Help!

Can any one advice me on something. As a beginner, i lose more than i win , and i find that very disheartining, and i cant help but let my loses bring me down, i am curently trying my best to train my self and gain knowlege, but i find as i am practicing, i find it hard to because i feel a bit down and lack of confidence due to myloses.

Has any one got any good advice, on how to over come this.

Also could someone post a point by point bulletin on how to gain better skills, and what areas i should focus on to enhance my chess skills.

Thank you

Matthew

Hi

I just looked at your one game on record where you lost as black against destruction13. Your opening was good. White played beginner's moves whereas you played pawn moves in the centre and then developed pieces in a coherent way. As white attacked - throwing away piece after piece - you defended solidly and soon had a big lead. White lost his queen. Then, as you moved in for the kill you blundered and lost your queen and then - I couldn't believe it - you resigned.

 You are the exchange up (rook for knight) and you are also 2 pawns up. That's a 4 point advantage crudely speaking.

You are quite confortably winning this game. You will play Nd4 of course to save your knight.

Why did you resign? Since this is the only game on your record the only advice I can offer is not to resign so hastily, especially in positions you are winning!!!

If you have any more games for me to look at I'd be glad to help. Or you can challenge me to a game and afterwards - or during if you prefer - I'd be happy to comment on it.

Hope this helps

Steve

When I was begining I found the tactics trainer, and chess mentor very helpful. Also until you feel comfortable and feel you have an idea what you are doing, NEVER resign. Even if you lose it will help your end game. I would be happy to play an unrated game.

Look back over your games and see what you did wrong. Even if you win look into it to see any improvements or what you did wrong. Another good idea is to single out your weaknesses and try and improve on them ( build a strong opening and study different openings, and look at endgame tutorials and videos). If you really are keen on chess and want to improve, then look at games, and study the basics. Set yourself goals (for you I think you should head for 1000, then 1100, 1200 etc.). Do you prefer live or turn based games. Live games can improve your rating, but turn based you can learn more and look over opening theories. Also turn based you have time to think- so dont rush ( I rushed my moves in turn based trying to get a faster avg. time per move. Take your time)!

General advice:

Knowledge of openings/ endgames etc is useful, but not as much as simply thinking in the correct patterns.

1) Play with your eyes more than your brain.

2) Think thoroughly and only one move ahead.  One for you and any and all available next moves for him, and stop there. Aassume he will make the best move.  Most people try to think deeply into "forced" combinations.  One is much more likely to lose to an underconsidered next move.

3) Always ask yourself, "Now what can he do?", whether attacking or defending.

The last two rules are really the same and all three are synergistic.

Remember that chess is lost by the loser, not won by the winner.  You can argue against that if you want, but doing so is counterproductive.  One is "expected" to find the correct move in any given situation. 

You seem to have a good attitude at least.  Good luck.

You have to change your attitude towards the game. When I started learning, I lost each and every game as everyone played better than me. I never gave up - every loss spurred me on to play with the opponent again. Losses should spur you on, not discourage you. You should take it for granted that you are in the learning phase where everyone loses. Your objective should be to learn and gain experience. This is not one of the board games that a beginner can hope to win due to sheer luck - there is no luck in chess.

To overcome oversight, I started to look into every possible (even duffer's) move, and every possible reply to that. Then my every possible reply to the reply. After that only I rejected the obvious bad moves. This process alone improved my game tremendously, and practically eliminated gross oversights.

as said above....ALWAYS assume he will make the best move

thanks guys, that helped sooooo much, its good to knmow that people are here to help.

And Steve, thank you very much for looking over one of my games, that was a real confidence booster,

Oh and I learnt not to resign becuase i know it will help me more to play endgames.

Once again thank you all very much

Matthew

you are never losing when you are learning. you only lose if you fail to take away something important.

'Bigjakester' are you the one who posted a topic on a forum claining you were gonna take your own life lol.

You just tend to post useless post in forums, becuase if you are, youre just wasting your time, and need to get a life.

'The best advice of all is....Close your eyes' Maybe thats the reason you havnt won a game in 72 years lol.

Besides bigjakesters advice, thank you all for you comments

Matthew

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Remember Masters lose also. Keep playing, study, ask for help, and keep playing. Take your time before a move and look at all the possibilities, yours and your opponents. Ask yourself if this piece is moved what would/could happen, then what should the next move be? This advice from a guy who so far has only won about 25% of my games, but I love it and love playing chess- Keep on working at it. You will do great!

                                        IrishMike

'Irishmike' good advice, thats what ive started to do, but most of all i just learnt that ches is sooooo much fun, and its a world of absolute wonders. And its an honour to play such an art with great players.

Matthew