I am a terrible chess player (I know the basics and a few openings). Any recommendations on how to improve?

Question

Are there any formerly terrible chess players (who are now very skilled) out there in cyberspace who can help me? I have a chess computer but can never beat it. Sometimes I just feel frustrated and make a move to see what the computer would have done. I often play my 9 year old son and always beat him but the gap is quickly narrowing.

I currently have a library of books from Vukovic, Emms, Soltis, etc. but find them to be way over my head. I need a beginner level workout (I also have the dummy book but find it too basic).

I love chess and think it will help me to be a "thinker" for the rest of my life. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I tend to be a very serious player and am often deflated when the computer reveals another stupid move that I made. My goal is to be a dominant player. Thanks again.

Answer 1

I've always puzzled on the same question myself. Years ago when I started playing chess I always got beaten very badly and made fun of by my opponents and observers. Especially because I tended to take a long time to think about my moves in detail before making them. This continued for months and then one day I suddenly found myself playing really fast and intuitively and beating everyone else at the club easily, including the ones who used to make fun of me.

Unfortunately, I stopped studying my moves anaytically and therefore remained at that level of skill I had reached for a long while after that. I think I would have also greatly improved if I had also studied the chess books I took from the library instead of just putting them on my shelf.

Anyway, basically what I'm saying is that if you study the game in a systematic way it will eventually pay off. Here's one good site that explains in detail how to improve you understanding of the game systematically:

http://www.chessville.com/instruction/instr_gen_path_to_improve.htm

Good luck.

Answer 2

Don't feel bad. My official rating indicates I am probably better than all but 15-20% of tournament players, but I have never beaten GNUChess. I thought I had it a couple of times but it found a draw by repetition of moves each time. These computer chess programs have gotten to where they are probably better than all but 2-5% of tournament players, not necessarily due to better programming, but rather ever increasing processor speeds.

I think the main value in playing computers any more is to heighten one's awareness of potential flaws in your own position, for instance such as leaving too many pieces insufficiently defended. Computer programs are ruthless at exploiting this situation through so-called "double attacks".

Whatever you do don't ever just "make a move." Always have a plan that at least accounts for your opponents response, and your intended follow-up. Indeed it was a chess master who coined the phrase, a bad plan is better than none at all.

Last weekend I picked up a chess book for my wife called "64 Things You Need to Know in Chess", and item #8 specifically covers double-attacks. This comes in its second section, "Tactical Themes," and mastery of tactics is absolutely a cornerstone. To that end -- and also to assist in looking at least 2 moves ahead -- you might want to additionally invest in a volume that consists of "find checkmate in two moves" type of puzzles

Otherwise, the "64 Things" book's first section "Basic Mates" may seem too basic, but not so its sections, subsequent to the one on tactics, all of them worthwhile: "Endgame Basics", "Opening Principles", "The Power of the Pieces", "The Pawns", "More Endgame Knowledge", and finally "At The Board". I think this could be a great book for both you and your son, and that with this book under your belt, some of the books you already own will start making more sense.

Answer 3

Hello fellow "Checkmate"....hahaha

I also an avid player of Chess, no matter how much you play it, it's always a new challenging game! I recommend you read this ebook "101 Killer Chess Strategies - GrandMaster Secrets Revealed" it can be found here

http://www.in4mation101.com/ChessStrategies.php

I learn some cool moves from that book...

hope that help yeah become a better player!

Answer 4

No one was skilled when they first tried(excluding eccentric geniuses) at chess. But if you keep practicing you'll soon get better

Answer 5

Yes. Just have fun with it. Becoming a
' thinker ' is a life experience thing.