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A plan to break the plateau?

A plan to break the plateau?

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U

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OK, for a while I was breaking 1600 on my RHP rating, and I think that was attributed to using a chess puzzle ap on my iPhone fairly regularly.

I took months off of chess (not a decision, just did) and lost a lot of my playing ability.

So I gather doing chess puzzles is how I should go about improving my game again.

Truth be told I work long hours so I forget and/or I get lazy. So I'd like set a quota for myself that will be both beneficial, but also something I will realistically stick to. Would doing, say, five puzzles per day help me improve? Should I do at least ten? Is there anything else beside puzzles I should be doing?

What I'm asking for is the lazy man's method for getting better at chess. I know, I don't ask for much.

Thanks!

t

bedlam

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Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
OK, for a while I was breaking 1600 on my RHP rating, and I think that was attributed to using a chess puzzle ap on my iPhone fairly regularly.

I took months off of chess (not a decision, just did) and lost a lot of my playing ability.

So I gather doing chess puzzles is how I should go about improving my game again.

Truth be told ...[text shortened]... the lazy man's method for getting better at chess. I know, I don't ask for much.

Thanks!
If you can do 5 a day that would be great.
I think it's generally agreed upon that the trick with puzzles is to do them every day.Better 1 a day than 7 each Sunday.

There's also how to do them.
1 or 2 minutes,then look at the solution.Or untill you actually solve one.
With the former you get to see many patterns quickly,that's good.The quantity method.
With the latter you really use your brain,that's good too.The quality method.
There's advocates for both methods.I do the quantity method,but in truth I'm not so sure it's best.I'm rather weak at calculating a combination,I often overlook things,and I think that method is the reason why.
Then again,I might just be a blunderprone individual.

U

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Originally posted by torten
If you can do 5 a day that would be great.
I think it's generally agreed upon that the trick with puzzles is to do them every day.Better 1 a day than 7 each Sunday.

There's also how to do them.
1 or 2 minutes,then look at the solution.Or untill you actually solve one.
With the former you get to see many patterns quickly,that's good.The quantity method. ...[text shortened]... nk that method is the reason why.
Then again,I might just be a blunderprone individual.
Some really helpful stuff in there, thanks!

What are some good tactic sites for 1500 level RPH players?

t

bedlam

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Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
Some really helpful stuff in there, thanks!

What are some good tactic sites for 1500 level RPH players?
Not 100%sure but I think chesstempo adjust it's puzzles to your rating.

In fact,I assume all puzzlesites do.But I only know 1 LOL

greenpawn34

e4

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Playing is the best way to improve.
You are a Sub, knock your tally up to 10.

Then add on 10 unrated games and go bonkers. Have some fun.

You have heard of the KIA. The King's Indian Attack. That's too dull.

Play the KSA. The Kitchen Sink Attack.
You throw everything at them...including your King!

Doing 5/6 puzzles a day won't do any harm at all. However...
You could end up being very good at solving puzzles but cannot get
into the positions to use this skill.
(A bit like what happens to me when I meet a good player.)

It's a mixture of both. Keep doing the puzzles, everyday if you can.
I use to like finding the full game that led to the position from where the puzzle was set.

The lead up play is often more instructive than solving the combo.

I think it was Rudolf Spielmann who said he could have played everyone of
Alekhine's deepest combinations but he could never get into those positions.

On the Blog I give the details of the players concerned so you can dig out
the full game and see how it got there. Often I will give the full game.

The bad news is sometimes the lead up play can be (sorry lads) pretty awful.
Still it's always handy watching basic errors get scudded.

But actually playing the game is the way. It's much more fun as well.

t

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Originally posted by greenpawn34
Playing is the best way to improve.
You are a Sub, knock your tally up to 10.

Then add on 10 unrated games and go bonkers. Have some fun.

You have heard of the KIA. The King's Indian Attack. That's too dull.

Play the KSA. The Kitchen Sink Attack.
You throw everything at them...including your King!

Doing 5/6 puzzles a day won't do any ha ors get scudded.

But actually playing the game is the way. It's much more fun as well.
Here is the kitchen sink attack... otb game.. I lost but I think I missed a win in there.



and another but this time I won.



and another loss

t

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Hey,

looked at some of your games and many that i stumbled across ended in resignation by you. sometimes you were just down a minor piece. i suggest, you don't resign those - imagine you play the game down to this advantage for your opponent: it will be a draw. and since you blundered a piece away, there is a high chance, the same will happen to your opponent. more important you see positions that train you - sometimes your blunder will be seen as a beautiful sac at the end 🙂

regarding your question directly: if you put yourself under pressure with a certain number of riddles to solve, being busy with work and so on... it takes away your time and energy from the games itself...

t.

greenpawn34

e4

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Hi Tom Tom.

The first game - here. White to play.


You did miss a win, you have a Windmill.

23.Ne6+ (instead of 23.Rf7+) 23...PxN (forced). 24.Bh6+ Kg8 25.Rg7+


Kf8 Then RxB dis+ and Queen takes Queen 1-0.

That all appears to be forced.

Smashing game. I played Belgrade a few times nobody ever took the
gambit pawn (5...Nxe5).

t

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Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi Tom Tom.

The first game - here. White to play.

[fen]r4k1r/pb1pR2p/1pqP2p1/3Q2N1/2B5/5K2/PP1B1PPP/n7 w - - 0 23[/fen]
You did miss a win, you have a Windmill.

23.Ne6+ (instead of 23.Rf7+) 23...PxN (forced). 24.Bh6+ Kg8 25.Rg7+

[fen]r5kr/pb4Rp/1pqPp1pB/3Q4/2B5/5K2/PP3PPP/n7 b - - 0 25[/fen]
Kf8 Then RxB dis+ and Queen takes Queen 1-0.

...[text shortened]...

Smashing game. I played Belgrade a few times nobody ever took the
gambit pawn (5...Nxe5).
Yeah, that was it. I have it here in my notes... too bad I missed it since I tried the Ne6+ with the idea of Bh6+ later in the game.

b
Enigma

Seattle

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Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
OK, for a while I was breaking 1600 on my RHP rating, and I think that was attributed to using a chess puzzle ap on my iPhone fairly regularly.

I took months off of chess (not a decision, just did) and lost a lot of my playing ability.

So I gather doing chess puzzles is how I should go about improving my game again.

Truth be told ...[text shortened]... the lazy man's method for getting better at chess. I know, I don't ask for much.

Thanks!
Frankly, I think you're doing pretty well considering your work schedule. When you have more time to devote to chess, consider some tactics training, and a few games against a computer program such as Chessmaster 10K (if you have one). Another good tool is find a few higher ranking players to submit your finished games to for anaylsis. This and a consistent game load should keep you on the right path.

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