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How a Simple Training Routine Changed My Chess

How a Simple Training Routine Changed My Chess

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avii_ar
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When I first started taking chess seriously, my “training routine” was playing random games and watching random videos. Sometimes I would win, sometimes I’d lose and most of the time I didn’t even understand why. My rating was flat and it felt frustrating because I wasn’t seeing some progress.

That changed when I decided to follow a simple training routine every day. Nothing crazy or too strict — just a couple of hours with a clear plan. The difference it made in my games was huge. Suddenly I was spotting tactics faster, remembering my openings better, and even handling endgames with more confidence.

My Training Routine

Here’s what my daily routine looks like (about 2 hours a day):

  • 15 minutes – Puzzle Rush
    Doing Puzzle Rush Everyday just alerts me,and improves my quick caluculation

  • 15 minutes – Opening
    In this time,I just reviewed the variations of my openings. This gave me confidence in the first 10 moves of the game.

  • 30 minutes – Middlegame/endgame study
    I watched instructive videos provided by my Coach, did Aimchess's Free Exercise, and solved 10 puzzles of each theme. Understanding common patterns really helped.

  • 1 hour – Rapid games Until I lose + analysis 
    This was the most important part. Playing focused games till i lost(losing takes makes me tilt) and then analyzing my mistakes taught me way more than just spamming blitz.

  • 1 hour (twice a week)-Playing Practice Games And Analyzing Games With My Coach

The Results

After just a few weeks of sticking to this routine, I saw real progress (improved over 180 points):

  • I blundered less because tactics practice made me sharper.

  • I wasn’t lost in the opening anymore, since I knew what plans to follow.

  • My middlegame play improved — I started thinking about piece activity and pawn structures.

  • My rating stopped swinging wildly and began climbing steadily.

Why It Worked

The routine worked because it was simple and consistent. Instead of trying to do everything at once, I stuck to the basics — tactics, openings, studying, and serious games. Even on busy days, doing just part of the routine was better than nothing.

Final Thoughts

If you feel stuck in your chess journey, you don’t need a super fancy plan. A simple, daily routine can make a huge difference as long as you stick to it. Focus on the core areas, analyze your mistakes, and stay consistent. Improvement might not happen overnight, but little by little, you’ll notice your chess getting stronger.