trw wrote on 04/03/09 at 18:05:38:
adh2050 wrote on 02/18/09 at 03:00:57:
I am not sure if you are aware but the majority of chess players have an average rating of less than 1400 USCF,
This may surprise you but I know fine coaches who are under 1700 that make better coaches than those over 2200. This is a known fallacy in most people's thinking and apparently including yours. You think that for someone to be qualified to write a book on chess improvement, he or she must first get to a certain rating preferably master level.
Point 1) The uscf average rated player is below
700 I believe its 642 to be exact from last publication of the statistics but it is indeed below 700. This is because of scholastics and how inaccurrate ratings are for kids and people below 1300.
On score 2, I agree with you that rating/title does not dictate skill as a teacher or writer. One of the best teachers I encountered over the years was a 1900. I also am particularly fond of a certain FM. Every IM/GM I have personally encountered is disgusting as a teacher (they seem to make better writers probably cause the editors help to get the points across). Excellent player but they have no idea how to explain their massive amounts of knowledge. However, I don't think a single person has disparaged you on this basis leading to the next point.
On score 3, I agree with the dissidents. I am a player who has improved 900 rating points in a 12 month period. I do not feel my own gains even qualify me to write such a book. Certainly a person who hasn't even gained 70 points is not qualified. You have made 0 improvement. It is great you've improved your self confidence to feel you have. Or you have discovered a new system to play by. Or you notice your training paying off in your head... but in terms of measurable gains (ratings) it is not there. This is what brings skepticism to the table. There is no way to measure your success.
In any event, I will likely look at the book. If it has merit i'll buy it... if it doesn't then not for me but best of luck to you and its target audience anyways.
(PS I only used myself as a comparison point to show you the kind of rating gains that can't be denied improvement has occurred).
Hi TRW,
First, congratulations in gaining 900 points in one year. That is an awesome accomplishment especially if you were 1600 when it started because then your gain would make you a 2500-player. But even without giving regard to your starting point, it is still a tremendous accomplishment worthy of a salute.
Note also that the impressive gain when you are starting at 1100 or less would only make you an Expert. If you are now an Expert, improvement from hereon, as others would sadly tell you, becomes a crawl when it comes to rating.
On a different note, when you are rated below 2000 and you start winning against FMs and IMs, I would dare say you are improving especially if this had never happened to you ever in your chess experience. There is a natural lag between rating gains and actual improvement chesswise.
By the way, the improvement is not just in my head. It is not something I just feel. One unscientific proof are the comments titled players make after the game about my play relative to my rating. The other proof is the outcome. I have never beaten an IM in any tournament, weekend or week-long in duration, have you?. This was an IM norm tournament, 9-RR where everyone tends to risk nothing because of what is at stake.
But you are correct to argue that in the end gains in rating are the ultimate measure of improvement. In my case, a gain of 33 points from the Mid-America Open and possibly some 60 points from this IM Norm tournament (just two weeks later) would bring my gain to almost 100 points three months into 2009. If that is all I get for the rest of the year, I remain happy.
My goal before the year ends is to reach over 2000 USCF and to get over 2200 FIDE. When that happens, I am sure others will still argue that it does not amount to a full measure of improvement. In any case, my satisfaction in my improvement scheme will be any less. If my book helps someone who is languishing at 1600 get to 2000, I will proudly wear it as a crown of great success.
For most amateur players, a gain of 50 to 75 in one year once you are a Class A or Expert player is a cause for celebration. This book is primarily aimed at players rated under 2000.
One last note: We are forgetting that an improving player does not ever arrive - because he always seeks to improve. And that is all what I am claiming to be.
Best wishes,
Andres D Hortillosa
Improving Player
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Improve your Chess at Any Age - Andres Hortillosa (Read 53459 times)
