Play To Improve While You Can

When I started playing chess and came across various literature one of the most important things that was highlighted to me was the importance of having an objective in my mind. Not just at the board, but in general about how to plan my tournaments and progress. Sadly external factors always prevented such an approach.

Later, as I began to coach I read books about other sports to get some ideas about planning a years schedule for my students and no surprise there too they talk off gradual progress.

Yet today many young players who have serious playing aspirations play in all sorts tournaments. These players are not playing to earn a living, so what is the point of playing in a tournament that will not give you any chance to improve your play? What’s the point of just beating some average players just so you can say you won?

After all when you are in the developing phase ratings, titles don’t mean much. Once your play improves to such a level the rating points and norms will come. But first you have to be good enough to get the points.

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