Merry Christmas
Robert helped me to identify the things that caused me trouble in two of my games. It turns out that I screwed up in the following cases:
- Opening (I remember ideas, but mix them from different openings)
- Endgame, especially rook endings and pawn endings (extended Trebuchet)
- Bishop pair (don't know how to handle them without losing them)
- Knight moves (especially those pesky beasts from the enemy)
The good news is that since a few weeks I can fully concentrate on the holes in my bucket, now the method to acquire skill is clear and somewhat definite. The next step is to prepare the right problem sets in order to address the problems.
At tactics I'm already making a steady progress, albeit I have to face the following problems:
- A steady decline in rating points since 2008 of about 100-150 points
- A decrease in cognitive abilities due to my illness
- An increase in tactical ability in people under 40 due to daily training
Ad point 3: intensive first time exposure to tactics leads to an increase in 250 points (no matter the method).
I deem that I already have reached my earlier capabilities of 2008.
Merry Christmas to all!!
ReplyDeleteThis has been a banner year for this blog! The articulation of a practical training method that works must be the high point of so much speculation and experimentation over 25 years. At last, the method is clearly spelled out for successful adult chess improvement.
THANK YOU!
If IQ is based on skills, which I guess due to the fact that tempo of solution plays a big role in IQ measuring, then I can't help to see the similarities between IQ build up and chess improvement.
ReplyDeleteWhen growing up, IQ is correlated to the environment. When grown, it is correlated to the genes. Sounds like older people are plateauing at a certain moment.
I wonder whether we can improve a stalling IQ too when being a grown adult with this method.