Super-charge your game with STP

Issue No 20
3/5/2025

Theme Introduction

Prepare for greatness!

Recently, I’ve been binge playing instead of actually studying or training.  That is about to change.  I want to establish a plan for incorporating Study, Training, and Playing.  Today I didn’t study or train at all, but pretty much played online most of the day, likely ten or twelve hours.  My method of discipline will involve about an hour each, which I like to call STP. 

Important Note: I am making even more changes to my blog.  To make everything more focused on what I started writing about, I will no longer post statistics about my matches and tournament games because they are easily accessed when you look at my profile.

This and further posts will be shorter discussions about how I work on my training and study time to keep getting better and stronger at what we all love… playing chess!

If it works for me, then hope it works for you, dear friends.
PS: I’m working on ways to jazz up the “look and feel” to be worthy of your time.

Sponsored by Chess.com

Introducing a plan for serious progress:
The STP Chess System for improving your chess game

On Monday of this week I began a simple plan to organize my time for study and playing serious games of chess and get better at it.  Let’s face it, we don’t have all the time in the world to learn everything.  What do we need to efficiently study in the time we have to reach our goals of winning tournaments and finally becoming a Master or Grandmaster or even world champion?  Random study and infrequent games wont do it.  We need a plan that works and motivates us to practice regularly.  Professional athletes and team players must report to practice, or risk being dropped from the team.  You know that you want that same level of commitment if you want the title.  Even if you’re very busy with work, school, or have a family, or an old, retired person like me, you can do it!

Perhaps we fall short of that title, but there’s no reason not to try.  My plan is based on three ideas that will bring results if you apply daily… even if for only an hour or two.  Check it out and see.

The time spent is divided into two areas of focus.  One third of your efforts go each area: (1) Study.  (2) Training.  (3) Playing.  That means if you only have an hour today, you spend 20 minutes on each area.  Or if you can spend two hours, 40 minutes.  Three hours, then one hour on each area.

1. 1. 1. Here’s the breakdown:
         ~ Study-
         a) Read good chess books and articles. 
         B) Watch video lessons on Chess.com. 
         c) Learn and master key endgames.
         D) Learn and master tactic and combinations. 
         E) develop a repetoir of one or two openings for White and Black and learn them well.
         ~ Training –
         a) Endgame Drills 
         b) Practice key positions.
         C) Work puzzles online. 
         D) Practice games with bots. 
         E) Chessable
         ~ Play –
         a) Play long games on Chess.com 
         b) Analyze your games… yes, all of them 
         c) Share your analysis with your friends and welcome feedback.

That’s all for now, folks.  Stay tuned for more suggestions on STP chess improvement next blog.