Get a coach.
A great deal of the 'necessities' in chess you can find on your own. But once you come to the point of not knowing any longer how to use them to progress, it is time to get someone who can look at your specific play and help you discover new ways to use what you know.
I'd love a coach but I don't have the money for one right now. I was hoping in a few years when I am over 1800 rated to have some money for one but right now it's not possible. That's also why I came here I know there has to be better players than me who found ways to improve their game without hiring a coach. It's not like i am a master who needs special in depth lessons and study materials to improve. Maybe I am just looking at it wrong and need fresh eyes, or a fresh approach. Or maybe I just need to tough it out. I don't feel I know anymore. Thanks for the reply and suggestion though, yeah I'm game for a coach when I can afford it.
You might be surprised how inexpensive you can find a coach. Especially if you look outside the U.S..
Chess.com has an extensive list of coaches from around the world. Many have rates of 10 - 15 USD/hr. And they all seem to have ?M titles that, I believe, are verified by Chess.com staff.
Here are a few suggestions from my own experience looking for a coach:
1. The only qualification needed to be a coach is a great rating and/or a ?M title. ALL of the coaches I have ever tried had very little idea of how to teach. So I have found it is good to listen to what they say, think about it for a while, then request further coaching in the areas you agree with and are unable to progress your own with.
2. Always assess their teaching. Is it REALLY targeting your specific needs? Many coaches have pre-made material that they just throw at all their students. This is probably OK a lot of the time, but you should be aware of it.
3. Communication is more important than knowledge in this case. If you cannot understand the coach because either their poor English or their explinations are too much theory and abstract, then you will not be getting the knowledge they are trying to pass on to you.
4. Most importantly: Learning is a 2 way street. If you sit there and expect the teacher to get everything into your head, you are going to get less than 50%. To get the rest, you have to actively evaluate what is being taught and ensure that any holes are filled.
One thing that I've heard titled players suggest is to really take your time in correspondence chess. Try to analyze each move carefully and explore different ideas. When you find a good move look for a better one. Also really try to find the best moves for your opponent. This has helped me a lot. Another thing that I really like is vote chess because you can pick up different ideas and get a different perspective on things. Sometimes I'll suggest a move that I think is good and someone will provide reasoning for another move that I hadn't really considered.
can't look through your games on phone (seems forums are not well supported on androids) Did you study using books or online materials? Where do you loose mostly? or When do you start to think - 'my position is busted'? Do you manage to win against slightly stronger players like +50 rating points? Do you enjoy playing chess? Lol May I ask how old you are? Take your OTB games specially several lost ones, go through them, comment them, and write a blog. You want something get back for free, you must provide smth too :)
You might be surprised how inexpensive you can find a coach. Especially if you look outside the U.S..
Chess.com has an extensive list of coaches from around the world. Many have rates of 10 - 15 USD/hr. And they all seem to have ?M titles that, I believe, are verified by Chess.com staff.
Here are a few suggestions from my own experience looking for a coach:
1. The only qualification needed to be a coach is a great rating and/or a ?M title. ALL of the coaches I have ever tried had very little idea of how to teach. So I have found it is good to listen to what they say, think about it for a while, then request further coaching in the areas you agree with and are unable to progress your own with.
2. Always assess their teaching. Is it REALLY targeting your specific needs? Many coaches have pre-made material that they just throw at all their students. This is probably OK a lot of the time, but you should be aware of it.
3. Communication is more important than knowledge in this case. If you cannot understand the coach because either their poor English or their explinations are too much theory and abstract, then you will not be getting the knowledge they are trying to pass on to you.
4. Most importantly: Learning is a 2 way street. If you sit there and expect the teacher to get everything into your head, you are going to get less than 50%. To get the rest, you have to actively evaluate what is being taught and ensure that any holes are filled.
I agree with most of this, except for #1 point. If you are 1600 level, you do not necessarily need a titled player, so long as they can help you. I'm not titled but I do train people.
If you cannot afford a coach, at least examine your own games and work where you are going wrong.
"I agree with most of this, except for #1 point. If you are 1600 level, you do not necessarily need a titled player, so long as they can help you. I'm not titled but I do train people."
Yes, this is why I put the "and/or" in there.
I totally agree that any strong player could help a 1600+- rated player.
Thanks for the replies. I really can't afford a coach right now as much as i'd like to. Family takes priority when finances are concerned. I own several tactical books, several Silman books, and a Tal and Fischer book. I play 1/move chess on ItsYourTurn Website. I can't find my score sheets from my last tournament but The gist is I lost to two 1900 guys, one from a tactical miscalculation (took with the wrong minor piece to open opponents king), the other I got beaten positionally and then when I saw my position deteriorating decided to gambit with a pawn charge that my opponent used against me for a winning endgame. I usually win those around my rating, in that same tournament I won twice, a player over a hundred points ahead of me and another about 40 below me. I feel like I'm on the verge of improving my game to the next level but things are holding me back, like missing pieces or something. People tell me to work on my end game so I bought Silman's endgame book to go over, and everyone tells me to sharpen my tactical game so I solve chess puzzles. I go over the games in Chess Life magazines and always the one with the guess player X moves with Pandolfini (which I score high in usually, but realize it is easier to follow a masters game plan than making your own). But I must be doing something wrong, missing some key elements to the game that is holding me back. I just don't know what. I will try to locate a few losses from my games on ItsYourTurn if I can't find my scoresheets from the tournament. I just had a "Morphy" game there which put a smile on my face. I'm in my late 20's, and I'm hellbent on breaking the 2000 barrier. I'd like the chance to play titled players someday, even if I don't reach that level of play. Maybe I need to break my game down from the beginning and start over with a fresh approach, learn the basics again, and rebuild my game. I don't know, very frustrating.
Raising a family of course means you have to be careful about spending money but a diamond membership here opens up a wealth of resources most notably the Chess Mentor courses. Let me give you a link to 25 free Chess Mentor courses. Most of them are going to be well beneath your level but at least you can see how the format works based on actual experience and maybe you'll think diamond is worth $100 a year. Plenty of 1800 and 2000 level courses as well.
http://www.chess.com/blog/webmaster/free-chess-mentor-courses
Thanks, I have tried several out last night already. I've been exploring this site some and while it does cost a rather large sum upfront ($99) it seems like you get your money's worth for a year. Maybe I can ask for it as a gift at Christmas time. I've been looking online recently for anything cheap/free chess related (found a site that I can practice chess puzzles on for free, that was a nice find!).
Thanks for the suggestion and link, I am looking into it.
I can't seem to locate my scoresheets, and the ItsYourTurn website seems to delete old games so I can't access them. The scoresheets I do have are from several years ago and all wins which doesn't help. I could play some games here if that will help you (are games public here once played?) NM ZaidejasChEgis. What time controls do you need from me?
Hello,
Actually, you can get a less feature rich membership for about $25 a year. It at least gives you 25 TT puzzles a day, which I find fit my needs perfectly. If I had more, I would just spend all day doing TT puzzles.
Thanks Kleelof but I found a site I can do chess puzzles for free. I'd purchase a membership mostly for the Chess Mentor program here, the puzzles would just be a bonus I guess.
I could play some games here if that will help you (are games public here once played?) NM ZaidejasChEgis. What time controls do you need from me?
Sorry, I can not devote that much time for live chess. Online chess is different from the OTB (over the board) play.
How often do you play in OTB tournaments?
I'm sorry I am confused, I thought you wanted me to annotate some losses for you to see and wanted to know what time control the games should be (not blitz I assume). I wasn't suggesting I play you specifically. I have a tournament upcoming early fall, I don't get much tournament action recently because of finances and time so when I play I try to make it count and perform well. Last tournament I played in was last summer.
I joined a group here that organizes tournament time control games. I'll try to catch a game or two tonight and give you the score sheet here.
I see. Sorry for confusion.
Play 5, 10, 15 min. You might addd increment. Yes, it is fast but it will reveil your strength and weaknesses. Just don't play 1 min :)
I recomend books like Modern Chess Openings 15th edition and slyvans engame course.
I own several tactical books, several Silman books, and a Tal and Fischer book.
I go over the games in Chess Life magazines and always the one with the guess player X moves with Pandolfini (which I score high in usually, but realize it is easier to follow a masters game plan than making your own).
Sound that you are strong in puzzles, tactical etc. That is good. Get some time and go once again through Tal and Fischer games. You should look how they got into a position (situation) when they could afford their tactical blows.
I don't know if this is the right spot to ask this so I apologize if I should have made this elsewhere. I'm close to 1600 USCF rated but I need some help to push my game further up, I can't seem to do it on my own anymore. I don't know if I am studying wrong or maybe hit a wall and not working around it as I should but I am getting frustrated. I feel like I have a lot of pieces to the puzzle but I never learned chess in a systematic way so I don't have basic pieces that I should and I think it might be part of my problem but I've exhausted myself trying to patch up the areas and move forward. So I'm reaching out to the chess community here in the hopes of some guidance. Maybe one of you has some time to kill and could help me work on my game, or just add a few thoughts of advise or encouragement from someone who managed to push on and get the puzzle pieces to fit together better. Thanks for reading, hope I don't get trolled for sounding pathetic, just frustrated.