New Year's Resolutions

[Andrew Farthing]

I've just posted an item on New Year's resolutions on my blog http://englishchess.org.uk/farthing/ (plug, plug).

I included a doomed-to-failure resolution, "Do all of those things which I know would improve my chess but which I avoid doing anyway," and went on to suggest that everyone has a list like this:

- Study endgames
- Solve tactical exercises everyday
- Study my games (leaving it to Fritz doesn’t count)
- Don’t chop and change openings when results turn sour
- Work through annotated games by trying to guess the winning side’s moves

Since failing at resolutions feeds the masochist in us all, does anyone have any suggestions for additions to the list? There must be lots more things we should be doing but never do!

[John Moore]

Andrew

Good list, I would add one more - play as much as you can.

One I should add to my list of resolutions is to concentrate on what is important in improving my game and not spend loads of time looking through obscure chess journals, fun though that might be.

[Jonathan Bryant]

I was thinking I might try to play 100 rapidplay games this year. We've got a club tournament coming up and there's Golders Green on Saturday so I'll be up to a dozen by next Tuesday.

Thereafter, we'll see if I can keep the enthusiasm up.


I remember reading somewhere - possibly here? - of somebody who decided he was going to sacrifice 100 pawns that year. Don't know if he managed it but it's still a tippity-top resolution. Not necessarily good for your chess though!

[JustinHorton]

Read fewer chess books.

[Ola Winfridsson]

Very good list, Andrew! I'm sort of in the same territory myself (with the exception of chopping and changing openings ... I'm sort of Lev Alburt-faithful to mine!). My addition would be:

- Always make sure you've had a good night's sleep before the game. (= Sometimes it actually better to play a little less in order to make sure you're rested.)

[Sebastian Stone]

My Resolutions.

To give my all every time I play a rated OTB game (I would say every chess move I make but that ain't gonna happen).

To Buy A Chess Set.

To never say, "That's it! I'm giving up chess"

To continue to refuse to study openings.

To study endgames.

To attempt 5 tactical puzzles a day.

To play online live chess and pay attention and use a reasonable amount of my time (whatever time control I use).

Or, not.

[David Shepherd]

I remember reading somewhere - possibly here? - of somebody who decided he was going to sacrifice 100 pawns that year. Don't know if he managed it but it's still a tippity-top resolution. Not necessarily good for your chess though!

I think maybe it was Nigel Short this year but must have been pieces rather than pawns

[James Toon]

1. Join the Internet Chess Club. Playing thousands of blitz games is a good way to consolidate your knowledge of the openings you play.

2. Don't do any preparation on the day of a match. Every time I do this I lose.

3. Avoid playing in leagues that don't allow you to finish your game on the night (I could name a few…). That way you get to practise your endgame play over the board, rather than leaving it to Fritz.

[BrianRobinson]

1. Play more chess. Up to now I have probably played around 20 - 25 rated standard time limit games, I would like to increase that to 50+ by adding in a few congresses.

2. To study in a focussed manner and not change the subject after every game that I lose!

[Richard Thursby]

Avoid playing in leagues that don't allow you to finish your game on the night (I could name a few…). That way you get to practise your endgame play over the board, rather than leaving it to Fritz.

Alternatively, you could avoid playing in leagues that don't allow you to adjourn. That way you get to play an endgame well, rather than having to rush it and likely have it decided by a textbook blunder.

[Justin Hadi]

1) To start a new chess blog
2) To get to 2100
3) To retire

[Jonathan Rogers]

To stop thinking about how much better my results used to be when I had more time to play, study and think about the game. Unsurprisingly, this does not help.

[Gavin Strachan]

Stop going to bed at 2am and then expect to do alright at chess the next day!
After a horrendous blunder last night this seems reasonable.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"2) To get to 2100
3) To retire"

The way the retirement age is increasing, it probably will be 2100 before you retire...

[Paul Robson]

Kevin -I thought you retired years ago ;-0