Q: Who is this site for?
A: Really for anyone who wants to improve their game but the sweet spot are players rated below 1800.
Q: Do you give private/group lessons?
A: No but I can give you referrals to some teachers I would recommend.
Q: What areas of chess should I focus on the most?
A: Everyone’s playing strengths are different, so it really depends on you. Having said that, tactics and endgames are the most common weaknesses of amateur players. To play chess well you have to be able to calculate. Tactics and endings help you develop this important skill.
Q: Are there any fees associated with this site?
A: No, access to the site is free to all. There may be chess products sold at some future date but that pricing is not related to accessing content.
Q: I am 1400 strength and people tell me not to focus on openings. Why is that?
A: Because beginners have a tendency to memorize moves instead of calculating them. Many of the games I analyze are decided based on simple tactics, hence the recommendation to work on tactical problems.
Q: How much chess should I study every day to improve my rating?
A: That’s a tough question to answer. It’s more important to focus on quality rather than quantity. Play some slow games if you can. Look over the games and search for better alternatives you could have played. Have fun but be objective! The reason most players don’t improve is because they are not honest about their weaknesses.
Q: Can I send you my games for a walk-through analysis?
A: Sure, but I get a lot of requests so I can’t give guarantees if I will use your games. Send .PGN file to paul@betterchess.net