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How to improve gameplay for a beginner

How to improve gameplay for a beginner

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Hi All!

As a beginner, who do you recommend for me to improve my play?

I've been studying a few openings, practicing various puzzles and of course playing a lot of chess. But seem like I'm still stuck at same level (I often play against computer and still not easy to beat or fool 🙁)

Thanks for any tips!

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Originally posted by Skoyeren
Hi All!

As a beginner, who do you recommend for me to improve my play?

I've been studying a few openings, practicing various puzzles and of course playing a lot of chess. But seem like I'm still stuck at same level (I often play against computer and still not easy to beat or fool 🙁)

Thanks for any tips!
I'm inclined to agree with wormwood. Tactics, tactics and more tactics! Here's a good free tactics server you can use:

http://chess.emrald.net/

Of course, computers are extremely good at tactics so this may not be the best "computer busting" method. One thing computers are not good at is forecasting past their horizons, which means they can sometimes be fooled into entering into poor endgames in exchange for material. A good endgame book, like Silman's "Complete Endgame Course", can help you recognize those opportunities. I also enjoyed Silman's "Reassess Your Chess" and "The Amateur's Mind", which explains the positional elements of chess through Silman's imbalances method. A better grip on positional play will help you avoid making strategic concessions, which in turn should help lead you into positions where tactical opportunities arise.

Good luck! Just remember, the only way to improve is to work hard and challenge yourself, so don't be afraid to put in the hours - the end result is worth it!

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1) play classical openngs e4 e5 d4 d5 type stuff
2) do tactics everyday
3) study games of strong players
4) stay with it, over time you will see improvement.


Play The Game

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Great tips so far, thank you 🙂

Any special books you recommend? What software do you recommend?

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read Seirawan

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Originally posted by heinzkat
Play The Game
Rec'd.

Play as often as you can on here and OTB.
Take yout time on here.

Looked at your games.
Not too bad, no silly piece dropping blunders but you need something
on the opening principles.

Any book that covers just the opening ideas, not reams of theory to memorise.

Raid your local library it is bound to have a primer that covers the basics.

In Game 7046456 your 2....f6 was a stinker.



How were you going to answer 3.dxe5 with 3...fxe5?

You would never have got out the opening v most of the over 1400 players on
here. 4.Qh5+ cuts you to pieces.

In a way it's a pity he didn't because there is nothing like a burning loss
to make sure you won't do that again.

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Keep scores of all you games,and go over them often,ESPECIALLY the losses. Learn to recognize recurring patterns in your games. Get a good endgame book,and study tactics,combos,and sacrifices. Get Reinfeld's 1001 Chess Sacrifices and Combinations,it is a great book

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Play over Morphy's games.
Then Blackbure,Steinitz,Schlechter and so on

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Thanks again for all the comments, great community.

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Originally posted by Skoyeren
Hi All!

As a beginner, who do you recommend for me to improve my play?

I've been studying a few openings, practicing various puzzles and of course playing a lot of chess. But seem like I'm still stuck at same level (I often play against computer and still not easy to beat or fool 🙁)

Thanks for any tips!
I have gone through your game briefly. Here are a few tips I can share. Try to follow them as much as possible since they helped me to raise my game from nobody to a club-class player in a matter of a few days.

Take care of your opening. The tactics won't help you if you handle your opening inaccurately. During opening you shall have game plan and objectives. Your main objectives are (1) To bring out your minor pieces. They are N+B. If possible all of them (2) Castling (3) Your rooks have been connected. Try to achieve these objectives in less than 15 moves.

in order to do that, you have to move your center pawns. Try to move d & e pawns since by moving them you can develop you bishops soon. Try not to spend too many moves for your pawns. Place your minor pieces at the secure squares so that they are not easily chased away by your opponent. If you don't have clear reason to move the pieces that have already been moved, try to move the pieces that have yet been move.

Take chess like a war. You need coordinated strengths from all branches of your armies from various divisions. If you have more divisions at your disposal, then you have flexibility to draw your battle plans, to find strategy, to adopt certain techniques and tactics.

Moving you bishop two times in a row doesn't make its strength as strong as a queen. A developed rook + bishop can have combined strength close to a queen.

That doesn't mean you should not learn techniques and tactics. They are the next things you have to learn.