What can you do to improve your chess game? There are many opinions on this topic, but the main thing you can do to improve is to practice continuously.
Chess has always been a competitive sport, even before the first world chess championships in 1886. People always regarded chess champions as great intellectuals who always propel the game to greater heights every time they play the game.
As of now, the current World Chess Champion is Viswanathan Anand and like most chess grandmasters, he started playing the game at a very early age of six and proceeded to win a lot of official chess tournaments. Today, he is one of the most recognized grandmasters of chess and an embodiment of the game's prestige.
As anyone can point out, most people who aspire to become a grandmaster at chess don't have the advantage of playing chess at an early. However, it is that kind of thinking that only provides a lame excuse for not trying one's best at all.
Always remember that with the human mind, nothing is impossible. Where there is a will there is always a way. To beat opponents who have been at the game for decades and have proven themselves to be experts at chess, one first requires great confidence in himself. In fact, self-confidence is the foundation on which everything else is built. If you don't think you can do it, you're not likely to prove yourself wrong.
One good way to improve your game is to always use a chess clock during your games. This is a method of training yourself to become aware of the bigger picture of the entire game itself. It will help you devise strategies to ensure your victory. Another reason why this method works well is the fact that most humans, if not all, are able to undergo some sort of a trance when they are cornered. Scientifically, this phenomenon is called the fight and flight response. By using a chess clock, you will be trained to make use of the body's natural responses and channel its benefits to give you a better perception of the situation you're in.
Official chess tournaments often make use of a chess clock to ensure that the tournament proceeds at the scheduled time. Many people often make the mistake of taking too much time plotting their early game strategies and counters and, as a fatal result, they will usually use less time to make their moves during the late game. Although it is common knowledge that the first few moves matter the most, one must be mindful of the bigger picture of the game and avoid being too consumed with that common perception.
Remember that chess is a dynamic game and it often revolves upon critical on the spot choices, and rarely upon a laid out predetermined arrangement. Chess grandmasters know this all too well because experience has taught them so. With this in mind, it is always a good idea to condition your mind to look at the bigger picture, but also remember to be vigilant in your games and think on your feet.
