Please help!! Improve my chess skill? I am EXTREMELY POOR!!?

Question

I have been playing chess for FIVE years and so far I've gone to at least TEN websites. I use different usernames and never reveal anything about myself because I am too embarrassed to let anyone know who I am at all and I always say I am just starting to learn. I am totally embarassed that my skills are so poor and I can NEVER learn it well. So far I have played over 1000 games and I have won ONLY THREE games. Some opponents say things like I totally suck, I'm a loser, and should never be playing chess and should learn something better and that 10 year olds play better than me. Some of these people totally insulted me with profanity. I also met lots of people who said they were beginners but they all beat me except two people

There were also many helpful people who suggested lots of websites and yes I read everything and try to understand but most times I am totally confused or can't put it into action!

I am so poor at ANY game but I really hope I can learn chess

PLAESE HELP!!!

Answer 1

go to www.uschess.org and click on new to chess lots of info

Answer 2

the main thing in chess, especially starting out, is simply looking ahead. positional considerations are in essense, rather easy . (just try to get all yr peices as mobile as possible while limiting your opponent from the same, most peices have maximum mobility in the center of an open board). theres a lot more refining you can do to this general idea, but thats the gist of it. your main effort in the game is simply calculation.

you have to consider all the forcing moves, that is, moves which only have a few number of legal or logical replies. basically this is checks and captures. when its your move, first pretend it were the opponents move and jsut observe the legal moves of each of his peices. if he has a check or some capture, take note of it and make sure you have a satisfactory response. this also will help you see what squares you can or cannot mvoe to. look at your forcing moves also, if there is a winning move in any position, its usually a forcing move. if you see the other guy has some defense that is fine, then dont bother playing it, but take note of it. perhaps the situation changes later or you can find a way to make it change. looking ahead moves may be rather tiring, but its absolutely necessary. Your ability to visualize will improve with practice. hope this helps.

i work as a chess coach so if you are interested, email me

Answer 3

1. Try joining a local club - there will be some people who are willing to help. The internet seems to bring out the worst in some people.

2. Go through a beginners book several times. "Logical Chess"  by Chernev is a good place to start.

3. If you do play on the web, try to find slow games at serious sites like FICS. If you play on Yahoo - ignore the chat facility and concentrate on just the chess.

4. Analyse your games. Try to figure out where you went wrong. You should learn from every game you lose.

Good luck!

Answer 4

A few other items to add:

If you have access to a good medium-to-high quality chess game CD ($20-40 range), try building experience with that. You just play against the computer (no vulgar people on the Internet), and with decent programs, they'll let you set the rating (skill level) you're playing against -- that way, as you build experience and CONFIDENCE at lower levels, you can then advance to higher ones.

Unfortunately, many Internet chess sites (even "beginner" ones), are hunted by sharks who like to amuse themselves by slaughtering opponents well below their level -- like the ones you've already met. The Internet is faceless and impersonal, and many people are rude in a way that they never would be if they were physically sitting across the board from their opponent face-to-face.

Also, pick one or two "openings" that you're comfortable with and stick with them until you've seen lots of combinations that can be played against them (and how you should counter them). Like anything else in life, it's best to learn one or two things well, rather than a bunch of things half-assed.

Hope this gives you some direction, and best of luck to you.

Answer 5

Do you really want to play chess, or will other board games do?  There is a book called "Chess In a Nutshell" which is helpful, but you can learn the rules, then set up your board and practice, practice, practice--by yourself at first.  Then go to a beginners website IF you don't have a local chess club.  But remember, just as in any other environment, there will be liars and bullies.  It's unfortunate that you've met some of them.  I don't play chess well either.

Answer 6

Play the Danish Gambit opening! you lose a few pawns in the first few moves but you get a strong position. If your opponent makes a tiny mistake you could win the game or at least a piece...

for more info on how to play the danish gambit go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_Gamb...

or Google "The Danish Gambit"