28 Jul 06
Hi,
I am curious to how long the better players (say the 1800+s) on this server have been playing chess. Also I am wondering if you know of any chess masters that started late in life, or if most of them had been playing since they where kids.
Maybe its to late if you start playing as an adult. Then again I guess ratings and titles dont really matter in the end, aslong as one enjoys the game.
/petke
- Joined
- 21 Apr 06
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28 Jul 06
Originally posted by Patrik KahariAlmost anyone regardless of age should be able to become about 1800+
Hi,
I am curious to how long the better players (say the 1800+s) on this server have been playing chess. Also I am wondering if you know of any chess masters that started late in life, or if most of them had been playing since they where kids.
Maybe its to late if you start playing as an adult. Then again I guess ratings and titles dont really matter in the end, aslong as one enjoys the game.
/petke
28 Jul 06
The only famous player I know who started playing late is Howard Staunton. I have read that he started playing in earnest sometime after the age of 20. I would guess he was probably about 2300 strength at his peak.
Personally I have known two people who started playing at a late age (25 to 30) and became better than me. They were both extremely clever, one peaked at about 2100 and the other slightly stronger, perhaps 2200. They were both extremely good at tactics and weaker positionally.
28 Jul 06
Originally posted by masscatStart playing tennis, golf, or the piano when you're 40+. See how you compare to people that picked it up and studied seriously when they were 10 years old.
Rolf Wetzell wrote a book called "Chess Master at Any Age" telling how he became a US rated master at 50. I guess you could do it, but most of us that old lack the motivation and the time.
That ship has sailed, my friend. You'll never be top-notch at chess.
28 Jul 06
Originally posted by General PutzerThat's why I never bought the book.
Start playing tennis, golf, or the piano when you're 40+. See how you compare to people that picked it up and studied seriously when they were 10 years old.
That ship has sailed, my friend. You'll never be top-notch at chess.
28 Jul 06
3 edits
Originally posted by Fat LadyStaunton was a lot better than 2300, he was considered the strongest player in the world for a short period of time. In the 1840's, he played matches against St. Amant, (Frances best player), Horwitz, and Harrwitz, demolishing them all. In 1853 he defeated Jaenish, with 7 wins and two losses, certainly better than a 2300 performance.
The only famous player I know who started playing late is Howard Staunton. I have read that he started playing in earnest sometime after the age of 20. I would guess he was probably about 2300 strength at his peak.
Personally I have known two people who started playing at a late age (25 to 30) and became better than me. They were both extremely clever, o ...[text shortened]... ightly stronger, perhaps 2200. They were both extremely good at tactics and weaker positionally.
Staunton certainly played chess when he was young, but did not take the game seriously until he was 26 years old. (By his account). I suspect he was a strong player much earlier than that.
28 Jul 06
Originally posted by EcstremeVenomNo.....puberty or thereabouts seems to be the cut-off for doing anything really well. Learning a foreign language, for example. Someone that moves to another country when they're 9 years old will eventually speak their new language without a trace of accent. Someone who learns it when they are 18 will always have an accent.
i started when i was 13, too late?
GENERALLY speaking, of course. I'm sure there are many examples of people that are exceptions to the rule.
28 Jul 06
Originally posted by General PutzerExcept poker. It is probably the only game you can go pro at and only learn to play in your 20's 30's or even 40's.
No.....puberty or thereabouts seems to be the cut-off for doing anything really well. Learning a foreign language, for example. Someone that moves to another country when they're 9 years old will eventually speak their new language without a trace of accent. Someone who learns it when they are 18 will always have an accent.
GENERALLY speaking, of course. I'm sure there are many examples of people that are exceptions to the rule.
28 Jul 06
1 edit
I read on chessbase I think about a guy turning into a gm at 63. He started chess very late so there is hope!
For me 1800+ after 2 serious years of playing. So around 21 I started.
I played before that but just dumb blitz games not thinking much just playing dumb moves like most people you see playing blitz. It didn't do anything for me. 2000+ blitz games on yahoo and nothing. Joined a chess club and played serious chess and 1800+ in 2 years.
28 Jul 06
Originally posted by General PutzerJust in case there's any doubt, I meant 2300 ELO. That's pretty strong for an amateur player, not too many non-professionals get to that level today. If you play through some of Staunton's games I think you'll find that he was, like many of the famous old-time players, very good at beating people considerably weaker than himself.
Staunton was a lot better than 2300, he was considered the strongest player in the world for a short period of time. In the 1840's, he played matches against St. Amant, (Frances best player), Horwitz, and Harrwitz, demolishing them all. In 1853 he defeated Jaenish, with 7 wins and two losses, certainly better than a 2300 performance.
Staunton cer ...[text shortened]... he was 26 years old. (By his account). I suspect he was a strong player much earlier than that.
28 Jul 06
Originally posted by General PutzerActually, I wouldn't compare language acquisition with chess ability. The idea of a critical age in language acquisition is based on the concept that human beings have a genetic ability to acquire language that must occur at a specific point in the development process. In fact, children exposed to no language through childhood (very rare) cannot become native speakers later in life.
No.....puberty or thereabouts seems to be the cut-off for doing anything really well. Learning a foreign language, for example. Someone that moves to another country when they're 9 years old will eventually speak their new language without a trace of accent. Someone who learns it when they are 18 will always have an accent.
GENERALLY speaking, of course. I'm sure there are many examples of people that are exceptions to the rule.
In chess, a child and an adult are both using the same cognitive skills to learn the game (memory, pattern recognition, general reasoning, etc.). There is no critical age at which you can no longer access these skills. I would believe that the complexity of chess simply rewards experience with the game. Someone taking up the game at 30 with a full time job and a family will not catch up with a 30 year old who started at 10 and has played thousands of games, spent his summers playing for hours with friends. If he's seen a position a thousand times, and you've seen it a hundred times, you're probably in trouble over the board in that position.
Scott