As requested on several occasions, I would like to take the time to post the story of my climb from 1500 to 1900. The biggest change I can identify can be found in my determining moves. So, in this thread I will post my personal step by step method that I use in each and every game.
Step 1 - You Chose The Opening
Everyone has a couple openings that they really like and perform well in. I strongly reccomend trying to play your opponent into these lines. Be the player that choses the variation.
For example, being an 1. e4 player myself, I have to be prepared for a plethora of responses. By having a particular (sound) variation that I prefer in each of these lines, I am able to consistently play lines I am comfortable in while simultaneously pulling my opponent into a line he or she may not prefer. This works beautifully against the Sicilian defence; Be3 is often a landmark in this opening, yet Bg5 is usually just as good (Tal played it whenever possible). By playing Bg5 when I can against the Sicilian, I take my opponent into a deep tactical forest where I have a flashlight and he has a shadow.
2 - Attack!
It is far easier to be on the attacking end of a tactical line than the defending end. If you have to give up a pawn for a few checks that ruin his position I can assure you that it will pay off more often than not. Trust your intuition and don't be afraid to blunder; odds are he'll blunder before you anyways.
3 - Look Into The Future
Ever have one of those positions where you really can't decide which move is 'best'? We all have, these moves are positional and can seriously change the outcome of the game. The key to making these moves easier to find is (again!) tactics. If you are in the 1400's or the 1500's the odds are you aren't missing 2 move mates and corny little pawn forks. The problem is that when you play higher rated players they somehow catch you off gaurd and throw a million threats at you at once and you simply can't defend them all. How do they do this? The have a plan. They look at your weaknesses. And mostly, they take the positions where several different approaches are possible and they choose one method of attack and run with it, whether that be taking a pin and exploiting it or advancing the knights and leaving you strangled. If you can find a potential sacrifice far later in the game, then you have something to shoot for when you are forced to make those pesky positional moves.
4 - Look To The Endgame
As people become stronger, less blunders are made. Logically, then, more games make it to seemingly equal endgames. Notice how an equal endgame isn't so equal when your opponent is 300 points stronger than you? This is because they know about things like passed pawns, king opposition, and the like. I can't go into detail about such things but I can say that when you are chosing moves in the midgame you absolutely should open up your analyze board and see what the endgame will look like. This will help you assume perfect play and also avoid surprises.
5 - Don't be Afraid to Draw
Draws are boring, right? Well, sometimes. Yet, as frustrating as draws can be, you have no idea how many 1700 level players I play who I offer a draw to in the midgame and they decline only to go on to blunder the game away in embarassing fashion. Yah draws suck but it's better than a loss.
6 - Use A Database!
If you are still liable to fall for corny opening traps on a regular basis you will never achieve a high rating. This can easily be avoided by using a database such as www.chesslive.de or www.redhotpawn.com/gamesexplorer. Just make sure you use these things properly, not just copying any old move out of the book.
7 - Have Your Own Method For Each Position
Whatever it is I suggest you look at the wild moves, you check for checks (sorry about the pun), you identify his threats, you counter his threats effectively, and you don't drop material without reason (an attack IS a good reason).
8 - One Final Suggestion
Unless the move is drop dead obvious it's a good idea to write down, whether on paper or on your computer, the line you expect to be played. Whenever your opponent deviates from this line check to see why and make sure you look to exploit it. Often opponents will blunder straight out of the opening and you will be able to take a nice little advantage to the bank. So again, write down the line.
9 - Okay, Make That Two
Get inspired! Look through the games of brilliant masters and tacticians. Appreciate the beauty and try to use their ideas in your games. It will help your chess and it will definitely make your game more fun. Consider this the lazymans tactics practice.
This is definitely not a comprehensive guide to becoming a master but if each of these points is used effectively I can assure you that you are well on your way to better chess. If you have any questions or would like a game please PM me.
Hope this helps,
Matt
I noticed that some players (I include myself too) seriously lack some mental discipline while playing so their latent chess ability could be much higher than current. Maybe that is what happened with you; you found a way to put your chess knowledge sistematically into practice so now your rating goes almost vertically up.
I would like to put in my games all the chess knowledge I posses but I don't do it (or I am not able to do it).
For example, I red Silman's Amateurs Mind, I red about good bishops, bad bishops, knight abilities, knight rules, outpost, pawn structure, development, iniatative but I use that completly in maybe one out of 15 games. I mostly play way too intuitive.. I am pretty good at tactics, but it seems that I lack some strategic patience. Do not look rhp games for reference, most of them are just played way to fast and bad...
Anyone has cure for that ?
Originally posted by ivan2908reading about things is about 1% of mastering them. almost irrelevant. the remaining 99% is about sweating blood and actually working those things on board, over and over and over again, grinding the ideas into your backbone. there's no such thing as repeating the basics too much.
I noticed that some players (I include myself too) seriously lack some mental discipline while playing so their latent chess ability could be much higher than current. Maybe that is what happened with you; you found a way to put your chess knowledge sistematically into practice so now your rating goes almost vertically up.
I would like to put in my games ...[text shortened]... r reference, most of them are just played way to fast and bad...
Anyone has cure for that ?
my path to 2000:
1) Start playing chess
2) Read a chessbook. Play blitz.
3) Notice that you are suddenly about 2000 level, stop studying because you don't wanna become an pathetic IGM who plays chess for living. Start playing bullet. Go play blitz to local chess club only to humiliate older players by winning them without using a single minute of your time.
Originally posted by Jusuh... and my path (other than my thread on this)
my path to 2000:
1) [b] Start playing chess
2) Read a chessbook. Play blitz.
3) Notice that you are suddenly about 2000 level, stop studying because you don't wanna become an pathetic IGM who plays chess for living. Start playing bullet. Go play blitz to local chess club only to humiliate older players by winning them without using a single minute of your time.[/b]
1) Continue playing chess
2) Read a chessbook. Avoid blitz.
3) Notice that you are suddenly about 2000 level, you now need to study more, maybe you can soon play chess for living. Never play bullet, it is a lottery and a total waste of time. Play blitz at your local chess club only because anything else is boring.
Game 4252656
Even this game Game 4210187
vs ceders Game 4308631
It's better, I fully agree, to be versatile with your openings, especially as white. If you can get black in uncomfortable territory, you'll find it's advantageous. You'll be on the attacking end. And when you're attacking, or at least for me, it's more comfortable. TO admit, if I could get better at playing...d4, or an opening fianchetto as white, rather than the italian types, I could probably reach 1800 (excusing my timeouts last month - it will now take longer 😞 ). But I don't think you can reach 1900 as he did without studying. You just can't. I am very sure matt has been studying since he was around 1500. Or before even. Thus, he has developed a good sense of openings and has a great feel - which I do not having read no books (correct me if I'm wrong). Studying books will open your eyes to openings and versatility. Playing tactics will help your midgame looks. And studying games all around will help a bit of everything. I'm not a 1900 player, but I am good enough to know what I am missing - and it is this: I simply have such little knowledge of openings, that if my opponent even throws a french defense or sicilian at me, I struggle - otherwise, Matt is very comfortable with those and much more.
While his advise is helpful, I've realized that to get much beyond 1700 it takes knowledge. You HAVE to be comfortable and have the ability to react to the strangest openings. I think I might start looking at books once I get back to 1700 and see if I'm right.
Originally posted by ih8sensyou forgot something...SACRIFICE!!!!
As requested on several occasions, I would like to take the time to post the story of my climb from 1500 to 1900. The biggest change I can identify can be found in my determining moves. So, in this thread I will post my personal step by step method that I use in each and every game.
Step 1 - [b] You Chose The Opening
Everyone has a couple openin ...[text shortened]... u have any questions or would like a game please PM me.
Hope this helps,
Matt[/b]
Sacrificing has to be a little more thoughtful to beat players over 1900, I would never sacrifice against players that sort of strength unless I had no choice, got a strong initiative or was winning the game outright. They are quite competant defenders and can easily survive a barrage of attack if it is not executed with preciscion.
Originally posted by TyrannosauruschexI have never been certain my sacrifice in Game 2211536 (14. NXh7) was sound but it did beat an engine.
Sacrificing has to be a little more thoughtful to beat players over 1900, I would never sacrifice against players that sort of strength unless I had no choice, got a strong initiative or was winning the game outright. They are quite competant defenders and can easily survive a barrage of attack if it is not executed with preciscion.
His response (giving up the exchange) surprised me (although may be best) and his subsequent play was superb. Was this the point he started using an engine?
Do other "good" players sucumb to such temptation when they reach their limit?
Originally posted by Dragon FireIt looks like quite a potent sacrifice but one that I think an engine would have probably wanted to take, since such good tactical opportunities open up for black a little further down the line.
I have never been certain my sacrifice in Game 2211536 (14. NXh7) was sound but it did beat an engine.
His response (giving up the exchange) surprised me (although may be best) and his subsequent play was superb. Was this the point he started using an engine?
Do other "good" players sucumb to such temptation when they reach their limit?
Perhaps he declined the sacrifice of his own accord and then turned the computer on a few moves later, hoping to surprise you.
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Originally posted by ih8sensI have to say very well done. It's beyond belief how difficult not to mention how unusual it is to pluck 300 rating points up in the course of a month especially given your previous plateau.
As requested on several occasions, I would like to take the time to post the story of my climb from 1500 to 1900. The biggest change I can identify can be found in my determining moves. So, in this thread I will post my personal step by step method that I use in each and every game.
Step 1 - [b] You Chose The Opening
Everyone has a couple openin ...[text shortened]... u have any questions or would like a game please PM me.
Hope this helps,
Matt[/b]
You must have put in some very hard work!
All the very best.