End/Beginning of the Year thread

[RoundTower]

Originally Posted by TexAg06

Go for the first half. That plateau in the last half isn't so fun

he can have the first half, I will settle for gaining 90 points in 6 months in the second half.

[KyleJRM82]

Originally Posted by RoundTower

he can have the first half, I will settle for gaining 90 points in 6 months in the second half.

So it's decided, I get the first half. 1533 to 1900 by July. Go go go.

[TexAg06]

ttt for my own sanity. Really glad to know I didn't completely fabricate this thread.

How's everyone doing mid-year on their 2012 goals?

[ohsnapzbrah]

I didn't start out the year playing chess, I started the year playing poker. With the fall of Everleaf, I transitioned back to chess with a main goal and some side goals.

2012:
- 1800 USCF by end of year
- Finish at least 2 books (currently 3/4 thru HTRYC and just starting the Starting Out: Sicilian Najdorf)
- Place in the top three of any section in any OTB tournament (best is T5)
- Have a winning record for the year (currently 5-6-2)

With my longterm goal being to be an "expert" >2000 USCF by end of 2013 AND establish a FIDE rating.

[ohsnapzbrah]

Originally Posted by ohsnapzbrah

I didn't start out the year playing chess, I started the year playing poker. With the fall of Everleaf, I transitioned back to chess with a main goal and some side goals.

2012:
- 1800 USCF by end of year (1649 now)
- Finish at least 2 books (currently 3/4 thru HTRYC and just starting the Starting Out: Sicilian Najdorf)
- Place in the top three of any section in any OTB tournament (best this year is T4)
- Have a winning record for the year (currently 7-7-4)

With my longterm goal being to be an "expert" >2000 USCF by end of 2013 AND establish a FIDE rating.

FMP.

I'm changing my goal from 2 books to 3 books. I now see how weak my endgame play is, as so far it's cost me 1 full point. Just started Dvoretsky's endgame manual today. I read ~80 pages in it a few years ago, but it was just so daunting. 30 minutes for 3 pages (as I go through all the diagrams and analysis OTB) and I can tell you what, it WILL improve people's calculating going through the book. I already did some calculating of my own through it and you'll just see little quirks and stuff. That, and I've seen too many stronger players suggesting to improve upon and study endgames to rapidly improve.

[NajdorfDefense]

Finish at least 1 book a month
Get my tactics ELO over 1600 on playchess.com
Start playing slow tournaments again
Longer-term -- reach class A.