In Theory There Is No Difference Between Theory and Practice, In Practice There Is
The famous Yogi Berra quote couldn’t be more true for chess improvements.
I remember being a kid in China and my coach always telling me to train if I wanted to improve chess.
That was in the 1990’s, and there was not many options to play.
Today we live in a completely different world. Playing games online and in person is often the most important factor for a rewarding chess journey.
While training is necessary – it turns out that PLAYING rated games is actually the best way to get better.
Let me explain why.
Playing a rated game and seeing opponent’s clock ticking while you’re attacking is a thrilling experience. And no amount of lessons or puzzles will ever replicate that adrenaline.
Real game actions are how kids learn. They experiment, make mistakes and figure out ways to adjust.
I have seen many kids answer questions correctly during class, but make the exact mistake when they play a game.
Why does that happen? Lack of practical experiences.
When kids play, they learn faster and retain more because it engages more of their senses and emotions. They’re having fun, it encourages training and improvement.
Training should follow playing.
So if you want your kids to get better at chess – stop training without playing. Start have them playing in rated games. You’ll be amazed at the results.