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How to be a good chess player?

#1

How to be a good chess player?

How to be a good chess player?
#2

depends on the part of the game you want to improve at

depends on the part of the game you want to improve at
#4

be supervior than most people playing on that website.

be supervior than most people playing on that website.
#5

Focus on the middlegame. the middlegame is where the action is, where most games are won or lost. The middlegame starts where your opening preparation ends. Most endgames are a matter of technique.

Focus on the middlegame. the middlegame is where the action is, where most games are won or lost. The middlegame starts where your opening preparation ends. Most endgames are a matter of technique.
#7

Always behave in a sportsmanlike way, don't cheat, and remember it is only a game.

Always behave in a sportsmanlike way, don't cheat, and remember it is only a game.
#8

If you could do it just by talking about it, we'd all be GMs. :)

If you could do it just by talking about it, we'd all be GMs. :)
#10

Roughly in this order:

  • Know basic tactics (forks, back rank mate, etc.)
  • Learn basic endgames (Q+K vs K, 2R+K vs K, R+K vs K, 2B+K vs K, K+P vs K)
  • Learn basic strategy (e.g., control open files, outposts, rook behind passed pawns)
  • Learn basic openings (to reach move 7 without losing a centre pawn or a piece)
  • Avoid big blunders (surprisingly more difficult than you would think). Avoid 1-ply and 2-ply mistakes. A 1-ply mistake means you make a move and even before your opponent moves you realise that you made a mistake. A 2-ply mistake is when you think "oh, I didn't see that" as soon as your opponent responds.
    ------ Until you reach this point, it should be mostly practice, at least more practice than study.
  • More serious middle game and endgame study
  • Seriously improve calculation (I think there are not too many "basic principles". Rest is calculation. Probably this is not a popular opinion.)
  • More serious opening preparation.

PS. I am not a strong player, but advising others is easy. :-) I may be somewhere in the middle of the above ladder. For example, against an engine, my centre falls apart quickly. Against a human, if I go beyond 10-12 moves in a somewhat equal position, then I do OK in the middle game and endgame. I still make 1-ply and 2-ply mistakes.

Roughly in this order: - Know basic tactics (forks, back rank mate, etc.) - Learn basic endgames (Q+K vs K, 2R+K vs K, R+K vs K, 2B+K vs K, K+P vs K) - Learn basic strategy (e.g., control open files, outposts, rook behind passed pawns) - Learn basic openings (to reach move 7 without losing a centre pawn or a piece) - Avoid big blunders (surprisingly more difficult than you would think). Avoid 1-ply and 2-ply mistakes. A 1-ply mistake means you make a move and even before your opponent moves you realise that you made a mistake. A 2-ply mistake is when you think "oh, I didn't see that" as soon as your opponent responds. ------ Until you reach this point, it should be mostly practice, at least more practice than study. - More serious middle game and endgame study - Seriously improve calculation (I think there are not too many "basic principles". Rest is calculation. Probably this is not a popular opinion.) - More serious opening preparation. PS. I am not a strong player, but advising others is easy. :-) I may be somewhere in the middle of the above ladder. For example, against an engine, my centre falls apart quickly. Against a human, if I go beyond 10-12 moves in a somewhat equal position, then I do OK in the middle game and endgame. I still make 1-ply and 2-ply mistakes.

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