How to improve at chess
Find your rating and follow the plan a coach would give you: what to study, how to train and what holds players back at that level.
What is the fastest way to improve at chess?
Play regularly at a slow time control, review every game to find the mistakes you repeat, and train on exactly those: tactics puzzles for missed tactics, endgame practice for lost endgames, and opening study where you leave theory badly. Most players improve fastest by cutting blunders, not by learning more openings.
| Rating | Level | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| under 400 | Foundation | How to improve at under 400 |
| 400–800 | Novice | How to improve at 400–800 |
| 800–1000 | Class F | How to improve at 800–1000 |
| 1000–1200 | Class E | How to improve at 1000–1200 |
| 1200–1400 | Class D | How to improve at 1200–1400 |
| 1400–1600 | Class C | How to improve at 1400–1600 |
| 1600–1800 | Class B | How to improve at 1600–1800 |
| 1800–2000 | Class A | How to improve at 1800–2000 |
| 2000–2200 | Expert | How to improve at 2000–2200 |
| 2200–2400 | Master | How to improve at 2200–2400 |
| 2400+ | IM / GM track | How to improve at 2400+ |