Chess over 50 - Trying to get back to former strength

All Things Chess
21

Maybe ten years ago, there was a single-showing television program which allowed you to figure your IQ from your answers to puzzles presented on the program. Close to 40 years out of high school at that time, my rated IQ was about the same as the IQ on my school record.

The rated IQ depended not only on the number of correct answers, but also on age. I believe the age factor was meant to reflect that thinking processes and reaction times are slowed by advancing age, but do not affect intelligence. Question it, or question my interpretation, as you will. I am satisfied that my intelligence is reasonably constant and has not been affected by mental deterioration.

Against this background, and as I see it, one may indeed get back his former strength, but not one’s former rated performance under tournament time controls, because today’s younger players are at a competitive advantage in that respect.

Solution? Play correspondence chess for competition. Don’t get battered at the board.

22

I agree with this.

I played up until about the age of 22, then decided there was more to life. Tournament chess is very competitive, and to do it right I had to work very hard. Plus, at the time I was in central Florida and there weren’t many higher rated players around, so I wasn’t learning much.
I still don’t want to do the hard work any more, so I don’t do tournament chess. It used to be social too, but I don’t hang out with a chessplaying gang of kids any more, so it just wouldn’t be the same. And playing into it is that improvement would be much harder. I cannot really be ambitious (I still have other commitments, for one thing) so the fun is less.

I play chess online, and I’ve noticed that when I have the urge to play, my first game or two is often very strong. I say “wow, like a GM!” and marvel at the experience of calling down the forces of Hades on the opponent, that cruel beauty. (Online opponents often disconnect when I’m getting this feeling.) But after about three games it starts to be a chore, I start multitasking, and I make a mistake and the other guy wins. Or the good play just doesn’t “happen” and I lose to someone who’s only pretty good without even knowing why. My heart isn’t in it, and my games go backward instead of forward. Rather than enjoying the satisfying feeling of sticking knives into the opponent, I’m struggling to fend off the knives from him, and that means I’m playing so much worse that the “good” me would really crush the “bad” me, smoothly. When I was younger I think my strength was more consistent.

Young players must be stronger than they were 30 years ago! How can they not be, with computers available? Computers solve problems that used to be mysteries to us. They reveal what parts of chess principles actually work and what don’t. These players who you think are less “deep” are maybe just ignoring some old formulas that aren’t all that successful when tested in the bright light of computer analysis. On the contrary some stuff that was assumed bad is not. The Marshall Gambit for instance. As Alexei Shirov said, he had to learn chess all over from the youngsters of the computer generation.

I am satisfied to have moved on from the OTB chess tournament experience. I still play chess and sometimes play it pretty well, but not under USCF auspices. I wish USCF had more interest in other less competitive forms of chess, and I would like to be loyal to USCF in doing what I now enjoy, but since the servers (FICS mainly for me) are run by non-USCF entities, those are the ones hosting my chess activity now.

23

Of course everybody understood I was talking about OTB chess tournaments. Internet chess sites also make it interesting at times. All those sites about playing, news/forums, live games feeds, analysis, etc… I do remember the times when getting the Chess Informant once or twice a year was a big thing we eagerly were awaiting for. Even though I do miss that thrill once in a while, the information available nowadays is just phenomenal. Sometimes I’m just happy to learn what’s happening with old friends with whom I’ve lost contact over the years. But also other different aspects of chess “make it happen” for me.

For instance, since I’ve been an arbiter (both with kids and adults) for a while in the past, everything related to rules changing gets my attention. Also, since I’ve worked with/for chess federations everything related to chess politics is interesting to follow (although admittedly pretty discouraging most of the time). Sometimes, however, some positive news keep the hopes high. A good example would be with the French Federation. Earlier this week their president released the last membership numbers. According to him, the French Federation’s membership in 2010 is up 9% and is now almost up to 40 000 members.

But back to what I was saying…last week I was on vacation and decided to go to Cancun, Mexico, this time around. Before going I had tried to get some news on chess activities over there but internet wasn’t really helping since from what I was able to find, in most cases mexicans will report of stuff that has happened but rarely spend much time/energy on advertizing. In fact, in Cancun there is not much chess happening at all. However I was able to find a chess club. If you ever go to Cancun, ask for the directions to the Wallmart. On the opposite side of the street, on the corner, you’ll find a place called Hong Kong restaurant (it’s actually a mini-mall). If you go to the administration office (2nd floor), you should be able to get the chess club’s president phone number. It just so happened they were having some kind of city school finals chess championship when I was there. We had a nice time attending the tournament and were well received. They even bothered to have some of their best chess (adult) players so I was able to play a few games with them.

So those things are the ones that help me keep my passion alive and so far have been very satisfying to me over the last few years. And I know it’s only a small part of what I can “get” out of chess even though I will never again be the player I used to be.

Serge

24

This is one of the best threads I’ve ever read here.

I’m 52, and have not played rated OTB since 1992. I haven’t lost the love of the game, though I drifted away from playing and organizing events completely through the 90s. Following the games of top players live online is fabulous - I tuned in on Nakamura vs Grischuk this morning and spotted Rxg7+ before it was played on the board (but I didn’t follow through and spot Hiharu’s next move - guess that was lazy on my part).

I agree that there is a lot of satisfaction to be gotten from other involvements. Bleys - I’m sorry that you are not getting that, but maybe it will happen for you some years down the road.

I don’t think I’ve lost my capacity to do hard enough work, as I learned to ice skate in 1988, and last night had my first hat trick in nearly a decade. I’m playing three times a week (in California, of all places), and steadily improving (but Serge would still probably double over laughing if he watched).

I visited St. Louis last May and attended the first three rounds of the US Championship. It was still lots of fun watching and kibitzing, and sometimes I even was able to take a stand on a position and prove out against strong players.

I agree with the comments about time controls - having time to think deeply matters, and is one of the greatest sources of self-improvement and satisfaction that chess offers, in my opinion.

I also share the view of what chess literature is most valuable; I’ve been reading Kasparov’s My Great Predecessors series since summer, without spending time using a board to really go deeply into the games, but always soaking up the text and trying to see the high points of the analysis - I’m finally up to Karpov and 1975, and I now think that this series is almost all a student needs to read. In the 70s, I got the most from Botvinnik, Tal, Alekhine, and other tip-top GMs explaining what they viewed as important as they explained games they had played. I agree Fischer was an inspiration, but I only managed six enchanted hours looking at games with him for one night in 1988. :slight_smile:

I’d like to think that if I couldn’t play hockey any longer, I could get back to where I was (close to 2300 when I stopped), and perhaps could even go further. Perhaps I’ll see some day.

I hope a lot more folks share their stories here!

25

I have read this thread with great interest. I quit playing chess at the age of 35 and have, after retirement, taken up the game again at age 62. I’m hoping to feel comfortable enough in my game to play in a OTB tournament this year, and play in the World Open in 2012. One point that has been made here is that the study of tactics is very important. I agree. My biggest problem is that my memory is not very good anymore. I have to go over openings over and over. So, I do just that. Being retired I can spend more time than I did when I was younger. I hope you all enjoy chess as much as I do.
Bob McCorkle

26

The ‘kids’ today have access to tools (on-line play, coaching and instructional DVDs) that we did not in the ‘Fischer Boom.’ I believe that ratings have deflated about 100-150 points as a result. i.e., The knowledge and skill necessary to maintain a 2100 rating 25 years ago will give you a rating in the 1950-2000 range today.

Just INMHO.

27

You can also consider playing in the June 24-26, 2011 3rd Annual World Open Senior Amateur (Philadelphia, PA), open to age 50-and-older and rated under 2010 or unrated.
uschess.org/tlas/7116.ctla

28

Ok, first tournament in 25 years. 4 of the 5 players were rated higher than me. I won 1 drew 2 and lost 2. I played well in the first 3 games but became really tired in the last 2. The time control 30G was a bit of a problem as I did not properly study my endgames and mates so I missed a win in the 3rd game. My game plan for the next tournament is:

  1. Better prepare my openings.
  2. Study simple mates and endgames so I can bang them out in time trouble.
  3. Consider not playing in a 5 game/1day tournament again…LOL
  4. Continue to stucy regularly and work on concentrating for longer periods of time.
  5. Continue to have fun and play interesting chess…
    Bob
29

I also enjoyed reading the responses since I am in this category. All I can say, if you lived and are living a full life, it has been very difficult to monopolize a large percentage of your daily time with improving your chess.

In my case besides chess, I enjoyed spending time with my favorite girl. now my wife, Boating/sailing, fly tying, reloading amo/competition shooting, potography, and the list goes on…lolo Oh, I forgot my dogs, they will not even let me read the news paper, when I could be out taking them for a long trip in the forest.

So I could never even flirt with the potential what I coulda been(chess), and you know what I am glad I went the route I did, my world is expanded and the little time I have left cannot get enough of it! I know I am off topic sorry :blush:

But if I was in jail for some reason, man I would really be a good chess player! :laughing:

30

You might get your wish if you keep on the potography.

31

It’s interesting that this topic has come up since I’ve just started back into chess after a 9 year absence. I’m not quite 50 yet, but will be in 2 ½ years. I’ve found myself with a lot of time on my hands and thought it’d be nice to rekindle my love for chess. So about 2 months ago I decided to start studying again, playing online, going to a local chess club and rejoining the USCF. I speed/blitz chess has suffered quite a bit from my absence, but to my surprise my OTB play hasn’t suffered as much as I expected. This past weekend I was begged by a TD to play in a local tournament. He needed one more person to fill the top section and after a few “No I’m not ready” responses and his insistence on me playing I finally caved in.

I was fully expecting a blood bath on my side, but instead I held my own quite well. First game was a draw, second a loss and third a win with a final result of a rating drop of just one point (1824 to 1823). So now instead of feeling like I have a long road to recovery, I find myself thinking that I might be able to push myself up into the next class once I get rid of some of this rust.

One thing that has changed since playing last is the enjoyment of playing over top level games. In the past I never really was into playing over master games, but for some reason that has all changed. I find myself playing the “What’s the next move” a lot and if for some reason a move boggles me, I can just crank up Fritz and it helps me understand the move better.

It’s amazing to me the level of play of the younger generation. When I was in my teens and started playing rated tournaments, my rating was around 1576. That put me as the top scholastic player in the state of North Carolina. Now the top scholastic player is in the 2100’s, Wow! The best explanation I can come up with is the sheer number of computer tools available. Chess engines, online play, videos, etc… which if I had when I was growing up would have increased my chess playing skills substantially.

32

Best of luck to everyone attempting this.

I think there’s a similar post somewhere in the forums but, in case there isn’t, I’ll rehash my own experience:

Like so many of us I started in tournaments during the mid-60s, had some initial success in New York, then became discouraged and stopped for a few years. Ironically one of my games (a loss) was annotated by Hans Kmoch in Chess Review c1968, but I wasn’t a member at the time and didn’t know about it till something like 1975, when young friends on Long Island showed the issue to me. If I’d seen it when it came out I’d have stayed in chess straight through. I came back during the Fischer climb to being world champion, and continued thru the late 70s with ups and downs but eventually going to the mid-1700s, which was much higher than I’d been earlier. After spending a few years in Orlando Fl I returned to NYC and began playing more seriously, quickly going over 2000 and remaining there through the 80s. In fact, after a while I felt stuck at low expert and, after watching some good chess friends in their declining years, and experiencing a 100 or so point drop in the early 90s, I decided to give competitive chess up and not look back at it.

But can any of us really do that? I did for 20 or so years, neither playing or studying despite encourabement from my late, dear wife, to at least become a weekend player.

With my wife’s death a couple of years back, and a quick move back to Florida (the Deland area, about 40 miles from Orlando), the old sickness came back and I’ve begun studying again. Hell, it’s way beyond that, spent a fortune in DVDs and software, and also books of course. One of the local players told me several months ago that I’m not actually rusty, but oxidized! :open_mouth: :mrgreen:

Went to the Orlando Chess and Games Center last night and paid the entry fee for their Saturday G75 tournament on 4/16. That will be my big return. At 61 it occurs to me that I’m more than a little insane, but hope springs eternal and, frankly, the main alternative of watching a lot of TV, reading and playing shuffleboard with other old codgers doesn’t appeal to me.

So it’s off to battle the current, and apparently much improved, generation of child wonders, and, hopefully, a lot of familiar faces – I’ve always liked my chess friends and am sorry to see so many of them have entered that big eternal Swiss in the sky.

33

Same story except I’m now 76 years old. Haven’t played 25 years (never got above 1600) and gave away all my books (I had all the back issues of Chess Informant). But recently I became intrigued by discussion of new time controls with delays and increments and bought a chess clock and took the opportunity to play in a G/40 tournament while on a business trip to San Diego (where they have a wonderful chess club). So I won 2 games and lost 2 games that in retrospect I blundered away.

But here’s the thing. I am so rusty that I really have no idea what move to make next. I look at problems but only see the tactics in the very simplest ones. My memory isn’t what it used to be and I can’t remember any of the openings. The idea of OTB play is very appealing, but the reality is frustrating. (There is a local club but everyone wants to play blitz which doesn’t appeal to me).

Do I really want to spend the time getting good again? What are the odds that it will be even possible? Opinions welcome!

Richard

34

I’m another old-timer (57) who was once fairly good (High School Chess Club 2nd place), and an on and off USCF member over the years. Part of my reason for re-joining and looking for more OTB play is because I’ve noticed I’m not concentrating as well as I used to, and I wanted the intellectual exercise. I may not be able to recover my full ability of years ago, but the practice will at least give me a chance to use what I have and maintain (and possibly improve) my intellectual health, which chess has proven to do. Of course, I will have to overcome the “I used to be able to …” internal dialogue, and be happy with what I am now, and will be ecstatic if I can make any improvement at all. :astonished:

So my answer is that the experience, whether you become good again or not, will be of mental benefit, which at our age, is as valuable as our physical health. :slight_smile:

35

There are so many things I “used” to be good at :frowning: . Once I could play tennis, play the piano (a bit), and I even spent a week canoeing and portaging in the Boundary Waters of Northern Michigan.

My problem is my obsessive personality. I can’t enjoy doing anything unless I do it well. So I have in mind how it used to be and imagine myself sitting down at the piano or dominating chess tournaments and then reality sets in.

The biggest hurdle is overcoming that feeling of having to win. But I’m going to give it a shot.

Richard

36

Well, I have never been a good player…with a rating of 1516 being my highest achievement. But I’m 50 yrs. old and love the game now as much as I did when I was 16. And I think that’s what I get out of playing. I’m not fighting over rating points anymore. I just play the game because I love to play.

However, I rarely play OTB anymore…mostly because many tournaments these days are using faster time controls, and at my age I need more time to think things through. So, I have been playing correspondence chess lately and it has proved to be a good match for me. My CC rating is 300 points higher than my OTB rating, and I have more fun playing CC because I can enjoy the game in my own home, and I don’t have to pay out high dollar hotel fees, and such.

I know all of this is off topic, but I just wanted to suggest that you should just play because you enjoy playing, and don’t worry about ratings, or past performances. Play for the love of the game!

Don

37

So much of happiness lies in accepting and enjoying what you have (or are, or are able to do), rather than mourning what you do not have. :wink:

Some years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes. My wife was surprised I didn’t go into a downward emotional spiral. “Won’t you miss … <insert favorite, sweetened food>?” she would ask. My reply, “Yes, but thinking about that wouldn’t make any difference and will only make me unhappy. How about I just work on living with it, yes?”

Enjoy the game. Everything else is extra. :sunglasses:

38

I have so much to be thankful for - pretty good health and actually I’m still working part time running clinical trials of new cancer drugs. It seems mean spirited to be anxious about playing a game I enjoy for fear of not winning or watching a rating plummet.

Thanks for all the encouragement. I’m heading for our local chess club tonight with a new attitude.

Richard

39

Wow…I didn’t realize this thread was still alive 14 months later. And yes, I am thankful for what I have. At 56, I’m healthy and in better shape than I was 10 - 15 years ago. However, I still have a desire to play as well as I can and improve each year (the same is true for my golf and now, tennis too).
As an update…2011 was my best year in decades. In the last 12 months, I played 31 tournament games and only lost 5 (all to 2100’s in long tough games). My rating went up 75 points. I feel that I can break 2000 again with one or two more good showings. There are 2 keys to my improved play last year. First was eliminating blunders…just those real obvious mistakes that lose a pawn or the exchange in an equal or better position. I’m still making mistakes but they’re much “less bad” than they used to be. Second is that I’m coming up with more ideas during the game. I’ve won several games from lousy positions because I’ve been able to cause problems for my opponents. I’ve also been playing more aggressively against the lower rated players and winning those games more often (as I used to).
So there is hope…

40

With White, I have joined the (modified) Church of Avrukh. With Black, it’s 1.d4 d5 and 1.e4 e5, but with much deeper preparation that when I was younger. (Hoping to compensate for dead brain cells.)

Other repertoires work: I think it’s best to be sure that the repertoire is narrow (so one knows it well, hopefully better than one’s opponent) and that that repertoire has a sufficient “margin of safety.” There is a tradeoff between margin of safety and efficiency in “killing” lower-rated opponents: I’m struggling with that right now. But I think it’s more efficient for the older player to be “narrow” than to have “sharp” and “solid” lines.