How to get unstuck from a rating
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Hi! I've been stuck between 600-800 rating and can't seem to get past that. In puzzles I can do higher rated puzzles, and I can play against 1000-1200 computers. Against real players, it's much harder. Any tips on how to improve and get unstuck from that rating?
Mar 22, 2021
0
#2
At lower ratings the biggest problem, IMO, is greed. You're not greedy enough.
Try not to lose any pieces for free, not even a single pawn, and every time after your opponent moves, try to find a way to win material.
Obviously on most moves you try to be safe, otherwise you'd be rated close to zero, but I mean every single move. You have to be greedy on every single move, and don't even lose a single pawn for free. I know I'm repeating myself, but that's how to get unstuck from lower ratings.
For more detail you might find this helpful:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/for-beginners/the-most-important-concept-for-all-beginners
Mar 22, 2021
0
#3
So I gave this advice to someone the other day who wanted to get from 350 to 500. Same rules apply, except also you’ll want to learn sound opening principles so you get your pieces out and active early.
1) Try playing slower games. 30 minute games will give you a lot more time to consider whether you are making a move that loses you a piece. With every move, you should first be asking "Will I lose this piece and get nothing back?"
2) Always look for, in this order, checks, captures, and threats when you're looking for prospective moves, on the ENTIRE board. Don't just play them. Ask yourself whether they leave you better off than you were.
3) When you have a move you like, look at what your opponent will see after you move, including checks, captures, and threats. Those are the moves they'll use to force you to do things you don't want to do, or punish a mistake.
4) Remember that having tunnel vision about the move they just made might distract you from a more important thing happening elsewhere.
5) Remember that bishops, rooks, and queens can have critical effects from all the way across the board. You need to know where they are and see what they threaten.
One other thing: Look at your games afterward and figure out where you went wrong, and do your best to identify what you have to do differently not to have that mistake happen again. Of course it will, but you should never come away from a game wondering why you lost.
1) Try playing slower games. 30 minute games will give you a lot more time to consider whether you are making a move that loses you a piece. With every move, you should first be asking "Will I lose this piece and get nothing back?"
2) Always look for, in this order, checks, captures, and threats when you're looking for prospective moves, on the ENTIRE board. Don't just play them. Ask yourself whether they leave you better off than you were.
3) When you have a move you like, look at what your opponent will see after you move, including checks, captures, and threats. Those are the moves they'll use to force you to do things you don't want to do, or punish a mistake.
4) Remember that having tunnel vision about the move they just made might distract you from a more important thing happening elsewhere.
5) Remember that bishops, rooks, and queens can have critical effects from all the way across the board. You need to know where they are and see what they threaten.
One other thing: Look at your games afterward and figure out where you went wrong, and do your best to identify what you have to do differently not to have that mistake happen again. Of course it will, but you should never come away from a game wondering why you lost.
Mar 22, 2021
0
#4
Also, Llama47’s post says a lot of the same things with examples, so take the time to read it!
Mar 22, 2021
0
#5
Bots have inflated rating, especially lower rated ones.
Here are some tips you might find useful:
https://www.chess.com/blog/nklristic/the-beginners-tale-first-steps-to-chess-improvement
It will take some effort and time. Good luck.
Mar 22, 2021
0
#6
Hi Ronniewastaken! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a chess coach based and chess book author based in California.
I have tips to help you improve your chess skills so you can win more games.
I recommend playing with a slow time control, such as game in 30 minutes. You need time to think. Beginners tend to make a lot of silly moves with very little time. This makes sense since there’s a lot of pieces on the board.
I also offer a free beginner’s free eBook on my website, www.ChessByLauren.com in case you are interested. The book is about asking questions before each move.
Before each move, I highly encourage you ask questions before every move such as, “If I move here, is it safe?”, “Can I safely capture a piece?”, and more.
Also consider all checks and captures on your side and also your opponent’s side. If you are past this stage, then find a forcing winning line.
Learn basic tactics such as the fork, discovered attack, pin, and more. I offer interactive puzzles on my website: https://www.chessbylauren.com/two-choice-puzzles.php
If you are serious about chess, I highly recommend you hiring a chess coach to help you.
I hope that this helps.
@ronniewastaken. I looked at your last loss. You were down 3 points by move 10 and 8 points by move 20. I saw you hang a knight, a rook, and several pawns. It was a 30 minute game which you completed in 6 minutes. The first thing you need to do is identify your weaknesses. You dont need the engine to tell you them. Have a guess, go on, try and engage with the problem yourself first. Once you've guessed a few, we can discuss solutions 😃.
Improving Your Chess - Resources for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/improving-your-chess-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
dont hang pieces and learn simple openings like KID and london
