Rating aim for adult starter?

Hi all,

I recently started playing chess, in my 30s.

Its a game a really enjoy, especially now ive decided to consider it a "hobby" and dedicate some time to it.

I used to do some puzzles out of boredom during the pandemic, start up a game and realize this is not a game you should play out of boredom as it needs a relatively dedicated mind / attention.

Fastforward to now, i still enjoy puzzles and hover around the 1900/2000 puzzle rating but am also starting to play some games "seriously".

I used to play rapid but noticed that iam not really giving myself time to think things through and just make a move hoping its the right one, which didnt really get me any further than a 900 rapid rating.

Since then, i swapped to daily. I still sometimes fall into the trap of making a move without really thinking things through, but much less so than in rapid. Im in the 1100s for my daily rating.

Iam hoping to break 1200 soon, as thats the first goal i set myself. What would be a reasonable ELO goal for someone in their 30s?

Would 1600 be possible? 1400? 1800?

My hope is to reach a level where i can go to the local chess club and enjoy myself in OTB games.

I can dedicate about 1hr every day to chess, games, puzzles, YouTube etc. Not sure if i want to go into hardcore "study" mode, but i do enjoy learning new lines etc.

Thanks for the input!

(Ps. I tried posting this in the improvers club forum but couldnt see how to start a new thread there)

You'll improve. Go on

Anyone who dedicates deliberate and consistent practice should be able to reach 2000 rating online. How long it will take is all dependant on your willingness to learn/improve and the time you dedicate. Don't bog down too much on setting a specific number in stone, just play, have fun and have an improvement oriented view of the game and you might just surprise yourself.

Thanks guys!

2000 sounds very very far away, but maybe iam selling myself short.

I know im still very much at the beginning but the better (read: less terrible) i get, the more i enjoy it, its nice being able to play or at least spot some tactics and interesting lines. So the enjoyment is there, hopefully a 1400/1600 rating is possible while keeping it fun and chess not turning into "work".

I started this year at the age of 29 at around 1000 elo too and I am at 1700 rapid rn, aim to get to 2000 pretty soon. Gained like +600 elo in the last 3 months. Anything is possible at any age, don't doubt yourself and go for it.

There are all kinds of "work" for chess improvement that are fun. Like puzzles. Or doing a chess.com lesson. Or watching a video of your favorite content creator.

The best thing you can do is find a chess club near you and check their programs.

Im also mid 30s and just started to really play last year. At first i only played rapid and tried to learn all kinds of chess openings, and then realised that only one per colour should sufice at the beginning. Im also trying to "upgrade" the openings which i took by just seeing how other people play and what might come as next. What also helped me, since i dont have so much time are definitley puzzles, but also trying out bullet and blitz just to "speed up" a bit my thinking and see if i can still get it right.

I agree with magipi, if you can and have the opportunity definitley try to play on the board, since its much different than online. Good luck and cheers

what would be a reasonable ELO goal for someone in their 30’s ?

No need to wait to go to the club. You will find the live play and post mortem discussions very helpful.

As a motivated adult, you are better able than children and adolescents to learn from written instruction. I would encourage you to find books that show how masters think about opening and middlegame planning. In my opinion, that will be more helpful to you than playing rapid games against others at your level.

i have written about the history of chess in my city. I know of two cases in which players learned in their 30s and then reached about an Expert level and competed successfully in state championships. So, yes, an adult starter can do well.

You're already ahead of many — because you're thinking clearly about how you learn. You'll enjoy your chess club games more than many players chasing rating alone.

Don't aim for rating points.

There's nothing wrong with aiming for a higher rating. You should aim to learn and have fun (always!), but a rating might be an encouraging way to pursue the game of chess!

Thanks for all the encouraging words and tips!

I know learning and having fun is more important than sole focus on my elo score but i do like having something to aim for / pursue and ill make sure i will get there in the "correct" way, trying to stick with principled chess (or learn more about what that is).

In terms of OTB games, i had a look at my local club recent tournament and i dont see anyone rated lower than 1700, does that mean iam better or waiting as ill just get crushed?

@mikewier any book recommendations about middlegames? Iam sticking to daily for now as i find it easier to try and implement things ive learned as i can think things through properly, but 1200 daily probably still translates to beginner/starter books?

I'd check out Levy Rozman's 'How to Win at Chess', which is great for openings, middlegames, and endgames for all ratings.

Sure there is. It makes you think you are not good enough.

Get to 1400 and you think you suck and need 1600. Then at 1600 you realize how bad you are and work to get to 1800.

Then you finally realize chess is for entertainment and making hours and hours and hours of work into got you nothing.

Hence the 'might'. It's all a matter of preference.

Well as you know a 1200 is simply a beginner.

No many how many years you have played and how much time you put into studying if your rating is 1200 or below you are a beginner.