I've been trying to improve my chess game beyond my current fifth grade skill level. I started with Chess.com which is a great website for learning and playing against other people online. Right away I was getting down on myself for not being able to play better right away. I'm 66 years old now and have always had problems with focusing on a task and wanting to skip ahead to the finish right away.
I've had the same experience with learning piano, guitar, and bass, woodworking, and also drawing which I've showed some skill with if I can get myself to really work at it. Maybe I just have more drive than brains. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
This is the third time I've tried to learn more chess and the above experiences are why I kept quitting. So I decided to try a different approach this time because I'm absolutely tired of "failing" at things.
My system has only been working for a little while now and I thought I'd share it. There's nothing innovative about it and I think it can apply to learning and doing so many things in life.
- Learning some things just takes time and can't be rushed. Accept that and pace yourself
- Keep your expectations for progress at realistic level. Set short term goals along the way.
- Don't expose yourself to lessons, websites, training that is too advanced and will get you feeling down about yourself.
- For chess, I alternate between playing against the computer and playing against real people online. I switch back and forth depending on my confidence level.
- Start playing against the robots at the low rating level and work your way up as you start to win those games. In the beginning it feels good to have some success (even if you're playing against an idiot.)
- Avoid self-criticism as you go along.
- Accept losing games in the early stages. the only way to learn is by making mistakes.
- Keep trying but recognize that you might hit a wall that you can never get past. I know I will never be a great player. But I enjoy playing and have decided to be OK about that. It's a better solution than not trying at all and, in fact, I'm proud of myself for trying and persisting. This attitude has given me a career I never thought I'd have.
- In chess I do all of the lessons and puzzles and whatever the site offers that are not too advanced.
