Question for 2000+ level players

I have been studying chess for two years by playing over grandmaster games, playing chess engines together, and reading a few chess books. Still at best I am rated around 1400 at best.Every strong player had a time wen he was around my level. How did you improve?

well you have to do tactics. you cant just look over games. thats like playing an opening and not knowing why you make the moves you do just that they are "main line" positional chess and strategy are very important at the 2000 level. you need a plan instead of just pushing pieces until you see a winning tactic.

To Improve for sub 1400

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Step 1: Go over your games that you lose (ask why you lost)

Step 2: Learn basic tactics and ideas (Books like Susan Polgar's chess tactics for champions, or ChessMaster10 + should be good enough at that level)

Step 3: Go over classical important annotated games (books such as Logical chess move by move)

Step 4: Use learnt ideas and understanding in your games to start winning.

I'm not a 2000+ player but I'll chime in anyway.

I'll second the tactics suggestion.

However, if you really are going over GM games and reading chess books and your heart is in it, it's just a matter of time.

Persevere. Reaching 1500 and beyond is not a problem.

The other bit is time in the saddle playing rated games. There is a whole world of managing your time and managing your emotions while playing serious games which you must conquer. That comes with experience too.

Find your enthusiasm and play from there.

Tactics. Not only used for an attack, but also as a defensive weapon as well - to see it coming early enough to do something about it.

Take care of all threats before attacking.

One thing that helped me get my standard rating from 1100 to 1400 were these basic priciples:

-To begin, don't blunder pieces! Look for weak spots in yours and opponent's position. Look for attacks, tactics, and potential ones (on both sides!). Miss one simple fork or squewer and you loose the game!

-To take is a mistake! Best to keep the tension. Simple yet SUPER critical principle as your opponent will often help you develop your pieces, you don't want to help him.This priciple applies very frequently in games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmJcUI_wSy8 is where I learned this.

-Ask yourself what your opponent wants to do, and see if you can make a move to deny it. Can be as simple as seeing an opponent's knight and it's potetial squares it can move to and aiming your pawn structure at controling those squares. Conversely, don't block off your own pieces with your pawns.

-Recently I learned to look at the board and ask myself which of my pieces need improved position. Bishop biting on a pawn chain for example, or a knight unable to move or on a passive square. Outpost often win you the game! as they put pressure on your opponent. Of course you want to bring out all your pieces for max attack and defence. Idealy, not piece is left on the way-side but are put on active squares.

-Probably should mention, don't bring your queen far out on the board early in game (b3, b6, c2, c7 often typical squares among others, watch out for Qa4+, Qa5+, Qh4+, Qh5+ ideas!), otherwise you're just inviting to loose in tempo. In example game LazyChessPlayer posted, by move 4 you see black is now a move ahead of you.

-Pawns are meant to be pushed. This gains space and cramps your opponent (easier game for you, harder for him)

-Speaking of pawns, watch out for weaknesses your structure; double isolated pawns are the worst and easy targets. Have a plan.

-Calculate!

-Know at least a few openings, good if you have a couple favorites :)

***I just learned this stuff off youtube, no books, etc. Again, all this postional/tactical mumbo jumbo means nothing if you can't make a basic evaluation of the board, looking for weaknesses and potential targets. Stop blundering pieces (been there! still do it when I'm lazy/uninterested)--> basic-intermediate-advanced understanding of the board/tactics-->

That game was not the best I can do. If i remember right that was 1 minute chess. I was just plaing around and trying to gain time.However, your suggestions sound very good. Thankyou

In my opinion, the very best way to improve is to join a club, and start playing some long games over the board. It has a way of forcing you to focus more and consider your moves more carefully. Also, look for any upcoming tournaments in your area, and sign up. 

"-Pawns are meant to be pushed. This gains space and cramps your opponent (easier game for you, harder for him)"

I agree with most of what you say except this to a certain extent.  It's harder to coordinate pieces with space than when cramped since lines of communication tend to be bigger with more space.  Also exchanges would favor the cramped side.  Pawn pushes may be good for attack but bad for defense as you're looser with more holes.  Before moving a pawn ask yourself if a piece move would do instead. 

Analysis. Chess is all about gaining knowledge and understanding for the game. At the moment your understanding and thinking process is flawed. It means there are mistakes in your thinking. How can one avoid mistakes? By analysing them and finding better solutions. Its as simple as that. As more you do as better.

TheGreatOogieBoogie has some very good advice. A pawn move is extremely commital because it cannot be reversed. Pawns help define the avenues of movement by the pieces by both controling entry & exit squares as well as physically blocking both your pieces & the enemies.

One thing I would like to add is the study of any particular opening is only beneficial if it does two things:

1) If it ultimately gets you to a position you like to play.

2) Do you understand the general ideas of that position?

Supposedly, Bottvinik Knew every variation of the Meran Semi-Slav!

As other better players than myself have already said, there is no substitute for experience.thanks.

Still, it's good for developing players to know that grabbing space with pawns is classic strategy for many, though not all, positions.

After I had learned the basics of good piece development in the opening, I would hit the early middlegame flustered with "What do I do now?" Sometimes moving pawns is what you do.

mjhhhh wrote:

I have been studying chess for two years by playing over grandmaster games, playing chess engines together, and reading a few chess books. Still at best I am rated around 1400 at best.Every strong player had a time wen he was around my level. How did you improve?

My advice to you is to study tactics every day and play often. Don't spend too much time on openings, just the general ideas. Try using some of this site's resources or join a group that will help you(Chess.com university,Dan Heisman Learning Center,etc)

I would also recommend upgrading to diamond membership.

xijan77: Thanks for posting. I love to hear advanced players explain how they develop their skill.

I agree that opening study is a sliding scale. It becomes more important as one's rating increases.

I don't see much benefit to blitz either, but many of the greats played a lot of blitz, so I can't discount it.

Books and Tournament chess

A big way to improve is by simply playing chess. 

1. Play lots of long games, at least 15 10 or longer

2. Study endgames, simple king and pawn endgames, rook endings, oppostite bishops ect.

3. Play in tournaments face to face and analyze the games like crazy!

4.  DO NOT! study openings. Openings are not needed until you've perfected other areas and are having trouble in openings.

5. learn how to develop- this is key, learn how to develop your pieces and how to develop them to good squares. What is a good square? why is it a good square? what will your piece do at that square? where will it go or is it on an outpost?