Improving chess calculating ability.

Hey, this here is a question for some of the more experienced players (although all help is welcomed). What do you think is the best way to improve at chess besides playing? I have been playing competitively for about  almost 3 years now, although I've been on and off a lot. I joined this place because I think correspondence games would be good for my time management (I tend to rush things in live games). I find that I'm in kind of a standstill improving, I am good at some parts but my calculating is not very good. I tend to forget where the pieces are after looking 4-5 moves ahead. One of my bigger problems is that I hang pieces sometimes because I am not good with my time and forget to look at the whole board. What I'm asking is, what is your secret? What are some good ways to analyse some master games or something? Thanks, I'm sure other players would find this helpful as well.

My advice is to plan. When you plan, try to rule out all the bad moves. Another way to do it, is to visualize a position you know you can reach in two or three moves, and plan from there. If you have trouble visualizing the squares that a certain piece covers, there is a useful exercise. Imagine a piece on a chess board, on any square, such as e4. Then try to find the other squares it covers from that square. Once you work it out, try another piece. Or move it to another square. After a while, this will become second nature, allowing you to focus on your plan, while still looking ahead as many moves as is necessary.

 As for your problem about hanging pieces, try to think of alternative moves, that don't involve moving the piece, but still throw a spanner into the gears of your opponents plan. Yes, analysing master games is a very good way to help you see how to move all your pieces in harmony, instead of just the one.

Hey, this here is a question for some of the more experienced players (although all help is welcomed) What do you think is the best way to improve at chess besides playing? 1 have been playing competitively for about almost 3 years now, although l've been on and off a lot. I joined this place because 1 think correspondence games would be good for my time management (l tend to rush things in live games),. 1 find that Im in kind of a standstill improving, I am good at some parts but my calculating IS not very good Itend to forget where the pieces are after looking 4-5 moves ahead. One of my bigger problems is that I hang pieces sometimes because I am not good with my time and forget to look at the whole board. What I'm asking is, what is your secret? What are some good ways to analyse some master games or something? Thanks, I'm sure other players would find this helpful as well.

Hey, this here is a question for some of the more experienced players (although all help is welcomed) What do you think is the best way to improve at chess besides playing? 1 have been playing competitively for about almost 3 years now, although l've been on and off a lot. I joined this place because 1 think correspondence games would be good for my time management (l tend to rush things in live games),. 1 find that Im in kind of a standstill improving, I am good at some parts but my calculating IS not very good Itend to forget where the pieces are after looking 4-5 moves ahead. One of my bigger problems is that I hang pieces sometimes because I am not good with my time and forget to look at the whole board. What I'm asking is, what is your secret? What are some good ways to analyse some master games or something? Thanks, I'm sure other players would find this helpful as well.My adviceis to plan. When you plan,try to rtle out all the bad moves. Another way to do it, is to visualize a position you know you can reach in two or three moves and plan from there. lfyou have trouble visualizing the squares that a certain piece covers, there is e useful exercise. Imagine a piece on a chess board, on any square, such as e4. Then try to find the other squares it covers from that square. Once you work it out, try another piece. Or move it to another square After a while, this will become second nature, allowing you to focus on your plan, while still looking ahead as many moves as is necessary. As for your problem about hanging pieces, try to think of alternative moves that don't involve moving the piece, but still throw a spanner into the gears of your opponents plan Yes, analysing master games is a very good way to help you see how to move allyour pieces in harmony, instead of just the one.Even though 1.f4 is given a bunch of bad press, I feel that it is completely playable in tournament games. On 1.. e5, white can transpose to a king's gambit, and in the case of 1 ... 5, 2. Nf3 c5 3.e3 Nc6 Bb5, intending Bxc6 to secure e5. The last reason is why Henry Bird plays 1.f4 After al these lines and facts, I feel 1. f4 is completely playable. What do you think?

@1

"What do you think is the best way to improve at chess besides playing?" ++ Analysing.

"I tend to rush things in live games" ++ Time is a resource, use it.

"my calculating is not very good"
++ Solve tactics puzzles. Alekhine recommended solving mate in 3 problems.

"I tend to forget where the pieces are after looking 4-5 moves ahead." ++ Practice

"I hang pieces sometimes" ++ Blunder check before you move.

"What are some good ways to analyse some master games"
++ With 2 boards: one for the main line, one for variations. By covering up the grandmaster move and thinking what you would play and why and then comparing.