Chess.com offers an excellent array of videos. The first four listed here are must-watch videos for all players wanting to reach ratings around 1500. You will find it difficult to achieve higher ratings without practicing this information.
Everything you need to know about the opening!
Everything you need know about tactics and strategy
Everything you need to know about the endgame
Bring "everything" together! A deep look at 2 all time great and must-know games
One of Dan's articles! The Secret of Real Chess
http://www.geocities.ws/goodchessclub/real.txt
One of our new members asked about Dan's thoughts on correspondence chess. Here is Dan's interview with Chess.com while preparing a profile and also has an answer!.
https://www.chess.com/article/view/chesscom-player-profiles-nm-dan-eisman
Chess Basics
I do not think I have ever taken the time to read the Wikipedia article on chess. This morning while doing some research, I came across and read this wonderful introduction. I was struck by the simplicity of the information in this piece, especially when the authors "broke down" the fundamentals of the basic skills necessary for chess prowess.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess
The Opening phase!
Probably the most popular subject among chess players is the art of identifying a personal opening repertoire. With hundreds of thousands of opening variations, the subject is a difficult one to harness and oddly gets more difficult the closer you get to solutions!
May I encourage you to find groups that mirror opening routines of interest to you. Through their vote chess practice, group matches and forums, you can begin to harness the opening repertoire you want. A group like DHLC - CI will explore openings, but we may never get to all the details and practice of any particular opening theme. Frankly, no group can that does not set their sights on any one opening system.
I share this with you that you may realize this suggestion does not interfere with our group nor does this bode any conflict of interest for a discussion or recommendation of other groups. In fact, your exploration of other groups that focus on opening topics may help current members find a particular group study that they did not know existed!
The Endgame phase!
@Malis1959 has put together an excellent endgame group for study and practice. He and his admin team often find great endgame exercises and anyone can play!
I just sent him a game I think you might enjoy. Check out the group!
https://www.chess.com/club/endgame-lovers
This is a the group for members of the Dan Heisman Learning Center (DHLC) who are using Dan's teachings for chess improvement. Working primarily from Dan's book "A Guide to Chess Improvement", we incorporate thematic correspondence chess, vote chess, slow and blitz chess, games and positional analysis as well as many of chess.com's resources on our path towards chess improvement. Welcome to the group! You may find a need to also join DHLC Slow Chess League, the DHLC home group and our new off-sit!e SlowChessLeague.org to enjoy all the benefits this group (DHLC - CI) has to offer.
DHLC has spread to several "sister" sites. Rather than a site map, how 'bout some lnks?
DHLC home site is:
https://www.chess.com/club/dan-heisman-learning-center
DHLC's Online Chess League for regular correspondence match play:
https://www.chess.com/club/online-chess-league
DHLC's Chat Room for particular nightly group gatherings:
https://www.chess.com/club/dhlc-chat-room-chess-club
DHLC's site for hosting slow chess events:
https://www.chess.com/club/slow-chess-league
You are currently in the DHLC Chess Improvement group. This group is easily organized incorporating the game plans found in Dan's book, A Guide To Chess Improvement. Here we will conduct thematic correspondence matches, vote chess games and slow chess. As we continue to grow, we will add some form of rapid/blitz chess activities.
The book? Read Dan's blog about the book for details and the link to Amazon is found in the article.
https://www.chess.com/blog/danheisman/a-guide-to-chess-improvement-how-the-book-was-made
This forum will also include a lot of other resources for your chess improvement. First, let's recognize Dan Heisman for his well-recognized and well-sought expertise in teaching, articles and books. Dan's website is newly redesigned and is filled with resources. I have had the honor to take lessons from Dan before my caregiving duties became overwhelming. I look forward to reinstating those lessons in the future but, I recall one of those lessons including a discussion of "Hope Chess". What an eye opener and one of the best lessons I have ever received. The chart below visualizes the art of "Hope" chart in contrast to real chess.
You can find the website link inside Dan's article below:
https://www.chess.com/blog/danheisman/wwwdanheismancom-re-designed