Improve Your Chess!

Once you establish that chess is indeed important to you, you need to consider what chess accomplishments are ahead. For many, chess is just a pastime and can be enjoyed with little expectations. For others, the desire to become a chess grandmaster overshadows the actual process required to obtain that title. My goal was to set realistic expectations that could be obtained with appropriate focus and discipline.

My objective was to become a chess expert, rating greater than 2000, by the end of the 2002. With a rating of 1974 FQE, I am close to obtaining that goal. Some would argue that I have achieved my goal, since the USCF adds 150 points to this rating when converting back to their rating system. However, I do not subscribe to such exceptions.

First, my goal was to become a chess expert. To do this while playing in Montreal, I must achieve a FQE of 2000 plus. Second, this rating remains provisional. I have many more games to go before I can accept this as my true playing strength. Thirdly, I must achieve this rating in my own country. So I plan to return to the states and raise my USCF rating.

So what do I wish to accomplish?

To answer this question, one must not only have a firm objective, but also a realistic expectation of the actions required to achieve that objective. Within sports psychology, both are considered when you set action-oriented goals. I stumbled across a wonderful book called, "The Achievement Zone" which describes the process needed to enter The Zone. Chapter 1 describes how one sets these action-oriented goals.

My objective was to achieve a rating of 2000. Shame on me!!! Ratings are an end result, not a process. The problem with result-oriented goals is their focus on areas for which you have no control. Chess has good examples of this phenomena.

In the case where your 1200-rated opponent plays stronger than your 1700 rating, your performance rating may not be a fair indication of your play; however your opponent's performance rating may accurately reflect his/her playing strength on that given day. What I mean by this is simply ... on that day, you played well. You may have played your strongest game ever. Unfortunately for you, your opponent also played her strongest game ever and she won the game.

You have no control over how well your opponent plays. However, how well you prepare for a game/match and how attentive you were at the board are elements well within your control. Setting objectives which focus on the process are referred to as action-oriented goals.

Following my own advice, my action-oriented goals read as follows:

As you can see, these goals are much more specific and suggest how I should spend my time. Referring to these goals on a daily basis, helps me to focus my efforts and strengthen my resolve.

With my goals set, I began to diagnose my play.

Written by: Kevin Monte de Ramos