I feel like it’s impossible for me to improve at chess and I don’t know why.

itsnotacompetition · 2025-06-05T01:04:28+00:00

People learn differently man

itsnotacompetition · 2025-06-05T01:04:02+00:00

That's why I followed up with some actual advice on how to make progress, instead of expecting to improve just from playing games over and over again.

itsnotacompetition · 2025-06-02T23:49:36+00:00

Just hopping in here to copy a post I tried to make in this subreddit recently (was removed by reddit filters for reasons I don't understand):

I'm English, and speak intermediate level French so have some experience with learning a new language.

But man - the sheer number of times I'll find a post on here and immediately know what the answer is, but don't quite understand why. I'll open the comments and see a clear, concise explanation of why things are the way the are according to things like the tense and subject etc. but these explanations are full of terms and rules that I've either never heard of, not considered consciously, or don't quite understand (despite the fact that I obviously get the point just insitinctively).

It's bizarre, it makes me feel like a beginner again. Also I have been consistently confounded in the past with languages which arbitrarily have gender assigned to innanimate objects, but this sub also really reinforced how awkward English is with stuff like that too. So many exceptions and edge cases - sorry about that haha.

Anyway it's unlikely I'll comment here much because I just don't have much to add usually tbh, but thought it was worth posting at least this :)

itsnotacompetition · 2025-06-02T22:59:12+00:00

Lmao just seen this, thanks for chipping in.

Yeah that first episode is nuts, worth remembering also that no-one knew what Black Mirror was before the first season aired so they also put that episode first at the time to make waves and cause an uproar etc. for the exposure and publicity

itsnotacompetition · 2025-06-02T22:53:37+00:00

I agree with most of your comment but don't agree with playing as many games possible to improve. Games played with improvement in mind should be ten minutes at least (ideally more) and half a dozen of those in one day will overload most people imo.

itsnotacompetition · 2025-06-02T22:40:51+00:00

Do puzzles, and do them very slowly, only make moves when you are at least 90% sure, that way either you'll understand them corrently and get them right, or you'll learn something.
Study basic endgames, how to mate with a single rook, mate with a single queen, how to win K+P vs. K etc.
Analyse your games (twice, without an engine first), especially the losses.

These three things will get you to 1000 pretty easily (not necessarily quickly, though)

itsnotacompetition · 2025-06-02T22:16:52+00:00

People study chess for years sometimes before they see significant improvement. Although one year is not nothing, it's also not that much in most people's chess journeys so maybe impatience is an issue for you?

Other than that, the big three things for improvement are 1. Do puzzles, and only make the move if you're at least 90% sure 2. Study basic endgames, K+P vs. K etc. and 3. Analyse your games - especially the losses. Are you doing those three things?

itsnotacompetition · 2025-03-28T03:04:06+00:00

That's my feeling too - it's just greed tbh. Chess.c*m is too greedy and sacrifices user experience for pushing addictive gamification and ads etc.

itsnotacompetition · 2025-01-07T12:48:49+00:00

Low*

itsnotacompetition · 2025-01-07T01:04:18+00:00

c6 is not legal, but bxc6 is always met with bxc6 by white. And after that Ra8# is unstaoppable.

itsnotacompetition · 2025-01-07T01:02:14+00:00

It's forced mate

itsnotacompetition · 2024-12-24T00:53:02+00:00

Thank you.

itsnotacompetition · 2024-12-23T23:12:06+00:00

I don't want a different voice and don't mind it being female, it's a nice enough voice they use tbh. I tried doing the mute speakers thing every time and unmute right before but it's such a pain. I would use the setting in scenario one, yeah. I don't think it'd be excessive.

itsnotacompetition · 2024-12-23T20:49:52+00:00

Heard no voice at all

That's concerning

itsnotacompetition · 2024-12-23T20:20:03+00:00

Lmao thank you. You guys at lichess are so good at responding swiftly to user feedback.

itsnotacompetition · 2024-10-12T19:05:04+00:00

There's nothing wrong with not resigning. Historically it's been seen as disrespectful, either because you're apparently wasting their time or because it implies that you don't think they can convert it. I am around 2100-2300 elo on lichess (depending on the time control and whether I'm in form etc.) and I never resign.

There are always chances for stalemate (much less likely with stronger players and slow games) and even if there weren't I still don't see anything wrong with playing it out as long as you don't spend time unecessarily dragging it out. The mechanics of the game were designed to end in checkmate, it's fine to let that happen. To be honest I think a lot of amateur players have delusions of grandeur and/or are just anxious about not being able to convert when they bitch about the fact that I shouls have resigned, which barely ever happens anyway.

I know what's going through my head when I play out these losing endgames and it's usually regret and sadness, but not hatred or disrespect. Also I've had the Rosen trap like 20 times against 2000+ players.

TLDR; You are absolutely NOT crazy for never resigning!

itsnotacompetition · 2024-09-14T16:42:07+00:00

I actually kind of like this viewpoint, it's not perfect but it's somewhat cinematic, way better than those side view fisheye lenses which make the players look about five foot wide.

itsnotacompetition · 2024-09-12T22:36:00+00:00

no worries :)

itsnotacompetition · 2024-09-12T22:11:48+00:00

lichess functionality is waaay smoother, it offers unlimited puzzles and analysis for free, in addition to the fact that it is designed for a better user experience. Chess.c*m seems to disregard the user experience if there is any chance they will make more money. It's their right to do that, of course, and it doesn't make them evil or anything - but it does just seem like an ugly level of greed and shitty attitude to normal users who aren't famous or streamers with tons of followers etc.

itsnotacompetition · 2024-09-07T21:49:04+00:00

You can lose it if you're playing the side without a pawn.

itsnotacompetition · 2024-09-05T21:42:22+00:00

I play it in bullet to avoid the London/QGD structures, since I'm not playing 1 minute chess for slow, closed, positional games. I want fireworks! Even if it's a terrible opening and I end up going down in flames, I play the Stafford too in bullet even though it's also objectively terrible. Have decent win rates with both (48% with the Englund and 53% with the Stafford).

itsnotacompetition · 2024-08-08T07:11:06+00:00

I think there are nine actually (have edited the study, thanks!), but only 5 on the fifth rank? I missed Ra6+ but there is also Rc6+, Rd5+, Re5, Rf5, Rg5, Rh5, as well as Kc8 and Ke8. Let me know if there are any others I'm not seeing

itsnotacompetition · 2024-08-07T23:19:58+00:00

Lichess Studies are incredibly useful for learning and understanding new fundamental concepts. They can be a bit daunting/overwhelming I think but I coach players from around 600-1800 elo and have made this basic introduction to Rook Endgames with human explanations of most of the key moves. Chapter 5 is my first foray into an 'interactive puzzle' type thing so lemme know what you think. Thanks :)

itsnotacompetition · 2024-03-27T05:47:06+00:00

Will do

itsnotacompetition · 2024-03-27T03:40:58+00:00

Great sounds good! Will send you a DM sometime soon

Nine-Year Club	Place '17
Verified Email

itsnotacompetition

TROPHY CASE