I have been playing chess for 10 years now, on and off. I don't seem to make any progress whatsoever. I tried to learn openings. I try to calculate as far as I can. I take my time and try to focus. But at one point or the other in a game I just do something stupid and lose my queen or a rook.
My question is: Can anybody get good at chess or should I just give up and try an other game?
P.S. I am happy the captchas are not too hard...
"But at one point or the other in a game I just do something stupid and lose my queen or a rook."
I think this is the issue. Unfortunately, I am in no position to help as I am equally guilty, especially when I only have a few seconds to move.
On top of that I am paired with opponents that are much stronger than I am as soon as I make some progress. It is as if the system is punishing me. (I know that that isn't the case and that there is probably a reason for that)
I think that most people can learn how to play chess and improve, at least up to 1500.
Many times when I make a move, if it is a blunder, I see that it is right after I make it. A strategy that I have used, at least in rapid and classical time controls is to pretend that I made the move, then sit back and relax, without actually making the move. I can usually tell that it is a blunder, and search for a different move. Maybe try playing rapid, and you will blunder less using this strategy. I have found that you can reach 1500 if you consistently do not blunder many pawns, or anything more valuable. If playing classical, another strategy is to circle (right-click) on all hanging or inadequately defended pieces before you make your move. Hope this helps!
My question would be: Do you study, too?
I golf, and I know that I can't just take my clubs out of the trunk and play. I have to practice, too.
Spend your study time on endgames, middlegames and tactics. Opening knowledge is not as helpful <1800.
Learn endgames first, because it will teach you how pieces and pawns relate -- and when you can pull off a win or salvage a draw because you *know* what to do, your results improve.
You also should develop a checklist of questions.
For example, if you're not on move ... are any pawns or pieces weak or potential targets? Are any of my opponent's pieces short of moves? Could I improve the placement of any of my pieces? Which is my worst piece, and what can I do about it?
If you are on move ... is my opponent making a threat? Are any pawns or pieces hanging? What squares did my opponent's last move abandon, and can I take advantage?
Here's a rough example. Your opponent is on move, and he has a backward pawn. You think about how you can array your pieces to attack it. On move, you're calculating how to attack, without creating your own weaknesses.
Hope this helps.
@pigsontheseventh Would you say that I should start learning openings know that I'm getting closer to 1800?
Something has clicked today in that I'm thinking/calculating better and I've already crushed 4 1700s in a row with ease (and besides the last one the analysis has looked really good). And all 10+0 games. As my rating is drastically climbing I'm wondering if I should start learning openings or endgame. My middle game is mostly pretty good, and when I play 2000s I feel like I start losing from the opening. Though my endgame isn't too great. Any advice?
@Sabotageinabag I believe anyone can learn chess to 1500+ if they enjoy it. 2000+ takes dedication and/or skill. I've been playing for improvement for about a year (not including when I would just play a game every now and then with my not too good friends). But even when I was improving I was only playing bullet (way too much). In hindsight I wished I would have made all those game rapid games so that I could have actually improved. I believe that one's improvement depends on the person.
If you are looking to improve (I know I'm no 2000+ [yet]) I find watching streamers (2000+) and watching them make their moves and think about positions is really helpful (I often challenge them to try and learn what they think about my moves). ChessNetwork is the best YouTube Channel out there when it comes to improving and watching chess because of his detailed descriptions of his positions. Do a lot of puzzles, learn some basic opening theory (but not too deep), and learn basic endgames (like checkmating with a queen). Ultimately, if you don't think you are going to enjoy it, then I wouldn't invest too much time in it. Currently, I feel I'm in a position where I feel I've gone too far to just stop now, and that I need to make it to 2000+. It's all your decision. Hopefully this helped!
nope
Hello OP! I would like to believe that YES, you can improve! I say this because I've improved, and you know what, honestly I still believe that I am not particularly good. The last 2 games I've played, for example, against 1800 opponents (in 15+15 games), were decided by simple blunders, things that even 1000 ELO players would solve in a puzzle. So you're not the only one!
You said it yourself in the OP, most games at our level are decided by elementary things... If you could just get into the right frame of mind you would be able to not make these simple blunders and win many games due to it. You blunder less than 800 level players. That means that you do have some skill in this. It isn't all or nothing. You miss less tactics than other players. So it isn't like you don't have that special X factor, you DO have it, just it's more dilluted. Our difference is not that fundamental maybe... maybe just a difference in degree.
To become truly good, that I don't know if everyone can do. But at least it seems feasible that everyone can get to a level that you can say, "I lost because my opponent played really well, not because I hung a mate in 2".
I've improved a little bit since I began playing, I am now naturally aware of tactics and things like that. Before I knew to solve tactics in puzzles but I did not think in that way, naturally. During my thoughts tactics never came up. I now scan for "interesting" things in the position and I find myself thinking things like, "If I put my knight in the center it'd be nice, but if I do that, I'll lose a pawn, so I can't do that". Maybe I am thinking more about things that I CAN'T do, not only things that I can do. (But I am not thinking in formulas, this all comes naturally). Perhaps one good thing to be aware is this: If you aren't seeing moves that are blunders, watch out, perhaps the move you are going to make now is a blunder! At least you should be dodging simple blunders that look like they could be good moves once in a while.
What helped me was logical chess move by move, also, watch GMs commentating. Try the pro chess league or john bartholomew's channel.
People know how to find tactics in puzzles but they don't think in that way during real games, maybe they think that tactics aren't that important. But this seems to tell me that their problem isn't skill per se... at least they do have that skill... they just don't know how to use the skill that they have. That's motivating!
I hope my post was at least somewhat insightful.
One more thing, you don't have to be good to play this game! Chess is great for our brains. At any level that you're at, you're still doing good things for yourself when you play. Especially if you have fun while you play, then this game is not only good for your brain but for your emotions too. What more to ask for!
Solve all lichess tactics.
Work through an endgame book, solving all exercises.
Watch youtube chess videos.
Get a GM Database and check out what they play in the opening.
Dont play Bullet or blitz until you are 2000+
Analyze your games, at least the opening phase.
Join a chessclub.
Define in how many months you want to have which rating.