The Ultimate Chess Study Plan
The number one question chess players ask is: "What should I study?" The answer depends entirely on your current level, your available time, and your goals. This study plan gives you the exact curriculum for every rating band, with recommended resources, time allocations, and milestones to track your progress.
Beginner plan (0-1000 Elo)
At this level, chess is about avoiding blunders and learning basic patterns. Your study plan is simple:
- Daily: 15 min tactical puzzles (mate in 1, forks, pins) on our trainer
- Weekly: Play 3-5 games at 15+10 time control. Review each loss for the blunder that decided it.
- Monthly: Learn one new checkmate pattern
Books: Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. Time: 30 minutes per day.
Intermediate plan (1000-1500 Elo)
You know the basics. Now you need structure.
- Daily: 20 min puzzles (2-3 move combinations) + 10 min endgame drill (K+P endings)
- 3x/week: Study one annotated master game (start with Capablanca, see Capablanca's style)
- Weekly: Play 2-3 serious games and analyse the worst one deeply
- Monthly: Study one new pawn structure or tactical pattern
Books: Logical Chess: Move By Move (Chernev). Time: 45-60 minutes per day.
Advanced plan (1500-2000 Elo)
This is where serious chess begins. Your study plan expands:
- Daily: 15 min advanced puzzles + 15 min opening repertoire study + 15 min one master game
- 3x/week: Deep endgame study (one type per week, see rook endgames, bishop endgames)
- Weekly: Play 2 classical games (30+0 minimum) and deeply analyse both
- Monthly: Study one new strategic concept from our 50 positional concepts guide
Books: My System (Nimzowitsch), Endgame Strategy (Shereshevsky). Time: 60-90 minutes per day.
Expert plan (2000+ Elo)
At this level, you need specialisation and depth:
- Daily: 15 min complex puzzles + 30 min opening preparation (specific lines, novelties)
- 3x/week: Study modern GM games in your opening systems + complex endgame positions
- Weekly: Play at least one OTB classical game + deep post-game analysis with a coach or strong sparring partner
- Monthly: Tournament play + review of all games with engine assistance
Books: Zurich 1953 (Bronstein), Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual. Time: 90+ minutes per day.
How to track progress
Improvement is not linear. Track these metrics:
- Weekly puzzle rating: should trend upward over months
- Games analysed per week: aim for 2-3 deep analyses
- Study hours per week: consistency matters more than total hours
- Recurring mistakes: log them in your chess journal
Review your progress monthly. If a metric is stalling, change your study focus. The players who improve fastest are the ones who adjust their plans based on data, not feelings.