Chess Alone: How I Train Without a Coach

Most chess players improve with help, private lessons, group training or study partners. I've taken a different path. I train completely on my own. No coach, no formal classes, no guidance from stronger players. Just me, my screen, and the grind.

Sometimes it's very hard. There are some moments where progress doesn't exist, when I wish if someone could come to me and tell me what I'm doing wrong or right. But at the same time every improvement feels earned. Every mistake I learn, I hunted down myself.

MY TRAINING ROUTINE:

-Morning (1 - 1.5 hours): I usually analyze the games I played yesterday or 2 days ago, do some puzzles or do calculations exercises. With this I'm warming up my brain and working on consistency because it's probably one of the most important things.

-Evening (1 - 2 hours): I usually train from 1 to 2 hours in the evenings based on how I feel. In the evenings I play rated games and usually do opening prep.

Weekends are a bit different. I skip the morning and train more in the evenings. I focus on a solid 3 hours evening session, often playing rapid 10+0 or 15+10  and a bit longer opening prep.

WHAT I USE TO TRAIN

-Chess.com. Puzzles, drills, and game reviews are daily tools.

-Replaying my own games. Either I win or lose there is always something good to learn.

-Following top players. I watch players like Levy and Hikaru Nakamura almost every night and day.

TRACKING MY PROGRESS

Watching my blitz and rapid rating climb closer and closer towards 2400 has shown me what's working and what's not. I also keep notes on which types of positions I struggle with most, and I work on them, putting them into my training plan, not hiding from it like many would do. For an example I hate endgames but I keep studying them no matter what.

THE HARDEST PART: STAYING MOTIVATED

This is where the real challenge is. It's very hard to do the same every day. There's no one pushing me. No coach giving me Pep Guardiola talks. So I've had to become my own motivator. Blogging helps a lot. Sharing my journey with you, my goals, even my failures. The community feedback fuels my fire.

And honestly? I like the silence so much. It forces me to figure things out. I make my own plans, find my own weaknesses, and chase improvement on my terms.

Some days it's tough, but I'm learning, improving, and doing it my way. No coach, no shortcuts, just me, figuring it out one step at a time.