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That's too much work. All my kids play. I have been playing since I was a kid myself. It's just a game. Getting into memorization and deep analysis makes it

That's too much work. All my kids play. I have been playing since I was a kid myself. It's just a game. Getting into memorization and deep analysis makes it less interesting for me. I've been in the 1800 to 2000 range for a while. Spending too much time getting great at chess is, in my opinion, time that could be better spent getting good at something far more useful in life. Exercise is such an example. My system is very simple: Before I play a game I must complete at least five consecutive puzzles. Yes, this might mean I play 12 or 20 puzzles before I get five in a row. What's interesting about this is that if I get to a dozen or more puzzles and did not solve five in a row, I take it as an indication that my brain isn't in "chess mode" and go do something else. Every time I ignore this indicator I lose games. Just work on puzzles and keep it simple. My kids have a great time with this simple rule. They don't have to memorize anything and they progressively get better and better. Above all, they don't get worked-up about losing at all. Keep it simple and fun.

mostertoaster 5y ago
I think this is where it really shows that it becomes just pattern recognition. Sometimes our brains are fuzzy and we slowly match patterns. Other times they’re quick. Though I also think the real value in puzzles is not that they help you win more, but lose less. I often play a puzzle that the advantage gains a piece over one or two lost pawns, and when I play these I love to go then and try to beat stockfish 9, undoing moves freely. I often still lose, but what I learn is how to defend after you blunder and how to avoid blowing an advantage. I think just solving the puzzle as if you are the stronger player taking advantage of a blunder is less beneficial than solving the puzzle as if you were the one who made the blunder and what do you hope they don’t see is better.
acoard 5y ago
Where do you play puzzles?
- llimllib 5y ago
  chesstempo has the best puzzles, but worst interface. chess.com and lichess both have ok puzzles and better interfaces. I prefer lichess, and sometimes go to chesstempo for more focused work, but reasonable people can disagree. Also there are many books of puzzles.
- robomartin 5y ago
  These days mostly lichess https://lichess.org/training https://lichess.org/training

mostertoaster 5y ago

I think this is where it really shows that it becomes just pattern recognition. Sometimes our brains are fuzzy and we slowly match patterns. Other times they’re quick. Though I also think the real value in puzzles is not that they help you win more, but lose less. I often play a puzzle that the advantage gains a piece over one or two lost pawns, and when I play these I love to go then and try to beat stockfish 9, undoing moves freely. I often still lose, but what I learn is how to defend after you blunder and how to avoid blowing an advantage. I think just solving the puzzle as if you are the stronger player taking advantage of a blunder is less beneficial than solving the puzzle as if you were the one who made the blunder and what do you hope they don’t see is better.

acoard 5y ago

Where do you play puzzles?

llimllib 5y ago
chesstempo has the best puzzles, but worst interface. chess.com and lichess both have ok puzzles and better interfaces. I prefer lichess, and sometimes go to chesstempo for more focused work, but reasonable people can disagree. Also there are many books of puzzles.
robomartin 5y ago
These days mostly lichess https://lichess.org/training https://lichess.org/training