hello everybody

I am about to join the course but I had some reservations. I am not the strongest player by any means. I have played in only one uscf event and ended up with a rating of 1100. Since then I have played probably 200 games and have tried to improve. However, my training methods have been haphazard at best and what I think I really need is some sort of a structured course like the ICS. I am truly interested in becoming a strong player and do have the time and motivation. My question is whether or not this course is too difficult for a player of my skill level. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you very much. dm

This is my personal opinion, as a player in the 4th month of this course and having had a rating high of 2122 USCF. I love this course and feel this is the best material I have seen in my 40 years of studying and teaching chess. I believe the ICS course is designed to take a 1800 to 2100 player to the level of 2300 FIDE. I feel very few players will do it in a year but the material is excellent and lower rated players can benefit from the course. This course concentrates on strategy which means that it assumes that you have a good grasp of tactical play, this is usually a player in the 1800-1900 range or higher. This can be answered by taking a honest look at your games. Are you losing most of your games because you lose material (tactics) or because you pursue the wrong plan (strategy)?

Thanks for the response. I am definitely losing most of my games because of tactics. I have been working on tactics with the ct-art program and also with a couple of books that just have tactics puzzles. Aside from this I am unsure what else to study. If I need to improve to a class C skill level or so before taking the ICS then I would be interested in any recommendations on how to attain that level. I was actually hoping to go ahead and try this and if its too difficult then just repeat it when I finish. I really would like to at least be able to have some direction on a good way to think throughout the match and what kinds of things to focus my attention. My strategy right now is extremely weak. Thanks again.

You do need some guidance. CT-Art is for players rated 1600 and above. You need the correct study material to improve rapidly otherwise you may give up before you become a strong chess players.

Hi mikedelta22,

Luckily there has never been a time where more good resources have been available for the 1100-1500 rated adult chess learner, including many free resources on the web.

After spending a couple of years scouring web sites, forums, and Amazon book reviews for the best instructive materials, here are some of the links that I think would be most useful for you --

http://chessconfessions.blogspot.com/2007/10/sitemap.html

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Articles/Novice_Nook_Links.htm

http://www.bu.edu/dbin/law/chess/toc/toc_right.php

http://www.chessvideos.tv/endgame-training/endgame-simulations.php


http://chessok.com/?page_id=352

Have fun!

-- Hank

I agree with people that tactics are key. OTOH, I am also only rated around 1100, and was able to understand and learn the material in the course. It wasn't that it was too hard, but that it is not addressing the reason I lose. I lose because of tactical blunders, and sometimes because of endgame snafus. This course is strong in neither tactics nor endgames, so I'd recommend either focusing on those things and then taking this course, or doing both if you have time.

Good & honest call.I would probably not be as concerned in endgame other than real basics.Good technique is covered late in the course.