“I know so much more about chess than I used to, but my rating’s not going up!” This is one of the most common things I hear from chess players. It can be incredibly frustrating: you put in a ton of hours working on your chess, and it feels like it’s working. You learn a bunch of new ideas and feel like you understand them. But no matter how much you learn, your rating refuses to budge.
I really liked the idea that no matter how great your strategical understanding, it doesn't matter if you are missing skills lower down the pyramid. This idea can definitely be applied to many things in life, not just chess.
Very straightforward and insightful advice. I've been focusing a lot on tactics but still a lot of my games are decided on one of the sides hanging a piece unforced. Should definitely focus more on vision and avoiding impulsive play above all else.
Do you know if the people in chessbook are planning to bring this vision tool to the new website (and the apps)?
By the way, I missed the chess gym beta invite, but I'll probably join as soon as I get things organised enough to get into a training routine!
I feel this in my soul. I often spend so much time watching / studying chess theory that I completely forget to just play, which is the most important part about chess at all!
Yes, I am in this common situation of working hard in my chess and not improving my rating, but I have spotted the why.
First I am 61 and in pills so not very fit physically and OTB chess requires a lot of energy. The fact is that what I win in some games I lose in others due to my mistakes, bad decisions or just dropping a piece in one move due to bad visualization. Well I have spotted that between 80%-90% of my mistakes come after the 2nd hour of play. On the 3rd hour of play or even 4th hour if any.
I think all is clear and little to add. Just hoping that by continuos practice I'll do better beyond the 2nd hour of play.
A strategy I find interesting is playing more aggressively as one gets older, to end games faster. Not for everyone, but I do think there's some logic to it.
Yes FM, I am quite aggressive. The fact is that to improve I normally play OTB against stronger opponents so is very difficult to finish them in less than two hours.
I think the right path to follow is start aggressive and if you don't get decisive advantage just change to safe mode and a draw is better than a loss. Yes, I remember in recent Sunway Sitges I was paired with a senior FM and I thought, a draw with a FM is very good so I played simple chess and like he didn't go for risks, I forced the Queen swap and all ended peacefully which was very good considering the 350 rating gap.
I recommend Lev Alburt’s 300 most important chess positions.
I've really enjoyed Susan Polgar's book but you're the only one (other than Chess Von Doom) to mention it! Great selection!
I really liked the idea that no matter how great your strategical understanding, it doesn't matter if you are missing skills lower down the pyramid. This idea can definitely be applied to many things in life, not just chess.
Very straightforward and insightful advice. I've been focusing a lot on tactics but still a lot of my games are decided on one of the sides hanging a piece unforced. Should definitely focus more on vision and avoiding impulsive play above all else.
Do you know if the people in chessbook are planning to bring this vision tool to the new website (and the apps)?
By the way, I missed the chess gym beta invite, but I'll probably join as soon as I get things organised enough to get into a training routine!
Not sure about their plans with the vision trainer... You could ask in their Discord. They're usually quite responsive.
Hope to see you in the Chess Gym!
Great article... just looked at my last 20 games and many are in level 1/2 brackets. Would you class dropping a pawn as a level 1 mistake?
I feel this in my soul. I often spend so much time watching / studying chess theory that I completely forget to just play, which is the most important part about chess at all!
Yes, I am in this common situation of working hard in my chess and not improving my rating, but I have spotted the why.
First I am 61 and in pills so not very fit physically and OTB chess requires a lot of energy. The fact is that what I win in some games I lose in others due to my mistakes, bad decisions or just dropping a piece in one move due to bad visualization. Well I have spotted that between 80%-90% of my mistakes come after the 2nd hour of play. On the 3rd hour of play or even 4th hour if any.
I think all is clear and little to add. Just hoping that by continuos practice I'll do better beyond the 2nd hour of play.
A strategy I find interesting is playing more aggressively as one gets older, to end games faster. Not for everyone, but I do think there's some logic to it.
Yes FM, I am quite aggressive. The fact is that to improve I normally play OTB against stronger opponents so is very difficult to finish them in less than two hours.
I think the right path to follow is start aggressive and if you don't get decisive advantage just change to safe mode and a draw is better than a loss. Yes, I remember in recent Sunway Sitges I was paired with a senior FM and I thought, a draw with a FM is very good so I played simple chess and like he didn't go for risks, I forced the Queen swap and all ended peacefully which was very good considering the 350 rating gap.