@RaNdYWeIlEr said in #2:
> How long does it take to get "Decent" at chess so a rating of aleast 1200?
I can help if you want! Best thing to do is to learn opening principles, and then basic tactics.
> How long does it take to get "Decent" at chess so a rating of aleast 1200?
I can help if you want! Best thing to do is to learn opening principles, and then basic tactics.
I find the idea of "Pyramid" extremely useful and relatable. Many theories, ranking from low to high difficulty, basic tactics (fork-pin-skwer...), endgame theories(key squres, opposing kings...), and then basic openings(italy/spanish/scottish/london/queen's gambit...), are decisive in my games of corresponding ratings. Every time I knew and mastered them in practice, I took a giant leap in my ratings.
However, the problem was and is, that I taught myself chess. I don't think that I got these theories in a well-sorted order rather than a fragmented, unsystematic and chaotic approach from Tiktok, Youtube Videos and Chess Books. I didn't know it's possible to force a draw with a/h file passer until I got 1900! And many important theories, like how to force/avoid a draw with a passer in 6th/5th rank with a Rook, are just beyond my reach (and I did encounter them!).
So, what I want is definitely a kind of Mindmap of Knowledge Graph of chess theories. Because at the end of the day, I am sure that I can finally master one if I know that I am practicing it.
Sadly, I don't find a book or a blog summarizing them. If you can help and tell me about it, I am more than grateful for your kindness to a fellow chess fan.
However, the problem was and is, that I taught myself chess. I don't think that I got these theories in a well-sorted order rather than a fragmented, unsystematic and chaotic approach from Tiktok, Youtube Videos and Chess Books. I didn't know it's possible to force a draw with a/h file passer until I got 1900! And many important theories, like how to force/avoid a draw with a passer in 6th/5th rank with a Rook, are just beyond my reach (and I did encounter them!).
So, what I want is definitely a kind of Mindmap of Knowledge Graph of chess theories. Because at the end of the day, I am sure that I can finally master one if I know that I am practicing it.
Sadly, I don't find a book or a blog summarizing them. If you can help and tell me about it, I am more than grateful for your kindness to a fellow chess fan.
This is a good and well written blog! I was definitely stuck at around 2 years ago (I play more on chess.com) and I was more on the mindlessly-playing games side. But one thing that I felt was the real problem was not that "I've improved so much, why am I not improving?" But more so that "I don't know what's the next step. How do I improve?"
Of course, later I discovered the new theory I needed to know, but if anything, there was one key thing (and still one key thing) that completely changed me. It was just the real enjoyment of the game. I can't say that's all I needed, but without it, I would not have improved so much (I improved my OTB rating by at least 500 that year, winning almost every single classical game of chess I played)
But in short, if you want to improve, then don't overwork yourself, just enjoy the game and the process!
Of course, later I discovered the new theory I needed to know, but if anything, there was one key thing (and still one key thing) that completely changed me. It was just the real enjoyment of the game. I can't say that's all I needed, but without it, I would not have improved so much (I improved my OTB rating by at least 500 that year, winning almost every single classical game of chess I played)
But in short, if you want to improve, then don't overwork yourself, just enjoy the game and the process!
this is crazzzy