Forums

I keep losing

Sort:
OptimisticNihilist
OptimisticNihilist
Sep 11, 2018
0
#1
I’ve started reading books on the topic of chess and I’m practicing everyday and solving chess puzzles.

Does anyone out there have any advice for someone like me? Any suggestions, books, or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
IMKeto
IMKeto
Closed: Inactive
Sep 11, 2018
0
#2

Opening Principles:

  1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
  2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
  3. Castle
  4. Connect your rooks

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

 

Pre Move Checklist:

  1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
  2. Look for forcing moves: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) as this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
  3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
  4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
  5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"
SnowyTheWolf
SnowyTheWolf
Sep 11, 2018
0
#3

You just joined. It takes a while for you to get to the rating you should be. Other than that I can't help you. I need help myself.

Hope you get help soon.

wink.png

SnowyTheWolf
SnowyTheWolf
Sep 11, 2018
0
#4
IMBacon wrote:

Opening Principles:

  1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
  2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
  3. Castle
  4. Connect your rooks

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

 

Pre Move Checklist:

  1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
  2. Look for forcing moves: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) as this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
  3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
  4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
  5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

I'm copying that. Thanks. grin.png

OptimisticNihilist
OptimisticNihilist
Sep 11, 2018
0
#5
Thank you so much for the response and great advice!
SnowyTheWolf
SnowyTheWolf
Sep 11, 2018
0
#6

His advice was great. grin.png I don't come up with anything good... haha

IMKeto
IMKeto
Closed: Inactive
Sep 11, 2018
0
#7
NihilisticOptimist wrote:
Thank you so much for the response and great advice!

 

You're very welcome...also...If you're serious about improving, then lay off the blitz, and bullet.  Play games of at least 30-45 minutes, and preferably Daily chess.

IMKeto
IMKeto
Closed: Inactive
Sep 11, 2018
0
#8
Snow-Wolf-8 wrote:
IMBacon wrote:

Opening Principles:

  1. Control the center squares – d4-e4-d5-e5
  2. Develop your minor pieces toward the center – piece activity is the key
  3. Castle
  4. Connect your rooks

Tactics...tactics...tactics...

 

Pre Move Checklist:

  1. Make sure all your pieces are safe.
  2. Look for forcing moves: Checks, captures, threats. You want to look at ALL forcing moves (even the bad ones) as this will force you look at, and see the entire board.
  3. If there are no forcing moves, you then want to remove any of your opponent’s pieces from your side of the board.
  4. If your opponent doesn’t have any of his pieces on your side of the board, then you want to improve the position of your least active piece.
  5. After each move by your opponent, ask yourself: "What is my opponent trying to do?"

I'm copying that. Thanks.

 

You're very welcome.

superchessmachine
superchessmachine
Closed: Fair Play
Sep 11, 2018
0
#9

IMBacon helped me reach 1600 in blitz. Thanks.

OptimisticNihilist
OptimisticNihilist
Sep 11, 2018
0
#10
What do you mean by daily chess? Do you mean daily puzzles or just playing chess in general against the computer or someone?
IMKeto
IMKeto
Closed: Inactive
Sep 11, 2018
0
#11
NihilisticOptimist wrote:
What do you mean by daily chess? Do you mean daily puzzles or just playing chess in general against the computer or someone?

 

What used to be called Correspondence chess,  Games that are played at a time control of 1...3...5...7...14 days per move.

IMKeto
IMKeto
Closed: Inactive
Sep 11, 2018
0
#12
DeirdreSkye wrote:

Bacon is good for your chess!

 

Amen!

superchessmachine
superchessmachine
Closed: Fair Play
Sep 11, 2018
0
#13

Or is it the IM part?

IMKeto
IMKeto
Closed: Inactive
Sep 11, 2018
0
#14
DeirdreSkye wrote:

An IM without Bacon is useless!

 

IMBacon sounds and tastes better than IMAvacado...

superchessmachine
superchessmachine
Closed: Fair Play
Sep 11, 2018
0
#15
IMBacon wrote:
DeirdreSkye wrote:

An IM without Bacon is useless!

 

IMBacon sounds and tastes better than IMAvacado...

Healthy much?

kindaspongey
kindaspongey
Sep 11, 2018
0
#16

https://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-directory
"... In order to maximize the benefits of [theory and practice], these two should be approached in a balanced manner. ... Play as many slow games (60 5 or preferably slower) as possible, ... The other side of improvement is theory. ... This can be reading books, taking lessons, watching videos, doing problems on software, etc. ..." - NM Dan Heisman (2002)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627084053/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/heisman19.pdf
"... If it’s instruction, you look for an author that addresses players at your level (buying something that’s too advanced won’t help you at all). This means that a classic book that is revered by many people might not be useful for you. ..." - IM Jeremy Silman (2015)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-best-chess-books-ever
Here are some reading possibilities that I often mention:
Simple Attacking Plans by Fred Wilson (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090402/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review874.pdf
http://dev.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Simple-Attacking-Plans-77p3731.htm
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/
Winning Chess by Irving Chernev and Fred Reinfeld (1948)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708093415/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review919.pdf
Back to Basics: Tactics by Dan Heisman (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233537/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review585.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-back-to-basics-tactics
Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014)
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
https://www.mongoosepress.com/catalog/excerpts/openings_amateurs.pdf
Chess Endgames for Kids by Karsten Müller (2015)
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/chess-endgames-for-kids/
http://www.gambitbooks.com/pdfs/Chess_Endgames_for_Kids.pdf
A Guide to Chess Improvement by Dan Heisman (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf
Studying Chess Made Easy by Andrew Soltis (2009)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
Seirawan stuff:
http://seagaard.dk/review/eng/bo_beginner/ev_winning_chess.asp?KATID=BO&ID=BO-Beginner
http://www.nystar.com/tamarkin/review1.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627132508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen173.pdf
https://www.chess.com/article/view/book-review-winning-chess-endings
https://web.archive.org/web/20140708092617/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review560.pdf

exta-kun
exta-kun
Sep 11, 2018
0
#17

Hi, 

I just want to share this quote by Fabiano : 

“You work for a long period of time and the results don’t really show, but at some point everything just comes together and you start to play better, or get more confidence.”