How old can you be, and still be able to improve in chess?

https://www.chess.com/article/view/am-i-too-old-for-chess
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-can-older-players-improve

While I'm much younger than you, I started playing as an adult, too. I don't expect to ever be a master. But I do try to improve, and measure my improvement by my OTB tournament rating (USCF). 

When I was rated 1250, my goal was break 1400. When I was 1400, I wanted to break 1600. When I was 1600, I wanted to break 1800. I never quite got there. Then I took a few years off and came back rusty. Now, I just want to get back to my previous playing strength, and have a rating that proves it.

But at my peak, I was in the 1700s USCF, and I would sometimes beat guys rated in the 1900s. I knew they were better than me, but I could also tell that I was close enough to that level that I was sure I could get there with just a little more improvement.

And really, that's the way of it. As you said, you're happy to be better than yesterday. Improve as much as you can, and just set goals of getting a little better at a time.

I often see posts here and on other chess sites about "What does it take to become a master/grandmaster?" The correct answer is "Who cares?" If you enjoy playing, learning, and improving, then you'll get as far as you can. If not, then you'll give up before you get there. The point is to enjoy the journey.

Great question. A simple answer is to have fun. What makes chess fun? I really enjoy the intellectual challenge of playing, learning and improving at chess, and it feels great when i manage to outplay my opponent. When i loose, i feel motivated to learn from my mistakes so that i can play sharper next time.

My short term goal is to get a OTB rating. I will get one after playing a few more tournaments. After that my goal will probably be to play more OTB tournaments and steady increase my rating as long as playing chess bring something positive into my life.

Personally, I think 70 might be too old for most people, but you may be an exception.  Anyway, even if you don't improve, there's some research results that suggest chess can help stave off Alzheimer's disease --so at least its got this benefit even if you don't improve.

Of course seventy is not too old to improve.

Obviously the lower your rating the easier it will be to improve at any age.

If you are rated around 1400 and not familiar with the fundamental rule taught in this short twelve minute video then watch it and see the structure and quality of your games improve.

To take is a mistake by GM Igor Smirnov:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-k2fRVYeFg

Thank you for this video!

I'm 67 and returned to chess in 2017 after many years away from the game.  There are things I learned in 2017 I didn't know before, mainly due to the tremendous increase in chess tactics training, overall info, etc. on the Internet, and think I'm a better player for it.

Here is my Tactics Trainer rating at chesstempo for 2017 - you can see the upward trend from 1500 to over 1700:

Yes, there is so much chess information availabe that almost any particular chess player can improve at any age when he is still rational.

Post #74 with a lesson from GM Igor Smirnov is great. "TO TAKE IS A MISTAKE"

I have been trying to teach this concept for decades. However GM Smirnov explains this chess concept much better than i ever could.

Any player Class B or stronger can learn a lot from this concept.

I think the fallacy that older people can't improve is based on the fact that as older grandmasters age, they begin to give way to the younger crowd coming up behind them.  However, that is the very top of chess where the mental capacity to stay on top diminishes enough that they can't stay at their peak.  Almost all of these GM's are still able to compete, they just don't become world champions or get 1st place in major tournaments as often.  The drop off based on age is not so great that an 'average' club player can't improve and enjoy chess.   A few years ago, I saw a big deal made because a 40+ year old became a grandmaster.  But that was the upper levels of chess that made it such a big deal.

Perhaps a club player aged 50+ has the odds stacked against them making GM, but that doesn't mean a club player can't improve their game and move up a class or two or three.  Especially a novice, who now finds the time to actually study tactics and positional themes.  The leap is just not as great and is more attainable.  As long as you have some mental sharpness, there is no reason a class player cannot improve.  If the goal is making GM and you are just starting out, no harm in attempting it!  However, if an older player who never played the game wants to compete at a club level, there isn't as much of a big jump and YES you can improve and be competitive!  Youth is truly wasted on the young, but you can teach old dogs new tricks.

Amen Texas Patzer!  Amen!

I remember replying to a similar post.  Why do all the old people want to know if they are too old to improve?  Alzheimer's?

Here's the truth: if you must ask, then you are too old.

Bookmark my advice so that you can remember it.

(I'm kidding of course.  Normally I don't add any more to sarcasm, but old people just can't take jokes about age like they used to.  I hate the entitlement generation.)

Making a qualitative leap in chess playing strength is every 400 points for USCF.

After a certain age, (which is different for different chess players) you will NOT be able to make any more qualitative leaps in your playing strength.  End of Story.

Is that a simple enough Summary For All, after more than a year of posting??

Stated another way -- Chess isn't rocket science, but becoming a GM might require that you begin studying with the mind of a (young) rocket scientist.

Yes, that pun is intended.   

Deleted for good reason?  Or not?

He can't remember.

Probably for a good reason...

I thank the ones of you, who have given me some good advice. But, obviously there are some young boys out here, who only want to make some good fun. To themselves. To you all I can say: After I posted this question I can clearly see that I have improved in chess. I still make my blunders, but more seldom than before. And in between I can make a really good move. And: I keep the Alzheimer away by playing chess!

Age does limit how far you can advance in chess, but not whether you can improve. At my age of 67, for example, it's too late to ever become a GM or IM, and even NM is most probably out of the question. But after intensive study over the past year, I understand chess better than ever and am playing the best chess of my life. In my last six tournament games, my results were +4-1=1 against opposition with an average rating higher than mine.

My conclusion is that as long as your health holds up, you can continue to improve. The key is having the time and the will to work hard at it.