Hurdles Between You and Chess Improvement

Recently I have wrote article on Chessimprover.com (GM Nigel Davies site) about Pressure & emotional instability which inspired me to write on other hurdles also which are between you and your chess improvement.

Fear

I was also victim of fear, while playing against higher rated player earlier I thought that if I could draw the game would be better for me but now I do not care. The reason of this change is change in my attitude. How you can change it? well first of all think positive, read good articles about positive attitude, read some inspirational books, worth to watch chess movie 'Knight of South Bronx' & so on. Remember that this all thing are not related to chess but those are having collateral effect in overall attitude. Remember that 'You will get what you think'

Emotional Instability

I have wrote detailed article on this at chessimprover which you can read. Some tips I would like to share with you in order to be emotionally stable. Yoga and Meditation are having great impacts on your emotional aspects. Try is as I did.

Expecting too much from you

It has been often seen among the amateurs (Including me) that we expect much from us. Like we study very hard for 6 month to 1 years and expecting very serious Elo jump. In reality we need years in order to be good players, In 'BHAGAVAD GITA' (Religious Book in Hinduism) It has been told that "Do your duty and Don't expect for results"

Unorganized preparation

Don't do unorganized preparation. Today you like one book or one coach and tomorrow different book or different coach... just don't do that. Search good mentor/chess coach and do what they say, walk on their plans as they are experienced and stronger than you in chess. I don't think that chess progress is possible without good coach; exceptions are always there.

Profound use of computers

I believe that too much use of computer in your preparation can be a reason in losing interest in chess. Analyse game your self and show then to stronger player than you, take their guidance  Prepare opening through studying games of chess legends not just few moves recommended by computers.

Ignoring Importance of end-game

Well known cause. We do not get king and pawn or rook endgame in our game so no need to study endgame (Amateurs and Beginners' words). Here you are mistaken as endgame is a tool on which you can play middle-game like ; exchanging pieces, launching attack, simplifying the position etc etc. If you learn endgame, you get to know importance of it.

Last but not the least 'Actions are much more Important than plans'. I hope you get my point.

Thanks for reading.

General Rules to improve your chess game

Today I am going to discuss some general rules briefly which ultimately useful in improvising your chess games. I have defined those rules by my experience, reading some expert’s books and discussing with my chess friends.

I am giving those rules to my students in three different categories.

I) Rules for Tactics:

• Always look for undefended piece of your opponent but don’t leave yours
• Consider all immediate checks and Intermediate checks (Source of most latent defence or attack)
• Try to count all relevant captures.

If you follow above rules, your tactical awareness will improve dramatically.

II) Rules to reduce blunders:

• Most important but missed by almost chess amateurs at different levels that is observing opponent’s last move
• Before move ask your self that are you giving some material free to your opponent? This type of mistake often seen at kid’s level or below 1500 players.

I am not claiming that by following above rules you will stop to make blunders but definitely you can drastically reduce those mistakes.

III) Rules in Endgame:

• Look for plans not for move for example first visualise position you would like to get then make a plan. I am sure you will definitely find good moves.
• Elimination: This method works very fine in endgame where you eliminate bad candidate moves one by one and remaining move can be played.
• Centralisation of your king.
• Be careful before exchange your pieces, for example you are exchanging a rook when you are a pawn down in the opposite you missed chance to exchange the rooks and game went to draw.

Here I have not given rules for opening which are easily available. Here you can add something which you got from your experience which may be useful to our amateurs’ community.

Working on chess Improvement for chess amateur not for the expert

There are so many articles written on how to improve your chess, how to plan your study for improvement, you talk with your friend with about improvement then suddenly you know oh he is doing preparation from this and that book … you bought the same book but not improving as your friend. Did you notice ever where the problem lies is? Where you missed?

Question can be answered by a simple counter question. Did you stick to your plan for longer period of plan? Particularly the people to whom I know the answer is no. so execution are much more important than the planning. You must have faith in you. Chess is not the thing that you can learn in a year or two. Chess improvement is a continuous process.

In my opinion to improve at particular thing included chess following things are must.

• You must be committed to work hard in organised way … I have so many chess books but how may have you finished yet?  Aha…
• You must have Mentor or Master. In India we say ‘GURU VINA GYAN NAHI’ means there is no knowledge without Master/Mentor… I am not able to understand what should I do? 
• You must have faith in you!!!
• The most important is ‘Implement what you plan’ … I am too innovative and creative but…. Hope you understand.

Studying chess in organised way my blog will be helpful tool for you where I am giving daily basis study material which will be ultimately helpful to you in improvising your chess game.