making the jump to 1800-2000

Unfortunately I’m not entirely sure what advice would help - when I passed 1600 it was pretty quick, I don’t remember changing much, whereas the slog from 1800-2000 (I’m currently 1992) has taken about 2 years 😭

Thanks. Silman's book is a great one and I have one of Hermann Grooten's books on positional play as well.

I think that Class A players (1800-1999) differ from lower rated players in two main ways.

First, they tend to have a more solid grasp on openings. I don’t mean that they have simply memorized more sequences. Rather, I think that they understand the middlegame plans that can follow from their opening.

second, Class A players have a better understanding of positional concepts than lower rated players. Positional play becomes increasingly important as playing strength increases—fewer people blunder their pieces or fall for basic tactical traps.

At the Expert level (2000-2199), both of the above are true. But here, I would also say that endgame play is better.

Also, at the Expert level and higher, players are increasingly able to convert small advantages into victories. Can you take a small advantage (say, +.3) in space, development, pawn structure, etc. and increase it until the advantage is decisive. This is judgment and technique.

@nmmikeweir that is precisely why I finally broke down and enlisted a local chess coach and he had a similar idea to attacking the same concepts. In addition to reviewing games, I'm now going over my games and master games to see if I can identify the positional components of the matches and delving deeper into middlegame plans and practicing on endings. The best part is that we agreed not to use engine analysis until after I had written down my observations and reviewed the games together. So far, it has been producing some great results and even allowed me to gain wins against a 1800+ player in 2 daily matches. I'm going to keep on this and hopefully start getting into USCF OTB games soon.

All of you guys are bumbling baffoons.

But we bumble so well. Buffoonery is one of my specialties. And show tunes.

*1000-2000

(get out)

@AGC Blink twice if you're in danger.

I agree that playing through Master games is a great way to learn. Before I played in my first USCF tournament, I went through at least 20 or 30 books of Master games. I saw hundreds of games by the greats. I did not analyze them myself, but I read through the commentaries. What better way is there to see proper opening play, middlegame planning, and endgames?

At 52 my time I have to dedicate to prep is limited but I have a goal to not only reach 2000 here but to make at least 1800 OTB in USCF events. So any ways I can use that time efficiently to accomplish my objectives is going to definitely pay off.