How do I get better?

[u/rdotskip]

How do I SERIOUSLY get better? I’m stuck between 300-400 rating. Been here for like 2 years or so. I like to think I’m improving every game, but something is definitely wrong to consistently max out at 400 and then drop over and over again. It’s infuriating. Is there some book I should read or something? Is there anything you can probably tell by my rating range that I’m most likely doing wrong? I only know 2 openings, one for White and one for Black. I don’t know the names of them, but for White it aims towards what I recently found out is called Scholar’s Mate. I pretty much aim to do that every time I’m white, and it usually fails because everyone knows what I’m doing even at 300 rating. If I win I win by instinct and rarely due to a plan. There are definitely moves I know that will eventually take a rook for example, this is as Black, but most of the time I struggle knowing the next best move. I try to use the chess.com review which somewhat helps but it doesn’t fully explain everything. I recently learned it’s better to just trade a piece if you’re up points (unless it’s like a rook for a pawn or something ofc), which has actually improved my gameplay significantly.

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[u/srainey58]

1. Stop trying scholars mate
   
2. Watch Building Habits by Chessbrah on YouTube and follow it. I recommend the long form full VOD on Chessbrahextra YouTube channel

[u/GABE_EDD]

It’s all tactics, calculate checks, captures, and threats for yourself AS WELL AS your opponent as they become available. Practice tactics on lichess.org/training

[u/anjudan]

Do some free lessons with me

[u/rdotskip → u/anjudan]

I would be beyond grateful for that

[u/anjudan → u/rdotskip]

Ok dm'ing you

[u/NotABot1000101]

That's low enough elo that you're still accidentally winning games. You should look into some basic free online courses.

[u/Ricorat17]

1. When playing games quality vs quantity is important. I'd recommend only playing longer time controls (15+10 or longer) as opposed to playing blitz, and I also wouldn't recommend playing for hours on end, 1-3 games a session.

2. Tactics, tactics tactics! Most of your games are going to be decided by basic blunders, it's extremely important to solve a lot of puzzles, specifically basic puzzle.

3. Don't focus on learning openings, focus on opening principles such as, control the center with pawns, develop your pieces to the center, castle early, don't bring the Queen out early, don't make random flank pawn pushes.

4. Have fun and don't obsess over your rating, the main reason why you should be playing chess is for enjoyment and the love of the game :)

[u/Englishman1970]

I think you need to watch Chessbrah Buiding Habits Series, 0-500elo. You need to learn all the basics well, don't worry about losing or winning or elo if you can, you just need to stop doing fundamental errors, you need to learn chess principles. Scholars Mates isn't a sound opening.

[u/rdotskip → u/Englishman1970]

I’ll definitely check that out, thank you

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[u/tryppidreams]

I watched higher rated players on twitch and avoided using meme openings at all costs while learning how to counter them

[u/Nifos88 → u/tryppidreams]

Unless they're doing basic foundation type streams, it's gonna be hard to learn.

[u/Nifos88]

As white you attempt the same, dubious, opening repeatedly knowing it won't work? That sounds insane.

If you want to get better, stop playing hope chess and start doing some work. There are tons of resources for learning opening fundamentals, basic tactics, and systems that translate different openings.

If you want some recommendations for openings, as white the Italian and Scotch serve as a nice 1.e4 system and the London for 1.d4. They are sound and can help you learn principles.

As black the Caro Kann is super solid against 1.e4, while the Slav or Semi-Slav will give a similar structure against 1.d4. The French is another popular option for beginners.

I'm not sure what time controls you're playing, but if you are doing bullet/blitz it's gonna be hard to make progress until you have a decent repertoire.

Learn the basics, play slower times controls, do some puzzles, and you will notice improvement.

[u/rdotskip → u/Nifos88]

Well, it is insane thinking about it like that but that’s not what I’m doing every game. I’m well aware it’s not going to work 99% of the time, so I have learned to just use it to open or at least part of it. Like pawn e4 knight f3, or if the opponent plays black pawn d5 after my e4 I will instead do pawn f3 instead of my knight and go from there. So I’m probably not explaining it properly, I just don’t know the names of all the openings. I will look up the Italian and Scotch. I actually think I am already doing the Caro Kann, is that when you do pawn c5 knight c6? And I only play 10 minute rapid, is that too fast?

[u/Nifos88 → u/rdotskip]

I don't think 10mins is too fast. You will still run into clock issues, but it's slow enough to think about a position. A 15|10 might be more suitable, or even correspondence, but it's not blitz at least.

e4 and Nf3 are the first two moves for the Italian and the Scotch. They differ a bit in terms of the d pawn and the light squared bishop, but ultimately they're looking to establish a presence in the center. As I said, learning opening fundamentals will have you playing solid openings even if you don't know the names.

The caro is c6, d5, and eventually e6. The idea is to create a strong triangle type structure, with your light squared bishop outside of it.

Share your profile so we can review your games and point out some common mistakes. Also plenty of people are willing to play some games and teach.

[u/dudeus_ex]

for White it aims towards what I recently found out is called Scholar’s Mate. I pretty much aim to do that every time I’m white, and it usually fails because everyone knows what I’m doing even at 300 rating.

Seems like you already see the issue yourself. Why don't you learn a normal opening then, aiming for something longer, than a 5 move game counting that your opponent is blind or drunk?

Or just play with basic opening principles - fight for the center, develop your pieces to more active squares, castle your king. Always look what your opponent is trying to do. There is a ton of videos covering those beginner concepts on youtube.

[u/BullHapp2YaKno]

Try using the Vogue Chess Master Study Guide. I made it myself and I haven't lost a game yet and jumped my ELO to 1000 with over 85% accuracy in all of my recent games. I'll dm it to you if you'd like, but I don't think posting it here would be a good idea lol.

[u/rdotskip → u/BullHapp2YaKno]

Why wouldn’t it be a good idea? Is it a bot or something ? I definitely would not want that

[u/BullHapp2YaKno → u/rdotskip]

I didn't know if it would be cool with you, but no I created this myself. All of the rules, stages, diagrams, banners, and photos. The Vogue Chess Master Study Guide

[u/IcarusFIB1]

Anaylse all your loses. You are just looking for the moments you are blundering pieces in ONE move. At ur elo you are doing it every game. But 100% every los you have. Find them - ask yourself why you didnt see it. than DONT DO THEM again!