Training Plan
How to Improve Your Chess by Following a Training Plan
Improving your chess skills requires dedication, persistence, and a structured approach. This comprehensive training plan will guide you through the necessary steps to enhance your chess abilities. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and getting better at chess will take hard work and patience.
- Tactics, Tactics, Tactics
Solve at least 10 tactical puzzles daily from real game positions.
Practice a variety of puzzles with different forcing lines and tactical motifs.
Don't rush; take your time to think through all the moves and variations.
Study basic tactical motifs such as discovered checks, double attacks, pins, skewers, and more
- Play Proper Games
Focus on games with longer time controls.
Choose a time control that allows you to spend 5-10 minutes on critical moves.
- Focus on Simple Openings
Stick to standard, theory-light e4/d4 lines.
Learn the basic ideas behind each opening, following general opening principles.
Avoid theory-heavy and hypermodern openings as a beginner.
- Keep a Mental Checklist
Consider forcing moves, threats, and tactics on every turn.
Evaluate piece activity, outpost squares, and potential pawn blockades.
- Develop a Middlegame Plan
Evaluate the position after the opening phase.
Formulate a plan based on your pieces' strengths and the position's imbalances.
Strengthen your position until an opportunity for a concrete attack arises.
- Study Basic Endgame Setups
Learn common endgame setups and themes.
Pick up an endgame book from the recommended list and study positions and mating patterns.
Study the basic themes of opposition, zugszwang, triangulation, and outflanking. These principles are not concise enough to be described in a few paragraphs
- Analyse Your Games, Especially Losses
Review your games to identify mistakes and learn from them.
Understand the reasons behind your mistakes and develop strategies to avoid them in the future.
- Study Higher-Level Games
Analyse games played by titled players.
Try to understand each player's plan and compare your analysis with the actual moves.
Use annotated game collections for guided study.
- Follow the 20/40/40 Rule
Spend 20% of your time on openings, 40% on middlegames, and 40% on endgames.
- Avoid Overreliance on Chess Engines
Analyse your games without an engine first, then check your analysis with an engine afterward.
- Create and Stick to a Study Plan
Allocate your study time across playing games, game analysis, tactics, strategy, and endgames.
In general, a beginner should spend at least seven hours a week (preferably more) studying chess in order to see tangible improvement over the course of a year. This time should be broken down studying the following:
(50%) Playing games: Stick to untimed games or games with slow time controls; anything 15|10 or longer.
(20%) Game Analysis/Study: Study your games and/or games from game collections. Identify the critical moves and review your key mistakes.
(15%) Tactics: Drill tactical puzzles, either online or from tactics books.
(10%) Strategy: Choose a good book on the middlegame/general strategy, and go through it at your own pace.
(5%) Endgames: Pay special attention to endgame drills! So many games are lost unnecessarily in the endgame.
- Collaborate with Other Chess Players
Seek guidance from higher-rated players and offer help to lower-rated players.
Consider working with a coach or mentor.
- Invest in Chess Books
Consult the recommended reading list for books on tactics, middlegames, and endgames.
Study one book from each category simultaneously for a well-rounded understanding of the game.