I dunno mate at 16-1-0 you seem to be doing fine
Give anyone with a decent skill level 3 days to think and it will generally turn out ok.
Now my OTB play is a completely different story. I took 6 years off and have played in 2 tournaments since July of this year. I am at my USCF floor of 1600. I came back from a tournament a couple weeks ago where I scored 1 draw out of 6 rounds.
For the first time in my life I hired a chess coach to correct all the things im doing and learning incorrectly. I dont expect overnight result. Just some slow steady progress. My goal at 62 is to eventually make Expert. We will see.
I don't know how great chess coaches are, but I approve of you trying. Too many people are too stingy to invest in themselves and their hobbies. Everyone wants to get good at something as an autodidact, but it's really difficult to teach yourself. Even with free materials out there. A tutor gives you real life feedback and figures out your weak spots, which you might not even notice on your own.
They also urge you to have consistency, which you'll probably slack if you're on your own. Not necessarily, but there is a strong tendency.
I had a roommate who always said he wanted to learn how to play guitar, but he never got around to it. For a month or two he'd talk about chords and such, then it became obscure and he never got to play any songs well.
Couple years later, I had already moved out long ago but stayed in touch, and he got himself a teacher and suddenly he had successes and learned more in 3 months than he did by himself in 5 years.
I taught myself how to code, and it's discouraging without guidance. Hard even.
So if you really enjoy your hobby, you should always seek ways to improve the fastest way possible. Even if you enjoy stringing half correct songs on your guitar, you'll be a lot happier when you get more proficient.
Same with any hobby. Chess. Hema. Boxing. Coding. Wood working. Fishing. Cigars. Wine/beer/spirits tasting/making, welding. WHATEVER really. If have you spend some money on tutors, who can guide your hand, you'll learn things a lot faster. And time is really the only thing we run out of.
You need to dedicate yourself to something. Don't be afraid to spend money on yourself.
Appreciate your comments.
After 50 years of self-study and peaking as a USCF A player. I somehow thought I was bullet proof, and was something "special" because I was now an A player. So yes the obvious happened. I couldn't play well if my life depended on it. I bottomed out at my rating floor of 1600. I grew to despise the game, I had convinced myself I was a failure and was wasting my time.
I now realize that a combination of ego and insecurities were holding me back. So I started playing again. My results have been less than "good" :-) But im sticking with it and wanting to learn and grow. I have a coach that tells me what I want to hear. Not what I need to hear. I have no ego to bruise anymore.
Now if it was about money? I wouldn't be doing this. I view my investment in this the same way I view paying for a gym membership. Its for my mental health and brain health.
I am sure improvements will be quick. How could they not? You now have two members on team "you" instead of just one. What you miss, they'll catch and relay.
You are not limited by yourself any more.
Thanks again. Yes I have set goals.
Goal 1: Get back to 1700
Goal 2: Get back to 1800
Goal 3: Make 1900
Ultimate Goal: Make Expert.
I understand that at 62 I have more years behind me than ahead of me, and as you age progress becomes more difficult. But that is no excuse not to have goals.
I dunno mate at 16-1-0 you seem to be doing fine
Give anyone with a decent skill level 3 days to think and it will generally turn out ok.
Now my OTB play is a completely different story. I took 6 years off and have played in 2 tournaments since July of this year. I am at my USCF floor of 1600. I came back from a tournament a couple weeks ago where I scored 1 draw out of 6 rounds.
For the first time in my life I hired a chess coach to correct all the things im doing and learning incorrectly. I dont expect overnight result. Just some slow steady progress. My goal at 62 is to eventually make Expert. We will see.
I don't know how great chess coaches are, but I approve of you trying. Too many people are too stingy to invest in themselves and their hobbies. Everyone wants to get good at something as an autodidact, but it's really difficult to teach yourself. Even with free materials out there. A tutor gives you real life feedback and figures out your weak spots, which you might not even notice on your own.
They also urge you to have consistency, which you'll probably slack if you're on your own. Not necessarily, but there is a strong tendency.
I had a roommate who always said he wanted to learn how to play guitar, but he never got around to it. For a month or two he'd talk about chords and such, then it became obscure and he never got to play any songs well.
Couple years later, I had already moved out long ago but stayed in touch, and he got himself a teacher and suddenly he had successes and learned more in 3 months than he did by himself in 5 years.
I taught myself how to code, and it's discouraging without guidance. Hard even.
So if you really enjoy your hobby, you should always seek ways to improve the fastest way possible. Even if you enjoy stringing half correct songs on your guitar, you'll be a lot happier when you get more proficient.
Same with any hobby. Chess. Hema. Boxing. Coding. Wood working. Fishing. Cigars. Wine/beer/spirits tasting/making, welding. WHATEVER really. If have you spend some money on tutors, who can guide your hand, you'll learn things a lot faster. And time is really the only thing we run out of.
You need to dedicate yourself to something. Don't be afraid to spend money on yourself.
Appreciate your comments.
After 50 years of self-study and peaking as a USCF A player. I somehow thought I was bullet proof, and was something "special" because I was now an A player. So yes the obvious happened. I couldn't play well if my life depended on it. I bottomed out at my rating floor of 1600. I grew to despise the game, I had convinced myself I was a failure and was wasting my time.
I now realize that a combination of ego and insecurities were holding me back. So I started playing again. My results have been less than "good" :-) But im sticking with it and wanting to learn and grow. I have a coach that tells me what I want to hear. Not what I need to hear. I have no ego to bruise anymore.
Now if it was about money? I wouldn't be doing this. I view my investment in this the same way I view paying for a gym membership. Its for my mental health and brain health.
I am sure improvements will be quick. How could they not? You now have two members on team "you" instead of just one. What you miss, they'll catch and relay.
You are not limited by yourself any more.