I have been playing for around 6 years, and have gotten stuck at 2000 for about 6 months. I've never had a coach ( I can't afford one) and I've never studied theory or endgames, I just play. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to study openings and endgames and such? I'm completely lost. Any YouTube channels would also be very helpful. Thank you!
To start with openings you could use the lichess-studies. They often offer enough theory to play an opening well.
For the middlegame I would recommend: Jeremy Silman: How to reassess your chess. If offers a variety of tools about how to look at a psositon and what to play.
For the endgame Jeremy Silman's Complete Endgame Course. It starts for lower rated players with the basic endings and after that endgames for the better players and so on until master level.
All three were very helpful to me!
#1: A) 'I've never had a coach' ~ You do not need one. By analyzing your games, you can be your own coach.
B) 'I just play.' ~ Study is important. You should have a balance between playing and studying. Study Endgames and Middlegame plans.
C) 'Does anyone have any suggestions on how to study openings and endgames and such? I'm completely lost. Any YouTube channels would also be very helpful.' ~ For Openings, use the Lichess opening explorer---set to master games---and the Lichess studies. You can also create your opening repertoire in a study of your own. For Endgames---which are more important than Openings and Middlegames---I find Hanging Pawns to be good.
Before using resources like books, videos, and engines, you should try to figure things out on your own. For starters, try to understand an Endgame using your thoughts. Then, move the pieces. Then, use outside resources. Good studying is not only about looking up answers; it is about trying to solve them beforehand. That approach is how we improve our thinking.
D) You should play 15+10 and deeply analyze the games. Yes; your have written that you dislike slower games. If you wish to improve, that is the way to go, however. Seventy-two Rapid games is not giving the time-control enough of a try. This is especially true when you do not utilize your time properly. In some of your 10+0 games, you have around seven minutes left when it is over. Slow down. Time is a resource, Give Rapid a real try.
Stay on the sidewalk - Become practiced at the openings and replies to the various openings. Stay on the main roads.
for openings here is another user sharing their thoughts using lichess tools -
https://lichess.org/@/TotalNoob69/blog/spaced-repetition-opening-moves-a-good-idea-or-a-really-bad-one/8reTtHu6
"I've never studied theory or endgames" * You should study endgames especially rook endings.
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