I'm roughly 1600 USCF (and have been stuck here for some time) and am really looking to improve my chess over the summer. Since I'm a teacher, summer provides me with the best opportunity to really study and improve since I'm not working nearly as much. Are there any methods that have worked for others to improve and break through my current ceiling? Obviously puzzles, endgames, openings, etc., but other strategies, tips, books, etc. that have worked for others would be greatly appreciated.
Persevere.
The best way to improve is to get someone stronger to go through your games. They'll be able to identify what areas you need to focus on.
Although I don't play 'serious' chess anymore, when I was a strong player I found a good book of combinations teaches one to look for imaginative and unusual sacrifices not always apparent to the naked eye, the tactics puzzles here are clearly taken from fast games and are rather shallow and obvious.
'The Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations' by chess informant is an excellent book with all the best combinations from down the years and is also available in software form for chessbase.
'The Encyclopedia of Chess Combinations' by chess informant is an excellent book with all the best combinations from down the years and is also available in software form for chessbase.
15+ minute games and analyze after each game
I may not be qualified to give advice considering you've beat me (3 times?), but here goes.
The most effective thing I've done, and the only thing I did consistently as I went from 1400 to 1900, is analyze any game I play that's blitz time control or slower.
For the few years that I did this consistently, the very least I would do after a game is turn on the computer analysis and see if I made in big mistakes/missed any ideas and saw what the computer said I should've done instead. Other times, I would go through once without the computer and decide what I think I or my opponent should do differently and then use the computer to check my hypotheses. And then, at times, after a tournament game, I would discuss it with my opponent, go home and put it in a study, take notes on everything: what I did well, poorly, everything in between. Word vomit what I was thinking. And then, once again, check it with the computer.
I've found this method to be super helpful. Some games I realize I made an inaccuracy as soon as I was out of prep, and made a mental note to change that for future games. Maybe I missed a tactic in a winning position. My most common discovery was that I was that I blew a won/drawn endgame into a draw/loss. Many times I could sense this in the game, but couldn't figure out the exact point where I went wrong. My endgames are still weak, but this helped tremendously.
Again, the difference in our ability is not that large, nor is my ability that impressive compared to others on here. I'm just sharing what has worked for me. And I really believe if you give this a serious try even for 10 games, you'll start to notice the strengths and weaknesses of your game and in turn, improve those weaker aspects of your playstyle.
The most effective thing I've done, and the only thing I did consistently as I went from 1400 to 1900, is analyze any game I play that's blitz time control or slower.
For the few years that I did this consistently, the very least I would do after a game is turn on the computer analysis and see if I made in big mistakes/missed any ideas and saw what the computer said I should've done instead. Other times, I would go through once without the computer and decide what I think I or my opponent should do differently and then use the computer to check my hypotheses. And then, at times, after a tournament game, I would discuss it with my opponent, go home and put it in a study, take notes on everything: what I did well, poorly, everything in between. Word vomit what I was thinking. And then, once again, check it with the computer.
I've found this method to be super helpful. Some games I realize I made an inaccuracy as soon as I was out of prep, and made a mental note to change that for future games. Maybe I missed a tactic in a winning position. My most common discovery was that I was that I blew a won/drawn endgame into a draw/loss. Many times I could sense this in the game, but couldn't figure out the exact point where I went wrong. My endgames are still weak, but this helped tremendously.
Again, the difference in our ability is not that large, nor is my ability that impressive compared to others on here. I'm just sharing what has worked for me. And I really believe if you give this a serious try even for 10 games, you'll start to notice the strengths and weaknesses of your game and in turn, improve those weaker aspects of your playstyle.
Greatly test your calculation abilities.
Become great at endgames that way u can just trade off to favorable endgame when needed.
Learn your openings deeper. Constantly prep positions over and over so you recognize them.
Don't play and learn 14 openings. Find move orders to get the game u prefer more often if possible. For example avoiding Grunfeld or King's Indian. Avoiding Nimzo. Avoiding open sicilian which is usually everyone's first skill lol
Have a rare but solid opening or sideline only seen 1-3% of time. Not a dubious gambit. Use it as occasional weapon unless it keeps winning play it until it doesn't. Then put in back pocket.
Become great at endgames that way u can just trade off to favorable endgame when needed.
Learn your openings deeper. Constantly prep positions over and over so you recognize them.
Don't play and learn 14 openings. Find move orders to get the game u prefer more often if possible. For example avoiding Grunfeld or King's Indian. Avoiding Nimzo. Avoiding open sicilian which is usually everyone's first skill lol
Have a rare but solid opening or sideline only seen 1-3% of time. Not a dubious gambit. Use it as occasional weapon unless it keeps winning play it until it doesn't. Then put in back pocket.
• Play and analyze approximately three 15+10 games per day.
• Do daily meditation and physical exercise.
• Do approximately ten puzzles per day.
• Do daily meditation and physical exercise.
• Do approximately ten puzzles per day.
You get better by playing, if you have played let's say 1000 games, another has played 10,000. The other player is better because he has more experience, he's seen more.
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