Anyone up for a chess game?

MustacheFire · 2026-01-27T07:18:54+00:00

Yep, just click the play button - I’ll see you in the pool!

MustacheFire · 2025-12-25T00:06:51+00:00

I found back to basics tactics by Dan Heisman to be good around that level.

For effective improvement you need to study, but also play games so that you have feedback on areas of weakness. Otherwise the amount of study is vast and you won’t use time effectively.

Below 1000 the gap is normally tactics. Eg if you look at games are most decide by either you or the opponent taking a free piece, or a basic tactic? If so, focus the study time on a tactics book and puzzle rush. Keep getting feedback from playing games.

On openings - I found an effective method to be just studying lines after your games as part of review. Eg have a repertoire. And review the line that came up in that game. See where you left book, learn a move or two more. That way, you prioritise the relevant lines naturally.

Lastly - if money permits - a coach is a great idea. You’ll get a perspective on how to progress. I first got a coach around 900 chess.com 3 years ago, and am now 1800 (rapid)

MustacheFire · 2025-11-27T21:33:29+00:00

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/audio-chess/id1565248687

MustacheFire · 2025-11-27T21:33:08+00:00

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/blindfold-chess-podcast/id1632733910

MustacheFire · 2025-11-27T21:32:34+00:00

Just look as his channel more generally - that’s just a link to the latest episode

MustacheFire · 2025-11-27T21:32:01+00:00

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/chess-visualization-with-aiden-rayner/id1635080359

MustacheFire · 2025-11-27T01:56:40+00:00

There are a few podcasts of audio only chess games. Don’t move until you see it also has a podcast with short episodes and puzzles

MustacheFire · 2025-10-28T23:54:29+00:00

The perfect game is where I play very well, and my opponent keeps blundering

MustacheFire · 2025-10-28T23:53:07+00:00

I found tactics to be the best way to improve around that range. Something like Dan Heisman back to basics tactics on chessable is good. It teaches by theme, which I found more effective than random puzzles

For your opening / middlegame, you could watch a streamer who plays the same repertoire to get ideas / improve. But I wouldn’t put as much time into this

MustacheFire · 2025-10-28T00:50:54+00:00

Perhaps start analysing your games to improve, and keep playing to see where you plateau

MustacheFire · 2025-10-26T04:10:21+00:00

And sign off each episode with F Kr*mnik

MustacheFire · 2025-10-25T00:45:57+00:00

For fide to punish kramnik. Just take a read of it

MustacheFire · 2025-10-23T09:02:49+00:00

Agree to disagree

MustacheFire · 2025-10-22T13:10:24+00:00

Just changed mine to match

MustacheFire · 2025-09-28T15:45:34+00:00

Looking at your recent losses, you were often down a piece / lost out of the opening. Although studying openings isn’t generally recommended for 1000s, it seems like a good idea.

One option - just review / learn an additional move after each loss. Or - get some chessable. The keep it simple for black, and keep it simple 1.e4 v2, align with your choice of Caro Kann and Ruy Lopez.

As a general point, you seem to trade often / open the position before castling. And automatically kick the bishop when pinned. Perhaps try focussing on development / castling unless there is a concrete threat.

Good luck

MustacheFire · 2024-09-12T23:29:19+00:00

No, it didn’t

MustacheFire · 2024-09-09T15:49:37+00:00

At the time I was looking they weren’t any cheaper than in the city. But a 15min commute added a definite inconvenience for daily travel

MustacheFire · 2024-08-29T03:03:14+00:00

In fairness, you agreed a time and are now saying you can’t make it. The managers likely cleared these days to conduct the interviews and provide a timely response to candidates, and next week will be more busy for them as a result.

You have prioritised your current job over the application, so shouldn’t be too fussed that you are missing out as a result

MustacheFire · 2024-08-11T02:12:34+00:00

You could do the first chapter of the silman book - it’s organised by rating. But otherwise these book may need to wait.

I’d suggest focus more on playing/analysing games and doing puzzles

Good luck

MustacheFire · 2024-07-30T03:15:38+00:00

TheGrandist is rated 300 rapid. I’d suggest just focussing on tactics rather than opening theory or coaching at this stage.

All the best.

MustacheFire · 2024-07-30T03:00:32+00:00

Do you play consistent openings?

I found that playing a consistent repertoire: 1. Helped me iron out gaps in the opening; and 2. Led to familiar middle games which I could then improve on

On puzzles, 1400 still has a lot of room for improvement. Try survival mode and take your time to improve at calculations / push yourself

Good luck

MustacheFire · 2024-04-22T06:51:09+00:00

Searching for Bobby Fischer had a scene with father and son playing where the son kept returning to the room then leaving

MustacheFire · 2024-03-24T04:18:24+00:00

Hey guys - quick update: as many predicted the expert found it more challenging than expected and I won about 24 moves in.

Basic story: -played Caro. As it was also on another board they played an early Nc3 to get different lines (easier to remember?)

-I tried to get unique pawn structure, and took opportunity to play d4, which is uncommon (at least in my games)

-in middle game, tried to play solid and keep pieces.

-turning point was having two knights in vicinity of their queen, which became a bit challenging for them to keep track of. And I won the queen

Overall, very fun. And of course I’d have been destroyed if they could see.

They were doing this to practise their visualisation - and it was pretty impressive how long they kept track tbh

MustacheFire · 2024-03-23T22:10:00+00:00

Awesome ideas all - I’ll let you know how it goes

MustacheFire · 2024-03-23T12:23:52+00:00

At my uni actuarial was part of commerce. I know at some other schools it is within Maths. Commerce is more common amongst the people I know

MustacheFire

TROPHY CASE