Find holes in your thinking process and fix those first of all. Do you analyze all checks, captures, and threats? Do you often make a move but miss a forcing refutation? Before coming up with candidate moves evaluate and assess the current position, think of possible moves, and then decide on candidates. However, you have to know what to look for, and that's where positional study comes into play. Only focus on one topic at a time, so spend a month on weak squares and pawns, another on bishops, another on knights, etc.
Endgame technique is also very important, and its rules are vastly different from the middle game (capture away from the center in an endgame and activate the king for example)
Been playing chess for almost a year now... seem to be stuck right around my current rating 1250. I usually win against any 1100's, but usually 1300+ I just can't beat. Any advice??? I feel with a rating of only 1250, I still must be missing some basic things. What part of my game should I focus on, openings? Endgame? Let me know, just trying to break the plateau I seem to be on, thanks.
- Jeff