How can I get better at chess?
Basic Chess Study Ok, you are basically a beginner, so the first issue is to determine how you lose – and without seeing any of your games (me being a USCF rated expert), I’d say your primary problem is TACTICS. 1) FIRST AND FOREMOST: I can recommend a site for you to practice tactical puzzles: http://chess.emrald.net/ 2) SECOND AND FOREMOST – YOUR THINKING PROCESS: I can recommend a book for you: How to Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman. 3) THIRD: Study BASIC endgames/mates. Rook endings, R + Minor Piece Endings. Most common. 4) Study BASIC openings – nothing deep, 6-8 moves each side at MOST. Just pick an opening repertoire as white and pick some defense as black and ALWAYS play them. Do not deviate for at least 6 months. For example: I always play 1.e4 and head towards the Ruy Lopez if I can, or the Rossolimo Sicilian. As black I always head towards a Caro-Kann against 1.e4 and the Slav Defense against 1.d4. ALWAYS. DO NOT DEV
