The 4 Steps To Improve At Chess

Just to preface this article, I'd like to mention I also posted about this topic in a lichess study with a couple practical examples. Feel free to check it out and leave a like if you find it useful!

Moreover, in my previous blog post I also mentioned how I'm currently conducting a study on the scientifically most efficient way to study chess. To support this you can simply answer this google form :)

1. The Importance of Tactics

You might have heard the saying:

"Chess is 99% tactics"

While this might be an exaggeration, there's no denying the importance of tactics and calculation in chess. They are the foundation upon which most games are won or lost.

How should you study tactics?

Studying tactics is straightforward: find a position with a tactical opportunity and try to solve it. However, many players make the mistake of rushing their moves after a brief consideration. To improve, it's essential to slow down, calculate the entire sequence of moves, and think as if you're in a critical moment of a classical game. Avoid letting emotions dictate your decisions; instead, approach each puzzle with a calm, focused mindset.

Where should you study tactics?

The platform doesn't matter as much as the consistency and effort you put in. Popular options include Lichess, ChessTempo, and Chess.com. For beginners and intermediate players, the "step books" series is an excellent resource, especially for younger learners. Remember, consistent practice is key—study tactics daily if possible, even if they feel tedious.

2. Understanding and Studying Openings

Studying openings can be both unnecessary and extremely important, depending on your level and goals. For non-professional players, there's little value in memorizing a deep 25-move line that you might never encounter in a real game. However, having a solid understanding of opening principles and knowing the basic lines of your chosen repertoire can provide a comfortable advantage.

Understanding opening ideas also enhances your overall positional play. For example, I barely knew any openings when I was rated around 2000 FIDE. But after studying the Grünfeld and Catalan in depth, not only did my opening repertoire improve, but my understanding of the game as a whole deepened. Six months later, I achieved my FIDE Master title with a 2300+ Elo rating.

How should you study openings?

When studying openings, it's crucial to consistently review what you've learned. One effective approach is to play online blitz games with your repertoire, identifying any weaknesses or unfamiliar lines to review later.

If you're looking for the best resources to study openings, I recommend the website Chessbook. The free version is good and the premium one, which I recently bought, is even better! It’s affordable and offers a great platform to build and understand your repertoire. While Chessable is a popular choice for advanced players, its courses can be a bit overkill for most. Chessbook, on the other hand, focuses on helping you grasp the ideas behind the moves, rather than just memorizing lines.

3. Guess The Move

Having covered tactics and openings, let's shift our focus to positional understanding with a method known as "Guess the Move." This technique, also referred to as "solitaire chess" by the legendary Gregory Kaidanov, is simple yet powerful for improving your positional play.
Here’s how it works:

1. Select a Top-Level Player: Choose a renowned player, such as Magnus Carlsen.
2. Find Their Games: Use a database like ChessBase, Chess.com, or Chessbook.com to access their winning games.
3. Skip the Opening Moves: Move ahead to about move 8-12, bypassing the opening phase.
4. Guess the Move: Before revealing the actual move, try to guess what the winning player would have played. Focus only on their moves to enhance your positional understanding.

This method teaches you to think like a grandmaster, learning which positions require deeper thought and improving your overall chess intuition.

4. Playing Games

Finally, we arrive at one of the most exciting aspects of chess improvement: playing chess! Practical games are essential for applying the knowledge you've gained from studying tactics, openings, and positional play. However, it's crucial to strike a balance—playing too many games can leave you with less time for study, which might hinder your progress.

Longer time controls are generally more beneficial for improvement, as they encourage deeper thinking and allow you to fully utilize your knowledge. While online games are convenient, the gold standard remains OTB (over-the-board) games with classical time controls. If you're serious about improving, participating in tournaments is a must.

A top coach from a camp I attended suggested playing 150-250 games per year for optimal progress. While this may seem like an extreme amount of games, very active players like the "infamous" Hans Niemann, demonstrates the value of playing regularly. The key takeaway is clear: seize every opportunity to play, and your game will improve significantly.

Conclusion

Improving at chess is a journey that requires dedication, balanced study, and regular practice. By focusing on tactics, understanding openings, refining your positional play, and applying your knowledge in practical games, you can steadily climb the ranks and enhance your overall chess understanding. Remember, consistency is key—study, play, and review regularly, and you'll see your efforts pay off on the board.
Good luck, and happy studying!

Are you feeling motivated now? Make sure to fill out the form to support my research and learn more about your strengths & weaknesses. Best of luck! <3