When should I study chess?

At what rating should I start to study chess, because up until now I've never picked up a chess book, and looking at some of the better players, it seems they actually study the game a lot and memorize openings and what not

Originally posted by merman
At what rating should I start to study chess, because up until now I've never picked up a chess book, and looking at some of the better players, it seems they actually study the game a lot and memorize openings and what not

Originally posted by wittywonka
Define "study."

In my opinion:

If you mean that you want to learn the main tactics and endgames of chess, start "studying" at around 1200.

If you mean that you want to learn the main openings in chess, start "studying" at around 1400.

If you mean that you want to learn more about in-depth analysis and strategy of chess, start "studying" at 1600+.

i know people who have reached 1600 or even 1800 through pure playing. although i reached 1600 from pure studying. i have studied since i was 1100. 2 years ago i started to study let alone start playing chess. almost 2 years later and i reached 1831. through studying you can learn a lot but take breaks so you don't get burnt out.

Originally posted by merman
I don't know any of that endgame, opening stuff, so should I learn those first?

Originally posted by wittywonka
Learn the endgames before the openings.

your game against Biene Maja you actually won matieral and then you resigned!!!!! trading a bishop and a knight for a rook is a loss to whoever trades the knight and bishop. depending on the position but you were fine there!! your openings are alright but sticking with a few openings will do you well because the higher up you go the better and better people iwll be at at the opening they play. study an endgame book and use a database for opening moves. learn them both!!!

Originally posted by kmac27
your game against Biene Maja you actually won matieral and then you resigned!!!!! trading a bishop and a knight for a rook is a loss to whoever trades the knight and bishop. depending on the position but you were fine there!! your openings are alright but sticking with a few openings will do you well because the higher up you go the better and better people ...[text shortened]... pening they play. study an endgame book and use a database for opening moves. learn them both!!!

oic i missed that. you seem pretty good with the french so i would play that instead of e5. some basic openings (by basic i mean they are played a hell of a lot) to learn are the ruy lopez, sicilian, kings indian or nimzo indian and if you know those you'll do fairly well.playing book moves is better than random pawn moves.

Originally posted by kmac27
oic i missed that. you seem pretty good with the french so i would play that instead of e5. some basic openings (by basic i mean they are played a hell of a lot) to learn are the ruy lopez, sicilian, kings indian or nimzo indian and if you know those you'll do fairly well.playing book moves is better than random pawn moves.

that does work well. playing the moves and understanding the ideas will make you all that much better. your tactics seem good you can skim over an openings book but just try to keep the center refrain from moving king pawns unless neccesary and then what that other guy said above. (sorry i can't remember what your name was above) i ilike ot castle before move 9 or 10 if possible.

Originally posted by kmac27
that does work well. playing the moves and understanding the ideas will make you all that much better. your tactics seem good you can skim over an openings book but just try to keep the center refrain from moving king pawns unless neccesary and then what that other guy said above. (sorry i can't remember what your name was above) i ilike ot castle before move 9 or 10 if possible.

i'd say first find an opening you like. play with it for a while if you like it then send me a pm and i'll suggest a book i think i've read about 12 books. a tactics book, strategy, pawn structure, endgame and a few others and i'm in the middle of reading 5 openings books. ruy lopez closed and main line, the nimzo indian kasparov and classic variation and the dynamic english. i know my chess literature very well ;-)

what about getting a strong player on this site to tutor in a un-rated game?

http://chess.emrald.net/ -- Heres a good site that has been mention many times here in the forums. After you get a problem wrong go over it and understand why you got it wrong.