I would like to know what rating should I be able to attain with only one year of chess studies. I played one tournament 10yrs ago and lost 3 tied 1 and ended with an 825 rating.

Last December I stated playing again and studying to improve mine and my daughters game. After 3 tournaments this year I'm up to 1290 and increasing over 100 points per tournament. I was wonding if shooting for a rating of 1500 will be to big of push for one year?

I have a tournament this weekend and hope to improve my play by another 50 points or more.

Of course it depends on your age, intellect, will to improve, and time available...
I guess that if you have the time and will to participate in 3 tournaments so far this year, it shouldn't be a problem.

Also, the weaker the level the faster you improve.
I mean, if your rating was 2000 and you said you were improving a 100 points per tournament I would say you're either lying, a genius, or crazy..

If you're asking if it's achievable, I'd have to say yes. Depends on where your ceiling is. The better you get the harder it'll be to improve; ratings being a consequence of your ability that will follow. It's easier to go from 1300 to 1500 than from 1500 to 1700 :-\

Most people hit walls along the way, rather than improving steadily. You'll improve a few hundred rating points, then get stuck for a while at a plateau, and it'll take you a while to work through it. When you do get past the plateau, maybe you'll increase another 200-300 points pretty quickly before hitting the next plateau. And as others have stated, rating improvements are tougher the higher you get.

For instance, the first time I was in USCF, my rating got stuck in the low 1400's for about a year. Then I stopped playing, and when I came back last year, my rating dropped a little, and I got stuck in the 1300's for the second half of last year. But I broke through that wall at the start of this year, and my rating is now 1552 and rising steadily. Based on recent performances, I seem to be going roughly 50% in games against opponents rated 1650-1730, so I figure my rating should catch up to that increase in playing strength shortly. But it wouldn't surprise me if I hit 1700 within a month, then next summer, you'll see me whining here about being stuck at 1700 for an entire year and not knowing how to break past that plateau.

--Fromper

I guess I will know by tomorrow if I hit my plateau. I believe I can go at least 50/50 with 1500's but I haven't had many opportunities in the few tournaments I've been in. Since my last Tournament I have finished Pandolfini's end game course, brushed up on my repertoire, reviewed my previous games with Fritz 11, and doing chess puzzles everyday on my lunch break for an hour. I think I have done alot since my last tournament and hope it will get me an extra W tomorrow.

hmm Good luck Najdork

You sure seem to put a lot of effort into it. Good for you.
I personally wouldn't feel comfortable investing so much time into chess, but I guess you're also doing it for your daughter, which you mentioned in your first post.

Najdork,

Any limitations you face will be set only by yourself.

Most people train inefficiently by spending too much time focused on what amateurs tell them is best. Age has nothing to do with one's ability to absorb positive information. While it is true that the human brain absorbs twice the information between years 3 and 5, we know that even senior citizens build neural pathways through study. (Very healthy)

So one's ability to learn more effectively than avarage is based on a burning desire to become more knowledgeable. Knowledge of course is the key.

Seeking the right advice:

"A one eyed man is King in the land of the blind" - alot of intermediate players are quite comfortable being stronger than the beginners around them, this is all they seem to need to feel important. Forget about these types, find a Master or GM to train you. (Even if it is through books at the library.)

Learn your endgames inside and out, Also, never forget that Chess is 99% Tactics. A 200 point gain in a year at your level is to be "Expected" following proper training methods.

See you on the other side..

PC

My last tournament didn't go so well last week. This week they didn't have two groups, one for under 1200 and one for 1200 -1600, they just lumped both in together. Even though I won 3 out 4 games my rating went down for the first time by ~30 points. I didn't get to play anyone over 1000 this tournament and my loss came from an 900, bringing my rating to 1270.

I learned alot from this tournament. I had checkmate at hand or threating to win a Rook when I looked at my position and notices I was two moves away from a forces mate. I got careless and started to play with only my game and not looking for a defensive plan. While very humbling, I do feel the 30 points my rating took was just enough to not let this happen again.

I think im gunna wright a book called: Using your ratings points as currency for chess lessons. by A Chess Beginer.

Forget about tournys for now and trying to win prize money...

You can increase your rating significantly by self study. (Intensive study.)

When you are ready, play in the under 1800 section. At least you can gain some rating points, and learn more from your opponents than a 1000 rated player.

Best Of Luck!