How to develop 10 good chess player characteristics

What makes a good chess player? And do you have what it takes to become one? Let me tell you in this article exactly what it takes to be good at chess and how you can train yourself to become the best you can be.

What makes a good chess player?

There are several qualities that are commonly associated with good chess players:

1. Knowledge of chess strategies and tactics: A good chess player has a deep understanding of chess strategies and tactics, including openings, middle game plans, and endgame techniques.
2. Strong analytical skills: Good chess players are able to analyze positions and make good decisions based on their analysis.
3. Good positional understanding: A good chess player understands the importance of pawn structure, piece coordination, and control of key squares and groups.
4. Strong memory: Good chess players have a good memory, both for positions they’ve seen before and for long sequences of moves.
5. Strong visualization skills: Good chess players are able to visualize the board and pieces in their mind, which is particularly important in blindfold chess or when playing with a chess clock.
6. Patience: Good chess players are able to remain calm and patient, even in difficult positions or against strong opponents.
7. Mental toughness: Good chess players can handle the pressure and stress that comes with competitive chess and can maintain focus throughout the game.
8. Good endgame skills: Good chess players can convert a winning position into a win and save a draw from a losing position.
9. Adaptability: Good chess players can adjust to different styles of play and can come up with different plans and ideas to handle different situations.
10. Willingness to learn: Good chess players are always looking for ways to improve and are willing to learn from their mistakes.

These are just some of the qualities that are commonly associated with good chess players, but everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, and that there’s no single formula for success in chess.

Also read: How to beat all 7 chess styles (which are you?)

How do you develop these characteristics?

Here are some ways to develop the characteristics of a good chess player:

1. Study chess: One of the best ways to develop knowledge of chess strategies and tactics is to study chess, this can be done by reading chess books, watching chess videos, and studying grandmaster games.
2. Analyze your games: After each game, take some time to analyze it and see where you went wrong, and what you could have done better.
3. Practice visualization: Try to visualize the board and pieces in your mind, this can be done by playing blindfold chess, or by trying to visualize a position after seeing it for a short time.
4. Practice endgames: Practice different types of endgames, such as pawn endgames, rook endgames, and minor piece endgames.
5. Play different types of positions: To improve your positional understanding, try to play different types of positions, such as tactical positions, closed positions, and open positions.
6. Play different styles of players: Try to play against players with different styles of play, such as aggressive players, defensive players, and positional players.
7. Play in tournaments: Playing in tournaments can help to develop mental toughness, as it provides an opportunity to experience the pressure and stress of competitive chess.
8. Learn from your mistakes: Be willing to learn from your mistakes and to identify your weaknesses, and work on them.
9. Keep a chess diary: Keeping a record of your games and your thoughts during the game can be a helpful tool in reviewing and analyzing your games.
10. Take lessons: If possible take chess lessons from a coach or a grandmaster, this can be a great way to improve your chess skills and get feedback on your play.

Keep in mind that developing chess skills takes talent, time and effort. It’s important to be consistent and persistent in your practice and to always strive to improve.

Also read: How to get 1500 chess rating if you’re bad at chess

What’s the best place to develop these chess characteristics?

Chess.com is a fantastic place to develop the characteristics that we talked about. They have chess lessons, tournamens, many players and an engine to analyze your games.

Also read: The best chess website for beginners to play and learn