tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post3799948735532488573..comments2024-02-24T12:16:34.475-05:00Comments on Path to Chess Mastery: How do you know you are becoming a stronger chess player?ChessAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02231584333139931889noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-47957410490604264002020-04-29T10:23:08.761-04:002020-04-29T10:23:08.761-04:00Wow... Late to the party but also wanted to chime ...Wow... Late to the party but also wanted to chime in on how excellent and informative this post is. Blunderpronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03404885773032575405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-59165446667515542902017-05-16T00:16:12.920-04:002017-05-16T00:16:12.920-04:00I saved this article into my files because I found...I saved this article into my files because I found it very insightful, especially your points #3 (intermediate moves), #4 (square-centered thinking), and #7 (peers seem to have gotten weaker).Soapstonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615415471957675272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-63701125653665405162017-04-24T03:19:53.921-04:002017-04-24T03:19:53.921-04:00Some ways to know you are becoming a stronger play...Some ways to know you are becoming a stronger player.<br /><br />1) You get deeper into your repertoire with strong replies.<br />2) You are able to play more confidently, and proficiently, at a quicker pace.<br />3) Your ability to find strong moves, tactics, and keep a lost position going extend further into a game ( that last part is particularly apt to blitz, as in a 90-move blitz game ).<br />4) You are less thrown off by opponents' witty replies.<br />5) You make more efficient use of time by analyzing your opponent's best moves on opponents' clock.<br />6) You are able to focus better at the board, by blocking out external distractions, just with your attitude.<br />7) You are more even-keeled in response to your opponent's move.<br />8) You eliminate or reduce your own personal weaknesses - e.g., one of mine was and still is doing an adequate job of threat recognition, but I've been working on this).LinuxGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15764940044950170053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-46452283681596902082017-04-21T21:49:53.987-04:002017-04-21T21:49:53.987-04:00Thanks for sharing the GM Rowson comment, as well ...Thanks for sharing the GM Rowson comment, as well as your other thoughts. I'll be interested to see if there are other, similar types of signals / signposts that people can share.ChessAdminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02231584333139931889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6393640898640561043.post-75455800272204071592017-04-21T06:12:16.811-04:002017-04-21T06:12:16.811-04:00EXCELLENT article!!! That's what I wanted to w...EXCELLENT article!!! That's what I wanted to write by myself, but I lacked spare time and motivation. Love it! :)<br /><br />I will comment on these points later, but now I want to help you at the point I know I was reading one day.<br /><br />[Finally is an observation that I once read by a GM (the source regrettably does not occur to me right now, maybe Yermolinsky?) who noted that when you gain strength you do not in fact feel any stronger yourself; rather, your opponents start seeming weaker...]<br /><br />Now, one of the solutions:<br /><br />GM Johnatan Rowson - Chess for Zebras, Gambit 2005.<br /><br />(page 27, left column, first paragraph at the top): "In my experience, most players who improve can explain why they have improved, e.g. because of hard work, but they usually can't explain HOW they have improved, i.e. what they are doing differently now from before. In line with this idea, Loek van Wely put it to me that YOU ONLY KNOW YOU ARE IMPROVING when your opponents seem to be playing badly more often then before! (end of the quote).<br /><br />Of course there could be many more sources, but this one I know for sure and that's why I wanted to share with you my friend.<br /><br />Your article is simple fantastic and after some thinking I will make some comments. I have been experimenting all of these signals for the last few years of playing chess. I know these as I could not make practically any improvement for the period of 8-10 years!Tomaszhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690570865003924020noreply@blogger.com