Originally posted by TEXASmadehttp://www.rhp15.com/pictures/1500.gif
For those of you that are 1500 and above players, how long did it take you to reach that point from when you first started playing chess on a regular basis...also how old were you when you did this?
I played all my life... if you want to call playing chess here or there 'all my life'. In my midearly 20's I was hanging out with 4 or 6 other people around my town who all happened to enjoy chess, and we all started to play. 2 of them always beat me, so I finally got some books and learned some opens, tactics, and mating combos. By about midupper 20's I was beating anyone in my town that I knew who played chess and joined a chess club.
There I was able to play some strong games vs. the USCF rated 1500's and 1700's, but almost never win. I stoped that and got back in when this guy 'weird' said he played chess. We played email chess, and some OTB. I wond a few, he won MOST. I joined a news group and someone posted about RHP, and I went.
Came in strong here, but am much stronger now I would think. I think the key to getting a good game going is knowing all the basics inside out, and a bit of history of the game. Also knowing there is always room to improve when you see what you did wrong to lose each game, and figuring out what you should have done and what you will do next time. Winning doesn't help your rating go up...
P-