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25 lessons from 25 years of chess

#2

"Lesson 1: Don’t take the draw."

  • A draw is fine and it is the outcome of a perfect game. However, do not offer or accept draws.
    Play till the last pawn or a 3-fold repetition.

"The draw secured my IM title"

  • Suppose you declined the draw, lost, and never made IM. Would not you regret that?

"Lesson 5: One lesson per loss." * Analyse lost games thoroughly, do not analyse wins.

"Lesson 8: Seek stronger opponents." * Do not play in Uxxxx tournaments, always play open tournaments.

"goal of having 10 minutes left after 40 moves" * A better goal is to use all time before move 30 and finish on increment.

"We share our wins and hide our losses." * A loss is a lesson. A win is a lesson you taught your opponent.

"Lesson 14: Talent isn’t enough." * 'I only have one talent: a talent for hard work' - Kasparov

"blitz is a good way to train your feel for the game" * It is too superficial and breeds bad habits.

"Lesson 1: Don’t take the draw." * A draw is fine and it is the outcome of a perfect game. However, do not offer or accept draws. Play till the last pawn or a 3-fold repetition. "The draw secured my IM title" * Suppose you declined the draw, lost, and never made IM. Would not you regret that? "Lesson 5: One lesson per loss." * Analyse lost games thoroughly, do not analyse wins. "Lesson 8: Seek stronger opponents." * Do not play in Uxxxx tournaments, always play open tournaments. "goal of having 10 minutes left after 40 moves" * A better goal is to use all time before move 30 and finish on increment. "We share our wins and hide our losses." * A loss is a lesson. A win is a lesson you taught your opponent. "Lesson 14: Talent isn’t enough." * 'I only have one talent: a talent for hard work' - Kasparov "blitz is a good way to train your feel for the game" * It is too superficial and breeds bad habits.
#4

Lesson 1: Don’t take the draw.

I mean that depends on how much you value improvement. In Poland we have our own rating (Pzszach), which works a little differently. Everyone stasts at 1000. We have categories that increase your rating (generally by 200), to get one you need a good Pzszach performance, for example to get the III category you need 1600 performance and from 1800 up it works sort of like norms.

In my hometown I was playing a GM (who sometimes comes to play with us, I don't think it was the first time we've played) and he offers a draw on move 4, which greatly helped me get the 5-round 2200 Pzszach norm and I definitely don't regret that. Especially considering I was still picking my lines against what he played, which I later switched, so whatever I'd learn would have less meaning. The norms brought my confidence up, showing me I'm already on that level, so I shouldn't be afraid of future opponents up there. I'm still afraid of higher-rated players, for example when I face 2700's in bullet, so that realisation and confidence boost is very important to me.

A couple weeks ago, in a 6-round rapid event, the last round there is like 4 people with 4.5/5 and I know I have worst tie-breaks. I play the same GM with Black, he forces an equal endgame and offers draw. My options are decline, more likely lose than win (I know my strengths and weaknesses) and lose a prize, or take a draw, look what I did wrong in the opening to allow such liquidation and hope for good tie-breaks (I tied for 3rd in a Swiss lol, but got 4th place prize).

But in the games for nothing to lose, the choice is obvious, the question is whether you value prizes, podium finishes, or titles/rating more than one game with a strong opponent.

Lesson 3: Enjoy worse positions.

How does one do so? I'm the complete opposite of you, my openings are ahead of my level and I almost always get what I want, recently wining a pawn against a 2250 rated player in a classical game. With Black in 8 moves. Or getting a prepared 2150 out out of book on move 3. So I'm used to enjoying better positions, in my last (rapid) tournament out of 9 games I got 8 better/winning positions out of preparation, once getting an easy equal game.

Lesson 15: Love what you avoid.

I avoid symmetrical positions. I avoid positional games. I avoid passive pieces. I avoid closed positions. How can I love it, if I don't enjoy the positions I get from for example Semi-Slav, or the Triangle Defence, or the Caro, or any "solid" opening. I know at some point I should play positions I despise most, but that's not fun. And fun keeps lets me going every day. All I do is work openings, many would call that hell, but that's what I truly enjoy doing, so if I were to take that away...

Lesson 17: Understand, don’t memorise

!!!

Lesson 18: Think before the engine.
go a whole week without using one

That's pretty interesting, I'll definitely try that one.

Lesson 21: Play the move you believe in.

This is so important, if you don't trust your calculation/evaluation, then why bother doing so? It takes a long time to realize how important it is to just trust yourself, I still remember being afraid to sacrifice a knight on f7, because I didn't see a forced win, even though the final position had to have been winning (and it was) and losing the game to a higher–rated opponent. Funny thing is I beat him (rapid again) 3 days ago in a miniature, by sacrificing a knight on d5 for fun.

This also goes for your preparation, second–guessing your choices during a game to avoid opponent's theory hurts you and only you. If you are confident in your lines, well then play them. If not, these are still your lines. Play them, figure out what you don't like and fix it or swap them.

Lesson 22: Don’t play it safe.

It's more about playing your game. Some good players play smooth risk–less games, slowly increasing their advantage, other like me seek a fight as soon as possible. The key is to not change that, because that's what you do best.

Thank you for the post, very interesting and useful takes in my opinion, just one missing. One that let's me doing on the surface "boring" things for hours on end, because I find it interesting and exciting.

Do what you love.

> Lesson 1: Don’t take the draw. I mean that depends on how much you value improvement. In Poland we have our own rating (Pzszach), which works a little differently. Everyone stasts at 1000. We have categories that increase your rating (generally by 200), to get one you need a good Pzszach performance, for example to get the III category you need 1600 performance and from 1800 up it works sort of like norms. In my hometown I was playing a GM (who sometimes comes to play with us, I don't think it was the first time we've played) and he offers a draw on move 4, which greatly helped me get the 5-round 2200 Pzszach norm and I definitely don't regret that. Especially considering I was still picking my lines against what he played, which I later switched, so whatever I'd learn would have less meaning. The norms brought my confidence up, showing me I'm already on that level, so I shouldn't be afraid of future opponents up there. I'm still afraid of higher-rated players, for example when I face 2700's in bullet, so that realisation and confidence boost is very important to me. A couple weeks ago, in a 6-round rapid event, the last round there is like 4 people with 4.5/5 and I know I have worst tie-breaks. I play the same GM with Black, he forces an equal endgame and offers draw. My options are decline, more likely lose than win (I know my strengths and weaknesses) and lose a prize, or take a draw, look what I did wrong in the opening to allow such liquidation and hope for good tie-breaks (I tied for 3rd in a Swiss lol, but got 4th place prize). But in the games for nothing to lose, the choice is obvious, the question is whether you value prizes, podium finishes, or titles/rating more than one game with a strong opponent. > Lesson 3: Enjoy worse positions. How does one do so? I'm the complete opposite of you, my openings are ahead of my level and I almost always get what I want, recently wining a pawn against a 2250 rated player in a classical game. With Black in 8 moves. Or getting a prepared 2150 out out of book on move 3. So I'm used to enjoying better positions, in my last (rapid) tournament out of 9 games I got 8 better/winning positions out of preparation, once getting an easy equal game. > Lesson 15: Love what you avoid. I avoid symmetrical positions. I avoid positional games. I avoid passive pieces. I avoid closed positions. How can I love it, if I don't enjoy the positions I get from for example Semi-Slav, or the Triangle Defence, or the Caro, or any "solid" opening. I know at some point I should play positions I despise most, but that's not fun. And fun keeps lets me going every day. All I do is work openings, many would call that hell, but that's what I truly enjoy doing, so if I were to take that away... > Lesson 17: Understand, don’t memorise !!! > Lesson 18: Think before the engine. > go a whole week without using one That's pretty interesting, I'll definitely try that one. > Lesson 21: Play the move you believe in. This is so important, if you don't trust your calculation/evaluation, then why bother doing so? It takes a long time to realize how important it is to just trust yourself, I still remember being afraid to sacrifice a knight on f7, because I didn't see a forced win, even though the final position had to have been winning (and it was) and losing the game to a higher–rated opponent. Funny thing is I beat him (rapid again) 3 days ago in a miniature, by sacrificing a knight on d5 for fun. This also goes for your preparation, second–guessing your choices during a game to avoid opponent's theory hurts you and only you. If you are confident in your lines, well then play them. If not, these are still your lines. Play them, figure out what you don't like and fix it or swap them. > Lesson 22: Don’t play it safe. It's more about playing your game. Some good players play smooth risk–less games, slowly increasing their advantage, other like me seek a fight as soon as possible. The key is to not change that, because that's what you do best. Thank you for the post, very interesting and useful takes in my opinion, just one missing. One that let's me doing on the surface "boring" things for hours on end, because I find it interesting and exciting. Do what you love.
#5

Excellent summary of the experiences that you have been through and sharing it with the community.

Excellent summary of the experiences that you have been through and sharing it with the community.
#6

amazing list that you wrote about. thank you

amazing list that you wrote about. thank you
#7

I know a good book called My Great Predeccors by Garry Kasparov ( chess games of champions ) with notes!
Btw this blog is really helpful thank u!

I know a good book called My Great Predeccors by Garry Kasparov ( chess games of champions ) with notes! Btw this blog is really helpful thank u!
#8

The first "don't take the draw" was extremely true

The first "don't take the draw" was extremely true
#9

@tpr said in #2:

"Lesson 1: Don’t take the draw."

  • A draw is fine and it is the outcome of a perfect game. However, do not offer or accept draws.
    Play till the last pawn or a 3-fold repetition.

"The draw secured my IM title"

  • Suppose you declined the draw, lost, and never made IM. Would not you regret that?

"Lesson 5: One lesson per loss." * Analyse lost games thoroughly, do not analyse wins.

"Lesson 8: Seek stronger opponents." * Do not play in Uxxxx tournaments, always play open tournaments.

"goal of having 10 minutes left after 40 moves" * A better goal is to use all time before move 30 and finish on increment.

"We share our wins and hide our losses." * A loss is a lesson. A win is a lesson you taught your opponent.

"Lesson 14: Talent isn’t enough." * 'I only have one talent: a talent for hard work' - Kasparov

"blitz is a good way to train your feel for the game" * It is too superficial and breeds bad habits.

Sure, who knows how the universe would have proceeded if I spurned the draw - I just remember feeling the fear of letting the opportunity slip because I didn't have the confidence that I was good enough to make it in future (or if I declined), and I wasn't feeling proud of accepting afterwards.
Blitz isn't for everyone, but I think for many players it can help - perhaps I should preface that you should prioritise OTB classical and play rapid as well if only online, and blitz is more of a complement.

@tpr said in #2: > "Lesson 1: Don’t take the draw." > * A draw is fine and it is the outcome of a perfect game. However, do not offer or accept draws. > Play till the last pawn or a 3-fold repetition. > > "The draw secured my IM title" > * Suppose you declined the draw, lost, and never made IM. Would not you regret that? > > "Lesson 5: One lesson per loss." * Analyse lost games thoroughly, do not analyse wins. > > "Lesson 8: Seek stronger opponents." * Do not play in Uxxxx tournaments, always play open tournaments. > > "goal of having 10 minutes left after 40 moves" * A better goal is to use all time before move 30 and finish on increment. > > "We share our wins and hide our losses." * A loss is a lesson. A win is a lesson you taught your opponent. > > "Lesson 14: Talent isn’t enough." * 'I only have one talent: a talent for hard work' - Kasparov > > "blitz is a good way to train your feel for the game" * It is too superficial and breeds bad habits. Sure, who knows how the universe would have proceeded if I spurned the draw - I just remember feeling the fear of letting the opportunity slip because I didn't have the confidence that I was good enough to make it in future (or if I declined), and I wasn't feeling proud of accepting afterwards. Blitz isn't for everyone, but I think for many players it can help - perhaps I should preface that you should prioritise OTB classical and play rapid as well if only online, and blitz is more of a complement.
#10

@tw0_time_acc said in #3:

1 is so true - i declined the draw and lost - but wasnt so sad - even my friends - 1700 fide said it was a good attitude

It takes courage to decline! If you want to get to a higher level, I think getting as much training as you can to beat people especially higher-rated is so important (and not being content with just drawing).

@tw0_time_acc said in #3: > 1 is so true - i declined the draw and lost - but wasnt so sad - even my friends - 1700 fide said it was a good attitude It takes courage to decline! If you want to get to a higher level, I think getting as much training as you can to beat people especially higher-rated is so important (and not being content with just drawing).