The Blueprint I Give All My 1000–1700 Chess Students

Rather than solving calculation, focus on studying chess basics. Most players in this range lack basic understanding — wrong exchanges, material imbalances, and basic chess principles.

1. Try to learn check–capture–threat principle by analyzing hundreds of positions.
2. Do My System by Aron Nimzowitsch. Legendary book to learn principled play.
3. Study core endgames from Silman’s Endgame Book.
4. Study strategic endgames from Capablanca’s Best Endgames Book.
5. Keep the same opening. DO NOT CHANGE for fun. Watch opening videos on YouTube (Hanging Pawns is a good channel).
6. For calculation, do these books — 1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players and 1001 Chess Exercises for Advanced Club Players.
7. Play a mix of 5+3 and 10+0 games and get a coach to analyse those.
8. Play 8–10 OTB tournaments in a year if from India. If from any western country where you have access to a club in a city, go and play on weekends.

If properly done, 250–300 points rating gain is ideal.

Originally posted on my X profile: - https://x.com/Dixit__Nikhil