Starting Chess later in life

Hello,

I'm 43 and started playing chess, maybe a year ago or so. I know that most people that attain high levels of pay generally have played all their lives. I'm not delusional enough to think that starting out in chess this late is very good for trying to achieve high-level chess. 

I enjoy the game, every game is stimulating and I feel like I learn something almost every game. 

My question here is if anyone else started playing later in life and what level of achievement have you attained? I'm just interested in seeing if there are any that have had any major achievements or if you started playing in your late 30's or 40's what rating you were able to obtain. 

Partially just curious and also looking to see what a reasonable expectation is for someone of my age. I know that I'm not nearly as sharp-minded as I was when I was in my 20's. I come to the same conclusions most of the time but it takes me longer...

If you put some work you can achieve a CM title which is 2200 FIDE Elo , I would say that's about it you can't go any higher.

Approximate time to achieve CM varies, but I would say if you putting real hard work to it, it would be 8 - 12 years time period.

After that if you continue work hard ABSOLUTE maximum you can achieve is FM title in you life and that's a big IF .  

Time period for an FM title after you've achieved  CM could take its hard to say this one actually roughly 3, 5years - to never 

No chance for an IM or GM of course.

Yeah, I probably play/practice an hour a day and more on the weekends.

I think any sort of title would be the max I can achieve. Have you heard of people starting that late even getting something like the National Master or lower titles? At this point I'd be happy to crack 1200 so I have a long way to go anyway but always good to set goals.

Stop worrying about age, you are not old and it's just in your head all the barries.

Age will only affect you when you about 80, 85 + or 90+ then yes you will notice some age effects.

1 hour a day ? If you want to reach 1200 that's fine if you want more that's not enough. 

At your level all you need to do is play more games, set a goal 10 games, 10 mins , every day (with some quick analysis , looking what mistakes you've made) .

Despite what many people say here (most with no experience of having one), consider getting yourself a coach. I'm a late starter too, and got one for 6 months. The difference was huge.

Anything is possible, except GM I’d say

I'm 44 and started last January. At end of first 12 months I'm roughly 1500 in Daily (though suspect slightly overrated). If you study and play with improvement in mind, so play long games, reflect and work on your weaknesses, identify and stop bad habits, that sort of thing, I'd say getting to 1400 in the first 12 months is easily doable. There are adult improvers on here that have made 2000 in the first year or so but that is exceptional, requires a lot of commitment and time, and the ability to understand the game quickly (playing chess well is not what many beginners think it is, they misunderstand the game, and this can hold back improvement).

BTW I see you play 10 minute rapid and have 25 Daily games on the go. If you want to improve seriously then that might have to stop 😁. You need quality not quantity.

For me, the major achievement is being at peace with myself and my level of skill, and understanding that "improvement" will come on its own as long as I am enjoying the game. My "goal" is to gain more insight into the game as I play through the games of great players of the past.

Someone said "Age will only affect you about 80, 85+ or 90+." Sorry, but that is wrong. Age can begin to affect you when you are in your 50s. 

MarkGrubb is correct: for an adult improver to make 2000 in the first year will take a lot of commitment and time. How many of us have the time to make that sort of commitment? With family, job, health issues...anyone who has that kind of time is very lucky.

For me, it is more than enough to study the game and deepen my love of it. I don't have any rating goals. I suspect that I am in the minority here on chess.com in feeling this way. Oh well. 

is it free to join chess clubs on chess.com

Yeah, I didn't intend to have 25 at one time. I entered a tournament for beginners and it tripled my number of games...lol

Yes mate

At least you were a little more earnest with this answer.

Telling him CM is possible is like saying it's possible to win the lottery... technically you're not wrong but...

So he did the right thing, he's like, name 1 dude who was my age and did it, and you came back with "you won't get past 1200" haha.

I'm 48, started seriously about 10 years ago, now I'm only 1568 FIDE. But I'm not very talented.

I don't know of anyone who started at that age.

I did know a beginner who started in his mid 60s, and he played at our club for almost 10 years. He got to the USCF rating of 1400. He'd usually be beating 1400 and 1500 opponents, but then suddenly make a large tactical mistake and lose.

I agree with your reasons for liking chess. Learning a little bit and improving each game, even if you didn't win, is enjoyable. If you play casually then 1000 to 1200 is probably a good goal. If you want to get books and study then you could do a lot better... no one can say for sure where you'd end up if you did... but since such a vague answer is annoying, if you demanded I throw out a number, I'd say 1600 would be a difficult goal. That's just one guy's guess, so take it for it's worth.

Maybe someone should start a club of "Over 40 beginners rated below 1200"

i'm 45, started this summer. my main obstacle is that i dont analyze my own games deep enough and that i don't read books. i am also lazy about doing calculations during my games and i dont think enough about my positional play.

at amateur levels its not about age, its how much effort you are willing to put into learning.

"Started" this summer, but you weren't a beginner. Both your blitz and rapid went straight to 1300.