What kind of things do you consider in the openings? Development, controlling the centre, making sure you castle?
You sure don't need to know opening lines. I beat a 173 ecf (~2000 FIDE) the other week and was "out of book" on move 4.
As for attacking the king, do you know several mating patterns? Do you use the tactics trainer on this site? I think it's really good for putting patterns in the brain.
I'm just thinking that if I knew the main lines, that might help me get a better advantage in the middle and endgame.
Mating patterns aren't really the problem, I believe. I just have a difficult time trying to do, for example, an effective pawnstorm. And I use the tactics trainer here for the 3 free, but I do do a lot of tactics on a different website. It's been effective, but I've really only see it in the endgame, or it has an easy refutation.
Well I'm ok in openings, and good in attacks, I don't think center pawns are that important because everyone protects the center, I make my sides strong, and just castle my king to a side. Because people make thier center strong and side weak, they don't expect a side attack, and thats how I win, but I'm not so good in mid-games and even worse in endgames.
Along with that, should I get my endgame skill to an even higher level (right now it's about approx. 1800 level) or just focus on strategy and attacks?
Now that I think about it, I think my strategy is what needs the most work. I just wait for my opponent to make a mistake, then I capitalize on their mistake and trade off for the endgame. I think I can fix this though. It's not a good strategy to have.
Well, for what it's worth, my positional skills are in their infant stage, so I started playing the Caro-Kann Defence, which typically leads to simpler games with careful manoevuring as opposed to wild tactical shots and combos. So far, it's been a blast!
I usually play the Sicilian, and it hasn't led to any major complications so far.
Well I'm ok in openings, and good in attacks, I don't think center pawns are that important because everyone protects the center, I make my sides strong, and just castle my king to a side. Because people make thier center strong and side weak, they don't expect a side attack, and thats how I win, but I'm not so good in mid-games and even worse in endgames.
How can you be "not so good in mid-games" when you've figured out the strategy of ignoring the center for side attacks?
Seriously, the center is the essential part of the opening and middlegame - even in those positions where flank attacks are indicated, it is the central structure which gives them their chances.
You don't understand what I said. I said that usally other people don't make thier sides strong, so they are vulneralble on thier sides and thats where I attack them, and my center has alot of defense because of my queen. In my class my defense is the best and my attack the 2nd best, and I'm the best in my class.
How do I get better in my end and mid-games?
Those are usually everyone's strong points given that's all most people ever really study. Usually people are bad at defense and endgames (studying games from Capablanca and Petrosian help here).
humdan.
What you said was perfectly clear. I looked at some of your games and you seem to have decided that fianchetto-ing your bishops and never pushing your centre pawns is some radical, game-winning strategy. It really isn't. Wing attacks can be a feature of any game, but completely ignoring the centre is extremely foolish. You won't get better in the middle game until you realise this.
You also seem fond of placing your knights on the edge of the board where they control as few squares as possible. Forget about this "making your sides strong" approach you've latched onto and you'll notice improvement very soon I'd imagine.
@chessdude
First thing is pick an opening with white and stick with it. You'll quickly learn the do's and don'ts. Bouncing around will leave holes in your game for much longer.
In light of the idea that you have trouble in the opening, it is a tell tale sign that you aren't either focused enough on defense or are simply deficient at it. This problem usually lends greatly to attacks failing. So practice prophylactic play
To help you with this, studying positional play can help improve your defense, whether from counters or when you play using black. Part of the key to learning good defenses to openings is knowing what defenses are best against what openings. This can take time to develop. At your level though, you can try a defense that is rather versatile, like the philidor lion. It is a bit crowded, positional in nature, but more importantly it will give you the benefit of a defense against pretty much anything played against you. The Nimzowitzch Defense, 2 knights defense, and the Pirc are all pretty flexible too.
I recommend that you particularly learn how to defend best against 1.e4 and 1.d4 . Learning the anti fried liver defnse is important. People who play the queen's gambit can really be frustrating too, until you learn to limit their options
Notice I didn't share a bunch of attacking information? Many new players are too focused on it initially. They fantasize about being as witty as Bobby Fischer or Gary Kasparov. If you can't keep them now and then later put yourself in the right position later , you'll never have good attacking chances. If you sure up your own weaknesses, you will limit their options, and this will increase your chances for good tactical combinations. Tactics are the basis for good attacks after your position is sound. Practice tactics puzzles. I think if you seriously employ these ideas into action, you'll improve. Good players are often difficult to checkmate. Good luck.
What do you mean by prophyalactic play? It's not a term I'm familiar with.
I might be wrong, Estragon - having not read Nimzowitsch. But if the chess term means exactly the same as the everyday term (and I can't imagine that it doesn't), prophylaxis just means 'taking preventative measures'.... e.g. h2-h3.
What do you mean by prophyalactic play? It's not a term I'm familiar with.
Prophylactic means refuting your opponent ideas.
I usually play the Sicilian, and it hasn't led to any major complications so far.
Sicilian, what variation?
humdan.
What you said was perfectly clear. I looked at some of your games and you seem to have decided that fianchetto-ing your bishops and never pushing your centre pawns is some radical, game-winning strategy. It really isn't. Wing attacks can be a feature of any game, but completely ignoring the centre is extremely foolish. You won't get better in the middle game until you realise this.
You also seem fond of placing your knights on the edge of the board where they control as few squares as possible. Forget about this "making your sides strong" approach you've latched onto and you'll notice improvement very soon I'd imagine.
If you look at my recent games you can see I am moving my center pawns, that was before, please look at my standard games because I win there most often, and thank you for the advice.
@nyLsel, I only recently started playing the Sicilian because I thought it would help my game. I've spent most of my "career" playing the Pirc, and generally it's been good to me. However, the Sicilian has a better winning percentage and I thought it would help me develop attacking ideas by putting me in games where the opportunities occur. But to answer your original question:
I play the Najdorf.
I'd say I'm an above-average chess player, and my rating would reflect that, I'm about 1400. I feel like I can really break through as a player if I fixed up my two weak points: Attack and Openings. I have a really difficult time coming up with successful attacks on the king and generally my openings are only to make me not get into a worse position. My middlegame, strategy, and tactical skills are about 1400 level and my endgame skills are much stronger. If I could strengthen up my opening and attacking skills I can be a lot better than I am right now. Do you have any advice on how to build those skills off of the skills I already possess? Anything can help. My goal right now is to try and get around an 1800 level.