push it to the limit

Watsup everybody

I have been thinking lately..as I study chess, (just recently, playing seriously for maybe 1 year) I 've noticed that it's quite a scary, deep game ...I started studying some Grandmaster PDF's , and offcourse played many many games..But now I have reached a critical point in my devolpement as a chess player.

I'vae been playing on this website, while studying on youtube, this website , doing puzzle ect. Somehow, I am improving, clearly. I have gone from 9-ish (Lowest rank , not really my averege, that's probably 1100 something) , to 1300 ( my "climax" as I just said 1100 , maybe 1200 something is my real strenght). The point I want to make, is that "somehow" I feel I am getting better. But still I would lose easily to a 1500, 1700 player ( if he doesn't make any blunders). Thereby, I also feel that at this level(1300) the games are more intense, if am ever able to win I am surprised myself. Offcourse I manage to do somethings right, but I am allways ready for the K.O punch. That's not how you should fight Tyson, being scared to death, right? Then it would be adviceable do "just avoid the confrontation" 

So my main question: what to do to REALLY grow? Is it a matter of "limited talent" ?  Or simply knowing, understanding the game? How can ( with all respect offcourse!!) a 14 year old kid be a master, and beat a 70 year old man who has been studieng his entire life..

I'am curious.  Do I just need to be patient, and study step by step? But WHAt am i studieng, if I dont understand where I am going to? I mean , a doctor knew the day he started taking classes, what he would be doing one day. Same thing with a building constructor. You know what a building looks like, and it's not to hard to picture what your job would look like.

With chess on the other hand, you just study and study, but somehow I (offcourse) study different then , let's say a master. Even a 1700 something player. So, should I just "study like a 1700 player", so I 'll eventually reach his level. Or doesn't chess work like that.

Apoligize for the long post..

Learning to play like the "next" rating class is a realistic way of progressing towards a goal, so that's not bad at all to strive for.

Though at the heart of it => you will always get BETTER when you learn to create a super-efficient feedback + improvement loop where you

a) Play games (applying what you read/study or even from tactics puzzles you did to learn and store patterns) against strong/er opposition.

b) Go over losses with stronger players/opening books/databases/engines. (strong players would be optimal). Identify the mistakes you made that the NEXT rating class of player would typically NOT make. 

c) Absorb whatever critique you can get from b) (I would even write it down in a journal so that you can periodically review it!!)

d) Go back to Step a) and PROMISE yourself that you won't make the SAME mistakes in your last loss.

Rinse and repeat!

In my experience watching the minority of low-rated players turn into strong players RAPIDILY, all of them .. and I do mean ALL OF THEM did some variation of the above "rapid improvement loop".

When you start doing this regularly and fine-tuning this loop, what happens is that you start conditioning your brain to play "decent" moves throughout the game ... not like some 1100 player who memorizes books on the Najdorf and plays the opening like a Grandmaster and hangs a piece within 15 moves like a hopeless dumba##. :)

This relative consistency of "better" move quality is what separates a 1700 from a 1300.  Or a 2100 who plays even more "cleaner" across the whole game than his lower-rated opponents.  It is all relative.

Failure to push beyond your boundaries and not aggressively go after your own mistakes is why someone will always stay at their level of chess (in)competence, even after reading every chess book there is or watching every video made. 

Thank you for your reaction, very helpfull!!

I will write down all my noticable games, especially the losses. Off course I will follow all those steps!  I do have another qeustion right away though

..

What do you actually mean by"cleaner"? I have to admit , somehow I start to understand the game better and better, a process we all go through.

But what's next: I am all about the principels right now and I can see it's working, but I geuss a stronger player( 1400-ish that is yes to me beeing 1300 is quite an achievement!!) will also know them. So knowing the principels only gets me so far. I can , at best, beat a eqaully "talented, skilled "player with my new found knowledge.

Cleaner is an easier way of saying "consistent". 

Consider the famous Accurate vs. Precise argument using the image below:

The stronger a player gets, the more the quality of his "moves throughout the game" resembles the board on the right.  

You want to be THAT guy .. not a weak player (on the left) who might hit a bullseye move once in a game but flounder most of his other moves.

It is implied that in a pool of strong players, the "stronger" ones have shots that are clustered closer to a bullseye (more PRECISE play) than the less "stronger" ones.

Well , i have been practicing and studying a lot lately, its like a whole new world is opeing up!! ..so, I think I've mentioned it before, but let's say:

First off, lets say ,that one day I do manage to learn most of the rules (principles) of chess..I mean, I notice I am getting "good games" from simply following some "basic" rules..also I "feel" the game more..it isnt as blurry as it used to be( my 1100-ish guys and girls, or those who used to be that know what I am talning bout!), allthough I sometime, still get into situations where stuff is too complicated.

But what level will I reach by just study? Can you say"everbody at a chessclub will reach 1500 eventually"? I am looking for a chess club in my area, so I can get as much input from trained people as possible..

Second, lets say, I play against some one who knows these rules as well..We are both 1200-ish rated..growing steadily to maybe (1400??) I am some how scared to enter a level where the games are not "funny play" anymore..I notice guys already know there opening repotiore much better, and play them with more confidence..

What's gonna make the difference ? Is it like a ball palyer, who is off course more trained then the average person, just by beeing farmilair with all the tactical stuff.. but now ,in the league he'll meet guys who are just as fit and knowledgeable about the game....so you'll need other munition to stand out, apart from naturel abilities (like running, power in, chess I geuss creativity, memory perhaps?)  ..Do you say, according to your example, that it's a matter of ..uhm..learning to manage your idea's, possiblities, positions, rules..and so on ?

Looking forward to your anwser!!

You really aren't reading what I posted, are you?   Improvement is a simple concept, esp. to get to a 1600 rating level.

Just practice tactics + play strong opposition, get your games critiqued on

a) What you're supposed to do in these kinds of positions

b) What you're not supposed to do in these kinds of positions.

Absorb the lessons from a) and b) , rinse and repeat.

Stop overthinking the "where you will reach" part at such an early stage. Just push until you really feel you can't advance any more. Then seek out additional help.

 no I actually do read your post, on a daily base haha

I even try to study absorb that diagram you've posted, just to be aware of how the thinking proces(might) works..even though its way over my head..I already said, I think I've mentioned it before,.I am just over enthousiatic. 

Maybe you are willing to spend a little time with me, lets say like once a week,once every two weeks, just playing one, and just "mind wresteling" about the game a little?  Maybe we can work some out..I'm gratefull anyway , that you respond so rapidly :-)

That's really uncalled for and showing a complete lack of respect for members of our community who don't have whatever skill level you think is worthy of being a chess player.  No one is a dumba## on chess.com.  That award was retired when the_chess_zebra gave it to NylonSock many moons ago after WoolenSock flung it back with a growly face...