how to reach Rating levels:)

haha what now?:)

trollolololololololol

Hi kaynight, how are you?

Till_98: Very excited. I ordered the Watson books on Sunday and they arrived at my office in Monrovia this morning! Thanks for the suggestion, they look very interesting.

I suppose we can't adverstise for the shippers, but that company named after a largish river in Brazil has incredible service! 

Now I just have to glance through the 1,400 pages and beat you all.

That's how it works, no?

Thats how it works! :) So Do you like them?

From the 10 minutes I've spent looking at them, I think they will be very useful.

I really, really like the fact that it seems to explain situations in real language without lengthy variations (although it also includes these). I must say that I find this very useful. Thank you very much for the advice on this.

I remember a few years ago, someone did a blog or article that illustrated how GMs think about games, strategy and candidate moves, by recording their thoughts (obviously they spoke to a tape recorder or something, not some CIA technique) as they played. That was very instructive and I'm annoyed I can't find that reference now.

I dont find it that easy to imagine the boards in my head, so I will probably sit at a table and make the moves on my board to really try to understand them. How did you do it when you were a struggling minnow like me?

Great, this books really helped me to improve a lot.

And dont worry... Even Gm's cant play through a whole game in their head. Its good to use a chessboard. When you get better you will be able to calculate long lines in your head :)

I'm going to have to read this book now. Thanks for the suggestion.

no problem:)

I have to say that a lot of lower rated players think like this.

What patterns to get to 1200.

what thoughts get me to 1400.

Its simply not that simple. im a 1500 blitz and standard.

My games are still one and lost by simple tactical sequences. just beat a 1550 in a 30 minute game with a knight fork lol. It wasn't even a 2 ply sequence.

the key is what fischer said (btw to some other poster if by natural talent you mean obbsessive study than yes fischer was a natural) tactics flow from a better position.

In short you need to understand tactics. not verbally, visually. Learn how a better position leads up to tactics.

And rember, every tactic is based on the idea of attacking two things with one move.(yes perhaps a bit oversimplified) You will only be able to do this from a better position.