read bruce pandolfini's book "let's play chess". I read this before i was a member of this site but probably would have been a score 400. this book helped me to understand the basic principles of attack and defence. Then I read multiple other chess books but this was the best. after finishing this book only practice and hard study of games will help. Good luck.
frantic study!!!!!!
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Thanks anyway but I dont have any money plus I know the basic principles of chess Im only rated low because Im the youngest in my club and I make a few blunders
study some tactics on here, and make sure you know some basic endgame ideas.
Remember this, whatever you do learn from it, if you go 0-4 in the tourney learn from it, if you go 4-0 learn from it, the more you learn the better you'll get, the more you worry about your rating the more nothing will happen.
MRNChess> Im only rated low because ... I make a few blunders
OK, so you're low-rated because you make blunders. I looked at a couple of your online chess games and it looks like you know to get the pieces out.
One way to avoid blunders and score some quick wins at the tournament is to study tactics for 60 minutes / day. You know: forks, pins, skewers, discoveries, removal of the guard, etc. There's a free online book on tactics as ChessTactics.org called Predator at the Chessboard. If you finish that (or need a break from it) check out Chess Tactics Server.
A good complement to would be reading Dan Heisman's "Novice Nook" columns at chesscafe.com. Those are also free. Pay particular attention to the ones related to thinking processes and time management. Those are another key source of blunders, and the one younger players most often overlook.
Also make sure you can consistently win K+Q vs K and K+R vs K endings and maybe K+P vs K. ChessKids.com has some nice introductory endgame lessons.
Good luck at your tournament... let us know how it goes. :)
Go to a good library and look for "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess". Best book for starting and beyond. It teaches easily how to look for tactics and how to defend. My game skyrocketed after reading it!
Ok well I like likesforests ideas,and btw I am 14 and am not a beginner. Also I will give a list of the books I have plz pick 3 that I should read
How to Reassess Your Chess-Silman
Chess Master vs Chess Amatuer-Euwe
Chess Strategy-Lasker
Chess Openings for Black, Explained- Alburt
The Logical Approach to Chess-Euwe
Silman's Complete Endgame Course-Silman
Art of The Middle Game- Keres/Kotov
I'm in agreement with most of the above posts--that you look pretty solid in the opening, you should make sure you know how to mate with king and rook, and you should know the basics of King-Pawn endgames (how do you win with a king on e3, a pawn on d2, your opponent's king on d5, and the move?)
And, of course, you should go real heavy on the tactics. Tactics Trainer is great, but since you can only use it three times a day, you might want to look for some more puzzles (http://www.chess.com/download/view/200-chess-problems-1866 looks good). From looking at your games, I'm not sure how much total-begginer-i-have-never-even-heard-of-chess books can teach you (If I'm remembering correctly, most of Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess falls into this category).
Finally, playing some long live chess games could prove helpful, as it can give you a "mental clock" of how much time you should spend on a move, and can help you learn to think efficiently on your opponent's turn--two skills not taught by turn-based chess. I have a preference for 15.10 games (you get 15 minutes + 10 seconds for every move you make), but any long time control should help you get used to a tournament setting.
Hope this helps, I'm no expert! Good Luck!
> Silman's Complete Endgame Course-Silman
This is the real gem of the group at this point in your training.
Ok so I will be entering a chess tournament (U800) and im only rated 551 so I ll be facing kids most(its K-12) likely and want to prove myself by winning. Its a 4-round swiss, and was wondering if anyone could come up with an effective study program for me, that would be great. Plz note that it is on the 30th and I have about 3 hours daily to study(ya I have no life)I will post one of my games a bit later if that willl help. Thank you!