Answers.Body: <p>There are many aspects to becoming a strong player. </p>
  
  <p>One of the very best books to read is called "Think like a grandmaster" . You can find it at Amazon. It helps you how to think. Chess is about analysis, and this analysis is done in the mind. Hence if you know how to organize this thought process, you'll become more efficient and actually can analyze more positions in the same amount of time. </p>
  
  <p>Another thing to do, is to get good book with good analysis. Like Fischer's my best 60 chess games, or Alekhine my best games, I mean a book that is annotated by the same strong player, and this way, you can see the thought they had when making moves.</p>
  
  <p>And most importantly, play with players who are stronger than you. Losing teaches you a lot. Make sure you go over each game you played afterwords and try to learn why you lost, or even if you won, see if you might have missed better moves.</p>
  
  <p>Getting good at chess is not easy (I mean to go over 2400 level or so), it is just hard work. Need to study a lot, read a lot, and practice a lot, and have some natural talent for the game. But make sure you are having fun doing it, else it is not worth it.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Update</strong></p>
  
  <p>Just noticed that an important information is missing in this question. What is the level of the player here? </p>
  
  <p>Advice to someone at 1500 wanting to improve to 1800 will be different from someone 1800 wanting to improve to 2200 level, and that will be different from someone at 2200 wanting to improve to 2400 and so on. For example, someone at 2200 level who wants to get to 2400 level, they have to spend more time on studying openings, more end game positions, play more games in stronger level international tournaments but may be spend less time on tactics since this is something they should have good handle on at this level. While someone still at 1500 level, the situation is different.</p>
  
  <p>So hard to give one generic advice without knowing what level the player is at now.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T20:41:22.613Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-02-15T06:24:17.223Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-02-15T06:24:17.223Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nasser
Answers.Body: <p>I am a beginner just like you, so I will give advice from my perspective on some of the things that have helped me.</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Don't get too carried away with learning openings.  Focus more on learning opening principles/fundamentals such as controlling the center, developing your pieces, castling early, etc</li>
  <li>Practice tactics at <a href="http://www.chesstempo.com">chesstempo.com</a>.  I don't do this as often as I should as I don't have time, but if you do, it will help.</li>
  <li>Don't get frustrated if you lose.  Go back and look at where you made the mistake(s) and try not to repeat them.  You most likely will repeat them, but over time, your mistakes will lessen.</li>
  <li>Take your time with each move.  A lot of things I notice beginners do is they move really fast even if they have plenty of time left on their clock.  I am guilty of this.  I noticed that this is the biggest cause of blunders for me which usually result in me losing.  So take your time to look at the whole board and think twice before your decide to make your move.</li>
  <li>There are many great books out there, I won't go into which ones are the best, I will just mention one that I found very useful even though it goes over some of the basics at first and that book was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&amp;field-keywords=bobby%20fischer%20teaches%20chess&amp;sprefix=bobby%2bfischer%2bteaches%2bc,aps&amp;rh=i%3aaps,k%3abobby%20fischer%20teaches%20chess">Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess</a>.</li>
  <li>Subscribe to some great chess channels, especially found on YouTube. I find the user <code>MatoJelic</code> especially makes <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MatoJelic">great videos</a> and annotates them very well.</li>
  <li>Check out the <a href="http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#Novice%20Nook">Novice Nook</a> columns by <code>Dan Heisman</code>.  If you happen to have a subscription to <a href="http://www.chessclub.com/">ICC</a>, you can watch his <code>Improve Your Chess</code> videos.</li>
  <li>Last but not least, PLAY PLAY and PLAY. You mentioned in your post and keep playing.  Remember to keep have fun doing it, don't get frustrated and try to learn from every game.</li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T19:35:06.747Z
Answers.Text: +1 for #5. Read it when very young, continue to re-read every couple of years. Just about everyone can stand to review fundamentals.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Justin C
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T20:00:43.463Z
Answers.Text: @JustinC - Yes, I have found myself re-reading it as well. It is a very nice read.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-08-25T09:14:10.390Z
Answers.Text: +1 for suggesting such a nice book
Answers.UserDisplayName: CCCC
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T06:54:19.317Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-02-15T06:54:19.317Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.Body: <p>Go to your local USCF club.  Join and play.  This will get you a rating and introduce you to other players.  Once your strength is known perhaps you can get a instructor.   Your instructor will be able to spot your weaknesses and help you overcome them far quicker than you can do this yourself.</p>
  
  <p>edit - As per the comment below, $40 to join the USCF, less if you ask them for options.  Beginner's gear is $50 (<a href="http://www.wholesalechess.com/chess/chess_sets/club_chess_sets/beginners_chess_gear_combo" rel="nofollow">example, ymmv, no affiliation, etc etc</a>) and will likely be completely adequate for years.  Then there are state memberships, etc.  It's a racket to be sure but in the scheme of things... chess is a cheap hobby.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T04:43:48.713Z
Answers.Text: Joining can be rather expensive, but this is certainly good advice.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Seth
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-16T15:41:08.253Z
Answers.Text: An adult membership is $40/year to join but less if you don't get the magazine.  Hardly a show-stopper for someone determined to get better at the game.  Decent (enough) equipment will soak up another $50, but that's a one-time expense.  But isn't the point of hobbies is to get rid of excess cash. ;-)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T01:41:26.123Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-02-16T15:44:04.907Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-02-16T15:44:04.907Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tony Ennis
Answers.Body: <p>Avoid the trap of studying openings, they don't improve your game. Say, at most 10% of your training time before you start making IM norms. They can be addictive and maybe even improve your results in the short term, but in the long term they just don't improve your chess playing.</p>
  
  <p>The basis of improvement: playing serious, slow games (say at least half an hour on the clock) against decent opponents, afterwards if possible exchange thoughts about the game with your opponent (go through the game again). Then, before you forget them, write down as much as you remember about your thoughts during the game. Why did you play moves, but also why didn't you play others. Which moves of him surprised you. Then, go over the game again and check your thoughts. Was the line you were afraid of when you didn't play that move really so dangerous? That attack looked good, wasn't there a way to win? And so on. <em>Find your mistakes, and don't make them again.</em></p>
  
  <p>Play through well-annotated grandmaster games.</p>
  
  <p>Learn how to win endings where you're material up, or draw them even when you're material down.</p>
  
  <p>Train tactics on Chesstempo.com.</p>
  
  <p>Play real tournaments over the board.</p>
  
  <p>Once you're of sufficient strength (1600-1700ish over the board), start working through Yusupov's orange books. They have hard exercises covering a wide range of subjects you need to get good at. But that's probably for later.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-04-24T21:55:14.683Z
Answers.Text: > Play through well-annotated grandmaster games.
  
  @RemcoGerlich would you mind elaborating some more? 
  What are some sources and examples of well annotated grandmaster games? Thx!
Answers.UserDisplayName: jottr
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T20:58:24.827Z
Answers.Text: Great advice as always.
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T21:06:55.977Z
Answers.Text: Now if only I could learn to take my own advice...
Answers.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T23:28:20.947Z
Answers.Text: What do you mean by "10% of your training time before you start making IM norms"?
Answers.UserDisplayName: detly
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T23:32:12.687Z
Answers.Text: He means don't waste time studying openings until you're practically an IM
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T04:42:32.210Z
Answers.Text: "IM" is "International master" iirc.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Seth
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-02-23T08:58:08.970Z
Answers.Text: What is 1600 - 1700 ? what does this score mean
Answers.UserDisplayName: gprasant
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T20:41:31.187Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-02-14T20:41:31.187Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Body: <p>I'm looking to become a better chess player. I play online and sometimes with my friends offline as well. I've also started to study openings.</p>
  <p>It is very difficult to get the right direction of study. What way should I move to progress in my play? What is the &quot;path&quot; of learning chess?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T20:59:03.610Z
Comments.Text: The Path is dependent on how strong you already are as well.
Comments.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-02-14T21:47:48.233Z
Comments.Text: Not strong at all. I don't even quite understand how do you measure strength.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Roman
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T02:36:44.913Z
Comments.Text: Highly related:  http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/967
Comments.UserDisplayName: BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-02-15T06:57:50.650Z
Comments.Text: @BlueRaja-DannyPflughoeft - That question is partially related. It specifically geared towards openings, but I did notice some of the answers are not just about openings, so I would say it is not highly related, but partially.  This question is more broad than the one you cited.
Comments.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Tags: <learning><training>
Title: The path of learning chess
ThreadText: # The path of learning chess
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-14)
  
  I'm looking to become a better chess player. I play online and sometimes with my friends offline as well. I've also started to study openings.
  
  It is very difficult to get the right direction of study. What way should I move to progress in my play? What is the "path" of learning chess?
  
  **Tags:** learning, training
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: The Path is dependent on how strong you already are as well.  
  > **username_0**: Not strong at all. I don't even quite understand how do you measure strength.  
  > **username_2**: Highly related:  http://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/967  
  > **username_1**: @BlueRaja-DannyPflughoeft - That question is partially related. It specifically geared towards openings, but I did notice some of the answers are not just about openings, so I would say it is not highly related, but partially.  This question is more broad than the one you cited.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2013-02-14. Score: 52 | Accepted answer
  
  Avoid the trap of studying openings, they don't improve your game. Say, at most 10% of your training time before you start making IM norms. They can be addictive and maybe even improve your results in the short term, but in the long term they just don't improve your chess playing.
  
  The basis of improvement: playing serious, slow games (say at least half an hour on the clock) against decent opponents, afterwards if possible exchange thoughts about the game with your opponent (go through the game again). Then, before you forget them, write down as much as you remember about your thoughts during the game. Why did you play moves, but also why didn't you play others. Which moves of him surprised you. Then, go over the game again and check your thoughts. Was the line you were afraid of when you didn't play that move really so dangerous? That attack looked good, wasn't there a way to win? And so on. *Find your mistakes, and don't make them again.*
  
  Play through well-annotated grandmaster games.
  
  Learn how to win endings where you're material up, or draw them even when you're material down.
  
  Train tactics on Chesstempo.com.
  
  Play real tournaments over the board.
  
  Once you're of sufficient strength (1600-1700ish over the board), start working through Yusupov's orange books. They have hard exercises covering a wide range of subjects you need to get good at. But that's probably for later.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Great advice as always.  
  > **username_8**: Now if only I could learn to take my own advice...  
  > **username_10**: What do you mean by "10% of your training time before you start making IM norms"?  
  > **username_2**: He means don't waste time studying openings until you're practically an IM  
  > **username_7**: "IM" is "International master" iirc.  
  > **username_11**: What is 1600 - 1700 ? what does this score mean  
  > **username_9**: > Play through well-annotated grandmaster games.  @username_8 would you mind elaborating some more?  What are some sources and examples of well annotated grandmaster games? Thx!  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-02-15. Score: 17
  
  I am a beginner just like you, so I will give advice from my perspective on some of the things that have helped me.
  
  1. Don't get too carried away with learning openings. Focus more on learning opening principles/fundamentals such as controlling the center, developing your pieces, castling early, etc
  2. Practice tactics at [chesstempo.com](http://www.chesstempo.com). I don't do this as often as I should as I don't have time, but if you do, it will help.
  3. Don't get frustrated if you lose. Go back and look at where you made the mistake(s) and try not to repeat them. You most likely will repeat them, but over time, your mistakes will lessen.
  4. Take your time with each move. A lot of things I notice beginners do is they move really fast even if they have plenty of time left on their clock. I am guilty of this. I noticed that this is the biggest cause of blunders for me which usually result in me losing. So take your time to look at the whole board and think twice before your decide to make your move.
  5. There are many great books out there, I won't go into which ones are the best, I will just mention one that I found very useful even though it goes over some of the basics at first and that book was [Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=bobby%20fischer%20teaches%20chess&sprefix=bobby%2bfischer%2bteaches%2bc,aps&rh=i%3aaps,k%3abobby%20fischer%20teaches%20chess).
  6. Subscribe to some great chess channels, especially found on YouTube. I find the user `MatoJelic` especially makes [great videos](http://www.youtube.com/user/MatoJelic) and annotates them very well.
  7. Check out the [Novice Nook](http://www.chesscafe.com/archives/archives.htm#Novice%20Nook) columns by `Dan Heisman`. If you happen to have a subscription to [ICC](http://www.chessclub.com/), you can watch his `Improve Your Chess` videos.
  8. Last but not least, PLAY PLAY and PLAY. You mentioned in your post and keep playing. Remember to keep have fun doing it, don't get frustrated and try to learn from every game.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: +1 for #5. Read it when very young, continue to re-read every couple of years. Just about everyone can stand to review fundamentals.  
  > **username_1**: @JustinC - Yes, I have found myself re-reading it as well. It is a very nice read.  
  > **username_5**: +1 for suggesting such a nice book  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2013-02-14. Score: 12
  
  There are many aspects to becoming a strong player.
  
  One of the very best books to read is called "Think like a grandmaster" . You can find it at Amazon. It helps you how to think. Chess is about analysis, and this analysis is done in the mind. Hence if you know how to organize this thought process, you'll become more efficient and actually can analyze more positions in the same amount of time.
  
  Another thing to do, is to get good book with good analysis. Like Fischer's my best 60 chess games, or Alekhine my best games, I mean a book that is annotated by the same strong player, and this way, you can see the thought they had when making moves.
  
  And most importantly, play with players who are stronger than you. Losing teaches you a lot. Make sure you go over each game you played afterwords and try to learn why you lost, or even if you won, see if you might have missed better moves.
  
  Getting good at chess is not easy (I mean to go over 2400 level or so), it is just hard work. Need to study a lot, read a lot, and practice a lot, and have some natural talent for the game. But make sure you are having fun doing it, else it is not worth it.
  
  **Update**
  
  Just noticed that an important information is missing in this question. What is the level of the player here?
  
  Advice to someone at 1500 wanting to improve to 1800 will be different from someone 1800 wanting to improve to 2200 level, and that will be different from someone at 2200 wanting to improve to 2400 and so on. For example, someone at 2200 level who wants to get to 2400 level, they have to spend more time on studying openings, more end game positions, play more games in stronger level international tournaments but may be spend less time on tactics since this is something they should have good handle on at this level. While someone still at 1500 level, the situation is different.
  
  So hard to give one generic advice without knowing what level the player is at now.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2013-02-15. Score: 7
  
  Go to your local USCF club. Join and play. This will get you a rating and introduce you to other players. Once your strength is known perhaps you can get a instructor. Your instructor will be able to spot your weaknesses and help you overcome them far quicker than you can do this yourself.
  
  edit - As per the comment below, $40 to join the USCF, less if you ask them for options. Beginner's gear is $50 ([example, ymmv, no affiliation, etc etc](http://www.wholesalechess.com/chess/chess_sets/club_chess_sets/beginners_chess_gear_combo)) and will likely be completely adequate for years. Then there are state memberships, etc. It's a racket to be sure but in the scheme of things... chess is a cheap hobby.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: Joining can be rather expensive, but this is certainly good advice.  
  > **username_6**: An adult membership is $40/year to join but less if you don't get the magazine.  Hardly a show-stopper for someone determined to get better at the game.  Decent (enough) equipment will soak up another $50, but that's a one-time expense.  But isn't the point of hobbies is to get rid of excess cash. ;-)  
  
  ---
  
  