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Do you think White can win or is it a draw?

@GABUZYAN_CHESSMOOD

Thanks for the brilliant advice. I haven't quite reached the point where I am a good player, but I really needed someone to tell me not to worry so much about rating. It might not have completely sunk in, but I feel as if I am on the right path.

I sometimes wonder if I need to hire a chess instructor OR if I should start up lessons again with a previous instructor. I'm not really sure what I should do. One of my biggest challenges has been to play strategic chess. I tried reading two different books on the subject, and after checking my answers in the back, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I know one needs to learn about strategy, but I can't seem to make any progress...

I still can't remember all of the tactical themes that my instructor mentioned, but I also want to move on and learn something new.

@GABUZYAN_CHESSMOOD Thanks for the brilliant advice. I haven't quite reached the point where I am a good player, but I really needed someone to tell me not to worry so much about rating. It might not have completely sunk in, but I feel as if I am on the right path. I sometimes wonder if I need to hire a chess instructor OR if I should start up lessons again with a previous instructor. I'm not really sure what I should do. One of my biggest challenges has been to play strategic chess. I tried reading two different books on the subject, and after checking my answers in the back, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I know one needs to learn about strategy, but I can't seem to make any progress... I still can't remember all of the tactical themes that my instructor mentioned, but I also want to move on and learn something new.

That is an amazing GM story, great topic, being scared of losing rating is one of the worst feelings you can have in chess

Turning off rating displays on lichess took away my fear of playing new games.
(Preferences -> Display -> Show player ratings -> No)

That is an amazing GM story, great topic, being scared of losing rating is one of the worst feelings you can have in chess Turning off rating displays on lichess took away my fear of playing new games. (Preferences -> Display -> Show player ratings -> No)

When I was 27 years old, I stopped playing. My OTB rating 1812. It was my peak rating. Part of stopping was "I reached my goal, finally I am one of the strong club players with 1800++".

9 years later, meanwhile 36, I came back and was frustrated I couldnt play as good as I used to. When I was 37 I trained again, looked up what works and what doesnt.

4 years later I had a rating of 2143. and my performance was often 2200++ (or my rating had not climbed to 2143).
Maybe national master or CM in reach?

However, even though I had beaten a lot of good players, or drew them, and only lost 1 game out of around 50(?), I had the impression I was not truly a 2143. I felt like a fraud.

Looking at the GM Gabuzyan's rating, he used to be 2400 for quite a while, then suddenly rose to 2488. But probably, like me, he didnt feel like he was truly a 2488, as he was for quite a while "just" a 2400 rated player, but would like to be a GM anyway.

And... I stopped playing competetively. Part of the truth is, that I was too scared to be able to constantly beat those 1800s.
Pretty much the same story, I stopped playing.

Now I am 52, and I feel I am worse again. I never felt I played like a 2143, but I think now I am definitely not there anymore. The last 2 years I played around 10 matches, the first year terrible (my rating dropped below 2100), but the last year quite alright, climbing back to 2123, again beating some good players.

I still have never found out how high I could get, but looking at lichess ratings, again I feel like a fraud. my bullet and blitz is poor, and my rapid is lower then of those players that I know in real life and they have a higher lichess rating than me, despite they are not 2100++ rated like me.

With age I feel I can not play that well anymore, memory is failing me too often.
But I regret not having tried to continue and reach 2200 and who knows how far I could have gone.
Rating somehow scared me, and at the end, I prevented myself from at least trying, just because of that rating number.

When I was 27 years old, I stopped playing. My OTB rating 1812. It was my peak rating. Part of stopping was "I reached my goal, finally I am one of the strong club players with 1800++". 9 years later, meanwhile 36, I came back and was frustrated I couldnt play as good as I used to. When I was 37 I trained again, looked up what works and what doesnt. 4 years later I had a rating of 2143. and my performance was often 2200++ (or my rating had not climbed to 2143). Maybe national master or CM in reach? However, even though I had beaten a lot of good players, or drew them, and only lost 1 game out of around 50(?), I had the impression I was not truly a 2143. I felt like a fraud. Looking at the GM Gabuzyan's rating, he used to be 2400 for quite a while, then suddenly rose to 2488. But probably, like me, he didnt feel like he was truly a 2488, as he was for quite a while "just" a 2400 rated player, but would like to be a GM anyway. And... I stopped playing competetively. Part of the truth is, that I was too scared to be able to constantly beat those 1800s. Pretty much the same story, I stopped playing. Now I am 52, and I feel I am worse again. I never felt I played like a 2143, but I think now I am definitely not there anymore. The last 2 years I played around 10 matches, the first year terrible (my rating dropped below 2100), but the last year quite alright, climbing back to 2123, again beating some good players. I still have never found out how high I could get, but looking at lichess ratings, again I feel like a fraud. my bullet and blitz is poor, and my rapid is lower then of those players that I know in real life and they have a higher lichess rating than me, despite they are not 2100++ rated like me. With age I feel I can not play that well anymore, memory is failing me too often. But I regret not having tried to continue and reach 2200 and who knows how far I could have gone. Rating somehow scared me, and at the end, I prevented myself from at least trying, just because of that rating number.

I give this adviste to my students. Don't look the elo, focus in play better and then you elo grow up. Leave elo alone.

I give this adviste to my students. Don't look the elo, focus in play better and then you elo grow up. Leave elo alone.

@Munich said in #4:

When I was 27 years old, I stopped playing. My OTB rating 1812. It was my peak rating. Part of stopping was "I reached my goal, finally I am one of the strong club players with 1800++".

9 years later, meanwhile 36, I came back and was frustrated I couldnt play as good as I used to. When I was 37 I trained again, looked up what works and what doesnt.

4 years later I had a rating of 2143. and my performance was often 2200++ (or my rating had not climbed to 2143).
Maybe national master or CM in reach?

However, even though I had beaten a lot of good players, or drew them, and only lost 1 game out of around 50(?), I had the impression I was not truly a 2143. I felt like a fraud.

Looking at the GM Gabuzyan's rating, he used to be 2400 for quite a while, then suddenly rose to 2488. But probably, like me, he didnt feel like he was truly a 2488, as he was for quite a while "just" a 2400 rated player, but would like to be a GM anyway.

And... I stopped playing competetively. Part of the truth is, that I was too scared to be able to constantly beat those 1800s.
Pretty much the same story, I stopped playing.

Now I am 52, and I feel I am worse again. I never felt I played like a 2143, but I think now I am definitely not there anymore. The last 2 years I played around 10 matches, the first year terrible (my rating dropped below 2100), but the last year quite alright, climbing back to 2123, again beating some good players.

I still have never found out how high I could get, but looking at lichess ratings, again I feel like a fraud. my bullet and blitz is poor, and my rapid is lower then of those players that I know in real life and they have a higher lichess rating than me, despite they are not 2100++ rated like me.

With age I feel I can not play that well anymore, memory is failing me too often.
But I regret not having tried to continue and reach 2200 and who knows how far I could have gone.
Rating somehow scared me, and at the end, I prevented myself from at least trying, just because of that rating number.

Thanks for your story, little sad to read, I felt your pain.
But age is also just a number - we have 77 years old students , of course with age it’s harder - but I strongly believe still possible to improve.

Good luck!

@Munich said in #4: > When I was 27 years old, I stopped playing. My OTB rating 1812. It was my peak rating. Part of stopping was "I reached my goal, finally I am one of the strong club players with 1800++". > > 9 years later, meanwhile 36, I came back and was frustrated I couldnt play as good as I used to. When I was 37 I trained again, looked up what works and what doesnt. > > 4 years later I had a rating of 2143. and my performance was often 2200++ (or my rating had not climbed to 2143). > Maybe national master or CM in reach? > > However, even though I had beaten a lot of good players, or drew them, and only lost 1 game out of around 50(?), I had the impression I was not truly a 2143. I felt like a fraud. > > Looking at the GM Gabuzyan's rating, he used to be 2400 for quite a while, then suddenly rose to 2488. But probably, like me, he didnt feel like he was truly a 2488, as he was for quite a while "just" a 2400 rated player, but would like to be a GM anyway. > > And... I stopped playing competetively. Part of the truth is, that I was too scared to be able to constantly beat those 1800s. > Pretty much the same story, I stopped playing. > > Now I am 52, and I feel I am worse again. I never felt I played like a 2143, but I think now I am definitely not there anymore. The last 2 years I played around 10 matches, the first year terrible (my rating dropped below 2100), but the last year quite alright, climbing back to 2123, again beating some good players. > > I still have never found out how high I could get, but looking at lichess ratings, again I feel like a fraud. my bullet and blitz is poor, and my rapid is lower then of those players that I know in real life and they have a higher lichess rating than me, despite they are not 2100++ rated like me. > > With age I feel I can not play that well anymore, memory is failing me too often. > But I regret not having tried to continue and reach 2200 and who knows how far I could have gone. > Rating somehow scared me, and at the end, I prevented myself from at least trying, just because of that rating number. Thanks for your story, little sad to read, I felt your pain. But age is also just a number - we have 77 years old students , of course with age it’s harder - but I strongly believe still possible to improve. Good luck!

@FunnyAnimatorJimTV said in #3:

That is an amazing GM story, great topic, being scared of losing rating is one of the worst feelings you can have in chess

Turning off rating displays on lichess took away my fear of playing new games.
(Preferences -> Display -> Show player ratings -> No)

Thanks for your kind words

@FunnyAnimatorJimTV said in #3: > That is an amazing GM story, great topic, being scared of losing rating is one of the worst feelings you can have in chess > > Turning off rating displays on lichess took away my fear of playing new games. > (Preferences -> Display -> Show player ratings -> No) Thanks for your kind words
<Comment deleted by user>

ah, by the way, no matter what rating - a lot of you can actually win more games without playing any better.

time for a little story:

There was this International Master (IM), his glory days long behind him, but still boasting a solid 2200+ rating. His opponent, a 2100-rated amateur, was giving him an unexpectedly tough time. The game was intense, and as defeat became inevitable, the master paused, nodded slowly, and broke the silence with a murmured, "Nice game."

He picked up his scoresheet, crumpled it into a little paper ball, stood up in frustration, and walked out of the playing hall.

The amateur was overjoyed. He had done it - he had beaten the Master! Excited and proud, he grabbed a friend (who had already finished his game) and they headed to a nearby pub to celebrate this incredible victory.

But then, 30 minutes later, the master returned. Calmly, he uncrumpled his scoresheet, made his move on the board, wrote it down on his scoresheet - and pressed the clock.

The amateur? He never came back. His time ran out, and he lost the game.

After all, the master never actually resigned, did he? All he said was, "Nice game." (which nobody heard, except maybe the amateur)

ah, by the way, no matter what rating - a lot of you can actually win more games without playing any better. time for a little story: There was this International Master (IM), his glory days long behind him, but still boasting a solid 2200+ rating. His opponent, a 2100-rated amateur, was giving him an unexpectedly tough time. The game was intense, and as defeat became inevitable, the master paused, nodded slowly, and broke the silence with a murmured, "Nice game." He picked up his scoresheet, crumpled it into a little paper ball, stood up in frustration, and walked out of the playing hall. The amateur was overjoyed. He had done it - he had beaten the Master! Excited and proud, he grabbed a friend (who had already finished his game) and they headed to a nearby pub to celebrate this incredible victory. But then, 30 minutes later, the master returned. Calmly, he uncrumpled his scoresheet, made his move on the board, wrote it down on his scoresheet - and pressed the clock. The amateur? He never came back. His time ran out, and he lost the game. After all, the master never actually resigned, did he? All he said was, "Nice game." (which nobody heard, except maybe the amateur)