Improving the Experience for Lower-Rated Players
Peter Swinton
The Club is keen to find a way for new and lower-rated players (mainly adults but also some juniors) to improve their skills, and thus their enjoyment of the game.
We believe that a good club is one that has strength at both ends of the ability spectrum. The club does a great job of nurturing the talented, but is concerned with the large turn-over of potential competition chess players at the lower end. Many newcomers, trying to find their feet in chess, play maybe one or two tournaments only to disappear from competition after that. One reason for the turn-over is obvious: novices and lower-rated players lose much more often than better players, a fact that better players tend to forget. These two sub-groups really have to love the game, or develop a thick skin, to continue. Or they can get some assistance to see them through to the next level.
Accordingly, we are considering two initiatives for unrated and players rated up to 1200:
- An informal discussion group providing support and some targeted coaching from players close in rating level who understand the group’s needs.
- Some formal coaching from high-rated players either free, or for a small fee.
The Club has set aside the night of Tuesday, 25 March, 2025 to conduct the first meeting of the informal group (1. above) in order to confirm the level of interest, explore people’s concerns and level of play and, if possible, get the ball rolling.
March 25 is the first ‘catch-up’ night in the Club’s 2025 Club Championship where only a few players will be playing an official game. That seems a convenient night to start the initiative.
The requirement for participating is that you are not currently receiving any individual or group chess coaching. As a lot of our juniors already get some form of coaching we would expect most participants to be adults, but children are welcome as long as they are not receiving any type of coaching and have sufficient language skills to participate in a mainly adult group. A parent would also need to remain present during the group sessions. There may be room for other groups in the future but uncoached, lower rated players remain the priority.
If interested in either or both groups, please contact Club Vice-President Peter Swinton at pswinton@bigpond.net.au or just turn up on a club night and talk to Peter.
Our website also has a guide to different ways both children and adults can learn chess with lists of YouTube channels and book recommendations at the end.
Good luck with your chess!