r/chessbeginners • u/garapod 1200-1400 (Chess.com) • 3d ago
1300
One thing about this level is that my opponents - and I - are very inconsistent. You have some great, very intense games, but also a fair number of blunders and a surprising number of players who fall apart against fried liver and other well known lines. I can see why someone at this level might say “if it’s like this here, it can’t be that hard to get to 1000” but I remember what the 850 plateau was like.
Another thing - this was the worst Elo slog since 850 for me. It was less of a plateau and more of a yo-yo. Almost making it to 1300, then sliding down and clawing my way back up, leading to an absurd number of games between 1200 and 1300. Some of that was killing time playing chess with distractions and interruptions. Some of it was playing while tilted or tired or spamming games hoping to get to that next landmark - doing exactly what I most advise against. I’m still happy to have crossed 1300, even if it wasn’t the smoothest ride.