Help me To Improve?

I need help improving my chess skills. My current rating on Chess.com is around 800 Elo, and my goal is to reach 2000 Elo within the next year.

Within the next year? That means, you have approximately 1 year, two months and 6.5 days at the date of Oct 24, 2026. To reach this goal, first clarify -- chess com 2000 or lichess? If your aim is on Lichess, then it is definitely realistic and you can achieve with putting even 45 minutes each day with correct training methods. For chess com, I do not know and do not play there. My advice -- Focus on improving your gameplay instead of rating. Learn to lose. Rating follows. If you use your time effectively, I believe you can reach two-thousand chess.com also.

I solve chess puzzles every day, but I haven't noticed much improvement in my actual games. Please help me understand what I'm doing wrong and how I can improve.

Puzzles alone aren't enough. Instead, search for popular studies on Lichess with headings like 'Middlegames', 'Endgames', 'Positional play', 'Annotated Games' etcetera. Also, channels like Advice Cabinet are beginner-friendly and encourage you to think for yourself, basically an improved version of puzzles (at least for amateur - intermediate players).

Please provide me with a proper, step-by-step Roadmap to achieve my goal.

Analyze lost games. Learn from studies on Lichess and channels like Advice Cabinet, GM Ramachandran Ramesh, GM Daniel Naroditsky, ChessNetwork. Endgames first (studies, practice, YouTube videos), then Middlegames (same as above). It is good to have a simple, reliable opening for white and two for black (one each, vs e4 and the other for d4 and more). Start studying annotated master games (ask your preferred chatbot to tell you of a collection on chessgames.com of annotated games, and it will).

If you are acquainted with aspects like calculation (Endgames train this), positional play & strategy (the resources I mentioned in my text), and study them well, you will reach your goal -- if you continue with a positive mindset, and never show pride in your skills or try to downplay others.

@saoirsia > I need help improving my chess skills. My current rating on Chess.com is around 800 Elo, and my goal is to reach 2000 Elo within the next year. Within the next year? That means, you have approximately 1 year, two months and 6.5 days at the date of Oct 24, 2026. To reach this goal, first clarify -- chess com 2000 or lichess? If your aim is on Lichess, then it is definitely realistic and you can achieve with putting even 45 minutes each day with correct training methods. For chess com, I do not know and do not play there. My advice -- _Focus on improving your gameplay instead of rating. Learn to lose. Rating follows._ If you use your time effectively, I believe you can reach two-thousand chess.com also. > I solve chess **puzzles** every day, but `I haven't noticed much improvement in my actual games.` Please help me understand what I'm doing wrong and how I can improve. Puzzles _alone_ aren't enough. Instead, search for popular studies on Lichess with headings like 'Middlegames', 'Endgames', 'Positional play', 'Annotated Games' etcetera. Also, channels like Advice Cabinet are beginner-friendly and encourage you to think for yourself, basically an improved version of puzzles (at least for amateur - intermediate players). > Please provide me with a proper, step-by-step *Roadmap* to achieve my goal. Analyze lost games. Learn from studies on Lichess and channels like Advice Cabinet, GM Ramachandran Ramesh, GM Daniel Naroditsky, ChessNetwork. Endgames first (studies, practice, YouTube videos), then Middlegames (same as above). It is good to have a simple, reliable opening for white and two for black (one each, vs e4 and the other for d4 and more). Start studying annotated master games (ask your preferred chatbot to tell you of a collection on chessgames.com of annotated games, and it will). If you are acquainted with aspects like calculation (Endgames train this), positional play & strategy (the resources I mentioned in my text), and study them well, you will reach your goal -- _if you continue with a positive mindset, and never show pride in your skills or try to downplay others._

the-cisco-kid edited

@tpr said ^

<snip>

"solve chess puzzles every day"

Puzzles are overrated. In a real game nobody tells you there is a tactic, or for whom. Puzzles do not teach you how to reach such a position. Solving 4 puzzles is a good warm-up before your play, but tha...

I gave it a lot of thought. I must say I more or less agree about puzzles being overrated, or rather people attribute benefits to solving puzzles that can't be substantiated. If done properly, they are useful as an exercise to strengthen visualization, which is like a muscle that can be worked. But I don't think they are as much about pattern recognition as some people claim. This is what AI has to say about Magnus Carlsen and pattern recognition...

"Magnus Carlsen’s dominance in chess relies heavily on extraordinary pattern recognition and "chunking"—the ability to process complex board positions as familiar clusters, pawn structures, and strategic narratives rather than isolated pieces".

I say Flores Rios book IS about pattern recognition, the patterns being the typical pawn structures that one sees in middlegames across diverse openings. It's a middlegame book.

@tpr said [^](/forum/redirect/post/IB5bGJns) > <snip> > > "solve chess puzzles every day" > * Puzzles are overrated. In a real game nobody tells you there is a tactic, or for whom. Puzzles do not teach you how to reach such a position. Solving 4 puzzles is a good warm-up before your play, but tha... I gave it a lot of thought. I must say I more or less agree about puzzles being overrated, or rather people attribute benefits to solving puzzles that can't be substantiated. If done properly, they are useful as an exercise to strengthen visualization, which is like a muscle that can be worked. But I don't think they are as much about pattern recognition as some people claim. This is what AI has to say about Magnus Carlsen and pattern recognition... "Magnus Carlsen’s dominance in chess relies heavily on extraordinary pattern recognition and "chunking"—the ability to process complex board positions as familiar clusters, pawn structures, and strategic narratives rather than isolated pieces". I say Flores Rios book IS about pattern recognition, the patterns being the typical pawn structures that one sees in middlegames across diverse openings. It's a middlegame book.

ceblair

How to people feel about "Play against the computer" on this site? I like it because I can take as long as I want on any move. I suggest finding a level on which you win about half the time.

RemRus

@saoirsia said ^

I need help improving my chess skills

I watched one game. There were 21 moves, of which you made 12 moves with pawns. Don't play with pawns!!! Place the pawns as a fence and let them stand. Your goal is pieces development! Use Colle system.

@saoirsia said [^](/forum/redirect/post/SkUqxDlN) > I need help improving my chess skills I watched one game. There were 21 moves, of which you made 12 moves with pawns. Don't play with pawns!!! Place the pawns as a fence and let them stand. Your goal is pieces development! Use Colle system.

RemRus

@saoirsia said ^

My current rating on Chess

PLAY ON LICHESS!!! If you ask on lichess.

@saoirsia said [^](/forum/redirect/post/SkUqxDlN) > My current rating on Chess PLAY ON LICHESS!!! If you ask on lichess.

kindaspongey

As far as I know, RemRus does not make the rules.

tooharmless

@saoirsia said ^

Need Help

I need help improving my chess skills. My current rating on Chess.com is around 800 Elo, and my goal is to reach 2000 Elo within the next year.

I solve chess puzzles every day, but I haven't noticed much improvement in my actual games. Please help me understand what I'm doing wrong and how I can improve.

Please provide me with a proper, step-by-step Roadmap to achieve ...

Unfortunately, it is basically impossible to gain that much Elo in a year.

@saoirsia said [^](/forum/redirect/post/SkUqxDlN) > ## Need Help > --- > I need help improving my chess skills. My current rating on Chess.com is around 800 Elo, and my goal is to reach 2000 Elo within the next year. > > I solve chess **puzzles** every day, but `I haven't noticed much improvement in my actual games.` Please help me understand what I'm doing wrong and how I can improve. > > > Please provide me with a proper, step-by-step *Roadmap* to achieve ... Unfortunately, it is basically impossible to gain that much Elo in a year.

tpr

Of course it is possible.
See above testimony:

"Ofcourse he can. I did, putting only about 1hr each day."
"You do not need a coach to reach 2000. I know I didn't."

Of course it is possible. See above testimony: "Ofcourse he can. I did, putting only about 1hr each day." "You do not need a coach to reach 2000. I know I didn't."