Chess Improvement

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NationalPatzer

Hello, I am a 1900 USCF player, and I've been playing for about 6 years now. I have found that I often have a hard time improving. The more I play, the less I get better. Over the years I have played for about 6 months (obsessively) and then stopped playing for 6 months to a year. When I came back to the game I found I was playing about 100 points higher than my previous leave in blitz/bullet. This cycle has repeated about 4 times. I'm wondering if its time for another break. On my break I might try to read a couple chess books, but no online chess. 

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Has anyone else improved by taking a break from chess, and at what rating did you find this strategy no longer helped your game? 

OldPatzerMike

Taking a break can help if you’re feeling burned out with chess. But I don’t see how that in itself will improve your play. At your rating you’ve reached the point where opponents at your strength are not beating themselves. You need to study how to win against staunch opposition. Serious study of chess books is in order: handling typical pawn structures, advanced endgame play, positional evaluation, technique for converting advantages to wins, etc.

The above is based on analysis of my own experience, which is similar to yours though with much longer breaks from the game. I don’t mean to be presumptuous in my recommendations and hope they will be helpful. They reflect what I am trying to do at this point. Best wishes for your success.

NationalPatzer
OldPatzerMike wrote:

Taking a break can help if you’re feeling burned out with chess. But I don’t see how that in itself will improve your play. At your rating you’ve reached the point where opponents at your strength are not beating themselves. You need to study how to win against staunch opposition. Serious study of chess books is in order: handling typical pawn structures, advanced endgame play, positional evaluation, technique for converting advantages to wins, etc.

The above is based on analysis of my own experience, which is similar to yours though with much longer breaks from the game. I don’t mean to be presumptuous in my recommendations and hope they will be helpful. They reflect what I am trying to do at this point. Best wishes for your success.

I agree, I think its time for some chess studying instead of the mindless blitzing. I do enjoy learning about endgames so I might as well learn them. Especially after this game!

I think its time for the Drovetsky's Endgame Manual. Should be a fun read. Cheers for several months chess.com I'll be back only for Daily Chess and Vote Chess

wistiti3000

To improve, you can use GM method : pattern database. How to create such a database ? I have created  a free web tool using colored arrows instead of moves notation : http://chesscards.bitballoon.com/#/

ChesterDog

Yes, it happens to me too.

SeniorPatzer
wistiti3000 wrote:

To improve, you can use GM method : pattern database. How to create such a database ? I have created  a free web tool using colored arrows instead of moves notation : http://chesscards.bitballoon.com/#/

  

You only have one card?

wistiti3000

Hi SeniorPatzer!

It comes with a sample card for example purpose. After that, you can create your own cards, new set of cards or new projects.

After that, you can share a link to friends in read only mode.

It's free, no account, no limit.

I've created this tool for myself but I wanted to share it with the chess community for free if it can helps somebody!