Everything in the original “How to Win” can still apply but I’m providing a more specific guide here. The guide will be sectioned by rating and is based on rapid (10|0 or higher). Realize that at higher rating concepts build up from the lower rating read everything.

100 - 800 ELO - At this rating you must first admit you are trash but putting into perspective the entire world you are “Average”. The main thing that ruins games in this rating range is material blunders and tactics. To get past 800 you NEED stop blundering as much and capitalize on your opponent’s blunder (Ex. He hung his knight). The only consistent method fixing this is SPAMMING tactics (Chess.com, Puzzle Rush, Lichess Puzzles, Chess Tempo Puzzles), I’d start with chess.com puzzle rush or basic puzzles then move to chess tempo later because they are harder. Secondly, you need to actually open your eyes and look at the board. ALWAYS look for the checks, captures, and attacks for both you AND your opponent, this why you can understand what the move he just did does, what both you and your opponent can do currently in the position, and what your opponent might do next. Lastly, find 2 openings that you like 1 for white 1 for black. I’d recommend the Italian, scotch, Vienna, or the London for white, and the French, Caro Kann, Scandinavian, or the Dragon Sicilian for black.

800 - 1000 ELO - Ok so now that you’re above average at chess on a global scale, and you blunder materially much less things only become harder. Continue to SPAM tactics (50 puzzle rush puzzles a day, or at least 25 normal puzzles a day) the more you spam the harder they get and the better you become at calculation, move intuition, tactics, and blundering less. Now I want you to chose another 2 opening 1 for white and 1 for black (see the list above for beginner recommendations) and further develop your theoretical knowledge on your main opening. You must know the plans of your opening and what you should and shouldn’t do, and what your opponent should and shouldn’t do. Openings allow you to capitalize on mistakes early in the game which can be extremely beneficial to winning. Continue to open your eyes and calculate the checks, captures, and attacks for both you and your opponent playing longer time controls will help you with this (15|10 or higher). Start to familiarize yourself with endgame techniques either by reading endgame books or doing endgame tactics, on lichess you can specifically set your tactics to endgame only.

1000 - 1300 ELO - Now things start to get fun or hard depending on who you are. Everything above still applies and blunders will not fly as much in this rating group. Continue to spam tactics and continue to calculate checks, captures, and attacks for both you and your opponent. Now you need to evolve into the realm of endgames you need to get busted at endgames now because it’s a cheat code and nobody’s doing now. It may seem boring but in reality you will have an unfair advantage to everyone in this rating range, this is how I zoomed up to 1300, to learn endgames I would say read and fully understand Jeremy Silman’s Endgame Manual (Contact chris, or Austen for a pdf). You also now need to start understanding positional concepts chess is not all tactics you will have boring games so you need to understand how to excel in them. Read amateur’s mind also by Jeremy Siliman, and watch positional chess videos on YouTube, I’d recommend Daniel Narodiski he is a great teacher and has videos for different ratings. Positional Chess is very hard to teach so you need to find what’s best for you to learn, this is still an early rating range so don’t go overboard with it.

1300 - 1500 ELO - This is a very transitional period and it may be easy for some or harder for others, you’re getting close to the big boys. Everything above still applies. You now need an opening revamp, chose 2 more opening that will become your main openings 1 for white 1 for black, the simple stuff will not cut it anymore. I’d recommend the Ruy Lopez, The queens gambit, the English, and the Alipin Sicilian for white, the dragon Sicilian, Caro Kann, Queens Gambit Declined/Accepted, or playing into the Ruy/Italian by playing e5. For this level I would say build upon the concepts I stated in the previous section. GET GUD at tactics, MASTER your endgames, and GET EVEN BETTER at positional chess.

1500 - 1600 ELO - it’s starts to get hard at this rating, consider this transitional period part 2. You can’t cheese with your near perfect endgames endgames anymore or your insane opening theory and ideas (which should already have, do game reports in aimchess to find your stats in each area you should have above 95 percent in both endgames and opening) from now now its all about middle game strategy based on your opening plans, positional knowledge, calculation, candidate moves, and the tactics of the position. Material blunders REALLY don’t slide in this rating range even pawn blunders will be hard to come back from. You gotta outplay your opponents in the middle game it goes Opening -> Middle Game based on openings ideas -> Good candidate moves and calculation based on positional concepts and the checks, captures, and attacks of both you and your opponent -> play near perfect endgames.

1600 - 1700 ELO Good job you’re officially apart of the big boys club and you’re actually somewhat good at chess. I will repeat this again everything previously still applies. For this range positional chess is much more important, you need to start looking for weaknesses, strengths, and plans for both you and your opponent. Stop making big mistakes even positional ones. In reality theirs not much I can teach from here other than Play good opening -> follow opening plans -> calculate ideas for your opponent -> always look for checks captures and attacks for both you and your opponent -> make as little mistakes as possible -> capitalize on advantages -> simplify advantages -> play as best of an endgame as you can -> win. Lastly, play longer time controls and DEEPLY analyze your games, first without engine, then with engine. Think about why you made the moves you made.

1800 - 2000+ ELO Your above my pay grade you should be teaching me. Keep doing what your doing.

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