Originally posted by bestmateyes...and if this is so; the idea that we all joined this wonderful site in order to play chess, then you are wrong in saying that to get better you need to enjoy the game. of course this aids improvement ( that goes without saying) but it is not a certainty, as we can see from players who have been at this site for 1/2 years, who have re-subscribed and are obviously enjoying playing but not improving significantly.
Thankyou.
We agree then that this site has all of our(legitimate) best interests at heart.
fred
Originally posted by Freddie2004I could take up golf.I predict I would not be able to compete,but,there is is more to being a member of the golf club than scoring holes in one.
yes...and if this is so; the idea that we all joined this wonderful site in order to play chess, then you are wrong in saying that to get better you need to enjoy the game. of course this aids improvement ( that goes without saying) but it is not a certainty, as we can see from players who have been at this site for 1/2 years, who have re-subscribed and are obviously enjoying playing but not improving significantly.
fred
something that has helped me just recently is studying combinations and tactics - get a book or two of them and just practice solving them. also endgame setups. it doesn't hurt to know some openings reasonable thoroughly as well, but that's more in the line of memory work. my current rating is low because i recently resigned a lot of games, but i expect this study of combinations and tactics will get me higher than my previous best of 1539 or so. it is like i am seeing things on the board that i was completely missing before, and the other day i beat a 1600+ player, which i've rarely done before...
btw it's also good to know positional/strategic principles - but i think i would go for the tactics first - if yr gonna be a streetfighter you'll need em...