Help with studying chess

@GnocchiPup said in #8:
> Figure out the hours per week you can allocate. Make it relaxed.
>
> If you set 10 hours and just do 6 hours, that's no good. You'll just feel bad.
>
> It's better if you set 4 hours and do 5. I've heard this from GM Noel, and this makes a whole lot of sense. Setting something and being able to do what you set out to do is a good habit to build. The reverse is also true. Setting high training hours and continuously not doing them builds bad habits. It might even spread to other areas. This is not good.
>
> Now, if you've set a realistic hours goal per week. Next step is to find out what to study.
>
> Looking at your rating and what you've mentioned, it looks like you focused primarily on knowledge. I recommend setting your hours for skills training instead of acquiring more knowledge.

Wow, I've never thought of it that way, I'll start with 3 hours this week and see if I can bump it up. I appreciate the help, but what do you mean by skills training? Is that just analyzing games and doing puzzles or is there something else related to that? Thanks again.

Original blog post by GM Noel. It's a bit long, but his blog posts are really good.

lichess.org/@/NoelStuder/blog/the-three-essential-chess-training-metrics-you-need-to-track/f8PO5mQK

As for skills training, I have my four basic skills training which I still do. It's very noobie training, but I consider myself a noob so I still do it.

Here's one of the four:
Anti Blunder training using lichess reverse puzzles
Goal is to have 2 lines perfect
youtu.be/8Sy5VFZd4As?si=2MS62pfLNoXWF2jE

Seems like a good plan and an informative post.. Thanks.

@swarminglocusts said in #6:
> Playing makes me want to study more. But why force yourself to study? Play for fun. Expect the losses and also lower your expectations. This will help lower the pressure. Why so you want to get better?

If you don't want to study chess, then don't. If you want to study chess because you find it personally rewarding to learn more about the game and have the time to do it, but every time you sit down to study, you don't feel like doing it, then you should "force" yourself to study.

@RALRAL3333 said in #14:
> If you don't want to study chess, then don't. If you want to study chess because you find it personally rewarding to learn more about the game and have the time to do it, but every time you sit down to study, you don't feel like doing it, then you should "force" yourself to study.

How can I force my myself to study

@kindaspongey said in #16:
> web.archive.org/web/20140708090448/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review750.pdf
> web.archive.org/web/20140708105628/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review781.pdf

School blocks it :/

“... most people can ... be taught how to study more efficiently, and that is the subject of [Studying Chess Made Easy], which contains many helpful hints. ... If you are rated below 1600, and don't know how or have never really studied chess, you will get a lot from this book. ...”
“... [NM Dan Heisman, author of A Guide to Chess Improvement,] is recognized as a solid author on the uncertain path from chess novice ... to basic chess player. ... I'd recommend this book for ... Adult amateurs who are 'stuck' in [their] game, and have the time and inclination to read a thoughtful call to self-examination, ...”

@GabeMiami17 said in #15:
> How can I force my myself to study

I would say the way to do that is to start with the method of studying that you are the most motivated for (e.g. analyzing your games -> I recommend doing this as soon as you finish the game while it is fresh in your mind, watching an instructive lecture like one from St. Louis Chess Club, going through an online course, etc.).

Training can be difficult so you can work your way to more beneficial training over time. E.g. if you want to improve your calculation skills, you can start with an online tactics trainer which can be fun but not as helpful. Once you are comfortable with that, then switch to a tactics course on chessable or something and then once comfortable with that, switch to a tactics book.

I also do things to make studying more fun. For example, when I analyze my games, I pick out the key moments of the game where I erred and make them into calculation or tactical or positional or opening puzzles for myself to do later on. Then I am more interested in those puzzles because I created them myself and they were things I missed from my own games, so being able to correctly solve them is highly rewarding

Play some OTB tournaments.