AndreaCoda's Training Diary

[andreacoda]

So to start, I will show a graph with my current performance, measured on tactics (am I getting better in resolving tactical problems?) and games (am I getting better in playing?). Of course, given the low number of points, the trend lines are not indicative yet, but I keep them anyway for future reference.

As a note, I am tracking progress of each factor not on time, but on number of problems solved / games played: this is because I think it makes more sense to refer the progress to the amount of practice done, rather than on mere calendar days.

Thanks a lot for passing by and leaving a comment from time to time: hopefully this diary, together with some support from the community, will help me along the tough path to improvement!

[kacparov]

Your Playchess blitz rating is too low compared to standard. I think you should practice blitz games, but if you find 3 minutes too fast, try playing 7, 10 or something like this. What time control are those standard games? 16 minutes or more?

[andreacoda]

Thanks for passing by and postin, Kacparov!

The blitz games on Playchess are 5'+5", and I use them to practice a bit in blitz mode; the standard games, which is where I would need to focus, are normally 45'+15".

My objective (OTB) is to improve my standard game, because I am not targeting blitz tournaments, but tournaments with long time controls. I still play some blitz though, as recommended by my coach, to learn how to play under time pressure.

[alvarofrota]

Prezada Andrea:

Great idea, yours "Chess Tempo Study Buddies"!

Sorry for questioning, you don't need to answer if you won't, but what is your objective after all? To win an Italian Championship? To be an  WGM?

I ask this because of "to play a better chess" is not exactly an objective, this is a thing we all are doing just bly playing.

And because I think that the driving-force of any training is our final objectives. Then, to stablish the proper objective is the most important thing in a training.

Aquele abraço!

Álvaro

[andreacoda]

Alvaro, thanks a lot for passing by!

You are absolutely right, and yes, I have a dream target, which is reaching 2000! I know for most of you this may sound like a low target, but for me it is almost shooting for the moon: considering I am almost 40 years old, I have a more-than-full-time job, and a family to look after. And not forgetting where I stand now: 1386  

I will just take it in steps though - next objective will be making "3^ Nazionale", which means reaching 1500!

[c.h.andas]

  Andrea should become WGM - Woman Grand Master   that needs more than only chess training

[andreacoda]

Andrea should become WGM - Woman Grand Master  taht needs more than only chess training

That would require not only a big effort on the chess side, but also on the sex side, considering I am a man (Andrea is a female name in most countries, but not  in Italy, which is where I am from). Considering how things are going though, it would be much easier to become a woman than to become a GM... 

[alvarofrota]

 

Sorry Andrea!

Brazil had a big Italian immigration (some ascendent of mine are Italians too) but we have zero men named Andrea, that is a popular name for womans.

If you and your family were to go to Brazil in vacations (Rio de Janeiro, were I live, is a beatfull city for it) you should present yoursef as André, without the final "a"!!!

Aquele abraço!

Álvaro

[andreacoda]

Indeed! The male version is actually "Andre" or "Andreas" in most countries.

Even if I never understood how can a name which comes from Greek (andros) and means "Man" be used as a female name... Misteries of life... 

[kacparov]

OK, so the games are 45+15. Too boring for me

[philiposi]

Thanks for passing by and postin, Kacparov!

The blitz games on Playchess are 5'+5", and I use them to practice a bit in blitz mode; the standard games, which is where I would need to focus, are normally 45'+15".

My objective (OTB) is to improve my standard game, because I am not targeting blitz tournaments, but tournaments with long time controls. I still play some blitz though, as recommended by my coach, to learn how to play under time pressure.

Is it easy to find opponents for long games in Playchess? It's almost impossible in FICS, it's worse than fishing by a bad fisher.

[andreacoda]

Philiposi - it is (relatively) simple to find people interested in long games. It is even more simple if you become a member of the ANCL (All Nations Chess League), which is grouping players interested in LONG games (90'+5" is the default time there!).

[philiposi]

Philiposi - it is (relatively) simple to find people interested in long games. It is even more simple if you become a member of the ANCL (All Nations Chess League), which is grouping players interested in LONG games (90'+5" is the default time there!).

OK, I'll check that out as soon as I get my account... and have the time to play the games. Thanks!

[aoxomoxoa]

Your Playchess blitz rating is too low compared to standard.

My Playchess blitz rating is 400 lower than my standard rating at CT.  Playchess has low Ratings ( like CTS ) or strong Players

[andreacoda]

I think the Playchess ELO for blitz is really tough: as an example, a friend of mine who has an ELO Bullet Italy (so official ELO) of 1771, is only 1550 on Playchess after 161 games played...