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How to Get Better at Chess

You play a lot, you watch videos, you do the odd puzzle, and your rating hasn't really moved in months. You're not alone, and you're not short of talent. You're short of a plan. This guide shows you what to work on first, how to stop throwing games away, and a simple weekly routine that fits around real life.

How do you get better at chess?

Stop blundering first, then train tactics daily, learn the basic endgames, build an understanding of middlegame plans, and only then go deep on openings. Play longer games, review every loss, and keep your practice little and often rather than in occasional big sessions.

On this page: What to work on first · Stop blundering · Weekly plan · Reviewing games · FAQ

Why do most chess players stop improving?

Most plateaus come down to one of three things:

  • Playing lots, learning little. Blitz game after blitz game feels productive, but without reviewing, you repeat the same mistakes
  • Working on the wrong things. Hours on opening theory while still losing pieces to two-move tactics
  • No routine. Bursts of enthusiasm followed by weeks off. Skills fade between sessions

The fix for all three is the same: work on your biggest weakness, in a set order, a little every day.

What should you work on first?

Think of it as a ladder. Each step builds on the one below it, so start at the bottom and only move up when the step feels solid.

  1. Stop blundering. Check every move for hanging pieces and your opponent's threats. Nothing else gains rating points as quickly
  2. Tactics. Learn the patterns that win material: forks, pins, skewers and more. Chess Tactics guide
  3. Endgame basics. Basic mates, king and pawn endings, simple rook endings. Chess Endgames guide
  4. Strategy. Making plans, reading pawn structures, choosing trades. Chess Strategy guide
  5. Openings. Learn the ideas behind a small repertoire, not long lines. Chess Openings guide

Not sure which step you're on? Use "What's Your Weakness?" further down the page.

How do you stop blundering?

Blunders aren't a knowledge problem. They're a habit problem. Before every move, ask:

  • What did my opponent's last move threaten?
  • After my move, is any of my pieces left undefended or attacked more times than it's defended?
  • What checks, captures and threats will my opponent have?

It feels slow at first. After a few weeks it becomes automatic, and your results jump. Our post on the four questions that stop you blundering pieces breaks this down step by step.

Make blunder-checking a habit, not a hope

The Blunder Avoidance and Best Move Checklists give you a simple routine to run every move, so you stop throwing away good positions. Keep them beside the board until the questions become second nature. One payment, no subscription.

See the checklists

A simple weekly chess training plan

Based on about 30 minutes a day. Scale it up or down, but keep the balance.

  • Monday: themed tactics puzzles (20 minutes), then one endgame position (10 minutes)
  • Tuesday: one longer game, 15+10 or slower (30 to 40 minutes)
  • Wednesday: review Tuesday's game (20 minutes), then tactics (10 minutes)
  • Thursday: themed tactics puzzles (20 minutes), then opening ideas (10 minutes)
  • Friday: strategy, playing through one annotated master game (30 minutes)
  • Saturday: one or two longer games (30 to 60 minutes)
  • Sunday: review the weekend's games, then mixed tactics (30 minutes)

Already have a busy week? Do the tactics days and one game with a review. That alone puts you ahead of most players.

How should you review your chess games?

Reviewing your games is the single most underrated way to improve. Keep it simple:

  1. Go through it yourself first, without an engine. Mark the moments you felt unsure, and what you were thinking
  2. Find the turning point. Where did the game swing? Was it a tactic, a bad plan or a time-trouble mistake?
  3. Then check with an engine. Look only at the big swings, not every small inaccuracy
  4. Write down one lesson. One sentence per game. Over time, patterns appear, and those patterns are your training plan

Which time control helps you improve?

Longer games. At 15+10 or slower you have time to think, use your blunder-check and actually learn from your decisions. Blitz and bullet are fun, and fine in moderation, but they reward fast reflexes over good habits. A good rule: for every few blitz games, play one longer game and review it. Our posts on smart online chess habits and common online mistakes go further.

Chess ratings: what's normal and how fast can you improve?

Ratings vary between sites and federations, so compare yourself with players on the same site rather than chasing a number. Improvement rarely moves in a straight line: expect plateaus followed by jumps once a new skill clicks. Measure progress over months, not days. More on this in our guides to chess ratings and Elo.

Do you need a chess coach?

Not to start with. A clear plan and good materials will take most players a long way on their own. A coach becomes worth it when you can't tell what's holding you back, or when you want someone to keep you accountable. If you do look for one, see our guide to finding the best online chess coach.

Just starting out?

New to chess? Start with the rules and how the pieces move, then come back to this plan. Our How to Play Chess cheat sheet and walkthrough covers everything you need for your first games.

Coming back to chess?

Played years ago and getting back into it? Your skills are still there, they just need a structured refresh. Read our guide to returning to chess after years away, or start the Back To Chess 30-day comeback plan.

Everything you need to improve, in one library

The Complete Chess Domination Arsenal brings together our full library of training resources: tactics, openings, pawn structures, endgames and more. Work through it in the order on this page and you'll always know what to practice next. One payment, no subscription.

See the Domination Arsenal

Questions people ask about getting better at chess

How long does it take to get better at chess?

Most players notice fewer blunders within a few weeks of a consistent routine. A meaningful rating jump usually takes a few months.

Can you get better at chess by just playing?

You will improve a little, but slowly. Playing plus reviewing your games plus daily tactics is far quicker.

How many hours a day should I practice chess?

Thirty minutes a day, done consistently, beats long irregular sessions for most adults.

Is it too late to get good at chess as an adult?

No. Adults often improve faster than children at first, because they can follow a plan and learn from their mistakes deliberately.

Should I learn openings to improve?

Only the ideas behind a small repertoire at first. Tactics and avoiding blunders gain far more points below intermediate level.

Why am I stuck at the same rating?

Usually one of three reasons: too much fast chess without review, working on the wrong things, or no consistent routine. See "Why do most chess players stop improving?" above.

Read next: chess improvement guides

See all improvement guides

More guides in this series

Stop guessing what to practice. Follow a plan that works.

See the Domination Arsenal

Browse By Game Phase

What's Your Weakness?

Pick the part of your game that costs you the most points. For many players that's tactics or endgames, with openings coming after.