Just starting (unrated to about 800)
- Learn the rules properly, including castling, en passant and stalemate.
- Learn the basic checkmates with a queen and with a rook (see endgames).
- Play longer games, 10 minutes or more, against people and against levels 1 to 4 here.
- Before every move ask: what does my opponent's last move threaten?
Improving (800 to 1400)
- Puzzles every day, 15 to 20 minutes. Learn the eight core tactics until you spot them instantly.
- Follow the opening principles and pick one opening as White and one defence to 1.e4 and to 1.d4.
- Review every loss with the game review. Look for the first big mistake, not the last.
- Try the play levels 4 to 6.
Club player (1400 to 1800)
- Keep the daily puzzles, but make them harder and slower: calculate the whole line before you move.
- Study the classic endgames: opposition, Lucena, Philidor, and basic rook endings.
- Read about middlegame strategy, and play through annotated master games in your openings.
- Play rapid (15+10) or classical games. Blitz is fun but teaches little.
Advanced (1800 and up)
- Build an opening repertoire file and update it after every game.
- Study pawn structures and the plans that go with them.
- Solve hard calculation exercises without moving the pieces.
- Analyse your games deeply on your own before using the engine, then compare.
A simple weekly plan
| Day | Focus | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Puzzles | 20 min |
| Tue | Play two longer games | 45 min |
| Wed | Review Tuesday's games with the engine | 30 min |
| Thu | Endgame study | 20 min |
| Fri | Puzzles | 20 min |
| Sat | Play and review | 60 min |
| Sun | Watch or read an annotated master game | 30 min |
Consistency matters more than volume. Twenty focused minutes a day will take you further than one long session a week.