Practice visualizing the board before making moves. Develop a habit of checking for threats in each position. Work on creating plans in the middlegame based on pawn structures and piece activity.
Stuck at 1250 rapid need help
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"solving daily chess puzzles" ++ Solving 4 puzzles is a good warm-up, but that is about it. Puzzles are overrated. In a real game nobody tells you there is a tactic, or for whom.
"started the 5th book about end games" ++ Good
"London System" ++ Good
"caro kann" ++ Good
"I know I blunder quite a bit"
++ Always check your intended move is no blunder before you play it.
"What should I do now to best increase my chances of being able to progress?"
++ Analyse your lost games and learn from your mistakes.
"What is the best use of my time?" ++ Play 15|10 and use all your time and finish on increment.
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I'm going to focus on end games, puzzles and blunder prevention strategies over the next few weeks/months. I think these are the most important areas I need to work on.
I am also going to try and stop thinking about rating so much, and focus on making better decisions. Hopefully this will also have a positive effect. Cheers
Basically I have peaked at 1250 and I am not sure what the best strategy is now to increase my ability/elo.
I started playing chess (seriously) last year and ranked up fairly fast to 700-900 range. I learned basic chess fundamentals from YouTube videos, and articles online, then I started a routine of solving daily chess puzzles. I have also read the first 4 books from the Yasser Seirawan winning chess series. (just started the 5th book about end games)
I favour a queen's pawn opening with white, usually the London System, and I play caro kann as black.
I know I blunder quite a bit, and I lack consistency. What should I do now to best increase my chances of being able to progress? I don't want to still be at this level in 1 years time. What is the best use of my time? Thanks for any advice