How can I break a plateau and improve my chess?

I'm a good amateur player, but have never broken that barrier to be really good at chess. I hover somewhere between 1500 and 1650, although I've brushed 1700 at my best.


This year, I'd like to break the 1800 barrier.


There are a lot of books out there about strategies within the game itself, and finding the best move, but very little written about how to become a good player.


Is there any book you would recommend on that subject?


Also, what is a good way to improve as a player: Blind chess? Simultaneous games? Analysing your games? Finding a teacher? Etc...


Is there a way to find out exactly what your weaknesses are and working on them? That's the sort of advice I'm looking for.


Thank you.|||What helps me is the study of well annotated master games, especially those games I can find discussed by several authors.|||I am not a good player but I use Chessmaster to analyze my moves and tell me where I am going wrong. If you play games in the game room in Chessmaster you can ask for advice. There are also chess lessons included. I guess Chessmaster is how I try to improve my game. good luck with this endeavor|||How to Think Like a Grandmaster by Kotov


Improve end game technique


Analyze games to discover patterns of weakness


Pick a couple openings as white and black against e4 %26amp; d4, then play the same lines until you can gain advantage - create your playable lines to reduce time usage on the clock (home analysis)


Study how other grandmasters handle similar positions


Work on tactics to discipline thinking|||all i know is playing it more and more has helped me. playing with other players, more adavanced helps alot, see the way they react to a new move.|||Yeah man, I know what you mean about "strategy" books...yet there is no absolute guide on becoming the complete chess player. I do know of a good book that you may be interested in, although it is an ebook(downloadable). It also has a ton of videos included.





It's written by Chad Kimball. Here's the link:





http://www.my-linker.com/hop/winchess|||if you want to be chess player . play game not thinking what you are going to do but how you can stop the opponent idea and prove you position and checkmate the opponent king.


I can tell you that I know chess program that teach you how to be chess player It's name is : chessmaster 10th edition


it will help you to be great player and show you what your weakness is.|||you must break the law, and spend a few months in jail