Also for anyone that stumbles across this thread... I haven't yet found a group specifically for adults that are working on improving their chess skills. So I threw one together.
If you are interested and would like to help group this group, come check us out. We are a friendly group of adults who have discovered (or rediscovered) chess and are actively working towards improving our skills. We are a supportive community of adult chess players who share resources, tips, tricks, and anything related to chess improvement!
The link ---> The Vintage Patzers
I am starting chess seriously at the age of 30. I learned chess "the basics" at 10 years old. I am captivated by the game. It is going to be hard for me since I work as a nurse, I am studying my masters and I am a full-time dad. My plan is to study 2-3 book theory openings for each color, play tactics and a lot of endgames for the next year and a half. Once I am done with my masters I will dedicate 15-20 hours a week to the training I just want to see how far I can get in ELO rating, maybe one day I ll achieve a title. I want to visit STLMO chess club I'm learning with Akobian online with his YT videos so I will plan a vacation to go and meet the club.
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Before doing anything else may I suggest that you invest in seeing an excellent psychotherapist: 1) You say you are a Full Time dad 2) You say you are working on you Masters in Nursing 3) You say once you get your MASTERS DEGREE you then plan to spend investing 15 - 20 hours a week -- the equivalent of a full part time job -- to pursue a worthless -- relatively speaking -- chess title which is definitely a road to poverty.
Here is the likely outcome while you are pursuing this "title" fantasy: 1) Your child is going to be neglected 2) Instead of putting your Masters Degree to good use and making a good living, it will it will gather dust and unused, making it a lot of wasted time you could have spent with your child. What do you think a "chess title" will do for you?!? Don't expect that it will lead to a decent living, it will not, but will lead you into poverty.
Truthfully you need to GROW UP -- Life is about setting PRIORITIES: Your Child should be your FIRST PRIORITY and for providing a quality life for them, that means EARNING A LIVING that pays REAL MONEY. Once you get your Masters Degree invest your extra time into your child not on a GAME.
IF the game of CHESS should have taught you anything at all, sometimes it is necessary to make SACRIFICES to get to a favorable outcome, and yes I speak from EXPERIENCE: I joined the USCF at the age of 18, while I was in Germany during the the Viet Nam era and the Cold War. When I got out I put aside Chess to earn my B.A. in Marine and Environmental Science. I picked the game back up in my spare time after I finished that degree. I achieved a USCF Rating of 1664. After a few years I put chess aside again to pursue my M.Sc. in Environmental Science and Microbiology, but my next job was a Laboratory Research Director and I spent 16 hour days in a lab, and what little time I had I worked in theatre -- both on the tech side and as an actor. I squeezed in a few skittles games of chess every now and then. After almost 8 years I was persuaded I needed to pursue my Ph.D. as I was conducting Ph.D. quality research... holding only a M.Sc. that allowed another person to take credit for research they did not do, did have a clue about the work, or was even be able to explain it. I was 41 years old. The day of of Dissertation Defense came two days short of 3 years in a program of study in Water Resource Management with a minor Microbiology and Immunology where the average time was the 5-1/2 years. I was 44 years old. Two months before I received the degree I got diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease effectively ending a 30 year career.
My checkerboard career came at a great cost: I never married. There is NO ONE who can call for help if I have a Seizure at the wrong place at the wrong time, or help me should I Fall, or any of a number of other disasters I am prone to. I am entirely responsible for myself -- there is no safety net. The upside is my Time is MY OWN, which is NOT a luxury you have. Your CHILD MUST be your FIRST PRIORITY. Trust me, the time you spend with them is infinitely more rewarding than any Chess Rating -- a NUMBER -- or a "Title" -- whoopy doo you mat achieve.
In 2005 at the age of 53 I returned to my first love, chess. Surprisingly even after 25 years, after knocking off some rust, I had not lost my skills, but my medical conditions (I'm also an Epileptic) precluded tournament games, though I made a serious effort at a comeback by entering into a series of unrated matches -- out of 4 tournaments I finished 1st or tied for 1st in 3, and 2nd in the 4th.
Today I play a lot of skittle games with a fast time control (G/45) simply for the love of the game. I "coach" usually older adults usually for a cup of coffee and a pastry. Any one who sees my 1664 Class B rating may not be impressed, until that is they play me, because I play much much stronger than my rating, as I routinely take down Class A players.
Today I am 68 and having been involuntarily "retired" at the age of 48 ( I use to work with deadly pathogens which does not mix with Parkinson's ). But I am still respected as a SCIENTIST by my peers, and people are still sent my way because of my unique background in water, and waterborne diseases. For "FUN" I track new and emerging diseases around the world, I was well aware of the emergence of what has become known as CoViD19 (aka SARS-CoV-2) when it was still known as the the Wuhan Corona Virus.
Stop wasting your time in pursuit of your Great White Whale; now is the time to invest in your CAREER, and providing for and raising your child. Trust me, times flies and all to soon they will have grown up and moved away -- it is time that will NEVER be recovered, so enjoy it while it lasts. Chess will still be there waiting for your return. If in your older years you achieve a Class C or Class B rating you will know it will have been hard won, just don't let chess divert your attention from the splendid banquet that Life spreads before you -- that would be a colossal waste and an affront to the host.