Rebuilding skill after a long absence

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zhirzzh

From middle-school through the first half of highschool, I was a competitive chess player. I was fairly decent, although certainly not a prodigy. I got 5th or 6th in state one year, and think I had a rating of something like 1500-1600, although I could be pulling that out of my ass. Eventually the drama got to be too much (coach called the police on my mother for basically no reason among other things) and I quit playing for about 4 years.

Now I'm a juinor in college, and trying to get back into it. My skill had deteriorated a lot, and when I first started, I was having trouble with 1000 rated players, but enough has come back to me that I was able to get back to 1200 in about two days.

What is the best way to improve from here? Is it any different than it would be if I was just starting out? Up till now, I've gotten better just by playing, as I've been remembering things more than learning them. What is a good time ratio for play:study?

The only books I still have are a book of opening lines, and Chess Fundementals by Capablanca, whose games I liked when I used to play.

Courtney-P

Similar situation to you, I was where you are now about 6 months ago. Except I hadn't played in 12 years.

I highly recommend studying tactics.  You may be in "single threat" mode right now and need to start thinking tactical themes again.  Stay away from studying specific openings other than the basic principles and review some of capablannca's games for positional principles etc.

Play tactics here  http://www.chess.com/tactics/myhome.html 

Also, this is just my opinion but I would suggest playing standard time controls 15-30 minutes only when you play live and a TON of online turn based games.

Also start here.. with the basics to get back on your feet.

Study Plan.. http://www.chess.com/article/view/study-plan-directory

OldHastonian
paulgottlieb wrote:

The first thing to do is to get rid of the rust. This means becoming more aware at the board: aware of your opportunities and of your opponent's threats. You also have to get back in the habit of carefully and accurately calculating. So tactics are certainly the right place to start.  Once you feel you're not missing so much, then you can branch out into other areas

I was in a very similar situation last year and can relate to the OP's problems; your solutions are spot on and will help immensely.

Stinetuck

do some research on self hypnosis, apparently it can help a great deal

hankas
paulgottlieb wrote:

And "Chess Fundamentals" is a great book that will repay careful study even for a strong player

+1

It's a deceptively simple book.

sirrichardburton

Slightly off topic but i would worry more about your g.p.a. than your chess rating until you graduate. Although everyone needs some down time too.