Hey enterprise thanks for looking at my journal! You are souriez, right? I get confused LOL. CT gives my average solve time as 83 seconds, although once over like 1700 I prob spend more like 2-3 minutes per problem. I try to keep the time realistic enough that I could ruminate on a position and actually find a move in a real game, but also I do not limit myself time-wise. Basically I try to use CT to reinforce a clear thinking pattern of identifying a target, choosing candidate moves, and calculating variations. Finding a target generally takes 5 seconds or so. Choosing candidate moves maybe 20 seconds, and then I calculate each candidate move back to back as accurately as I can, if there isn't a win there, I start over and first redo each candidate move, before looking for new candidate moves. The longest I have spent on a problem is about 15 minutes. I never really consider the rating of the problem. To be honest that is actually half the fun, seeing that number pop up. Sometimes I find a 1600 problem difficult, then a higher rated one easy. For instance I solved a 1920 rated problem that was very easy IMO. In real life, positions don't have ratings, so I am more interested in just getting the problem right, I couldn't care less about problem rating. I think it would be a good thing for you to work on eliminating that thought from the process of analysis. Does it matter what your opponent is rated when you are calculating variations at the board? It doesn't to me. I have really trained myself hard on not making passive stupid moves just because I am afraid to get active against higher rated opposition. True, I generally get my ass kicked, but in post game, it becomes very very clear where and why I blundered.

Hey Whis,

I detinitely think you have the right idea using CT as a tool to reinforce clear thinking. From an improvement standpoint as a chess player, I also think you're right to not worry over the problem rating.

As far as accumulating the most points on the CT server, it's difficult for me sometimes though because the 'winning move' must be at least ~+1.75. This can create a grey area from a solving standpoint, since having the problem's rating would help me know if I'm solving it correctly in advance because I could judge the tactic off its rating.

Of course I'm being completely unrealistic in a real life OTB scenario since I have no idea 1) if there's a tactic in a position and 2) what it's rating would be ahead of time.

Broke 1900 on CT a new all time high! I'm climbing the ranks slowly but surely. Just a month or 2 ago, my current goal was to get in the top 1000. I'm now at 658. Looking forward to getting into the 500's then 400's on my way to the ultimate goal of first page aka top 200. I haven't spent as much time lately on tactics tho, just had a busy schedule between my 2 jobs Anyway, current stats below:

User: jwhis

Total Solving Time: 31.8 Hours (excluding outliers)

Star Ratings Made:1
Comments Made:115
Tags Added:2

Stats for standard tactics
Rating: 1901.2 (RD: 34.31) (Best Active Rating: 1901 Worst Active Rating: 1582)
Active Rank: 685/5950 (Better than: 88.5% Best Active: 684 Worst Active: 1554)
Problems Done: 1364 (Correct: 901 Failed: 463)
Percentage correct: 66.06%

Here is a 30 minute game I played last week at the monthly chess club meeting:



[Event "rated standard match"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reggie Best"]
[Black "Jordan Whistler"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1664"]
[BlackElo "1512"]
[ECO "E14"]
[TimeControl "1800"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3

{d5, c5 and Be7 are the most common moves for black in this position. Instead I followed the general
principle of establishing a piece on e4, with f5 to follow.}

Ne4 6. Nbd2 Bb4

{Pinning the knight. This is where the game starts to go off into it's own
territory. After 6. Nbd2 see game Liberzon-Miles, Malta 1980. I played this
move as a result of sort of mixing up queen's indian ideas with
bogo/nimzo-indian moves.}

7. a3 Bxd2+

{Maybe slightly better is Nxd2 which doesn't leave white with the bishop pair, as after 7. ... Nxd2 8. Nxd2 Bxd2+ 9. Bxd2 Bxg2 is possible.}

8. Bxd2 O-O 9. O-O d6

{Preparing the c5 break.}

10. Qe2 Nd7

{Heading to f6 to reinforce e4 after playing f5. Maybe slightly
better is the immediate c5 or f5.} (10. ... c5 )

11. Rac1

{A slightly passive move, preparing to play b4 and c5.}

f5

{Reinforcing control of e4 and perhaps allowing Rf6 ideas or Qf6-g6 in the future.}

12. Bc3

{Moving the bishop to a more active square where after d5 it will aim at the g7 pawn.}

Nxc3 $2

{A poor decision, removing blacks best piece from the board. Better is to leave
the knight on e4, while bring the other knight from d7 to g4 via f6.}

13. Rxc3 Nf6

{Headed to e4.}

14. Rfc1 Ne4 15. R3c2

{Withdrawing the rook, as after Bxe4 fxe4 and Qf6 black will have strong pressure on the f file.}

Rc8 16. b4 Ba6 $2

{I miscalculated during the game and thought I couldn't play c5 myself, so I tried to prevent white from playing c5. The idea is that after 17. c5 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 bxc5 19. bxc5 dxc5 the d pawn will be pinned to the
queen for some sort of future tactic.}

17. Bxe4

{Doubling blacks pawns.} (17. c5 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 bxc5 19. bxc5 dxc5 )

fxe4 18. Nd2 d5

{Trying to force c5. I missed that white can play b5 here.}

19. b5 Bb7 20. c5 Ra8

{Removing the rook to allow Bc8 after c6 by white. Then black will try for Qe7 and e5 to free
the bishop.}

21. cxb6

{I was surprised by this move.}

cxb6 22. Rc7 Bc8 $2

{A horrible move. Rc8 was possible but I missed it.}

23. Qg4 Rf7 {Better is Qf6 activating the queen.}

24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Qf4+ Qf6 26. Rc7+ Kg8 27. Qxf6 $2

{Much better is Qd6 threatening Qc6.}

gxf6 28. Nf1 a6

{Hoping to activate the bishop via a6.}

29. bxa6

{Better is Ng3, heading to h5 with strong threats.}

Bxa6 30. Rc6 Bxf1 $2

{Better is Bc4 hitting the a3 pawn or Rc8 trading down.}

31. Kxf1 Rxa3 32. Rxb6 Kf7

{Also playable is Ra1+}

33. g3 f5 34. Rb7+ Kg6 35. Re7 Ra6 36. Kg2 h5 37. Kh3 Kg5 38. Kg2 Rb6 39. h4+ Kg6 40. Re8 Ra6 41. Re7
Rb6 {Draw agreed.} 1/2-1/2

Working on putting together a more structured method of improvement. I am breaking down what I consider the most important skill sets in chess and what can be done to improve them:

1) Opening theory - CPT practice, book learning
2) Engame technique - Currently using Dvoretsky, also maybe problembot on FICS
3) Planning - Reviewing annotated master games, book learning, post game analysis
4) Calculation of variations - Chesstempo, Endgame training
5) Positional Understanding - Book learning (I am a bit at a loss here, except perhaps, Amateur Mind, Reassess, My System etc), post game analysis
6) Tactical Ability - Chesstempo

I haven't formed an official outline or anything but just ruminating on how I can identify the weakest parts of my game and spend the most time on those etc. Currently I spend no time on openings, maybe 50% of my time on endgame, 25% on tactics, and the rest playing. I feel like positional understanding is starting to become my biggest weakness, as I have improved a lot in tactics. Tactics are probably still my weak point, but not nearly as glaring as they used to be. Anyways, that is my update

Yo, that looks like a good rough outline. Endgames and solid positional understanding are neglected in my games also.

Looking at your CT, do you think there is any particular reason you are hovering right below 1900 after breaking the barrier? I ask because I am in the same position with my blitz rating on CT. It is very frustrating for me!

Anyway, it looks like you are making some good progress in your overall chess game. Stay positive and keep it up man.

As for CT, I think I just reached my current limit, and future ratings increases will be due to improvement as the rating probably reflects my true skill now more than it did before. Also, I haven't had as much time to do tactics in the past month or so because I started a new job, and between the 2 jobs I work 7 days a week about 55 hours. So my RD started to slide a bit, making misses more painful to the rating than they otherwise would have been. But overall I think it is just the problems are getting a lot harder Anything up over 1900-2000 on CT standard is the very tail end of the problem spectrum. I got served up a 2300 problem the other day!! Funny thing is, I got it right for the first 5 moves but missed the 6th and last move, I was so irritated. Today I had a 2030 level problem come up and I found the solution in like 15 seconds, but I second guessed myself and tried something a little fancier, and lost It is cool you are on CT as well. I wish they had like a 'head to head' mode where you could log in against a friend and whoever solves first gets the point, then you both get the next problem. That would be fun, eh? Although not necessarily reinforcing good thinking technique.

Man, I didn't realise you're working two jobs (I remember deliveries). That CT head-to-head is a pretty cool suggestion, I think with the way I'm solving (read: consistently missing) problems right now I wouldn't even be competitive though. Keep us updated on your rough plan, I'm interested to see how it plays out.

Had an awesome tactics session today, solving 17/19, missing a 1959 and a 1994 problem. My calculation was very very quick compared to usual, it was just like watching TV in my mind, the pieces just went whoosh whoosh whoosh! Usually it is very tedious and I have to force my mind to work. Rating is at peak now, but my rank dropped Still, I'll keep trying to fight my way into the top 500, then top 400 until I reach my goal of first page aka top 200.

User: jwhis

Total Solving Time: 37.4 Hours (excluding outliers)

Star Ratings Made:1
Comments Made:127
Tags Added:3

Stats for standard tactics
Rating: 1902.2 (RD: 34.3) (Best Active Rating: 1902 Worst Active Rating: 1582)
Active Rank: 701/6198 (Better than: 88.7% Best Active: 684 Worst Active: 1554)
Problems Done: 1483 (Correct: 977 Failed: 506)
Percentage correct: 65.88%

Scored 3/5 in Columbus Open as I put in thread on general discussion. My rating went from 1512 to 1604 which I am really happy about. Having a hot streak on chesstempo as well, scoring 28 out of my last 30 problems on there. I've bumped up to the 90th percentile an increased my accuracy in solving problems by 1%. Enjoying riding the wave of a chess improvement. I had so many slumps lately, it is nice to have some positive results.

User: jwhis

Total Solving Time: 37.9 Hours (excluding outliers)

Star Ratings Made:1
Comments Made:127
Tags Added:3

Stats for standard tactics
Rating: 1925 (RD: 37.29) (Best Active Rating: 1925 Worst Active Rating: 1582)
Active Rank: 585/6205 (Better than: 90.59% Best Active: 601 Worst Active: 1554)
Problems Done: 1493 (Correct: 987 Failed: 506)
Percentage correct: 66.11%

Still thinking about openings. I want to learn a lot more about the Ruy as white. I need a good defense against d4, I like the queen's indian setup, so i am leaning toward nimzo-indian and queens indian, depending on what white does, and for e4 just ruy lopez and c3 sicilian. Haven't got any books or anything tho, so I need to figure out a good way to learn these. I am thinking about combining annotated games from my database with a CPT custom repertoire as a good way to learn some ruy lopez stuff. Maybe a book, who knows. Haven't done much tactics lately on CT, just enough to stay sharp. And Teamleague was a good series of long games, although I played too fast in 2 of them I think.

Total Solving Time: 43.6 Hours (excluding outliers)

Star Ratings Made:1
Comments Made:136
Tags Added:4

Stats for standard tactics
Rating: 1937 (RD: 37.36) (Best Active Rating: 1946 Worst Active Rating: 1582)
Active Rank: 554/6576 (Better than: 91.59% Best Active: 511 Worst Active: 1554)
Problems Done: 1602 (Correct: 1060 Failed: 542)
Percentage correct: 66.17%

Tiviakov is a good player to look at when it comes to c3 Sicilians.

Played this nice 2 knights game as black the other day at 30 0 time against one of my chess e-friends. The only real inaccuracy I made was missing c4 which was winning and instead played O-O-O. I looked at it but just plain old miscalculated, missing the discovered check ideas. Regardless, I was pleased with how the game went, and me and rookcheck took a look after, comparing Nd2 with Nc3 lines for white. It is an interesting opening position that comes out of the scotch gambit 2 knights, I enjoy it as black:

Just scrolled through the game and my first impression is a nice game JWhis!

But if I recall correctly Bd7 isn't the most active move for black in the opening as Bc5 is possible. It's explained in Marin's book on e4 e5 so you might wanna check that out

Bb6 before castling followed up by c5 is a key idea!

Starting on another run of tactics training. Hopefully I'll be able to break 2000 this time. I slept in too late, and now I am in a hurry to get to work, but I managed to bust out 8 problems in about 30 min, and did ok considering it's been like 6 weeks since I hit up chesstempo! just not enough hours in the day Must have been some sort of massive change in their procedure, because I jumped from around 500 to #395 on the list!??

User: jwhis

Total Solving Time: 44.1 Hours (excluding outliers)

Star Ratings Made:0
Comments Made:134
Tags Added:4

Stats for standard tactics
Rating: 1964.5 (RD: 62.86) (Best Active Rating: 1970 Worst Active Rating: 1582)
Active Rank: 395/5560 (Better than: 92.91% Best Active: 382 Worst Active: 1554)
Problems Done: 1610 (Correct: 1066 Failed: 544)
Percentage correct: 66.21%