Gain rating: the complete training plan
Weekly routine to improve at chess: daily tactics, solid openings, key endgames, game review, and mindset to convert effort into rating points.
Four pillars to climb
Sustainable improvement = daily tactics + simple opening plans + core endgames + systematic game review. Add consistent game volume and time management, and your rating follows.
Weekly routine (90–120 minutes total)
Adjust the load to your schedule, keep the split.
- Daily tactics: 15–20 min (themed puzzles, normal speed).
- Openings: 15 min, review 2 main lines + 1 simple anti-gambit.
- Endgames: 15 min, basic mates, pawn endings, rook vs pawns.
- Game review: 20–30 min, focus on 3 critical moments, not every move.
Tactics: highest ROI
Below 2000, tactics decide most games. Alternate pace to lock patterns.
- Slow sets (normal mode) for accuracy and calculation depth.
- Fast sets (Puzzle Rush/Woodpecker) for visual autopilot.
- Tag mistakes: missed motif, shallow calc, moving too fast.
Openings: simple plans, not endless theory
Two main systems with clear ideas cover most games.
- Choose repeatable setups (e.g., London, Italian, Caro-Kann).
- Write 3 typical plans per opening (pawn structure, key trades).
- Learn 2 key anti-gambit responses to avoid early traps.
Endgames: win equal positions
A few reference endgames yield free points.
- King + pawn vs king: opposition, triangulation, the pawn square.
- Rook endings: cut the king, Lucena/Philidor (simplified).
- Transitions: trade the right pieces to simplify into a plus-equal endgame.
Game review: learn from every loss
Blunder reduction alone can add hundreds of points.
- Find the move where the eval swings: blunder or wrong plan.
- Log recurring error types (time, tactics, opening choice).
- Create one mini flashcard per error type with the correct idea.
Mindset and clock management
Calm decisions and smart time splits convert edges into wins.
- Allocate time: ~20–25% in the opening, keep a buffer for endgames.
- Take 60–90 seconds between games to avoid tilt-queuing.
- Use a 4-4-4 breath before critical choices to slow impulses.