Blogs
How I Gained 183 Rating Points in One Month (From 1242 to 1408)

How I Gained 183 Rating Points in One Month (From 1242 to 1408)

Avatar of avii_ar
avii_ar
| 9

Hi everyone! 

Chess improvement is never easy .Over the past month, I’ve gone through all of these emotions while working hard to become a better player. What surprised me most is how much consistent effort, even just 1–2 hours a day, can completely change the way you see the game.

I’m only 13 years old, but chess has already become a huge part of my life. Recently, I jumped from 1242 to 1408 in Rapid on Chess.com, and that 180-point climb didn’t happen by accident. It came from focused training, guidance from a coach, and a lot of analysis and training. In this post, I want to share my journey so far and some of the lessons that helped me improve faster than I expected.

A Month of Focused Training

About a month ago, I started working with a FIDE-rated coach (1650). He’s been a huge help in identifying my weaknesses and giving me structured improvement material. I also committed to a daily training schedule, which looks like this:

My Daily Chess Routine (2 Hours/Day)

  • 15 minutes – Puzzle Rush to sharpen my quick tactical vision

  • 15 minutes – Revising and reviewing my opening lines

  • 30 minutes – Middlegame and endgame training using:

    • Training Section on Lichess 

    • Free lessons from Aimchess

    • Instructive videos recommended by my coach

  • 1 hour – Playing one rapid game and analyzing it afterward

On weekends, I review my games with my coach, and he sends me new materials to my improvement areas. This personal guidance has made a big difference

My Opening Repertoire

For now, I’m keeping it simple but sharp:

  • As White – I play the Scotch Gambit, which often leads to open and tactical games — perfect for learning tactics and development principles.

  • As Black – I play the Caro-Kann, which gives me solid, strategic positions and helps me understand pawn structures better.

These openings help me practice the fundamentals: piece activity, king safety, and center control.

Having a Coach Accelerates Improvement

Working with a coach has been a game-changer for me. Before I had a coach, I was just playing games and watching random videos. Now, every part of my training is focused and personalized.

A good coach:

  • Spots your blind spots faster than you can

  • Gives you targeted advice on what to work on

  • Keeps you motivated and on track

  • Helps explain why moves are good or bad, not just what moves to play

If you have the chance to work with a coach (even just occasionally), I highly recommend it. You’ll improve faster and avoid wasting time on things that aren’t helping your growth.

What Helped Me the Most

  1. Game Analysis – I don’t just play games; I study them. Looking at my mistakes (especially blunders and missed tactics) helped me stop repeating them.

  2. Puzzle Rush – Just 15 minutes a day improved my calculation speed a lot!

  3. Structured Openings – Knowing what to do in the first 10 moves helped me avoid time trouble and get good positions early.

  4. Coach Support – My coach doesn’t just teach me moves — he teaches me why they work and what ideas I should be thinking about.

 What’s Next?

I’m not FIDE-rated yet, but I’m planning to play my first rated tournaments soon. My goal is to get a strong foundation, build up to 1600+ rapid online, and eventually earn my first official rating OTB (over-the-board)!

 Final Tips for Players Around 1200–1400

  • Don’t memorize — understand your openings

  • Practice tactics every day

  • Play longer games and analyze them properly

  • Get a coach or a training partner if you can — it really helps!

  • Stay consistent — even 1–2 hours a day can lead to huge improvement if you’re focused

Thanks for reading! If you’re also on a chess improvement journey, feel free to drop a comment or message me. Let’s keep learning and improving together! 

Good luck on your chess journey!

Avii_ar