Finding what went wrong

In doing tournament prep. I've been losing about 80% of my games to my computer program. This is understandable since I set the computer opponent to play about 200 points above my playing strength. In analyzing the completed games, I can sometimes find where I went wrong, but cannot often find what I should have done to avoid the bad position in the first place. Other than hiring a coach (which I might do) to help me with this, I cannot find my way out of this situation.

Any suggestions?

It sounds like your strategical assessment of the position may be causing you to come up with the wrong plans?

A coach would fix that but that would be expensive but worth it in the long run.
I have never been able to afford a coach because that is something you need to do over the course of a few years.
A few lessons won’t accomplish much.
I have seen chess clubs offering group lessons at a discount so maybe that is an option?

Or play openings that keep the game “open” so it’s more about tactics and combinations instead of a closed/strategical game?
At least that way you will know why you lost because it will be a tactical blunder.

@Pachman

Saint Lewis Chess Club @youtube, subscribe, enjoy it's on around 22:30 GMT

I will check it out thanks 😉

My opinion is that playing games against computer programs is no use whatsoever in improving your chess. Why not play some fairly rapid games on chess dot com and then use the basic analysis feature to what their program thinks of the way the game went?

Although I have done paid coaching myself in the past, to be honest I don't really think that's worth the time or money either. Playing lots of games against players roughly your own strength, preferably face-to-face but failing that online, will do wonders for your game until you reach 2000+ level.

@mchill said
In doing tournament prep. I've been losing about 80% of my games to my computer program. This is understandable since I set the computer opponent to play about 200 points above my playing strength. In analyzing the completed games, I can sometimes find where I went wrong, but cannot often find what I should have done to avoid the bad position in the first place. Other than hi ...[text shortened]... h I might do) to help me with this, I cannot find my way out of this situation.

Any suggestions?

@paul-leggett said
Post some games here. Lots of people look at them, and a few will post. Perhaps some insight will be added along the way!