Road to 2300

Recently I took a break from my 338-part series "Road to 1-Dan on Shogi Wars" and decided to refocus my efforts on chess. Tired of losing and drawing in familiar fashion, I overhauled my openings, instead playing (maybe I should prepare a bingo card):

• Alekhine Defense
• Budapest Gambit
• Elephant Gambit
• Indian Defense
• Ruy Lopez - Berlin Defense, Rio Gambit Accepted
• Trompowsky Attack

Sure, in most of these I would get worse middlegame positions, but opponents were unfamiliar with these pawn structures. After playing Puzzle Streak hundreds of times, next I played with 3 goals:

• Don't get checkmated or clearly lost positions (pay careful attention to opponents' threats).
• Activate pieces on open lines.
• Be willing to trade into a favorable endgame.

In practice, what does this look like?

So... what's the difference between a 2200, 2300, and 2400 player? It's a matter of being consistently good with:

• Opening knowledge/skill
• Following general principles
• Tactical vision
• Time management (including being willing to spend time when it matters)
• Endgame knowledge/skill (don't chalk up a win before the opponent resigns)
• Subverting expectations (seeing and disrupting the opponent's plan)

What does coffeehouse chess (setting traps) look like?

Honestly, I don't know how these games happened, but a win is a win! But seriously, I should study some real openings if someday I want a master title...

Image credit: Denys Nevozhai