TOP 5 DANGEROUS MYTHS THAT HINDER NEWCOMERS (MY EXPERIENCE)

Hello everyone!
In this post, we'll talk about common and even dangerous myths for beginners. These myths mislead people, kill their desire to play, and make them waste their time.
I've gathered the most popular and important ones. And you know what? I, like no one else, went through them when I first got interested in chess. So I want to share my opinion and experience — maybe it will help someone not to step on the same rake.
Let's go!
MYTH #1: CHESS IS FOR GENIUSES AND PEOPLE WITH HIGH IQ
This is perhaps the most popular myth believed by those who have never played chess. "Oh, chess? That's for smart people, I can't handle it" — heard that? I have — hundreds of times.
In fact, chess is a strategy game, like many others: Go, checkers, backgammon. But it's in chess that this misconception is most persistent.
Yes, an ordinary person can play chess very well. Essentially, it's a skill that anyone can learn. The only question is time: how quickly and deeply you can calculate ahead, how quickly you learn from mistakes.
But with desire and effort, even the title of grandmaster is not science fiction. The main thing is determination and enjoyment of the game.
MYTH #2: AT THE VERY BEGINNING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN OPENINGS 20 MOVES AHEAD
Openings are undoubtedly an important part of the game. But when you're just starting out, from my experience, I advise you to study strategy and positional play more.
I used to play openings like the Hippopotamus System or the Owen's Defence. I spent a ton of time on that. But at the same time, I didn't even know: why am I making these moves? For what purpose? What weaknesses do they create?
As a result — a waste of time. The moves are there, but there's no understanding.
So at the beginning of your journey, you shouldn't study only openings or delve too deep into theory. First — principles: centre, development, king safety. Then — everything else.
MYTH #3: THE MORE YOU PLAY, THE FASTER YOU GROW
Oh, this myth is the one I wasted the most time on. I thought: "The more games, the better." And I just churned out games one after another.
Spoiler: it doesn't work.
You can play tens of thousands of games and stay at the same level. Because growth comes not from quantity, but from quality and analysis.
Look at many amateur players who have 30,000+ games behind them and a rating of 1300. They just play on autopilot, repeating the same mistakes.
What works: 3-5 games a day with a full analysis of each. One quality game with a post-mortem will bring more benefit than 20 mindless blitz games.
MYTH #4: CHESS IS NOT A SPORT
I've heard this many times. "What do you mean chess is a sport? It's just sitting and thinking."
In fact, chess is a sport. Just not like the others. It's a mind sport.
In football, your leg muscles work. In chess, your head works at 100%. But in terms of exertion, stress, and the endurance needed in tournaments, chess is in no way inferior to physical sports.
Try playing 7 classical rounds in one day — you'll be wrung out like a lemon. It's a sport, and quite a serious one.
MYTH #5: RATING IS AN INDICATOR OF A PLAYER'S STRENGTH OR THEIR KNOWLEDGE AS A WHOLE
Yes, now I've touched on the most sensitive topic. Many will disagree with this. But I went through this from my own experience.
I'm not very good at thinking quickly and making moves in fast time controls. My blitz rating looks literally as if I just learned how the pieces move yesterday.
But in classical games, with the same rating, I see that many opponents don't understand: why and for what reason they placed this or that piece. What is their plan? Why did they spend that tempo? Many terms they simply don't know.
It's precisely long classical chess that allows you to switch on your thinking at 100%. It gives you time to look at the game from different angles, find hidden resources, calculate variations.
So, guys, a rating in a specific time control is not always equal to a player's overall strength. It's just a number that reflects the result under certain conditions. And don't let it control your mood.
INSTEAD OF A CONCLUSION
Phew... I hope this post turned out to be informative and engaging.
The main thing I want to say in the end: enjoy chess. That's what really matters most.