a) you're not playing any 'Live' chess games here, just online/correspondence (which seems a bit odd). Why not play some 10/0 or slower games from time to time? If only as a change of pace for a tiny fraction of your playing experience. OTB tourney games do involve a good sense of pacing / hoarding your time for when it's most needed.
b) I found my best improvement came from studying endgames (bumped me from decades of C level chess into strong B / low A level). I xeroxed Pandolfini's endgame course and made 'flash cards' of the 300+ endgame situations, a study method that briskly sifted the wheat (tough ones) from the chaff (ones I could or would soon learn to, do in my sleep)
c) don't practice bad chess, else that's what you'll program yourself into becoming best at imo (avoid playing or doing tactics trainer when tired, -- really, I urge you to play when you feel you're at your best)
d) my next best improvement came from 'aerobic exercise'. Not kidding! Oxygenating our brains has no small connection to our physical health, in particular how well conditioned we are aerobically. [Bobby Fischer certainly figured that one out, hence all that walking he did.] Two benefits: immediate (we're appreciably sharper shortly after a workout; and, I do think the brain benefits over the long haul). It also helps to consume sweets & caffeine in moderation only (avoid roller coaster blood sugar levels and caffeine 'highs').
sftac
I am USCF 1378 and just started playing tournament chess June 2011. Every month my supplement has gone up, I think it started as long as 1246 (P16) back in August. Anyhow, I have been playing chess for 10 years (I am now currently 22). Until this year I have not played since about 2004.
I've played both a GM, an IM, an Expert and several people around my rating range and they all have told me that I play like I'm around 1600-1800. I understand that even that range is not "good". However, I've set my goal to be at or very near to USCF 2000 within 5 years. I would like to hit the 1600-1800 by the end of next year but truly by the end of 2013. Even if I don't hit the rating I would like to be that strength consistently.
What I'm looking for is some efficient study ways that players around the 1600 range and higher have done to achieve their ratings. I understand that it is hard work and the ability to learn that will get me there and I see all these tips and advice, however, the chess world is full of book and programs and people telling you what they study but no one really telling you how to study or at least some good material to study that will provide efficient results. Perhaps there is not a system at all.
What I have done is do tactical exercises from books, study some opening lines in the French (it is the system I use against e4), read some of The Amateur's Mind, and work on endgames.
Up until now that has worked since I have been getting back into chess for the first time in 7 years. However, now I'm feeling like I'm leveling off. So the new system that I wanted to implore is by doing 30 minutes of tactics trainer in the morning when I wake up and 30 minutes before I go to sleep every day and night. Then every day spend an hour or two on one subject whether it is my openings, The Amateur's Mind, or the endgames. Or break that hour or two up and study all of the above.
I feel like I'm on the verge of really increasing my strength but need to find a new way to study, I think that new system would work. Anyway, I'm open to ideas on how you all study and what exactly materials you study. Again, I'm not really worried about improving my rating because that will follow, I am more concerned about increasing my overall playing strength. Any advice would be great especially from the players around the 1600 and up range.
Thanks,
David