camberfoil wrote:
I would say Chess Mentor and Tactics Trainer are the best.
lol
Why I am not improving?
Sort:
Board vision will come from practicing tactics and playing slow games. It's not something that needs to be specifically practiced.
I can't disagree with that. Experience and time help with board vision, undoubtedly.
I've just been pointing out why so many beginning players get so frustrated...even when they do tactical training up the wazoo.
and 800 who learns all opening may improve to 900 at best. An 800 who thinks hard during long games and trys to learn about tactics will hit 1200 in no time.
www.365chess.com Opening Explorer.
www.chesstempo.com for puzzles.
Took me 5 years to get to 1500. GOOD LUCK.
stanhope13 wrote:
www.365chess.com Opening Explorer.
Be VERY careful when using this! There are many, many games there played between players rated 1200-1500 which completely falsify the statistics. I even found a blunder leading to immediate resignation by White in the Traxler which was exactly repeated 17(!) times in identical amateur games, each one individually listed and part of the statistics ... you have to play minor lines through for several moves before you can be sure that your choice isn't leading into some horrible (and statistically hidden) trap or other. Beware! ;)
Oct 1, 2014
0
#28
Cogwheel wrote:
Spiritbro77 wrote:
People always say "openings aren't important at your level". If that were true then opening 1.a4 2.b4 3.c4 etc. would be acceptable. It isn't, you'd get blown off the board before reaching a point where tactics and endgame study would mean anything.
Studying intricate openings isn't necessary. Knowing how to open a game and develop your pieces certainly is at any level IMO.
Grab your fair share of the center, develop all your pieces to good squares(still working on this myself), don't move any piece twice until you've moved every piece once unless there is a tactic(one of your pieces is in jeopardy or your opponent hangs one of his). Castle quickly to get your King to safety.
As others have said, hit the tactics trainer as often as you can. I turned off "rated" so I can take my time on it. I often solve tactics during commercial breaks on TV.
Chess mentor is also very good. Well worth the cost of a membership. And there are a number of quality videos here on Chess.com as well as on Youtube.
Finally, I would say don't play blitz or bullet. Play long time controls and or "Online" games.
Good luck......
I know you're not the best of players, but it should be obvious to anyone with a brain that openings are not important when you are rated 800.
So you belive that BASIC opening knowledge is useless? That it doesn't matter at ALL how he opens a game? Alright. Lets go with that. Lets advise that he bring his queen out FIRST. That he should move it around ten times without moving another piece. That he makes damned sure to NEVER castle. Never try for a share of the middle. Always move pieces multiple times before you're developed. Yes, great advice for beginners. Because knowing how to develop and get your king to safety is BAD for anyone below 1800. But engame knowledge is very important. Because 800 rated players that don't protect the king, and don't develop their pieces always make it to a tecnical endgame position..... Alrighty then. *snicker*
It may not be important for him to know the sicilian or the Kings Indian, but he damned well better know how to get his pieces developed and get his king to safety. BASIC knowledge of opening principle is absolutely important. Anyone with a brain should know that.
You started two threads with the same title, and it left you confused and downtrodden ? Just a guess.
I've seen this before, he's stuck in a time loop
Cogwheel wrote:
"Memorizing gambits" at 800? That's just a waste of time you could be spending learning tactics.
I was ~800 a year and a half ago. I paid no mind to how I "should" learn, or how I "should" improve. I just did what I wanted to.
You are entitled to your opinion. Doesn't mean we have to listen to you or grant you any degree of respect whatsoever.
To the original poster:
1. Studying is good, sure. You can study whatever you want, openings, tactics, etc., but the most important thing might be to try and be AWARE of what you're saying to yourself. While you play, you're thinking, you're talking to yourself. I try to get my students to ponder this. If you're thinking about grabbing pawns, you've got to say....well, "should I be doing this right now." How you give yourself advice is critical, & the more you think about that, about monitoring WHAT you're looking at, WHAT you're saying to yourself, you'll get more meaningful experience from your games. Also, spend as much time as you can watching other players, stronger ones, as they 'hash out' the game. Some will conversationally chat about the game they're playing in person, usually they talk and analyze afterwards. Listen to them, about how they evaluate positions. Say,...'what do they want, what do they value, " & think about how you can do that in your own games.
2. Stop playing chess backwards. Someone above alluded to this; I'll explain what I mean. One of my old mentors about 10 years ago told me "Don't let your tactics govern your strategy; rather, your strategy should govern your tactics." Good sound advice, but very hard to achieve. You've literally got to re-train your mind, your vision, your chess habits to start making this work for you.
What I mean specifically is this: when I said people play chess backwards, I mean they usually start looking for a move, find some, choose one, & make it. Then while the opponent is thinking, you find yourself saying internally, ok so, what's my plan here then. What am I doing now.
If the move you made just exchanged off some minor pieces, ones you might really have needed, then whatever plan you might have had is now changed. You won't see that stuff, won't consider it anymore. After the game, or 20 moves later in an endgame, lower rated players always seem to say something like "...oh man, if only i had a dark-squared bishop here!" But they let their tactics govern their strategy; they traded it off for some reason that is not part of the big picture.
3. SO. When its your move, don't look for a move. Look for a plan. Finding the correct strategy, or even just one that seems good enough, is the first step. This was help you learn to analyze positions & be aware of what your opponent can/can't do. It will keep you from trading off pieces & pawns you'll need later. ONCE YOU HAVE A PLAN, a strategy, examine it. Say things to yourself like "Does this help me win the game right now, or soon." Is this strong, solid. Is this SAFE. Can they stop this concept or not."
Now, last, you start saying ok, that's my plan. What moves do I have that help me accomplish it? The moves WILL BE THERE. You may have some choices, but take your time. Make prudent choices. Find nasty violent forcing ideas that would constitute "choosing certain tactics" to SUPPORT your overall plan. If you start getting into this habit, you're doing more than most of your opponents. You'll start improving, winning, but you'll understand WHY. Which is the real point. It lets you know you're doing the right thing, & shows you how you can continue to push yourself farther, get even stronger.
4. Observe your opponent. Attack them. If you're not doing one/either of these things, you're not trying to win the game, & all you're learning is what bad habits you have. Try to think about this too; there's openings, middlegames, tactics, etc., but there is also preferences. Style.
Most players have what I would call "Fears" & "Fetishes" Play a lot of the same types of games with one opponent. You'll see what I mean. There are 'queen-heavy' players, some who love knights, Bishop-pair junkies, etc., & the style will also show in their handling of pawns. Now it may be rather useful to start 'figuring out' what your opponent likes and fears, but not nearly as important as doing this for yourself. To yourself. Analyze yourself. Say, 'what are my fetishes, are they really helpful to me, or a predictable crutch. What am i afraid of, and why. Are these parts of your style REALLY helpful to you, or can you confront and CHANGE your habits. In this sense what I mean is that the thing holding you back from improvement is actually you. Find the weakest part of your game, & set yourself towards removing such defects. Basically, start trying to be REALLY objective towards analyzing chess positions, and towards your own style. Make changes. You'll get hurt, it's difficult, you'll have growing pains, but you'll come out on the other side with lots of meaningful, permanent lessons & some good, deep, solid improvement within yourself.
You know who else said that? Richard Teichmann.
You are having trouble because the players on this site are incredibly strong, a 1400 rating here is like a master FIDE or USCF rating.
Oct 1, 2014
0
#38
Dodger111 wrote:
You are having trouble because the players on this site are incredibly strong, a 1400 rating here is like a master FIDE or USCF rating.
deepaknayal wrote:
so I started with 1200 ended up in 800, stuck at 900 and now can't pass through 1100? I thought If I learn techniques I will not make my mind sharp, so I didn't go for tactics should I try them? even when they are boring ?
I suspect that I have too much time to kill. And I realize that free advice is never appreciated. Nor am I even so highly skilled that I could charge for advice. But here goes...
I've written above about board vision. If you don't see the threats or the opportunities, then nothing else matters. You'll keep getting bitten in the buttocks.
So, maybe plenty of practice? Someone above said that by playing a lot, one develops "board vision". I said something like: "I can't argue against that." But I would like to clarify that point.
The OP can't break 1100. Here are his game stats:
Blitz 1045 rating 550 games
Bullet 1078 rating 335 games
Live Std 1062 rating 1 game
Online 1341 rating 1 game
Tactics 11 puzzles
From this it becomes obvious. Too much speed chess with "gut instinct" moves. For a GM who has trained for many years and has played countless games, gut instinct is fine. It's like a master playing the violin without a music sheet. But what in Hell is a novice attempting with no training? He is just making cacophony.
I would say to the OP: STOP playing speed chess. Get a coach if you can. If you can't, read chess books, go though Chess Mentor at this site. Do more tactical problems...with the clock turned off.
But, sad to admit, I know that I have just wasted my time. Eh...such is life.
Some advice beyond the usual stuff.
1. Forget about ratings.
2. Forget about winning games.
3. Start with correspondence chess, forget about live chess.
4. Play only with those who are 1400 and above. Learn from these games.They will teach you as you play. Figure out why they won and you lost.
5. Play at least 50-100 games before paying attention to ratings and winning, Use your games to LEARN chess.
People always say "openings aren't important at your level". If that were true then opening 1.a4 2.b4 3.c4 etc. would be acceptable. It isn't, you'd get blown off the board before reaching a point where tactics and endgame study would mean anything.
Studying intricate openings isn't necessary. Knowing how to open a game and develop your pieces certainly is at any level IMO.
Grab your fair share of the center, develop all your pieces to good squares(still working on this myself), don't move any piece twice until you've moved every piece once unless there is a tactic(one of your pieces is in jeopardy or your opponent hangs one of his). Castle quickly to get your King to safety.
As others have said, hit the tactics trainer as often as you can. I turned off "rated" so I can take my time on it. I often solve tactics during commercial breaks on TV.
Chess mentor is also very good. Well worth the cost of a membership. And there are a number of quality videos here on Chess.com as well as on Youtube.
Finally, I would say don't play blitz or bullet. Play long time controls and or "Online" games.
Good luck......
I think "don't study openings" or "openings aren't important" is chess shorthand for "learn the general opening principles and apply them. Don't memorize reams of theory".
I agree that we should be more specific in our advice.