How to learn chess as an adult (2021) (alexcrompton.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the author's journey to improve their chess skills as an adult, going from a rating of 300 to 1500 ELO in 9 months. The author attributes their improvement to a daily practice routine focused on tactical fluency, using tools such as Chessable and studying courses like GM Susan Polgar's Learn Chess The Right Way series. The author emphasizes the importance of tactical skill in chess and provides a detailed explanation of their practice routine. The article also touches on the idea that adult chess improvement is possible, but often requires a different approach than that used by children.

Main themes

• chess improvement
• tactical fluency
• adult learning
• AI vs human
• uncertainty and randomness
• practice and motivation
• intelligence and talent
• game strategy and complexity

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that knowledge and practice can overcome innate intelligence or talent in chess, while others argue that intelligence plays a significant role in achieving high levels of skill.
• There is disagreement about the effectiveness of blitz chess in improving one's skills, with some arguing it reinforces bad habits and others seeing it as a useful tool for pattern recognition.
• Commenters discuss the idea that games with uncertainty, subjectivity, and random chance may be more equalizing between humans and AI, but others point out that AI can still dominate in these areas.
• The notion that humans are better at dealing with uncertainty than AI is debated, with some arguing that uncertainty is not the same as randomness and that humans have an advantage in certain situations.
• Some commenters share their personal experiences and strategies for improving at chess, including using puzzles, studying master games, and playing at different time controls.
• There is a discussion about the existence of games where AI does not have a significant advantage over humans, with some suggesting that games like Diplomacy, Magic: The Gathering, or the real-world economy may be more challenging for AI to dominate.
• The idea that maintaining a certain level of skill in chess or other domains requires less effort than achieving that level in the first place is also discussed.
• Commenters mention the importance of motivation and enjoyment in improving at chess, with some prioritizing a stable rating over continuous improvement.