mokhtari mhamed

[mokhtari mhamed @mhamed66m]

@0DonaldTrumpJrQ 16 holes

[mokhtari mhamed @mhamed66m]

@kasimf جمال عبد الناصر و بشار الاسد

[Susan Polgar @SusanPolgar]

How to reach the pinnacle of chess ability?

Question (from an IM): Can you explain the transition from an IM to a GM? I am stuck at approximately 2450 for many years and cannot reach GM title. What is needed to make this serious jump to GM?

This is a very good question and it is very often asked. I will address it more broadly as the process is the same to go from a club player to master, master to FIDE master, FIDE master to IM, IM to GM, and even GM to super GM and World Champion. (And the good news is after this IM followed my improvement roadmap reached 2570 and is now a GM.)

Unlike many others, I do not have a one size fits all training method for more serious players. There is no such thing as one size fits all chess ability. So why would we have the same training system for everyone? Every player is unique like our DNAs.

When I used to work with a new (2200+) student, there will be at least one 1 on 1 meeting to start out with. In that meeting, each student must give me his / her absolutely objective assessment of strengths and weaknesses. I would then offer my evaluation and the third assessment will come from a trusted strategist on my team.

It would be wonderful if all three of us can come to the same conclusion. It most cases, there will be differences. We will then thoroughly discuss it and come up with a general consensus. After that, we will prepare an improvement program specifically designed for that student.

The improvement process

There is no perfect player in the world, not Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer, Anatoly Karpov, not anyone. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Some are just better in hiding their weaknesses.

Therefore, knowing that, one has to understand what it takes to win or draw, and not lose. Each chess game has many phases which may or may not contribute to the results we want: Opening, middlegame, endgame, tactic, mental toughness, physical fitness, nerves, and many other factors.

So the situation is simple. If a player is 2400, he/she is not as good as others who are 2500 or 2600 and above. This is simply a fact. The next question is will the player be objective enough to understand his/her true weaknesses? One of the big reasons why many do not improve is they fail to be objective about themselves, or worse, not care about it.

If you look through the chess database, you can see countless weaker players losing to stronger players in absolutely equal positions (sometimes even better) because they lack something. Perhaps it is deficiencies in understanding the positions, weakness in tactic, bad nerves, bad endgame knowledge, etc.

Any player can review their own games to spot the true pattern of these weaknesses. Then focus on fixing these problems ASAP. Study random materials or random phases of the game will help, but not enough. Many are just so fixated with openings and they neglect all other parts of the game.

Another problem I see quite often is “CDS”, Chess Delusional Syndrome. Too many people are delusional with their chess abilities. Some think they are stronger than they actually are, or they think that they are training hard enough. They simply cannot be objective with their own assessments. Flattering yourself with false analysis will only make you feel good about yourself momentarily until you lose.

“CDS” is quite common with parents and / or family members. Many of them do not like coaches who will tell them the truth. They want coaches who will tell them what they want to hear about their children. I will never do this.

Coaches should be 100% honest and objective about their assessments and advices. We are not here to please the players or their families. We are here to help players, on and off the chess board, by teaching them the right things and helping them fix their weaknesses.

By the way, this process works for all levels 😁

@FIDE_chess @ECUonline @WOMChess

[mokhtari mhamed @mhamed66m]

https://t.co/kdPDgDgp0Y

[mokhtari mhamed @mhamed66m]

Jonathan Penrose obituary https://t.co/4BIWCaN3SF

[mokhtari mhamed @mhamed66m]

@TopMaths (x-3)(x+2)-(2x+7)^2

[mokhtari mhamed @mhamed66m]

Einstein l'avait prédit : une étoile danse en rosace autour d'un trou noir https://t.co/ZaEprjkG3p via @rtbf