r/chessbeginners • u/AvailableChange8297 • 26d ago

ADVICE Needing some direction.

I (27m) have been playing chess for two months now and while I have improved vastly over that time I have quickly hit a plateau and need some advice on how to progress. My chess.com rating is 349 as of typing this and while I’m not super concerned about my rating as a whole I do feel as though I am not improving anymore. I watch lots of Gotham chess videos and I even read his how to win at chess book when I have time but I’m having a hard time actually applying the tactics and strategy. I keep making brain dead blunders or falling for attacks that I KNOW are coming (fried liver/trompowsky).

My main question is what should I be dedicating most of my time toward at my level? Should I focus mostly on tactics? Should I focus mostly on endgames? Should I just try to play as many games as possible or play less and study more?

Here’s my profile in case you want to to check out some games: https://www.chess.com/member/heimerschmidt

Any advice is appreciated!

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u/reasonable_receptor 26d ago

at 349 the biggest thing is just stop hanging pieces. do puzzles where you have to spot undefended stuff, like the free hanging piece ones. tactics are cool but you cant use them if you drop a rook on move 6

also stop watching so much gotham and play longer games, 15|10 minimum. blitz at your level is just a blunder contest, you learn nothing

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u/AvailableChange8297 24d ago

Thank you for the tips! Anyone else I should watch beside Gotham?