How to improve in positional play?
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Jan 13, 2017
0
#2
You have positional ideas that you can't implement because your tactics are too weak.
The best advice i can give is this:
Forget about "positional"...forget about "tactical"...Infact, forget about labels like that.
Follow opening principles
Tactics...tactics...tactics...
Jan 13, 2017
0
#4
Seconding urks statement. I started playing chess about 2 years ago and was in around your ratings at the beginning. From someone a little closer to your playing level, i offer this small insight for what it's worth: That whole 'strategy' or 'positional play' thing you are thinking about is just an idea in your mind. You will play better from a 'positional' perspective as your tactics improve. That's really all positional play is. It's coordinating your pieces to land in a position where the available moves/exchanges/tactics/etc favour you more than your opponent.
Jan 13, 2017
0
#5
Of course, Diakonia is correct too. It goes without saying, learning to follow opening principles is key but again, i don't think you can separate tactics from the equation, even where opening principles are concerned.
Jan 13, 2017
0
#6
You need to concentrate on basics first like not leaving pieces en prize (where they can be taken)
Missing that Knight capture on move 6 was crazy.
When you thinking about move first check to make sure nothing can be taken, ask why yourself what he is upto with his last moves. Check for pins, forks and other potential nasties that may happen. Then have a look and see what you can threaten him with.
Just develop sensibly, moving each piece once. Centre pawns, Knights then Bishops castle and then have a think aboiut what you want to do but dont forget the basics
It might also help to do a little reading of introductory opening explanation such as that found in Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006).
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Many players have probably read the likely outcome of 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 Nxe5.
It's been said enough times by better players than me, but you aren't at the level to think about positional play. I'm not at the level where positional play has a huge effect in my games. my games are almost always won or lost based on who drops less pieces. There are 2 (maybe 3) big things you can start doing to improve.
1) play slow games if you can and between each move take a good long look and see what pieces are attacking where. If one of your pieces is being attacked you should probably try to defend it. When you get used to that start to look ahead and see where pieces will be able to move and attack later. If they can move somewhere where they can attack a piece that you can't defend try to stop them from moving there. It will take time to get used to that.
2) practice tactics, like the tactics trainer on here. if 5 a day is all you have time for then this website is plenty if you want to try more just look up "chess tactics exercises". there are plenty of good books and dedicated sites to help with that.
3) after you finish a game look back through your game and if they took a piece you didn't defend in time look at what you could have done to stop it.
number 3 is optional but will help a lot if u want to improve quickly.
that's all just my two cent worth.
I once hung out with someone who would comment on moves like 6 d3 by saying, "That creates a serious positional weakness", as he played 6...Qxe5. Anyway, if you want to spend a little bit of time on learning more about chess overall, you might try books like:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/7192.pdf
Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev (1957)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708104437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/logichess.pdf
The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played by Irving Chernev (1965)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/most-instructive-games-of-chess-ever-played/
Jan 14, 2017
0
#10
500eloGoEasy wrote:
Hi guys. I have been playing chess for around a year and am rated around 500. I love chess and play everyday. I find I have been doing well tactically but I suck at positional play. I would like to show a game and have you fellas who are all most likely better than a 500, teach me a little bit about positional play.
Your rating is very dangerous. ......
Jan 14, 2017
0
#11
I think you are joking. But if you want to improve you will have to first get decent at tactics.
Get an account on chess.tempo.com and try to get your blitz tactics to 1600. Once you do that come back and Ill give you advice on positional chess.
Hi guys. I have been playing chess for around a year and am rated around 500. I love chess and play everyday. I find I have been doing well tactically but I suck at positional play. I would like to show a game and have you fellas who are all most likely better than a 500, teach me a little bit about positional play.