How do YOU Study Chess ??

Wondering how many will say what has helped them most so far

Gotham and Mr. Rosen

I guess I'm also after how people study Defence & Endings ... Though I think many players don't study enough of a Variety

For endings: I play annotated complex endings on a real board and try to work out alternate possibilities. I find theoretical endings boring and study these as they arise near the end of complex endings.

When a game exposes a gap in understanding I focus on that type [recently: 4 rook endgames, stalemate traps and fortresses]. I also spent some months studying defending IQP endings w. various combinations of pieces.

Generally, I play thru a full game I'm interested in and when the board is clear, reset with an ending & play thru that.

I wish I had a good way to study defense.

Please share how you study.

I come on Lichess and ask others how they study.

1) Chessable. I spend a few hours per day studying there. I have taken about 6 months going through the 5 books of "Learn Chess the Right Way" from Judit Polgar. Also studying several opening courses (the free "Short and Sweet" courses are great).

2) Puzzles on Lichess. The new Opening puzzles are great!

3) To work on my openings, I like to play Casual games vs. the Maia bots on Lichess. The Maia5 bot is my current favorite, Maia1 blunders too much and Maia9 is too hard. First, I go to the Analysis Board and input the first few moves from whatever opening I am working on memorizing. Then, copy the FEN, go create a challenge for Maia5, and select "From Position" under the "Variant" pull-down menu. Paste in the FEN, select your color, and begin the game.

4) YouTube videos. Some of my favorite channels:
John Bartholomew (Climbing the Rating Ladder playlist)
ChessTube (great opening-specific Speed-Runs, focused on Caro-Kann, Slav, London, Jobava, etc.)
ChessBrah Extra (Aman's Building Habits playlist)
Daniel Naroditsky (Speed-Runs are great)
Chess Vibes (good overall content, plus excellent recaps of the Candidates Tournament)

I don’t study. I just play and constantly improve.

@need_heart ,,, You play alot but don't have many games played on Lichrss ; Do you attribute your rating gains to NOT Studying Chess ?

given my life time portion i can fuel to chess, i ask myself questions and others. and try to get and experience answers. but i am not seriously serious about improving my rating. just about answering whatever questions pops up. Is that study?

I don't really. Now that I'm a geezer, I just enjoy it. :)