Why do i suck in chess?

Question

I practice and practice...but i never get better...can you PLEASE give me some tips..i can't even beat the kids at school...do you have any strategies for me...PLEASE.....

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Do NOT read "My System" by Aaron Nimzowitch...that book is way, way too advanced for a beginner.

At your level, you probably have a hard time implementing (and stopping) good tactics...

I'd suggest a couple of books:

Winning Chess Tactics (Yasser Seirawan)
Chess Tactics for Champions (Susan Polgar)

Learn to play according to good opening PRINCIPLES (don't worry about 'memorizing' opening lines, you're not far enough along to worry about that yet). By "Principles" I mean, for example:

1) don't move more than two pawns in the opening
2) try to control the center squares, either by occupying them or influencing them
3) develop your Knights before your Bishops
4) Castle early to protect your King and unite your Rooks
5) try to prevent your opponent from doing these same things...

Bruce Pandolfini's "Chessercizes" books are good, they contain tactical puzzles to solve (solutions provided of course, but don't look at them until you've REALLY tried to solve the problems).

Chessmaster 10th Edition has some good tutorials for beginners.

Tactics is the main subject you'll need to familiarize yourself with at your level...

Good luck...and don't give up!!!

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

thanks everyone for their response...most of you helped me..

Answer 2

Nope, looks like you're gonna have to keep on sucking.

Answer 3

you have to think ahead. plan moves before you do it. Don't just look at what move you can make at that moment.....look at how that move will affect your next move, etc.

Answer 4

when playing chess, you need to plan way ahead and look at every possible move, or you may just be dumb

Answer 5

Read a book called My System by Aron Nimzowitsch.

Answer 6

DEFENSE, and figure the game should take 40 moves or so...
so be patient...
don't try to kill your opponent in three moves all the time...
end game is key...
often times i win by having a pawn advantage...
and i'm not half as good as i once was

Answer 7

I don't know, I have the same problem. I've had people teach me to open and that was good. I felt I was doing better but it's the strategy that gets me every time. I just keep playing other opponents. After he/she makes a move I didn't expect I ask about it. I feel as long as I'm playing a friendly game of chess then I can ask why they moved where they did, it encourages conversation as well.

Answer 8

do you enjoy chess even though you "suck" at it?
If you do, then just enjoy yourself, after all it is a game, games are supposed to be fun and entertaining. losing may not be fun, but it can be entertaining, you could just laugh at your mistakes and maybe it could help your game.

Answer 9

Well you should ask yourself this question, "Do I like slow paced games?"

Thats what chess is all about, you need to take your time and think about EVERY move and then think about what your opponent is/could do to counter you. Thats why they call chess "the thinking mans game."

My suggestion is to take your time between moves and try to predict the future of the game at hand. Or find a game you like more.

Answer 10

learn the game...learn the strategies...go check out some books to see master chess players strategies...practice playing online...

Answer 11

Have you ever noticed there aren't any girl chess masters, duh...

Answer 12

Go buy the game's strategy guide

Answer 13

Chess is a very difficult game so it's hard to really tell anyone how to play better directly.

However, this site has some general strategies that might be able to help you;
http://www.chesscentral.com/chess_strate…

Good luck

Answer 14

Every move you make should have a reason based on one of the following three principles:
1) Increasing or protecting your material strength.
2) Gaining control of the center of the board.
3) Increasing your mobility.
Don't make a move without a reason.
Get a tutor to explain to you why a move is good or bad.
Learn to write down your game so that you can revise it and find out what you did right and what you did wrong.

Source(s):

Experience and study

Answer 15

Maybe you should just play a game with yourself that way you would have a chance to win. If you do loose you really do suck!!

Answer 16

don't be hard on yourself, chess takes time to master, keep at it you'll get better, good place to start www.uschess.org it's the united states chess federations website they can help you

Answer 17

Try and control the middle four squares. If you can own the middle of the board, you may see more openings.

Answer 18

I'd suggest Siegbert Tarrasch's The Game of Chess he teaches
the elements, the end game, the middle game, lastly the opening.
He starts off with just a few pieces in very simple positions that you
commit to memory then he moves on to the end game, the middle
game and then the opening he explains the game very clearly he
is one of the best chess teacher who ever lived.

If you get this book get the descriptive notation version below it's Tarrasch's work as he intended it they updated it with an algebraic version but the guys who did the update ruined his book so avoid
that one.

http://www.amazon.com/Game-Chess-Siegber…


If you study Tarrasch's book really really well you will be a much better, player I know because I study the book myself and it's made a huge improvement in my play and rating I've gone from 1300 strength to 1800 rating.

Answer 19

u must have ur own strategy and a plan

Answer 20

See the main objective of chess is to STRAIN ur mind:)

dont always see which piece ofthe opponents u can attack
first see whether any of HIS/HER pieces threatin any of urs

then before u move, make sure the place u are moving ur piece to is under control (as in if anything can kill ur piece if on that square)
then make sure u always have support for ur pieces






oo and last thin(very important)
make some sacrifices which allow other pieces to be moved to better stratergical places(more like a disguise) and try to make it look like ur loosing this always works

u wont master chess with these but follow these tips and u might as well be on ur way towards victory














:)

Answer 21

why not learn how to cook

Answer 22

what most grandmasters do is take control of the center and have very few holes in their defenses
however the most important thing is think about your move carefully
and ask yourself a few questions
1. Is it safe to move there?
2. Are there any threats against me?
3. Is my king in any danger?
4. If I move here, how will my opponent respond?
you will probably be able to shock a couple of people.
Good luck!