Any Chess players on DU?

[artemisia1]

Just returned to the game after 40 years. I have been taking the tutorial on Duolingo as well as lessons on Chess com.

Anyone else interested? Any advice for a returning player who wasn't very skilled even when on the high school chess team 40+ years ago?

[lastlib]

1. One here!

Like you, I was on a high school team, better than most of my competition, but not really very good. I played in a few USCF tournaments in the early 70s--not enough to get a rating, provisionally rated in the low 1500s. Had no real outlets to play after high school, but had fondness for the game. I've been playing some with my Scouts in recent years, counseling their merit badge, but that's the extent of it.

The only advice I could share is to do what I've been doing recently (when time permits) is to study the games of great players, and learn what they do, and why they do it. From doing that, even though I haven't played actively in many years, I think I ight be a better player now than I was back in the days. My 2cts.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. 1,500 Is Really Good

As I recall, anything about 1,200 is considered above average, and 2,500 is grandmaster.
So, a 1,500 is a pretty darned good player.
I was pretty good in HS, but I seriously doubt I was at 1,500. I was never rated but I'm assuming.
I think I would have had to be way more serious about it to get to that kind of number.

[ZZenith]

2. Keep your knights off the edge.

Last edited Tue Jan 13, 2026, 08:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Castle early, castle often.

I hope you get as much enjoyment from it as I have - it’s an endlessly fascinating game with more possible game variations than there are atoms in the observable universe.

I have an app on my iPad called “Chess Tiger” that’s really helped me improve my game. Here are a few chess channels that I enjoy and always learn from:

https://youtube.com/@coffeechess?si=UaiUYxc4Wa4GMGmh

https://youtube.com/@annacramling?si=93gNbdU16Pysr62z

[lastlib]

6. Anna Cramling's channel is pretty good. n/t

[ZZenith]

7. Just a shame she doesn't get any support from her family.

[artemisia1]

13. Just subscribed, thanks. /nt

[artemisia1]

14. Yes, my openings are better after heeding that advice. Thanks. /nt

[Tetrachloride]

3. don't lose. seriously

one lost pawn and its chaos

[Intractable]

4. If you find yourself ahead in material (e.g., you are a knight up),

start sacrifice-trading equivalent pieces to simplify the board.

Trade a knight for a knight or bishop. Rook for rook. Queen for queen. King for king.

A simple board is an easily won board.

I've heard the exception is pawns. Keep as many pawns as possible. This will keep your opponent chasing pawns while you clean up.

I haven't played a game in 30 years.

[True Dough]

5. If you're playing online,

depending on how well you know your opponent and their level of integrity, they could be using an online chess simulator to get out of difficult positions.

Sadly, some people are prone to cheating, and it's easy to do these days.

[artemisia1]

12. Good point, thanks. That may be a reason why Elo ratings on online chess are taken with a grain of salt. /nt

[malthaussen]

8. You Tube has dozens of chess channels, many of them hosted by GMs and better...

... and hundreds of chess puzzles, you know, the "White to mate in two" kind where it looks like the position is lost. Good for endgames.

And just about every significant chess tournament has people doing game-by-game videos and analysis.

Advice? Study openings and work on your endgame.

-- Mal

[Mosby]

9. This right here.

Master the queens gambit. Then go from there. Good luck.

[electric_blue68]

11. As a tween I just couldn't get it. No desire to learn now, but I just thought that...

it was kind of cool (mid-1960s) that my uncle wanted to teach his niece.