i play on icc in my standard time games my rating ranges between 1500-1650. i notice that theirs a diffinite pattern most of my games go to endgames. where it might be even material or one of us is a piece up. i keep losing these games? i'd say 70% of them. my end game skills suck! what should i do? should i read a book on end games? or should i keep studying tactics?
Originally posted by ArrakYes to both!
i play on icc in my standard time games my rating ranges between 1500-1650. i notice that theirs a diffinite pattern most of my games go to endgames. where it might be even material or one of us is a piece up. i keep losing these games? i'd say 70% of them. my end game skills suck! what should i do? should i read a book on end games? or should i keep studying tactics?
Or if you're strapped for time, you could drop the tactics practice long enough to read a basic endgame book like Pandolfini's Endgame Course, or Seirawan's Winning Chess Endings, then later get back to tactics.
Originally posted by ArrakI'd bet you are talking about blitz games. You can't make a determination about your game if you are losing at blitz, other than the fact that you aren't good at playing speed chess.
i play on icc in my standard time games my rating ranges between 1500-1650. i notice that theirs a diffinite pattern most of my games go to endgames. where it might be even material or one of us is a piece up. i keep losing these games? i'd say 70% of them. my end game skills suck! what should i do? should i read a book on end games? or should i keep studying tactics?
Edit: You only have 1 game here and you haven't even finished it.
Originally posted by ArrakisI agree. I lose a lot of blitz games in the ending due to careless mistakes that occur simply because I have fallen behind on time.
I'd bet you are talking about blitz games. You can't make a determination about your game if you are losing at blitz, other than the fact that you aren't good at playing speed chess.
Edit: You only have 1 game here and you haven't even finished it.
End games are not simple and take a lot of time to play. A single careless move can turn a win into a loss by, for example, conceding the opposition.
Take more time thinking endings through and your results will improve. If you don't understand basic endings get a get general enfgame book and study it all. Its important to know drawn positions so you can head for them in the middle game.
Game 2983433 is an example. I was losing but realised I could give up everything for his 2 central pawns and leaving him with a RP and wrong coloured B against my King was a draw so that became my strategy. Incidently this is a strategy that even an engine is unlikely to find. My opponent is really graded 2200 so the draw was very welcome.
Originally posted by ArrakYou might be misjudging when the endgame starts, resulting in a disadvantage. For the price of a book you can get a good program to practice end games and improve faster
i play on icc in my standard time games my rating ranges between 1500-1650. i notice that theirs a diffinite pattern most of my games go to endgames. where it might be even material or one of us is a piece up. i keep losing these games? i'd say 70% of them. my end game skills suck! what should i do? should i read a book on end games? or should i keep studying tactics?
I'm having a problem with middlegame as well. A few of the games I've lost have been because, even though I was doing well at the time, I couldn't keep up the momentum. I stumble, then I can't get back on the offensive to win.
[url]http://www.redhotpawn.com/mygames/mygames.php?selectedfolderid=11990[/url]
That's a link to the folder where I put my lost games. If you can't see into it for some reason, I'll link all the games that I was doing fine in midgame, but still lost.
Originally posted by DaphnesYou may want to divide your games folders (including losses) into the various openings.
I'm having a problem with middlegame as well. A few of the games I've lost have been because, even though I was doing well at the time, I couldn't keep up the momentum. I stumble, then I can't get back on the offensive to win.
[url]http://www.redhotpawn.com/mygames/mygames.php?selectedfolderid=11990[/url]
That's a link to the folder where I put my lost ...[text shortened]... or some reason, I'll link all the games that I was doing fine in midgame, but still lost.
There may be a pattern to why you lose your way in the middlegame.