How to get better at chess?

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Asphormora

I've played chess for 5 years and this is the first time that I feel like I cant get better at chess...I've been like this for months and I don't know what to do right now...I've played games, doing lessons, tactics, reading books but it feels like I'm not going anywhere with all of this...

Can anyone help me?

 

gingerninja2003

play chess OTB. it's harder to get better online. OTB is where you'll improve faster.

hip170225
It would be nice if people could disagree without calling each other idiots... Just saying...

Anyhow, regarding the original question, I notice you don't mention analysis of your own games as one of the things you're doing to improve. Is this accurate or did you just forget to mention it? Personally I find analysis of my own games and regular tactics puzzles the most useful for improvement, but different strategies work for different people, of course.
Asphormora

well actually I did do analysis but still I don't know this feeling like I'm not going anywhere or something..,.. well thanks for the advice regardless what it is I appreciate it..

Pikelemi

 Seems like you only play blitz and bullets (at least here). Try to play some longer time controls instead (at least 45 min and maybe with an increment and maybe also some 3days games). Then you will have time to recall what you have learned from the books, lessons and tactics while you are playing.

Asphormora
Pikelemi wrote:

 Seems like you only play blitz and bullets (at least here). Try to play some longer time controls instead (at least 45 min and maybe with an increment and maybe also some 3days games). Then you will have time to recall what you have learned from the books, lessons and tactics while you are playing.

well actually I love playing longer time controls but well my teacher always told me that I'm a heavy thinker and many people advice me to play blitz and bullets here and in real life I go and play the longer time control but still the same... well, i'll take ur advice and try to play longer time control here.. thanks.

fieldsofforce
Asphormora wrote:

I've played chess for 5 years and this is the first time that I feel like I cant get better at chess...I've been like this for months and I don't know what to do right now...I've played games, doing lessons, tactics, reading books but it feels like I'm not going anywhere with all of this...

Can anyone help me?

 

                                                                   ________________________

I think I know what the problem is.  It has happened to me many times.  You are going along gaining all  this knowledge about chess.  And as you play games some of that new information is put to use.   But it is lot of info. and your brain can't absorb it all and plug all the info into the appropriate places in the knowledge outline in  your brain.  It takes time for the old wire frame to blend with the new information from the new wire frame.

When that happens you go into a chess plateau.  And it feels like your in limbo and can't make any progress  toward getting stronger.

bong711

I notice your tactics score is high. Instead of solving in tactics trainer, I suggest you solve tactics book without physical board or chess apps. Just the diagram only. I think you are ready for Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations.

Pikelemi
PolarChess wrote:
hip170225 wrote:
It would be nice if people could disagree without calling each other idiots... Just saying...

Then do not post like an idiot...just saying...

 

Maybe you just should stop like acting like an idiot ?

MikeCarnevale
PolarChess wrote:
gingerninja2003 wrote:

play chess OTB. it's harder to get better online. OTB is where you'll improve faster.

This poster is an idiot just ignore him.   Chess improvement takes time and involves self-discipline and commitment, here are some decent tips "How to improve at chess".

Good luck,

PC

 

 

LOL, from PolarChess' link:  "8)  The computer 

Chess is a beautiful old game, played on the board. If you want to improve at chess, you must train using the real board and not the computer! We trust that this sounds logical enough to you. It is indeed convenient to use the computer, you do not have to re-arrange the pieces all the time and it is ...modern. But when you prepare for chess, the technology, colors, design and so on do not help that much. They may even harm your progress. Moreover, when you do play chess over the board, you will come to realize that the positions look different than on the 2 dimensions of your screen."         Too funny...guy calls guy an idiot, then post a link reaffirming what he called the guy an idiot for. 

hip170225
Asphormora wrote:

well actually I did do analysis but still I don't know this feeling like I'm not going anywhere or something..,.. well thanks for the advice regardless what it is I appreciate it..

Ok... The only other thing I can think of is that maybe some of this is psychological? I know I've had times when I get worried that I'm not improving, which makes me more distracted when I play, which makes me play worse, which makes me get more worried that I'm not improving... It can become a sort of 'vicious cycle' and be very frustrating.

 

Unfortunately there's no easy way to fix the problem. I think it helps to take a few deep breaths before a game and reminding yourself that you're playing for enjoyment, and winning or losing isn't that important. If the problem's really bad, maybe taking a break from chess for a week or two and coming back with a clear head would help?

hip170225
PolarChess wrote:
hip170225 wrote:
It would be nice if people could disagree without calling each other idiots... Just saying...

Then do not post like an idiot...just saying...

Just try to treat people with a bit of respect. For what it's worth, I agree with you that there's not much difference in terms of learning between playing over the board as opposed to online, but calling the other person an 'idiot' does absolutely nothing to convince them of your argument.

 

Or you could just ignore the above and call me something insulting as well, I guess...

SeniorPatzer

 Hi Polar Chess,

 

Thanks for the link to International Chess School.  It looks pretty good!

kindaspongey
Asphormora wrote:

... I've played games, doing lessons, tactics, reading books ... 

For any one book, there is the question of whether or not it is right for you.

"... The books that are most highly thought of are not necessarily the most useful. Go with those that you find to be readable; ..." - GM Nigel Davies (2010)
Even if a book is right for you, it may not be right for you now.
"... Just because a book contains lots of information that you don’t know, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be extremely helpful in making you better at this point in your chess development. ..." - Dan Heisman (2001)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626180930/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman06.pdf
Another issue is practice: "... Practice means playing games against humans and machines in various formats and time limits. When you get to apply - in a real game - what you've learned from a book or computer screen, the information is reinforced in a powerful way. ..." - GM Andrew Soltis (2010)