McLovin1t wrote:Stress, that's really good!!
I am trying to become a better chess player, only about a 950 USCF rating, and I am trying my best to improve.
Any tips, I do a couple hours a day of tactics also starting about a week ago.
I'm rated 1800 FIDE, but I've played in very few rated tournaments, because my paren't won't allow me to travel too much, to play chess. My actual playing strength is somewhere between 2100 and 2200 (I frequently draw with my chess trainer, and he's rated 2250. I've also beaten a FM (FIDE master) in blitz a couple of times; we played 10 games and I won 3 of them, drew one, and lost 6 ).
Here's a couple of tips, maybe they can help.
At your level, a lot more can be achieved by actually playing than by studying. Memorizing opening lines won't help you much, people often deviate from book moves very quickly at around 1000 USCF level. One thing I can tell you, though, is that, before you move on to more complicated openings, you should try and understand the basics of 1.e4 e5 and 1. d4 d5. Understanding double king-pawn and queen-pawn openings is a fundamental issue.
I would advise you to play 1.e4 as white: it leads to open games, where you can practice your calculation skill. Improving calculation skill is critical here. 1. e4 leads to open positions, which are usually tactical, rather than positional. Of course, there are lines which can take the game to a positional one (for example, the defense I always play as black: the Caro-Kann). But, basically, 1. e4 takes you to open games, as opposed to 1. d4, 1. c4, or 1.Nf3, which tend to lead to closed positions, where the importance of positional feel is important. And positional feel is something you only aquire in time, by playing a lot.
Here's some typical scholastic lines you can try playing:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 (the italian game)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 (the scotch)
or the spanish:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Once you get 1200+, if you have time to look into some theory, study the Italian or the Spanish (also called Ruy Lopez), and maybe a bit of Queen's gambit. Then, as you move on, you can study the Sicilian, King's Indian, Nimzo-Indian etc.
Also, practicing tactics is a great thing to do.
www.chesstempo.com -> This is a great site for practicing tactics. Keep track of your progress. If you can devote one hour a day to chess, practice tactics for 20 minutes, and play for 40 minutes. As for the time control, I wouldn't advise you to play anything under 5 minutes, it won't help you.
Play, play, play! If you ever have any questions, you can PM me, and I'd be glad to help.
Stress
