We should rename this to Chess help.
@CubeLite here is advice from a good chess player.
First off, I would like to say that I know nothing about Lichess.org and its ranking system, so I'm not sure how good Chessmasterottawa is. If Chessmasterottawa has anything else to say about this, feel free to jump in.
1. Master the Fundamentals
Tactics First
Roughly 80–90% of decisive games at club level are decided by a tactical oversight. If you can see forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and back‑rank threats before your opponent does, you win material, and often, the game. Solve 5–10 puzzles every day. Use an app or website that adapts to your level so you’re always working at the edge of your ability. Chess.com allows free users to do 3 free puzzles and other puzzle mini-games every day. After solving a puzzle, don’t just look at the “right” moves, but study why alternative defenses fail. Over time, you’ll build an internal library of tactical advantages that you spot instantly in your games.
Basic Endgames
King + Pawn vs. King: When two kings stand on the same rank, file, or diagonal with one square between them, the player not to move “has the opposition.” With opposition you can force the enemy king backward, clear the way for your pawn to advance, and ultimately promote.
Maneuver your king to confront the opponent’s king directly (e.g. White Kd4 vs. Black Kf6). When it’s Black’s turn to move, he must step aside, letting you penetrate.
The “Square” Rule: Draw an imaginary square from the pawn to the promotion rank; if the opposing king is inside that square (or on its boundary), he can catch the pawn; if he’s outside, he can’t. Before you march your pawn, glance at this square to know if you need to bring your king closer first.
Rook Endgames: Rook endings occur in roughly half of all games that reach an endgame. They’re famously tricky as small inaccuracies can turn a win into a draw. If you wish, I can explain more on this with ideas like The Philidor Position or The Lucena Position.
2. Analyze Your Own Games Relentlessly
Self‑Annotation
Without an engine, go through your recent games and answer at each move:
- “What was my idea here?”
- “What alternative candidate moves existed?”
- “Did I miss a tactic or positional nuance?”
Flag blunders and inaccuracies with symbols
Engine‑Assisted Review
After self‑analysis, run the engine at moderate strength. Identify where your evaluation deviated most from the engine’s. Look for why you missed the tactical shot or positional resource. Maintain a “Mistake Log”: Categorize errors: tactical oversight, time trouble, opening unfamiliarity, endgame slip. Every week, choose your top two error categories and do targeted drills.
Set SMART goals:
Specific: “Solve 150 double‑attack puzzles this month.”
Measurable: Track puzzles solved and accuracy rate.
Achievable: Don’t overshoot—aim for 70%+ success on new motifs.
Relevant: Align goals with your weaknesses.
Time‑bound: “Reach a 1200 online blitz rating in 8 weeks.”
Lastly, don't do what I did and memorize an opening, but rather learn one.
Select a small repertoire: As White, pick one 1.e4 and one 1.d4 system; as Black, one against 1.e4 and one against 1.d4. For example: White: Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) and Queen’s Gambit Declined. Black: Classical French and Slav Defense. Understand the “why” for each opening. What pawn structures arise? Which minor piece trades are favorable? Where do the kingside and queenside pawn breaks happen?
And remember to have fun.
-pTr
