Struggling Class E player

Hi guys,

My challenges are twofold! I'm trying to move from class E to class D. It turns out everytime I get to about 1220, I get knocked down in score back into the 1160 range. There has to be something I'm not recognizing due to the fact that this keeps happening repeatedly. Maybe blunders or I'm just not experienced enough to catch mistakes, spot the tactical moves, and opening pitfalls. How do I make it from class E to class D? Maybe it comes with more time and practice. I have only been playing for 3 years. A year ago, I was a class F with scores of only 900-1000. 

I am also reading a lot of books. But theory without practical experience I imagine means very little. 

You get there by not using this lame site. Once, I lost by time in the 1220 ranking, and got knocked to a 1000 rating. This site doesn't want you to get better. Use a different site.

So how come you still here?  Maybe this site isn't so bad after all eh?

MiraculousOne, I suggest you start posting some games for analysis on the analysis forum.  There are some very strong and helpful players on this site that will gladly analyze your games and point out your weaknesses. 

@MiraculousOne:

I'd recommend doing lots of tactic books. I found my game improved dramatically when I gave up on wasting my money on opening books and concentrated on tactics. Also, maybe you are playing too much? I'm not alone in my belief that playing tons of bullet/speed chess is bad for one's game. 

I used to find that if I took a break from chess for awhile (a month or so) that I came back refreshed and playing more sharply.

FYI penguin, I have gained hundreds of rating points during my time here. There are some nice tools around here like TT, explorer, mentor, and the videos. Of course this site was not the only resource I have used, but I'd say that if you want to improve, this site has some serious tools for that too, provided that you have the motivation to use them.

"... theory without practical experience I imagine means very little ..."

I have heard from many people that the trick to learning chess theory is taking the time to understand how to connect it to practical situations. Memorizing lots of openings is probably the wrong way to go. Likewise, studying famous games without analyzing or asking what you'd do in that situation, move by move, can be quite a waste of time. What kind of chess theory are you reading, and how are you integrating it into your play? When you study an opening system, are you learning the key ideas and not just the moves?

Young man, find a good computer program and play it 20-24 hours a day!

Well, the fact that I'm forced to go onto this site really makes me hate it. Though I am only so young, I know a good site when I see one. This one is in the middle. It has its pros and cons, but it's decent.

play a lot, watch traininig videos, go through GM games.  that's what i do, and i seem to constantly be improving.  i'm no master, but i can hold my own.  :)

All of which I can do only so little of as a regular member...

For someone who doesn't even know how the rating system works, you sure have loud opinions.

Progress is very very slow if you just play without any kind of studying... I'd say something like 50 points a year at most, and quite possibly backward progress at worst.

Get a chessbook aimed at your level (read amazon reviews).  I hear Silman's amateur's mind is good.  Do tactical puzzles and analyse your games.  Who left book first?  What's normally played?  See if others or a chess engine agrees with what you decided were good or bad moves.

I am glad you pointed this out in such a manner (@waffllemaster). I relate it back to the question about IQ being a factore in ones poetential prowess. I will switch gears a bit with a metaphor. Though a really intelligent person takes to working on an automobile rather quickly, he/she still has to learn, like everyone else. It takes different amounts of time for everyone. Some people enjoy attacking, so they get better at it first,etc.

P.S. I almost spelt ur name rong, um I mean rite... I was wantin' u to quantify that in practical turmz...

I forgot why I used two "l"s  It may be because I type too fast, and sometimes add double letters twice in words that only have them once.  It may also have been because the first version of what I wanted was already taken... so maybe I made it one word and added an extra l just to be sure.  I don't remember :)

Oh, I missed that for my first post sorry.  Don't read a lot of books, just read one.  And don't start another book until you've finished it cover and cover and worked though each line of analysis on every page.

If you get a book that's over your head, this is a lot of wasted time... so don't be afraid to put a book down, but once you find a good one be sure to make good use of it.

I have to ask, are Class E and Class C players actually classy while Class A players pretentious?  What about Classes B and D?

I'm saddened that this horrible pun fell flat two years ago.

At your level its all tactics...tactics...tactics...

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