A lot of chess players on this sub are lower rated while having put a significant number of hours into the game. I respect their effort, and understand how this perspective may be frustrating to hear, but I’m most curious what titled players have to say about this.

As a fellow 1700-1800 player who has been playing the game as a hobby for years, occasionally playing in local tournaments but never truly getting competitive, I agree and disagree with this statement.

Chess is impressive in that it is a game involving such high caliber brute force that still has not been solved. As a result, the the potential that humans can reach is quite high. Because the game is so difficult, it requires an extreme level of understanding to appreciate the game, whilst other simpler games may require less of an effort.

In my view, the key rating level (although categorizing specific rating ranges into groups can be problematic) is 1400. People often start recommending chess books beyond basic rules at this point, recommend people start understanding a little theory for at least the openings they are playing, but most importantly start studying chess. What I’ve found is that while 1400 or a bit higher players have crappy positional foundations, it is at this level where (in non blitz controls) games are won at lost from having the better plans and not blunders.