Getting better at chess

I do not take classes, I do not have any friends who are good at chess. However, I have numerous books and websites as well as this website and www.freechess.org. I often feel as though I am making no progress. Will playing more and more games get me any better if I'm not really adapting and learning? Should I read through my books more often? Should I focus on one aspect of my game (for instance, openings) and really dig into that aspect (finding different concepts and principles ect...)?

I'd like to always be progressing, I just want some perspective on the best way to do that.

Thanks a lot.

-Dan

Tricky one. I think one obvious question you can ask yourself is "Am I making progress?" If you understand new things, you'll be able to answer that.. otherwise, not. It's also important that you can translate your knowledge to the decisions at the board. If you read 10% you must practice those concepts for 90%. Or something like that, you get the idea.

Also varying the stuff you practice is good.. the pieces of the puzzle seem to have to fall down in a particular order. But make sure you understand what you focused on before you continue.. usually includes a bit of work.

As for studying things.. I think unless you studied the end game for a couple of months/years, reading more (and practicing) of that will always improve your strength.

And yes, dig in. Go really deep (but not openings if you are new, if you played for at least a while, I think it's a good idea.. you must look at all aspects) .. Looking at something for 5 minutes never helps. I think some of the times I learned most is when you analyse a position for a couple of days until you understand it almost pervertedly well.

On the other hand, I know nothing.

Yust by playing a lot of games dose not improve your skills significally if you don't analyze them afterwards. Learn your weak points so you can enhance them. Go through older games again and see if you find something new that you didn't found before.

And do not just read books. Go through the games on the chessboard, not by pushing pieces back and forth but by think of every move. Book on the shelf doesn't teach you anything.

With this simple advices you can raise your rating considerably.

Experience is needed in order to progress at the game, so you should play as much as you can... but that alone will not help you. In order to become a good player you need to be able to analyse your losses and you need to understand why you lost, whether it was a positional mistake or a tactical oversight. Also, tactics are very important and they win most games so you MUST know tactics.

Originally posted by DanFaggella
I do not take classes, I do not have any friends who are good at chess. However, I have numerous books and websites as well as this website and www.freechess.org. I often feel as though I am making no progress. Will playing more and more games get me any better if I'm not really adapting and learning? Should I read through my books more often? Should I f ...[text shortened]... progressing, I just want some perspective on the best way to do that.

Thanks a lot.

-Dan