ultilizing time while practicing

Hey guys,

I'm in high school and struggle with time while practice. I have limited time since I'm bombarded with homework, and I've been very disappointed in my performance at tournaments. It's really bad and I've been stuck at my rating for over 3 years. How can I practice to utilize my time in the best way that can help me improve significantly? (my uscf has been stuck at 1500s-1600s. when it starts getting better, i drop back down significantly. what do you guys think I can do to improve?)

Chess is overall very expensive and it is hard to continue for me if I can't improve. My parents have been very supportive, but it has been hard and demotivating for me to play like this. the only way I can continue is to play MUCH better than I am now. I've been losing to lower rated players too, further demotivating me. i really love chess and don't want to stop

plz help

Sup,

First you need to know how much of your time could be spent in studying/training. Just because you lack on time cause of school obligations, doesn't mean you have no time at all. Every moment seeing, thinking and playing chess can make a big difference in your performance. I'm not talking about playing ultra bullet, please. Everyone knows that playing longer time controls is what pushes your skills further beyond.

So, with that in mind, i'd like to suggest a few things. First, play at least one game whenever you can (10/15 min at least, rapid ou classical time controls) and analyze it without the computer. After writing your thoughts in each moment of the game (this includes lines that went through your head, ideas, threats from you or the opponent), than you may turn on the evaluation and the engine to compare the computer analysis with your own. Besides playing games, dive in some tactics/strategy/calculation exercises, those have the power to strengthen/train your eyes and brain to spot opportunities/critical moments or moves in your games. Strategy is of highly importance to raise your level, knowing how to exploit/create weaknesses in your opponents position and to make better use of your own pieces.

I could tell you to study some openings, endgames, but i imagine you already know its importance. Instead of this, i would highly recommend you to have a friend/comrade that shares the same goals/interest in chess as you do, so you can train together, OTB preferably. Both of you can make a huge difference in each others motivation to keep grinding.

I hope I could have been of some guidance to you. Feel free to ask.

- Batufo

@Batufo said in #2:
> Sup,
>
> First you need to know how much of your time could be spent in studying/training. Just because you lack on time cause of school obligations, doesn't mean you have no time at all. Every moment seeing, thinking and playing chess can make a big difference in your performance. I'm not talking about playing ultra bullet, please. Everyone knows that playing longer time controls is what pushes your skills further beyond.
>
> So, with that in mind, i'd like to suggest a few things. First, play at least one game whenever you can (10/15 min at least, rapid ou classical time controls) and analyze it without the computer. After writing your thoughts in each moment of the game (this includes lines that went through your head, ideas, threats from you or the opponent), than you may turn on the evaluation and the engine to compare the computer analysis with your own. Besides playing games, dive in some tactics/strategy/calculation exercises, those have the power to strengthen/train your eyes and brain to spot opportunities/critical moments or moves in your games. Strategy is of highly importance to raise your level, knowing how to exploit/create weaknesses in your opponents position and to make better use of your own pieces.
>
> I could tell you to study some openings, endgames, but i imagine you already know its importance. Instead of this, i would highly recommend you to have a friend/comrade that shares the same goals/interest in chess as you do, so you can train together, OTB preferably. Both of you can make a huge difference in each others motivation to keep grinding.
>
> I hope I could have been of some guidance to you. Feel free to ask.
>
> - Batufo

Hey, thanks a lot man! This helps!

Dear @Happy_yoyo , another idea could be, that you put your last maybe 10 OTB games (including at least 5 losses) in a study and post the link here.

The people in the forum can then analyse your games and give you a much more targeted advice on what you should focus on in your current training to reach the next level.

Bye

@derkleineJo said in #4:
> Dear @Happy_yoyo , another idea could be, that you put your last maybe 10 OTB games (including at least 5 losses) in a study and post the link here.
>
> The people in the forum can then analyse your games and give you a much more targeted advice on what you should focus on in your current training to reach the next level.
>
> Bye

alright thank you!

can anyone also give recommendations for good chess websites/apps good for game analysis and helpful tactics?

also, my coach told me to repeatedly check my openings and study games on my own too

Can anyone give tips on how to study games efficiently?

"Chess is overall very expensive"
I'm sending you the bill to replace my chair. I broke it when I fell out upon reading this.
Chess is cheap; compared to piano, ice hockey, dance, art lessons, language lessons, and a thousand and one other pastimes one might invest in. The only way chess is really expensive is the time required to begin to understand the game, and that is pretty expensive for all of the above anyways.

But let's start at this: chess requires a monumental investment of time and energy, if one is to become successful. (As do all the others, but let's not get distracted) And for you, time and energy are at a premium. And you are feeling demotivated because you know you aren't playing very well. It's not just that you haven't made progress; you've hit a frustrating wall (to use the runners' analogy). You're good enough to see how well you could play, if you could get it all together, but you are frustratingly unable to get it all together and the result is rather ugly. Discouraging. Where's my shovel and wheelbarrow?

I'm going to suggest a radical treatment: quit for a half year or more. Not forever, because the lady is always going to whisper in your ear, "look what is possible". You can't ignore the sirens' call. But give yourself time away from the game. Time to be who you are, to do other things. When you come back to the game, (as we all do, addicts that we are), you will have forgotten much, but the hunger will be there, stronger than before. And the barriers that seemed insurmountable will fall like leaves in an autumn wind. So give yourself the benefit of a second wind. You will find that, with a chance to stand back, take a breath, and examine things dispassionately, that you are already over the hump.

@verylate said in #7:
> "Chess is overall very expensive"
> I'm sending you the bill to replace my chair. I broke it when I fell out upon reading this.
> Chess is cheap; compared to piano, ice hockey, dance, art lessons, language lessons, and a thousand and one other pastimes one might invest in. The only way chess is really expensive is the time required to begin to understand the game, and that is pretty expensive for all of the above anyways.
>
> But let's start at this: chess requires a monumental investment of time and energy, if one is to become successful. (As do all the others, but let's not get distracted) And for you, time and energy are at a premium. And you are feeling demotivated because you know you aren't playing very well. It's not just that you haven't made progress; you've hit a frustrating wall (to use the runners' analogy). You're good enough to see how well you could play, if you could get it all together, but you are frustratingly unable to get it all together and the result is rather ugly. Discouraging. Where's my shovel and wheelbarrow?
>
> I'm going to suggest a radical treatment: quit for a half year or more. Not forever, because the lady is always going to whisper in your ear, "look what is possible". You can't ignore the sirens' call. But give yourself time away from the game. Time to be who you are, to do other things. When you come back to the game, (as we all do, addicts that we are), you will have forgotten much, but the hunger will be there, stronger than before. And the barriers that seemed insurmountable will fall like leaves in an autumn wind. So give yourself the benefit of a second wind. You will find that, with a chance to stand back, take a breath, and examine things dispassionately, that you are already over the hump.

I appreciate the honest advice!
What I meant by expensive is the combination of classes, every week or 2 tournaments, etc. like since ever since ive started, we've spent a lot of money and time (time is money too ig) and i've been feeling guilty towards my parents. they could be doing whatever work they have or improve in their own work and yk. instead, they've devoted all this time to me, while im lacking, is what i was feeling.