Feels like getting worse at chess - Chess Forums

arthurmedeirosfb

May 23, 2018

0

#1

I started chess a long time ago, but always stopped. This time I decided to take it serious but I just feel like I'm getting worse and worse. I'll post my last game which I just lost as black.

Ps: First post ever. Please, make suggestions.

I could have applied two concepts in this game as black which I learned from Lessons with a grandmaster. (Boris Gulko, Joel Sneed).

Prophylaxis by playing a6 on move 9.
Choose the must-do move. When you have to decide between two moves, choose the one you will do no matter what. That is, I should have played 44... d3.

As white, also two concepts.

In most cases when someone offers a trade he expects you to take , so he gain a tempo and improve it's position. Therefore, I believe he should have played 14 Re1 (not doing that led to a ugly positioning starting on move 20). If I take his knight, he earns the bishop duo and if I don't I close the e-file restricting black's Re8.
Don't double pawns on purpose. 18 Qe3 led to a bad structure on the final. Insted white should have doubled the rooks on the E-file and exploit my weakness on e5.

Those are my analysis. If one could correct them and point me out in the right direction that would be great. Also, If possible, would like some books and youtube channels recomendations.

As I believe my strategy is pretty bad i'm reading two books: Lessons with a grandmaster. (Boris Gulko, Joel Sneed) and Mastering positional chess by D.Naroditsky. Do you have other recommendations? On youtube I follow GM Krikor and Saint Louis Chess Club (mostly Yasser Seirawan).

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.

arthurmedeirosfb

May 24, 2018

0

#2

Yes, I agree with both of them. My finals are pretty bad. Any recomendation on books?

torrubirubi

May 24, 2018

0

#3

Arthur, there an amazing book just released in Chessable based on 1.e4 for white. The book is outstanding and with a huge amount of information.
For black against 1.e4 you can purchase in Chessable a whole repertoire based on 1...c5. The title is The Fighting Sicilian: A complete Repertoire vs 1.e4
The book for white is called 1.e4: A Comprehensive Repertoire for White.
Boa sorte e tudo de bom! (sou brasileiro e vivo desde 1988 na Europa).

ScootaChess

May 24, 2018

0

#4

Confidence is key. If you feel beaten before move 1, you've already lost

arthurmedeirosfb

Jun 4, 2018

0

#5

Thanks for all the advices. I'm reading Simple Chess and doind tactics on ChessTempo. I am 1600 in Standard and 1500 in Bullet. But here i'm only losing. I'm already 1200~ and goind down. Really don't know what to do.

tipish

Jun 4, 2018

0

#6

arthurmedeirosfb wrote:

Thanks for all the advices. I'm reading Simple Chess and doind tactics on ChessTempo. I am 1600 in Standard and 1500 in Bullet. But here i'm only losing. I'm already 1200~ and goind down. Really don't know what to do.

your 1500 probably on a site that starts on 1500 here it starts at 1200...

kindaspongey

Jun 4, 2018

0

#7

"... 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