
But if you've been focusing on tactics all this time to get to 1400, then it would be useful to learn other things. Get a book on endgames, on strategy, or a game collection. Being well rounded is an efficient way to improve, and also broadens your understanding so that, unexpectedly, you'll find getting better at endgames and solving endgame positions, has also improved your ability to solve tactical puzzles.
Hi, I see that you are from Brazil, and if you can understand English I have a resource that may help you. The Saint Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center is a great online resource you can use to help you improve. They have a lot of great content for all different levels. There is also a lot of content on different openings, endgames, and many other topics. I hope you find it helpful, and can use it to reach your goals 
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#12
Pensak wrote:
I know it's a really low level for some of you, but it seems so damn hard to improve, and it gets frustrating at times... no matter how many tacticts trainer I do, I still end up getting beaten... What did you guys do to pass this rating? To reach at around 1600
IMBacon wrote:
Pensak wrote:
Was that the only way you improved? By increasing the time? Because often I find myself lost in the middle game, not saying my openings are good, but would be nice to at least have an idea of what should be done, and the things to avoid
My major improvement came when i quit playing blitz/bullet, and taking my time doing tactics. Again...how are you going to learn to implement things youre learning if all youre playing is blitz/bullet? Youre not allowing yourself enough time to improve.
I agree one of my breakthroughs came when I started playing more 15|10 and less 5|0 games. You allow yourself the time to think through the position, and calculate much deeper when you play slower time controls. Along with time controls, analyze your games, especially key moments, this has helped me quite significantly. Another piece of advice is use the chess.com computer analysis to see where your mistakes are. After you find your mistakes try to find alternate moves at those points and check if the computer says your alternatives are good or not. Best of luck to you and your chess journey.
"..., you have to make a decision: have tons of fun playing blitz (without learning much), or be serious and play with longer time controls so you can actually think.
One isn't better than another. Having fun playing bullet is great stuff, while 3-0 and 5-0 are also ways to get your pulse pounding and blood pressure leaping off the charts. But will you become a good player? Most likely not.
Of course, you can do both (long and fast games), ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (June 9, 2016)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/longer-time-controls-are-more-instructive
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#16
smithcoreyb wrote:
IMBacon wrote:
Pensak wrote:
Was that the only way you improved? By increasing the time? Because often I find myself lost in the middle game, not saying my openings are good, but would be nice to at least have an idea of what should be done, and the things to avoid
My major improvement came when i quit playing blitz/bullet, and taking my time doing tactics. Again...how are you going to learn to implement things youre learning if all youre playing is blitz/bullet? Youre not allowing yourself enough time to improve.
I agree one of my breakthroughs came when I started playing more 15|10 and less 5|0 games. You allow yourself the time to think through the position, and calculate much deeper when you play slower time controls. Along with time controls, analyze your games, especially key moments, this has helped me quite significantly. Another piece of advice is use the chess.com computer analysis to see where your mistakes are. After you find your mistakes try to find alternate moves at those points and check if the computer says your alternatives are good or not. Best of luck to you and your chess journey.
The only time i use engine analysis is AFTER i do my own analysis.
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-start-out-in-chess
https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-directory
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
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 by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics
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
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
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
Studying Chess Made Easy by Andrew Soltis (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
http://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf
IMBacon wrote:
The only time i use engine analysis is AFTER i do my own analysis.
This. The objective evaluation of a move is less important than your thinking process.
Yep. People use the laziest solutions: Watch a video, play a few quick tactics, look over an opening.
You learn by thinking about chess, not seeing where a computer thinks your mistakes were.
If you use a computer it's going to tell you to not fall for an easy tactic. It's not going to tell you why you made the decision to make a move which loses to a tactic you can easily spot. It's not going to tell you how your position deteriorated to the point that you're making blunders.
How often do you drop a piece in a good position? How often do you drop a piece when you're in a horrible position and have to find only moves to not be mated?
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#20
Scottrf wrote:
Yep. People use the laziest solutions: Watch a video, play a few quick tactics, look over an opening.
You learn by thinking about chess, not seeing where a computer thinks your mistakes were.
If you use a computer it's going to tell you to not fall for an easy tactic. It's not going to tell you why you made the decision to make a move which loses to a tactic you can easily spot. It's not going to tell you how your position deteriorated to the point that you're making blunders.
How often do you drop a piece in a good position? How often do you drop a piece when you're in a horrible position and have to find only moves to not be mated?
While passive learning has its place. It should not be the main source of study.
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I know it's a really low level for some of you, but it seems so damn hard to improve, and it gets frustrating at times... no matter how many tacticts trainer I do, I still end up getting beaten... What did you guys do to pass this rating? To reach at around 1600