How does one get 'good' at chess?

[pX]

I have been playing on and off since I was 10, but I can never beat anyone who is good, for example I go on Yahoo games and play in Intermediate and get trounced repeatedly, and even sometimes in the Beginners rooms. It sucks! I tried the "play more and more and you'll get good" but I don't think that works.
Is it just a natural talent?
Can one improve? If so, how?! Books?

 

[fr]

"Strategery?"

 

[deftron]

I suck at chess

But I'd imagine you can get good by studying and taking note of what your oponent does
when he beats you..

Also a good chess program "Chessmaster 9000" (or something like that, I've heard is the best)

 

[Eli]

The same way you get "good" at anything else.

Practice.

 

[pX]

Originally posted by: deftron
I suck at chess

But I'd imagine you can get good by studying and taking note of what your oponent does
when he beats you..

Also a good chess program "Chessmaster 9000" (or something like that, I've heard is the best)

Yeah I have that, I can only beat the little kid AIs on there

 

[VBboy]

There are books, ChessMaster software, and practice. Need good memory, fast brain, and a chess board

 

[Double Trouble]

My cousin is *really* good at chess, he plays against the top 50 ranked players in the world regularly. He started by just playing the game against anyone who would play him. When you play someone, don't just play the situation, but think about how that situation was created. Then go back afterwards and see if you can play out that same situation, and figure out what you could have done to put yourself in a better position.

Then, if if you really want to get to the "next level", you'll have to buy chess books and study openings and positions and have them completely memorized. That way, when you see them in a game, you'll know exactly what to do. You'll know what the weak points and strong points are of any setup or situation. This is really the part about chess that's boring -- simple memorization, repeating positions over and over and over again until you know all there is to know about it.

Most people can play a little, get a little better if they play more, but they tend to get 'stuck' at that level, they can't progress past that level of "decent" .....

 

[VBboy]

A good first-person shooter is much better than chess

 

[mr_cheesy]

Originally posted by: fr
"Strategery?"

dammit, I solely came into this thread to say that...

 

[yoda291]

It will not help you just going off and playing a hundred someodd games casually. Rather, having one good game where you consider every move is better than all the casual games you could possibly play because they way you get better is not having your a$$ handed to you every time, but figuring out where you goofed. go back to the game, grab a board and pieces and start recreating the game considering what happened and how you lost. Then, when you figure out what you screwed up on, don't repeat it. Play another good game and, when you think you lost even though you played perfectly, go back and figure out how you screwed up. If, at some point you haven't the foggiest notion of how you messed up, grab a book and let the book tell you what you've been messing up. Tournament level chess is the ideal place to learn IMO, but costly as all hell.

 

[freebee]

An opponent often rips me a new one and i still can't figure out why.....the key to chess is to all in positioning anyway. Which is why even mediocre computer programs can be ranked so highly.

Chess is like a matrix of sorts, with pieces (when arranged in certain postitions) will create a tactical advantage. It simply about getting them there before the other player. Try the book idea first, to explain the different situations. Then see if you can get a chess coach also, who will be able to explain in more detail the how and why of certain postioning of pieces.

I just play bughouse...and its ruined my chess completely.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Eli
The same way you get "good" at anything else. Practice.

 

[Ferocious]

genetics. A natural born talent.

Also practice helps as you refine your skillz.

But if you aint born with it........you'll never be really good.

I'm referring to the the "really really good."

 

[eLiu]

Originally posted by: pX
I have been playing on and off since I was 10, but I can never beat anyone who is good, for example I go on Yahoo games and play in Intermediate and get trounced repeatedly, and even sometimes in the Beginners rooms. It sucks! I tried the "play more and more and you'll get good" but I don't think that works.
Is it just a natural talent?
Can one improve? If so, how?! Books?

To begin, always record your games (this is automatic in Yahoo). Then when you suffer a loss, or even a win, analyze the game. Go through move by move...figure out what you were thinking & what your opponent was thinking. Find your mistakes, figure out what would have been better.

Going along those lines...look for records of games between highly ranked players. See what they were thinking and apply this to your own game.

Also, getting a few books might help--learn some openings, common "tricks," etc so you know what to watch out for and won't get defeated b/c of carelessness. However, I wouldn't get into more advanced books just yet. IMO, it's good to know the basics...get you on your feet. After that, you need to learn how to analyze the situation in each move & the consequences (that is, thinking several moves ahead). Then you can use the books to enhance your game. What I'm trying to say is that you can't just memorize stuff--"every" game is unique...it's not the how, but the why that matters.

 

[bjc112]

Getting BEAT.

Thats the only way,

I played my dad about 40 times before i won.

Geez was i glad, tired of losing.

 

[aircooled]

After he beats you at chess, ask him to play Quake with you

 

[wnied]

Practice fool Practice.

~wnied~

 

[tcsenter]

I suck at chess. I know how to play, but I've only played perhaps 20 or 25 games in my entire life.

I suspect as with anything you don't rapidly find 'intuitive', you have to practice and develop it. I've never been much on games of strategy, though.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

You have to play someone better than you on a consistent basis. Same person. Watch and learn, talk about the game as its going on, be proactive.

And sporting your fubu sh1t will also give you a tactical advantage against your oponent.

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Eli
The same way you get "good" at anything else.

Practice.

yep.

 

[Cappuccino]

Anything you learn you need to practice no matter what. For chess, I guess you can improve by watching pros play or watching people play in tournaments, you can view them on YouTube, just copy there strat and obviously try to make them better. You can read books I guess but it's like Piano you can read all the theory in the world but when you sit down and play you cant play because you need to physically play it and that is practicing, reading books is called studying. Dunno if that make sense but my advice is practice and keep playing and watch other people tactics. Again you cant improve from reading comments on here because you need to do it yourself and reading won't help because chess is a brain game and not a reading game or is it? Chess is confusing. I dont play chess but ive heard all the brainy people is good at it lol.

 

[shortylickens]

Anything you learn you need to practice no matter what. For chess, I guess you can improve by watching pros play or watching people play in tournaments, you can view them on YouTube, just copy there strat and obviously try to make them better. You can read books I guess but it's like Piano you can read all the theory in the world but when you sit down and play you cant play because you need to physically play it and that is practicing, reading books is called studying. Dunno if that make sense but my advice is practice and keep playing and watch other people tactics. Again you cant improve from reading comments on here because you need to do it yourself and reading won't help because chess is a brain game and not a reading game or is it? Chess is confusing. I dont play chess but ive heard all the brainy people is good at it lol.

Did you bump this thread or someone else?

 

[IronWing]

Did you bump this thread or someone else?

spammer, now gone

 

[Cappuccino]

Did you bump this thread or someone else?

Holy crap I didn't even know OP created 2002 lol. I just read OP post and posted my comment I didn't bother reading others. Thanks for letting me know. OP is probably world champion by now loool

 

[Red Squirrel]

The trick is to serve lot of alcohol and water to your opponent and don't drink much yourself. You can move the pieces around when they go to the bathroom.