My current otb rating is in the low 1400s, and I would like to know how I can reach 1500 (for now)
-Right now I'm doing tactics from 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations as well as some endgame problems
-I'm also going over Alekhine's games from "My Best Games of Chess" as well as my own games to work on basic planning and calculating
-I'm currently ignoring more complicated opening theory
-rereading Silman's Reassess your Chess
am I on the right path? (I just started this regimen and stopped completely messing around on rhp games)
Originally posted by Ian709yah for sure. I think one big difference for me was about 5 seconds.. spend an extra 5 seconds before hitting the submit button. My rating jumped 100 points right there.
My current otb rating is in the low 1400s, and I would like to know how I can reach 1500 (for now)
-Right now I'm doing tactics from 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations as well as some endgame problems
-I'm also going over Alekhine's games from "My Best Games of Chess" as well as my own games to work on basic planning and calculating
-I'm curr ...[text shortened]... ht path? (I just started this regimen and stopped completely messing around on rhp games)
Originally posted by ih8sensI think getting a consistent thought process is the key. Well, that & tactics training.
yah for sure. I think one big difference for me was about 5 seconds.. spend an extra 5 seconds before hitting the submit button. My rating jumped 100 points right there.
Here's my one which I've posted before which I try to use after my opponent has moved:
1) opponent's threats
*checks - have to be dealt with.
If you are in check, is it best to take the checking piece/pawn, block the check or move the king?
*captures - attacked pieces/pawns
*tactical threats (pins, skewers, forks)
2) what can your opponent do now that they couldn't before their last move?
*what plan do they have?
if you can decide what their plan is, can you stop it?
e.g are they planning to stick a knight on that defended d5 outpost & can you scupper it with a simple pawn move?
3) what threats do you have?
*is there a checkmate available?
*do you have a forced sequence of moves that creates a threat or wins material?
*checks are forcing moves - do you have any?
*can you create a new threat?
only make threats that make your position better if they can be met!
*any tactics available?
4) strategy
*put simply, how can you improve your position & put pieces on active squares or improve your pawn structure?
e.g Are the light or dark squares protecting his king weakened by a pawn push?
Can you dominate an open file with a rook or move a knight to a central 5th rank outpost?
5) write a list of "candidate" moves
*go through possible moves, try to refine your list & remove blunders, weak or pointless moves.
*actually physically write them down. Writing/visualising aids in the learning process tremendously.
You should have some ideas from the pointers above.
6) 3 or 4 moves...
*usually you'll have a few moves that look good. You've checked them with the analyse game function & they aren't blunders & do counter a threat/make a threat/improve your position
*the big task is to not just pick a move but the best move
I think the 5 second think before hitting the "submit move" button could be classed as a sanity check.
Have you missed a hung piece or pawn?
Are any of your pieces or pawns hanging as a result of your chosen candidate move.
Is there a tactic there - it's true, the longer you study the board, the easier it is to overthink & miss a simple knight fork or whatever.
Take your time & try to use a simple thought process before every move & you should stay above 1500 with ease if you are doing the other things like tactical training & basic endgame study.
Originally posted by ih8sensThat's exactly what I'm working on. My trouble right now is finding the best out of the choices.
the candidate move thing is good.... that's the way to go.. look through every logical move and gradually eliminate them until you're left with your best move.. great idea in less tactical positions.
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Originally posted by Ian709Join the club!
That's exactly what I'm working on. My trouble right now is finding the best out of the choices.
😛
I would say, don't look too far ahead in your analysis.
Someone here posted that they analysed 15/16 moves ahead which is pure nonsense.
Most people in non-forcing positions look for their best move/opponents best move/your best response at the most.
Originally posted by HandyAndyahh thank you
Ian, I think you'll find this discourse on thinking habits helpful:
Thread 72641
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Originally posted by Squelchbelch... 15/16 (ply) is reasonable in cc chess in certain positions. I've done it... takes hours.
Join the club!
😛
I would say, don't look too far ahead in your analysis.
Someone here posted that they analysed 15/16 moves ahead which is pure nonsense.
Most people in non-forcing positions look for their best move/opponents best move/your best response at the most.
Edit - Game 3407524
Here's an example of a game where I spent about 2 hours on one move. I'd say on my deepest of the 3 candidate lines I was looking through I analyzed about 10 moves deep (20 ply).
edit #2 - for those that are interested I spent about an hour on move 21 though not analyzing particularly deeply.. it was more of a blunder check. Move 25 was the one where I spent 2 hours.. it was probably the longest i've ever searched. In general (even in cc) being able to see 10Ply is plenty.. that's 5 moves for each side and at our level a minor blunder will be made every 5 moves anyways.
Originally posted by HandyAndyI'd like to endorse that. Varenka argues cogently and lucidly in what must be the best post here in an age. He practises what he preaches, too; see how he took my position to pieces here with scalpel-like precision: Game 3720106
Ian, I think you'll find this discourse on thinking habits helpful:
Thread 72641
Ih8sens is right as well; an extra few moments' consideration before pressing "submit" can save your life. If only I could learn to abide by that axiom...
citius, altius, fortius !
Hi guys.
15 - 20 moves ahead?!
And did you analyse another 15 - 20 moves for each time your opponent didn't play the 'right reply'? Let's see...that could be 15 X 15 X 15 ... my brain hurts already. Sometimes it's possible in the endgame to count that far ahead - but, come on, even Kasparov doesn't analyse that deeply in the middlegame.
You can pick up a free chess ebook 'Banish Those Blunders' at
www.MyBestChess.com. There's also a course there which has the sole aim of improving your chess grade. The last time I looked it was still only $5 a month.
Originally posted by Ian709Like you said, you don't really need to focus too much on openings, but it wouldn't hurt to choose an opening that fits your playing style and learn, say, the first five to six moves in it. From there, you can make your way into the middle game on a level playing field and begin using middlegame tactics.
My current otb rating is in the low 1400s, and I would like to know how I can reach 1500 (for now)
-Right now I'm doing tactics from 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations as well as some endgame problems
-I'm also going over Alekhine's games from "My Best Games of Chess" as well as my own games to work on basic planning and calculating
-I'm curr ...[text shortened]... ht path? (I just started this regimen and stopped completely messing around on rhp games)
Originally posted by wittywonkaI just working with the Vienna Gambit
Like you said, you don't really need to focus too much on openings, but it wouldn't hurt to choose an opening that fits your playing style and learn, say, the first five to six moves in it. From there, you can make your way into the middle game on a level playing field and begin using middlegame tactics.
1 edit
Originally posted by Ian709User 340422
My current otb rating is in the low 1400s, and I would like to know how I can reach 1500 (for now)
-Right now I'm doing tactics from 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations as well as some endgame problems
-I'm also going over Alekhine's games from "My Best Games of Chess" as well as my own games to work on basic planning and calculating
-I'm curr ht path? (I just started this regimen and stopped completely messing around on rhp games)