Chess for Beginners

Category: Goals

  • Chess Goals – Progress Report – Feb 2010

    This is my first progress report on the chess goals and resolutions I made back on December 21st.  While I haven’t had the time or inclination to update my blog, I have been active in my training averaging  one hour per day of training. During the last two months, I have continously tweaked my training schedule as well as the resources I use for training. I hope to have settled on a schedule and resource list in a few more weeks, and when I do I’ll post about it here. In the meantime, you can view it by visiting my shared Google Calendar. Overall I am happy with my results, but I need to play in a rated USCF tournament so I can gauge my progress using my USCF rating.

    • USCF rating to 1400 – haven’t played any rated tournament games since 9/2009.
       
    • Chesstempo standard rating to 1850. Currently at 1769 (started at 1700 +69)
       
    • ICC standard rating to 1825 currently. Currently at 1777 started at 1750 (+27)
       
    • 4 tournaments in 12 months – so far I have not played any tournaments but I am planning on playing on 2/28/2010.
       
    • Play 2 standard games / week. I have been doing this religiously plus I sprinkle 2-3 long games at work. I have noticed that my blitz play has deteriorated, but I’ll worry about this some other time.
       
    • 6 training sessions – I haven’t had any, and I will probably cut this back to 4 in 1 year…due to budget and time constraints.

    Short Term Goals

    • Dedicate 1 hr / day to chess  Spending an average of 1 1/2 hours per day dedicated to chess study and play – Grade A+
       
    • Review standard games  Giving myself a B- because while I am reviewing my games I could be doing a better job.  I need to analyze the game away from my computer, because having the engine available is to much of a temptation. – Grade B-
       
    • OTB before the end of February – targeting 2/28/10 – Grade Incomplete
       
    • Increase chesstempo standard rating to 1750. Currently at 1769, so I met my short term goal and I am on track to meet my long term goal of 1850  – Grade A+

    New short term goals

  • Play OTB rated game by 4/2010
  • Increase chesstempo standard rating to 1800 by 4/2010
  • Increase ICC standard rating to 1775 by 4/2010

  • Chess Resolutions

    Farbror the Guru has challenged the chess improvement community to come up with a list of chess goals for the coming year, so here are mine:

    Long Term Goals

    • Increase USCF rating to 1400 (currently at 1283)
    • Increase Chess Tempo standard tactics rating to 1850 (currently at 1700)
    • Increase ICC standard rating (currently have a provisional rating of 1750) will set appropriate ELO goals within the next 3 months once I get out of provisional status. update 01.03.10 Out of provisional rating after having played 26 standard games. Benchmark rating is 1781 goal is to reach an ICC rating of 1825 by the end of the year.
    • Play in 4 tournaments within the next 12 months
    • Play a minimum of 2 standard games G/15 or > per week
    • Have a minimum of 6 training sessions in the next 12 months with FM Charles Galofre

    Short Term Goals (goals for the next 90 days)

    • Dedicate 1 hour per day to chess training
    • Review all of my standard games
    • Play in an OTB tournament before the end of February ’10
    • Have a chess lesson before the end of February ’10
    • Simplify my chess training, focus more on the practical side of chess
    • Increase Chess Tempo rating to 1750 by the end of February ’10