Hard reality but • page 1/3 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

I have accepted that I will not become much better at chess and I'm rather going to try and enjoy it more. I don't know who we are competing against trying to raise ELO rating. I have been playing for 4-5 months now and I was constantly thinking about ratings but it's not getting any better. I don't have that great memory when I think about it, I go over my games but I don't remember my mistakes in the next game and I'm only 38

If you are adult and don't have a title chances are not that great But who cares chess is the greatest game ever!

This is like starting to practice tennis hoping to become good as Novak Djokovic

Or imagine meeting someone 40 years old that has a hobby for golf and his goal is be as good as Tiger Woods. He genuinely has the mindset but it's impossible.

I have accepted that I will not become much better at chess and I'm rather going to try and enjoy it more. I don't know who we are competing against trying to raise ELO rating. I have been playing for 4-5 months now and I was constantly thinking about ratings but it's not getting any better. I don't have that great memory when I think about it, I go over my games but I don't remember my mistakes in the next game and I'm only 38 If you are adult and don't have a title chances are not that great But who cares chess is the greatest game ever! This is like starting to practice tennis hoping to become good as Novak Djokovic Or imagine meeting someone 40 years old that has a hobby for golf and his goal is be as good as Tiger Woods. He genuinely has the mindset but it's impossible.

userfriendly2

#2

I think the comparison to novak and tiger is a bit much - these guys are/were the very best in the world. Most adult improvers, want to improve not become Carlsen, just to become better. If improvement is an increase in rating, that's ok, if its never ever losing a winning K&P vs K endgame that's ok too. Improvement has many different forms.
When you say you don't remember your mistakes what do you mean? You don't remember how not to hang that piece? That's calculation. You don't remember how to spot that winning Q&K knight fork? - well that's pattern recognition.
There are ways and means of targeting specific weaknesses in your game. You can't just "remember" to not hang a piece next time. You need to work on your calculation and blunder checking.
Going over your games helps IDENTIFY your mistakes it doesn't always help to fix them.

Keep at it, you will improve.

I think the comparison to novak and tiger is a bit much - these guys are/were the very best in the world. Most adult improvers, want to improve not become Carlsen, just to become better. If improvement is an increase in rating, that's ok, if its never ever losing a winning K&P vs K endgame that's ok too. Improvement has many different forms. When you say you don't remember your mistakes what do you mean? You don't remember how not to hang that piece? That's calculation. You don't remember how to spot that winning Q&K knight fork? - well that's pattern recognition. There are ways and means of targeting specific weaknesses in your game. You can't just "remember" to not hang a piece next time. You need to work on your calculation and blunder checking. Going over your games helps IDENTIFY your mistakes it doesn't always help to fix them. Keep at it, you will improve.

kaotic99 edited

#3

38? You're practically dead pal. let it go.

Ananya_ChessMaster

#4

Broo ur 38 almost 40
As ur old (nooffense) it takes time for you to learn
Whatya think 4-5 months ain't enough

Broo ur 38 almost 40 As ur old (nooffense) it takes time for you to learn Whatya think 4-5 months ain't enough

Bellendo

#5

If you have only been playing 4-5 months then I reckon you can still improve a lot. The rate of improvement will slow down, and It will become harder, but really 5 months is nothing. If you have made it to 1627 classical in that time you clearly have a lot of talent.

But I also think that you are right that enjoying the game is the most important thing, who cares what the numbers are, if you don't enjoy playing why would you.

If you have only been playing 4-5 months then I reckon you can still improve a lot. The rate of improvement will slow down, and It will become harder, but really 5 months is nothing. If you have made it to 1627 classical in that time you clearly have a lot of talent. But I also think that you are right that enjoying the game is the most important thing, who cares what the numbers are, if you don't enjoy playing why would you.

TripHopKniGHts

#6

I have been playing chess on Lichess for about 6 years... Started in the 1200's... took a year to reach 1500's... I am now 56 years old and at 1700/1800's... the goal has always been to reach 2000's. It takes time.

h2b2

#7

looking at your rating, you're better than half the people here.

no matter what anyone's rating is, if it's stable and they play people their own rating, they have an equal number of wins and losses.

looking at your rating, you're better than half the people here. no matter what anyone's rating is, if it's stable and they play people their own rating, they have an equal number of wins and losses.

NM MrPushwood

#8

Fortunately you don't have to be world champ at something in order to enjoy it. (Oh yeah, and 4-5 months is nothing...)

SteinarArason

#9

Thanks for the kind pep talk. I have been on losing streak for some time it gets under my skin.

kaotic99

#10

Walk towards the light.