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I need help. After 2 years of studying chess, I have nothing to show for it.

Given your rating if you play long time controls and swear off fast chess entirely you can improve quickly.

-Start by asking what the purpose of each move you make is
-Double check it isn't a blunder before playing it
-Ask a higher rated player about each game after they skim through it and pay attention to what sticks out to them. Feedback is critical to learning, so you must be open to advice from stronger players.
-Try to devote time to every move you play outside of your memorized lines, do not play quickly. Be willing to lose on time playing the best game you can rather than focus on the clock. You will naturally get better at seeing things and faster over time.

Anyone who does that can get to 1200 pretty quickly. You can make 1000 USCF just making a strong connected pawn center and hiding behind it while people blunder pieces and pawns. So getting to 1200 just requires to brushing up on tactics like your pawn forks, double attacks, discovered attacks, pins, and forks. Do those basic things and you'll reach 1200 rather quickly. You don't need to be a "smart" person to improve from where you are. Pattern recognition and opening memorization got me to 1800 USCF honestly. I'm pretty poor at tactics compared to some of my similarly rated peers. So focus on patterns and what works vs doesn't.

Given your rating if you play long time controls and swear off fast chess entirely you can improve quickly. -Start by asking what the purpose of each move you make is -Double check it isn't a blunder before playing it -Ask a higher rated player about each game after they skim through it and pay attention to what sticks out to them. Feedback is critical to learning, so you must be open to advice from stronger players. -Try to devote time to every move you play outside of your memorized lines, do not play quickly. Be willing to lose on time playing the best game you can rather than focus on the clock. You will naturally get better at seeing things and faster over time. Anyone who does that can get to 1200 pretty quickly. You can make 1000 USCF just making a strong connected pawn center and hiding behind it while people blunder pieces and pawns. So getting to 1200 just requires to brushing up on tactics like your pawn forks, double attacks, discovered attacks, pins, and forks. Do those basic things and you'll reach 1200 rather quickly. You don't need to be a "smart" person to improve from where you are. Pattern recognition and opening memorization got me to 1800 USCF honestly. I'm pretty poor at tactics compared to some of my similarly rated peers. So focus on patterns and what works vs doesn't.

Ask @atalantechess how to get to 2000 on lichess. He will explain you everything in detail.

Ask @atalantechess how to get to 2000 on lichess. He will explain you everything in detail.

Your statement in the title seems a bit strange. What exactly did you expect to have to "show for" those 2 years? Apparently spending time delving into a rather fascinating game was not enough for you.

And so the game is only worthwhile if you're improving? Well, naturally it's nice to get better...but consider all the over-the-hill types (me, for example) who go on playing even though it's not very likely that a geezer IS going to get any better. ;)

Your statement in the title seems a bit strange. What exactly did you expect to have to "show for" those 2 years? Apparently spending time delving into a rather fascinating game was not enough for you. And so the game is only worthwhile if you're improving? Well, naturally it's nice to get better...but consider all the over-the-hill types (me, for example) who go on playing even though it's not very likely that a geezer IS going to get any better. ;)

I've just read it all, boy that was looong. Now a few thoughts:

"I recently learned the Bishop + Knight mate"
Congratulations, it's a waste of time! You may impress a few fanatics, but show me a game where you used it successfully.

"I just suck, and thats the honest truth."
To be honest. It's so rare nowadays.

"I am a dumb person in general."
I saw dumber.

"The more I play the more stupid I become."
It's possible actually.

I've just read it all, boy that was looong. Now a few thoughts: "I recently learned the Bishop + Knight mate" Congratulations, it's a waste of time! You may impress a few fanatics, but show me a game where you used it successfully. "I just suck, and thats the honest truth." To be honest. It's so rare nowadays. "I am a dumb person in general." I saw dumber. "The more I play the more stupid I become." It's possible actually.

@creeffryer
Not much of adult when one is 20.
Well, in comparison, I am just 18, by the way.
All I can say is you can leave chess if it is not for you.
After few weeks, if you are unable to resist to play chess then it means that you are still interested in it. Then you can really improve if one sets their will.
Don't know about your employment case but if you really want to play and improve on chess then you need to devote time to chess and focus on it to show your worth.
After few weeks, if you can remain separated from chess it means you are not made for chess. Try to take up some other sport and find which one is made for you.
All the best!

@creeffryer Not much of adult when one is 20. Well, in comparison, I am just 18, by the way. All I can say is you can leave chess if it is not for you. After few weeks, if you are unable to resist to play chess then it means that you are still interested in it. Then you can really improve if one sets their will. Don't know about your employment case but if you really want to play and improve on chess then you need to devote time to chess and focus on it to show your worth. After few weeks, if you can remain separated from chess it means you are not made for chess. Try to take up some other sport and find which one is made for you. All the best!

Focus on simple blunders, the mistakes that are not complicated at all, the simple stuff you overlooked. You will see that you lose because of simple stuff you overlook, you don't lose because of the complicated stuff that is hard to understand. Try to find out how to avoid simple blunders.

Improve your puzzle rating by thinking for a long time on each puzzle, make sure your solution actually works before you make the move you believe is correct. Don't try to solve them as fast as possible, and don't try to solve as many as possible.

Focus on simple blunders, the mistakes that are not complicated at all, the simple stuff you overlooked. You will see that you lose because of simple stuff you overlook, you don't lose because of the complicated stuff that is hard to understand. Try to find out how to avoid simple blunders. Improve your puzzle rating by thinking for a long time on each puzzle, make sure your solution actually works before you make the move you believe is correct. Don't try to solve them as fast as possible, and don't try to solve as many as possible.

Two years is nothing, absolutely nothing !

See if you can take a week or two off ...

If you truly love the game for being the game it is then you will eventually achieve results.

Two years is nothing, absolutely nothing ! See if you can take a week or two off ... If you truly love the game for being the game it is then you will eventually achieve results.

It takes time to become good at chess. It takes many years. I looked at your stats, and it looks like you have great improvement in classical chess.

Rating improvement quite often comes in waves. It's almost like you work on something for a long time and suddenly it works. When you learn new ways of thinking, it can even bring your rating down before it goes up. This happens because new ways introduce new mistakes and new things to get used to.

I think you will be much better in a year from now.

It takes time to become good at chess. It takes many years. I looked at your stats, and it looks like you have great improvement in classical chess. Rating improvement quite often comes in waves. It's almost like you work on something for a long time and suddenly it works. When you learn new ways of thinking, it can even bring your rating down before it goes up. This happens because new ways introduce new mistakes and new things to get used to. I think you will be much better in a year from now.

Your rating isn't something you should be focused on. It's chess. Losing rating doesn't mean doom and destruction of your life.

Oh wait..........IT DOES lol just kidding no it doesn't

Your rating isn't something you should be focused on. It's chess. Losing rating doesn't mean doom and destruction of your life. Oh wait..........IT DOES lol just kidding no it doesn't

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