How much chess improvement is possible?

@wannabe2700 said in #20:
> @LanceFairfield
> Obviously if you are incapable of learning anything, then you can't improve in chess either. Learning openings is the easiest way, because you only need to be able to remember moves. If you can't pass that test, then there's no hope. But your mindset was wrong from the beginning. The ones that improve the most are the ones that like chess the most and aren't depressed. Obviously being an adult makes the job tougher, but it's not impossible unless you're already close to your theoretical limit.

I used to absolutely love chess. I found it absolutely beautiful and still do to a degree. But at this point there's far too much mental baggage attached for me to ever feel like I love it.

Poda Komali Gobi

@jdannan said in #10:
> It's just nonsense to think that everyone can get to a high level if only they train right. One could just as stupidly claim that anyone could run 2:30 for a marathon (which is still some way off an elite standard) if only you trained right, or play pro football (whatever code you prefer), or play the violin in a pro orchestra, or <whatever other rare skill you choose to mention>. Training helps of course, but we all have different levels of natural aptitude and ability for what is a very particular skill.
>
> "The sky is the limit if only you train right" is some of the most pernicious snake-oil that is peddled by bullshit merchants around the world. Yeah, and you can be as tall as you want if only you eat right, too.

My sentiments exactly.

Alekhine said we are born with a certain level of chess skill and no matter what we do we can never go above that set limit. That would explain why people who have paid coaching never progress past beginner level or someone just starting and they rise rapidly. It's talent and if you don't have an exceptional amount to start with then you're just going to be a chess bum.

There's a channel on Youtube called Hanging Pawns, run by chess player Tomic Stjepan. About 6 years ago (he was an adult then), he decided to go all out and become a grandmaster. He was rated 1761. He quit his job and did chess full time in an effort to become a grandmaster. He posted a video recently. He is now rated 1990. He gained 229 FIDE points in 6 years. I don't know how he's making money to support himself. Maybe it's his Youtube content. Maybe he had to pick up some other work along the way. I would say his chance of becoming a GM is very bleak (if I'm honest, I doubt he will ever gain any title). I bring this up as an example of someone achieving much much less than they had set out to.

I point this out because of your lines "Those who believe in themselves and put in a lot of time and effort continuously achieve things deemed "impossible."" and you could achieve these things with "A lot of time, energy, determination, and sacrifices." This is clearly a guy who has given a lot of time, energy, determination and sacrifices, with very ordinary results.

@LanceFairfield I feel the same way, not only about chess. Chess is just my hobby. When I was younger, at 17, I had nothing to do in my life. Some great new friends at that moment introduced me to digital art. I wasn't very good at it; it took me over 5 years to reach my potential. However, I decided to go to university, ignoring art and studying something unrelated.

Two years ago, when my 26th birthday arrived, I noticed that I wouldn't become my best at something that isn't art. So, I left university, even though I had successfully completed my thesis.

In just 2 years, not only did I reach my old prime, but I surpassed it to another level. But in chess, it's a different story. I knew at the time that it didn’t make any difference whether I studied 30 minutes on each theme a day or 3 hours; my rating didn’t change, even if I tried with all my might.

My father, who uses the "noalid" account with more than 20k matches and without studying any chess beyond the basics, has the same Elo as me. I feel like you have more in your hands than you think: chess clubs, relatively young age, health, and a good bullet rating.

In my country, there aren’t many OTB (over-the-board) tournaments where I live. I have to travel 3 to 6 hours just to attend a single FIDE chess tournament. I will never get a title, even if I want to. I can't find any OTB clubs, and the one I tried to join a few months ago was dismantled.

Maybe you need to find a second thing that fuels you and do both.

@Sniper_Bishop said in #22:
> Poda Komali Gobi