Stuck at a 1000-1400 chess rating? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Based on principles of her Russian Chess School, as well as 25+ years of competitive experience, the amazing WGM @DinaBelenkaya is here to help you on your improvement in a most effective, efficient way.
With well thought and specially planned advice, Dina's study guide is meant to get you cutting through the noise and heading straight to the essentials!
WGM Dina's Beginner Intermediate Study Guide (1000-1400 Elo)
AyelenChess
Mar 24, 2025
Thread by: @Grucky0
It seems to me as though it doesnt really apply to actual games where your approach to playing moves is different. Theres not a clear tactic in every position.
If it is worth it, how much should we do it and what is the best way to learn from puzzles?
We can do normal puzzles, puzzle rush, etc.. and there different ways to practice puzzles. But which one is the best practically for playing games?
badm0s_aryan
Mar 21, 2025
I've had my fair amount of mistakes from game to game, and one thing that may be seen as a set back, is not reviewing your mistakes, and learning from them. Chess can consist of trial and error, and you won't improve if you don't review the errors made. After you review the mistakes, you must learn what to do in order not to make them again, but most of the time it is easy to forget everything once you play again. It's like studying for a school exam, then forgetting everything the very next day, what should one do to not repeat the mistakes, and what should you do to remember how not to make those mistakes?
SharkWithShoes
Feb 9, 2025
Can someone help me learn the english opening and which setup i should play? (there are many setups)
for example there is the botvinnik setup and then there is a setup with light square bishop fianchetto and Knights on c3 and d2 with pawn on d3 and c4 and also four knights setup etc
CatalanT-618second
Feb 8, 2025
Hello everyone
I am currently looking to broaden my opening knowledge. At the moment I pretty much know the queen's gambit. I was wondering if anyone could suggest some other openings, possibly more defensive. Additionally, I am looking to boost my rating from about 1200 to 1600. if anyone could give some useful tips it would be much appreciated.
This was a recent game I played, both players had about 80% accuracy, I was black
Rohkoa
Feb 7, 2025
I am looking for a partner who is willing to train with me and break 1500 elo. Please join me since I am stuck at 1300.
Preferable rating= 1350-1520 rapid
scaryhugedragon
Jan 28, 2025
Thread by: @NotFMJoshYet
A lot of people forget to mention how taking care of the physical body can led to chess improvement. This forum will be used as place for people to ask how chess and health go hand and hand. Some questions that should be asked are:
What is the proper diet for a chess player? (if any)
How to improve your stamina during tournament play? GMs sometimes play on average 4 hours+ of high intensity games a day. It would be great to know how that is achieved.
Does good sleeping habits and daily exercise play a crucial part?
What foods should I eat to improve my memorization and calculation?
Tips on this will be greatly appreciated, especially with the fact that this information is rarely available or explained in depth.
Wind
Jan 24, 2025
wanna improve at chess?dm this coach -- @bgabor91 !He's a FIDE Master and a coach and my chess.com friend(not real life)He can help some people who are stuck at a particular rating!
C0NQUER0R_X
Jan 20, 2025
Hey,I am currently around 1400 in rapids. I want to get to above 1800 by the end of next year.I have enrolled in chessly to learn about various openings.
What are the other things I need to do to improve my ratings and sustain at that level?Issues I noticed in my games:1. Lose concentration during the match and then make silly mistakes (1 move blunder)
2. Misses tactics
3. Not sure how to evaluate positions (especially in middlegame) and how to make proper plans
4. Forget the lines learned in chessly courses during actual matches.
Not_SPEEDER
Jan 15, 2025
As far as I understand, this club and the 2025 Improvers Challenge is a place for people to discuss Chess improvement, post study guides and resources, see others' resources, and have competitions. There are 3 competitions, and I would like to know how to win each of them. How do you win the Improver of the Month? How do you enter your video or blog post for Video or Post of the Month? Also, can you let me know if there are any other features/competitions of this challenge and this club?
Not_SPEEDER
Jan 15, 2025
post all you like about chess! This post will be the grand post if you help and thats because i want to make this website have more knowledge inside it.
Alvin-Jiang
Jan 11, 2025
I'm 1100 rated rapid player in chess.com.
1.I always play French defence as black against e4.Should I learn e5 variations or concentrate on French defence variations?
RookPawn0
Jan 7, 2025
hello,i'm 14 and i'm 1700+ at rapid, but i want to improve more like gaining 2000.i heared that training by (training partner) method is a good way to improve.so if anyone have this rating and want to improve by (training partner) method, please send me friend request.regarding.yahiya.
abishkarpuri
Jan 5, 2025
what is most probably my fide rating if my chess.com rating in rapid is 1600
neto2012
Jan 4, 2025
The courses by Chessable link doesn't work unless you are in beta
Pilot_mm
Jan 4, 2025
Hi all,
I am ~1050 rated rapid and I am getting to a level where I am reasonably conformable playing against 1. e4. However when confronted with d4, c4, the réti, etc. I am just struggling hard. What are some of your recommendations to play against the opening moves? I've tried semi-system openings like the hippo, but these just do not work out for me.
scaryhugedragon
Jan 4, 2025
