Chess.com Tournometer

I clicked over to my tournament homepage today, and discovered something interesting under 'My Current Tournaments' - the Chess.com Tournometer!

As I'm sure you are all aware, chess.com tournaments take forever to end. The first and second versions have, but anything past that tends to still be running. What this means is, we can use this as a measure of how much we've improved!

If you were in the 4th chess.com tournament in the 1200-1400 range, then the 5th in the 1400-1600 range, then clearly some improvement has gone on. (Yes, ok, someone could have been rated 1399 or something, whatever. Just let me go on.)

The only reason I mention this is that free members don't have a good way of tracking their rating improvements. (Whereas as paying members, we get handy graphs!) So, what does YOUR chess.com tournometer say about you? Here's mine:

I haven't entered any chess.com tournaments, so I'll post my premium member graphs:

90 days:

60 days:

30 days:

7 days:

G-Money, what's going on there? Looks like you got off to a good start but are steadily going down?!

I've updated it with a few other ones.

I'm getting worse!!! 

Well, if we're sharing graphs as well, here's my 'all-time' graph:

I'm rather proud of it, if I'm honest.

And I achieved it all through a combination of tactics trainer, chess mentor, and most recently, chess.com videos! What are you waiting for? Sign up today! 

Wow Nytik, that's great!  How do you gradually go up?  Yours seems to be getting better!

I edited my post to show how my rating increased.

Ah, thanks!  I've been doing those, but apparently not enough!

If you don't mind me asking, which Chess Mentor courses helped you the most?  Any specific tactic that brought a huge jump in your game?  You have a couple of nice spikes there, where it looks like you had a significant jump in knowledge.

(Graph posted here for easy reference.)

Ok, firstly, the odd lump from 8-23-08 to 10-18-08 was when I completely stopped playing chess. As such, I timed out on 20 games. (Some opponents also resigned lost positions, which accounts for the sporadic rises). At 10-18-08, I begin playing with renewed vigour. (After a holiday, no less- I find a week's break from chess and I can jump 50 points and stay above that for the future!)

So, my first tip is holidays. As in, breaks from chess, not literally holidays. The gradual rating increase is due to my continued use of tactics trainer and chess mentor, and the chess.com videos. I'd say the best courses at the start (when I was around 1400) were 'Exclusively Checkmates' and 'Step Up In Tactics'. Very useful. (Back then, I was restricted to 10 tactics trainer problems a day.)

Now that my gradual increase is explained, what about the spikes? Well, the first, between 10/18/08 and 12/13/08, was when I purchased My System by Aron Nimzowitsch. An excellent book, highly recommended. There is also a sharp rise visible starting just before the 4/4/09- the same time I purchased Silman's Complete Endgame Course.

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I hope that helped you! 

Thank you very much, Nytik.  I'll take your advice!

(3 years from now, I'll point out the huge spike in my graph to younger players as the day I learned from the ever-improving Nytik) 

Excellent, that can be added to the presumably ever-growing list of songs the bards are writing about me...

Oh Nytik,

So fair and true,

Oh Nytik,

We wish we were you.

NYTIK!!!!

We bow down to your greatness.

NYTIK!!!!

Please do forgive our lateness!

Sha la la la la, Sha la la la la, Sha la la la la, la la la la...

well here is mine ... not very impressive but mine all the same ...

and here is my all time record 

oh wot is this?? gods gift to lower rated chess players????

Just a little something. Here's another:

Nytik's full of wonderment, his head full of chess power,

When opponents see him coming, they wimper and cower,

He sails across the seven seas, battling across the board,

And if you face him, you'll be sure, your king's facing the sword.

*Chorus*

Oh Nytik! Oh Nytik! Please don't hurt us in your wrath!

Great gifts shall we lay in your path!

Oh Nytik! Oh Nytik! This endgame comes to you with ease!

Won't you teach us chess' secrets, please?!

The song goes on for quite a while, but there's a snippet for you.

hahahahahahahahahahaha  u may take all my chess pieces but u will never have my freedom :D

Oh Nytik, Oh Nytik 

such a big head you have,

Oh Nytik, Oh Nytik 

You're nowt but a chav,

You fluke all your wins,

(takes defeat on the chin)

Then thinks he's gods gift to chess 

Wow. That hurts. I hope you're happy. I'm just going to curl up in a corner and sob for a while.

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Anyway, lets get this thread back on topic, shall we? Has anyone got a chess.com Tournometer?

Yo Nytik, you've given me some confidence,

When I see your chess greatness, it makes me feel so dense;

I ain't never had a rating as high as yours,

But with your advice, it's opened up some doors!

I've a lot to learn, but Nytik can educate,

With him by my side, even I can be great!

Tactics Trainer, from now on in -

Nytik's leftovers will help me win.

With the "G" movin' up, y'all better watch out!

Nytik is so cool, so let's give him a shout!

*Chorus*

Nytik!  Nytik!  Nytik!

He's so "G!"

Even helpin' losers like me!

Nytik!  Nytik!  Nytik!

He's so "G!"

If y'all agree, why'nt you sing with me?

I was doing poorly, losin' some games,

Then I met Nytik, with all his fame;

The legendary founder of hurt and heal,

All his opponents got to squeal.

But he's sharing his wisdom, and on my side,

If you be facing the "G,"  I suggest y'all hide!

Nytik'll be ready to deliver the mate,

If you don't see it comin',

You're denying your fate!

So let's give him, a round of applause,

Even the animals are clappin' their paws!

Nytik!  Nytik!  Nytik!

He's so "G!"

Even helpin' losers like me!

Nytik!  Nytik!  Nytik!

He's so "G!"

If y'all agree, why'nt you sing with me?

Nytik!  Nytik!  Nytik!

He's so "G!"

Even helpin' losers like me!

Nytik!  Nytik!  Nytik!

He's so "G!"

If y'all agree, why'nt you sing with me?

Wow. That just blows my song out of the water! 

I wouldn't be so hasty with praise- why not see if you actually improve first?