What should you do to improve at chess ?

I come from a Polish family, but my roots stretch across many parts of the Slavic world.
This connection to Slavic culture has always shaped my outlook, and it naturally influenced my approach to chess as well.
Over the past year, I’ve been working closely with Obrad Sirotanovic (@DRSUBOZAN), a chess master who truly understands how to bring out the best in players - he was the trainer that helped me reaching my CM Title and I'll always be admirant of his pragmatism.

Before that, I spent countless hours analyzing over 100 tournament games with veteran Yugoslavian masters in between rounds X)
These players, despite now being rated around 2000 due to age, have titles like IM and FM and play at a much higher level—closer to 2400. They’ve taught me that chess mastery doesn’t fade with time; what changes is physical endurance.
Their ability to analyze games and share timeless wisdom has been a huge influence on my coaching philosophy.

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Why Volume Beats Intensity in the Middlegame

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that when it comes to the middlegame, training with volume is more effective than short, intense sessions.
Let me explain why:

1. You See More Patterns
   By going through lots of games and positions, you naturally start recognizing patterns. This pattern recognition is essential for improving your intuition and speed of decision-making during games.
2. You Get Comfortable with Complexity
   Chess is about solving problems. By exposing yourself to a wide variety of positions, you train yourself to think clearly and find solutions in unfamiliar situations.
3. You Build Stamina
   Tournament games are long and exhausting. High-volume training helps you develop the mental endurance you need to stay sharp in long games.

While intense study sessions might seem appealing, they often lead to burnout or narrow your focus to specific areas.
Volume training gives you a broader understanding of the game and builds consistency.

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Step-by-Step Progress in Openings and Endgames

While volume works for the middlegame, openings and endgames require a slower, more systematic approach.
The Yugoslavian school emphasizes a step-by-step progression:

• For Openings: Start by mastering a single, simple opening. Once you’re confident, gradually expand your repertoire, adding more advanced systems and variations over time. This way, you’re not overwhelmed and can actually use what you’ve learned.
• For Endgames: Focus on understanding the basics first, like king and pawn endgames, before moving on to more complex endings involving minor pieces or rooks. This foundation will give you the confidence to handle any endgame situation.

This step-by-step method ensures you don’t skip over important fundamentals, which can later become weaknesses in your play.

To improve your openings :
https://lorischesstrainer.systeme.io/from-beginner-to-master

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How to Improve Your Chess

If you want to improve your chess, you need a coach who can focus on two things:

1. Fixing Your Weak Spots
   A good coach will identify the parts of your game where you struggle and help you bring them up to your overall level.
2. Boosting Your Strengths
   Once your weaknesses are under control, the focus shifts to sharpening your best skills and pushing your level even higher—often by 150-200 Elo.

Thank you,
Loris

Contact :
Email: lorischesstrainer@gmail.com

Instagram: chessloris