Increasing Positional Skills through Classical

So I played a 2000 USCF in some 10|0 rapid and lost utterly, I feel like I need to get better at openings, and most importantly positional play. What methods can I use to differentiate between candidate moves and become more of a positional player? Thanks in advance.

Not really looking to use books, since personally those don't help that much. My tactics seem to be up to speed though...

do you play e4 or d4? maybe try switching around your repertoire.

For white, c4 is what I'm usually playing now, former e4/d4 player... played both as a "main" opening. I'll transpose into a Catalan (usually open) or QG at times.

For black, I usually play c5 vs both e4 and d4, and then e6 d5 vs c4. Against Nf3 setups I copy.

c4, switched pretty recently.

Used to play e4 before that, then d4 before that, then e4 before that...

My coach has a really good l*chess study that helped me with that (might not work for you due to the rating difference) but unfortunately its blocked, i can try getting a copy of it somehow

well first off my opinion on positional play is that you can't really get a good hang of it without books. Because positional play is better off being written down instead of through calculation, it's largely based off of principles of blockading, prophylaxis, over-protection, etc.

But it's also strategic as well, and a lot of the times there are nuances from structures that you can only either find in books, or through a private coach. And nobody can guarantee that your coach is actually able to dissect the positions as thoroughly as those who are writing books. You'll largely have to make do with a hodgepodge of youtube videos and pick up information bits wherever you can.

Because I can't help you really, since each position demands different things. And I'm sure you're already aware of the generalizations, like "trade when you have less space" and stuff.

GM Larry Evans outlines a method:

GM Larry Evans' method of static analysis - Chess Forums - Chess.com

I understand your point... hmmm... I guess I'll have to read a few then lol.

Okay, makes sense, I guess I'll watch quite a few videos when I'm doing nothing.

True, I do know, I believe, most of those

Thanks for the ideas anyway.

Ah, forgot about that. I'll try it in some 30|0 games maybe when I have time.

Haha I'm not talking about simple concepts but the sort of stuff that would differentiate me from a 2000 USCF. Seems interesting, can you send me a copy if you find it?

One second

I can't get it for you because every possible method doesn't work, sorry

That's fine maybe ask your coach next time you see them.

Why do you need to become more of a positional player tho? It might make more sense to alter your opening repertoire, go for more tactical positions and win like that, and just play to your strengths.

In any case, if you want to improve positional play I'd advise you to keep playing these rapid games and analyze them deeply. Figure out where you went wrong, find the best move, and try to see why it's the best move. It's just like with tactics where it's all patterns, the more you see it the more you get used to it and pick up on it. Positional chess has concepts that need to be known (B1Z  named some) and they can be learned by just studying your games and figuring out what went wrong. Not just your games, actually, you could check out some GM games, too, that's always helpful. This is what my coach does with me every lesson I have with him, once a week, and that's helped me quite a lot over the years

If you don't have a coach and don't want one, It could benefit you to find a study partner as well to play and analyze games with you

Well, books are the primary way to improve at these things, since positional play is full of concepts and principles. Do you have a coach?

If you want to be good at chess, you need positional play. Even in tactical openings, you need positional play to get into positions that have tactics in them. Plus, there is almost always a line that avoids an attacking/tactical position in those type of openings and you need to be prepared for those.

You don't necessarily need good positional play to be good at chess but it is preferable. Positional play is only one aspect of the game.

An essential aspect. So is tactics.

A bird flies erratically on one wing.

 - I need to be able to play positional games as I'm good at seeing tactics but don't prefer opposite sides castling positions and the like. My positional skills allow for me to get attacking games, but I feel like that is the next area for me to majorly improve.

- I'm starting to analyze every move in rapid games (with an engine) to see if there are any principles/maneuvers that I'm missing ingame that I wouldn't even find in classical.

I do have a coach but we focus more on other things as of right now, mostly what I need to do to get better tactically.

I have a coach. He helps me a bit but my improvement is primarily to my own direction.