Anyone else trying to improve with Steps Method / Stappenmethode?

Hello, Im trying to improve my chess by using the books from Steps Method. Im close to finishing Step 2+ and kind of stuck below 1500 in rapid. Anyone else want to share their experience? I feel I could be way better even at this point, but bad habits hold me back (like not analyzing losses or binge playing, distractions,... ).

At what step does it say that the pieces must protect their king?

"not analyzing losses or binge playing, distractions"

• Those are easy to cure.

In the [Site "https://lichess.org/lpTF5sPV"] game ([Date "2026.08.28"] [Black "Alchem_2112"] [Result "0-1"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "900+10"]), the machine actually evaluates the position as approximately level after 30 Rb3. Of course, it did not seem to help matters very much that only ~2 seconds were used to choose 35 Kf1 ("?? (0.00 --> Mate in 1)").
Perhaps, it was not so good that tinaseiskaffee's first 13 moves were played at an average rate that would have made sense if it had been expected that the game would last for 1063 moves.
By the way, it is a little weird that moves 24-29
(24 "?? (2.23 --> 0.19)"
25 "?! (0.29 --> -0.49)"
26 "? (3.87 --> 1.76)"
27 "?! (2.15 --> 1.21)"
28 "? (1.16 --> 0.00)"
29 "?? (1.47 --> -4.98)")
were played at an average of ~48 seconds per move.

@kindaspongey said ^

In the [Site "https://lichess.org/lpTF5sPV"] game ([Date "2026.08.28"] [Black "Alchem_2112"] [Result "0-1"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "900+10"]), the machine actually evaluates the position as approximately level after 30 Rb3. Of course, it did not seem to help matters very much that only ~2 seconds were used to choose 35 Kf1 ("?? (0.00 --> Mate in 1)").
Perhaps, it was not so good that ti...

Thank you for taking your time to look at that game and kindly commenting on that. I know, im bad at chess, and I also know that choosing Kf1 in 2 sec is the type of blunder I have to avoid in order to get better. As I said, there are some seemingly "easy" fixes I need to focus on.

@tpr said ^

"not analyzing losses or binge playing, distractions"

• Those are easy to cure.

I know, and yet I still struggle. Need to be more disciplined.

Have you thought of using a structured way to assess a position? Sometihng along the lines of Silman's Chess Imbalances or some other method that will force you to calmly look at the position and break it down into its component parts. And you should really train this beforehand, using Classical time controls first (Or slowish rapid games at worst). This will change your mindset into looking at the positions using their component parts - pawn structures, king safety, piece placements, open files/diags/outposts, etc.

you'll stop doing knee-jerk reactions to positions, making bad moves for the sake of making a move, without purpose or good reason.

I've heard of the Steps method but not sure what it's thoughts are on positional assessments, but seing as you are on #2 it's nt that advanced.

In my opinion neither the Steps Method nor Silman are any good, but it is all in vain when you play too fast and do not blunder check.

I dont understand the obsession with improving. You improve most by just playing lots of games and going over your own game with an engine, it is as simple as that, sure you can read a book or whatever, but without practice it is pretty much useless. Play lots of games, enter tournaments, play against stronger players and you'll improve much faster than just reading a book or something.

https://www.stappenmethode.nl/en/puzzle-saturday.php