Have fun! This is great plan.
Dave's Intermediate Rapid & Classical Plan
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@Implay - Thanks! You are right, keeping it fun is key. 
Week 01 Update (1/31/2022 - 2/06/2022)
Ratings & Games
Life got in the way. Played very few of the games I was supposed to. Lost most of what I did play. Will get back on track next week.
Analysis
Did some analysis of the few games I did complete. Keep finding the same critical takeaways, need to pay attention to Checks, Captures and Threats.
Tactics
My study plan does not call for daily tactics training, but I do spend a little time each day on a tactics course on Chessable.
Extra Credit
None
Yusupov’s Book
Matt suggested that I might try a different book, but I decided to try Yusupov’s just to see if it is a good fit. Completed chapter 1 and passed the exam.
Takeaways
Once I get on track I’ll have something useful to say here.
Week 02 Update (2/07/2022 – 2/13/2022)
I’ve decided I should adjust my plan as I go to increase my efficiency in regards to how I learn. So I am trying a few tweaks. In my opinion the really important things about any plan is to 1) have a study plan, 2) play chess, and 3) analyze your games, 4) work on your mistakes. Other study resources are important too, but these are the top four to me.
Ratings & Games
Not paying any attention to ratings right now. Changed the way I approach games. After playing a game I use the chess.com Game Review and Analysis features to come up with 2 or 3 Critical takeaways and 1 positive takeaway. I document these takeaways as comments in the beginning of the PGN file, then upload that PGN into my SCID vs PC database that I keep for my games. That is pretty standard stuff. Here is where I made my change in procedure. Rather than let my takeaways languish in my notes, I immediately act on the critical takeaways using an appropriate resource; books, Chessable courses, Youtube videos, etc. I find I am highly motivated to correct a mistake I just made, as compared to a mistake I made days or weeks ago. If I had a problem in my opening I review the opening ideas and line involved and study what I got wrong. If I had trouble with middle game strategy I review that ideas I missed that got me into trouble. If I had a problem with endgame play I do the related exercises from Silman’s book. This is a lot more time-consuming than just doing the analysis. I’m trying to keep the time I spend on chess down to 7-10 hours a week, so I end up playing fewer games than originally planned, but I think I am getting a lot more out of each game.
Analysis
Analysis this week reviewed some weakness in my understanding of some opening ideas. I’m not blundering as much but still need to work on the habit of scanning the board looking for Checks, Captures and Threats, avoid the “snap take” reflex, and remember to consider what my opponent is trying to do.
Tactics
This week was a week for studying tactics on the weekend. Did a couple of hours using various tools to keep it interesting. My study plan does not call for daily tactics training, but I do spend a little time over breakfast each day on a tactics course on Chessable.
Extra Credit
Worked through a “Solitaire Chess” master game in an issue of Chess Life. In his book “How To Study Chess On Your Own” Kuljasevic claims that playing through a real game by trying to guess the moves (which is what Solitaire Chess has you do) scores max values in all of Practical relevance, Study Intensity and Long-term learning potential. It’s the only study method he examines that scores that high. So I figure its a good exercise even if only done once a month when the magazine shows up in my mailbox.
Book Study
This is an off week for Yusupov’s book this week. But I did do a little reading in “Chess Improvement, It’s all in the Mindset” by Hymer and Wells. The basic idea is how to improve your chess by adopting a Growth Mindset. Very interesting stuff.
Takeaways
As mentioned above, takeaways this week show weakness in opening ideas and blunder-proofing. I did some work on those areas.
Week 03 Update (2/14/2022 – 2/20/2022)
Ratings & Games
I got an interesting message from Chess.com today:
“ We have detected that one or more of your recent opponents has violated our Fair Play Policy. As compensation for potentially unfair rating losses, we adjusted your following ratings:
Daily: 1069 + 30 => 1099 “
Not paying any attention to ratings right now. Did not play all the games I planed this week, but did win a couple. I’m suffering from chess study plan burnout at this point. I plan to scale way back for a while until its fun again.
More later.
Week 04 Update (2/21/2022 – 2/27/2022)
Ratings & Games
Not paying any attention to ratings right now. Again, did not play all the games I planed this week, but kept up with my daily games. I’m still suffering from chess study plan burnout at this point. Scaling way back for a while until its fun again.
Week 05 Update (2/28/2022 – 3/06/2022)
Ratings & Games
Still not paying any attention to ratings right now. Kept up with my daily games, won two this week. Played some unrated over the board games as well and won those. Longer time controls are my friend. Not quite back to the plan. Need to add some Rapid rated games back into the weekly mix.
Tactics & Board Vision
Daily tactics practice using a Chessable course. Puzzle rush a couple of times a week. Added board vision exercises on Chess.com a couple of days a week.
Opening Study
Using some Chessable courses to practice my openings a few times a week. The MoveTrainer is not too demanding of your time if you keep up with your reviews. Very slowly adding new lines. Focusing on the ideas.
Book Study
After recommendations from several folks I’ve settled on Silman’s “How To Reassess Your Chess” 4th edition. This is a dense book and I imagine I’ll be reading it more than once in my chess career. Also using "Silman’s Complete Endgame Course". Another book that will last me a while.
Extra Credit
Signed up to play in a Simul with IM Arthur Guo hosted by Chess Zone this coming Sunday. Won’t know if my name will be drawn from the pool until Thursday, but I’m hoping to get an invite. Since this is OTB, I’ll need to brush up on using a score book. If I get to play I’ll post the game.
Takeaways
Not blundering so much, and do well enough in my endgames, but often in the middle game am not sure what to do. Thus my interest in Silmans "Reassess" book.
Week 06 Update (3/07/2022 – 3/13/2022)
Ratings & Games
Kept up with my daily games, won one this week. Jointed a club match (Georgia Chess vs Team Arizona) that will start later today. That will add to my daily games. Unfortunately with the current pairings I’m up against a fellow that is rated 406 points higher than I. Should I pull out to save my rating or play on and see what I can learn? Did not play much rapid last week. Will try to remedy that this week.
Tactics & Board Vision
Daily tactics practice using a Chessable course. Puzzle rush and board vision practice a couple of times a week on chess.com
Opening Study
Using some Chessable courses to practice my openings a few times a week. The MoveTrainer is not too demanding of your time if you keep up with your reviews. Very slowly adding new lines. Focusing on the ideas.
Book Study
Using Silman’s “How To Reassess Your Chess” 4th edition. To completely master each section is beyond me (as the tests indicate) but my goal is to try to take one new idea from from each part as I finish it, and try to apply that to my games. Also using Silman’s Complete Endgame Course.
Extra Credit
Did not play in the Simul with IM Arthur Guo hosted by Chess Zone this last Sunday. Had a conflict come up.
Takeaways
Not much new here. Same old weaknesses. Progress in fixing them is slow. Tried to do a manual analysis of my last daily win. But after that the chess.com Review feature came up with so many more issues than what I was able to see, I really wonder if manual analysis is worth the trouble. Perhaps I just need more practice. In any case I’m still recording takeaways in the pgn for each game and storing that in my database.
Week 07 Update (3/13/2022 – 3/20/2022)
Ratings & Games
Kept up with my daily games, won two this past week. Did not play much rapid last week. No wins.
Tactics & Board Vision
Daily tactics practice using a Chessable course. Puzzle rush and board vision practice a couple of times a week on chess.com
Opening Study
Using some Chessable courses to practice my openings a few times a week. The MoveTrainer is not too demanding of your time if you keep up with your reviews. Very slowly adding new lines. Focusing on the ideas.
Book Study
Using Silman’s “How To Reassess Your Chess” 4th edition. To completely master each section is beyond me (as the tests indicate) but my goal is to try to take one new idea from from each part as I finish it, and try to apply that to my games. Also using Silman’s Complete Endgame Course.
Extra Credit
None this week.
Takeaways
I’m still recording takeaways in the pgn for each game and storing that in my database. Taking more notes in my daily games to remember what I was thinking at the time.
Week 08 Update (3/21/2022 – 3/27/2022)
No real change from last week.
Ratings & Games
Kept up with my daily games, won two this week. Did not play much rapid, all losses.
Tactics & Board Vision
Daily tactics practice using a Chessable course. Puzzle rush and board vision practice a couple of times a week on chess.com
Opening Study
Using some Chessable courses to practice my openings a few times a week. The MoveTrainer is not too demanding of your time if you keep up with your reviews. Very slowly adding new lines. Focusing on the ideas.
Book Study
Using Silman’s “How To Reassess Your Chess” 4th edition. To completely master each section is beyond me (as the tests indicate) but my goal is to try to take one new idea from from each part as I finish it, and try to apply that to my games. Also using Silman’s Complete Endgame Course.
Extra Credit
None this week.
Takeaways
I’m still recording takeaways in the pgn for each game and storing that in my database. Taking more notes in my daily games to remember what I was thinking at the time.
Week 09 Update (3/28/2022 – 4/3/2022)
Ratings & Games
Kept up with my daily games, and a couple of training games against bots.
No real change from last week. Since January my blitz and rapid ratings have fallen even further (sigh!!). My puzzle and daily ratings have improved:
Puzzles: 1507
Daily: 1161
Rapid: 706
Blitz: 319
Very frustrating on a couple of levels. Increased skill in solving puzzles makes me better at puzzles, it does not translate to increased skill in playing the game. I know, I know, everyone says it does. Eventually your subconscious absorbs these patterns and you recognize them in your game. I'd like to see a scientific study that proves it. I suspect to get game improvement from doing puzzles, some additional active learning activity is needed. This passive approach is not working for me.
Rapid and Blitz ratings continue to fall, to the point I avoid playing them. This is not a growth mindset and I should know better, but negative re-enforcement does have an effect. I do analyze the rapid games and put at least a couple of takeaways into the PGN for the game. But using those takeaways to improve my game is a skill I have yet to really master.
Tactics & Board Vision
Daily tactics practice using a Chessable course and occasional use of puzzles on chess.com. Puzzle rush and board vision practice a couple of times a week on chess.com
Opening Study
Did not get to much of this, this week.
Book Study
Did not get to any of this this is week.
Extra Credit
None this week.
Takeaways
Learning very little I did not already know.
I plan to stop this study take a break and then try something easier to stick to. The major takeaway from both studies I have done here is I learned I must balance playing chess with studying chess. And I have to get used to playing different time controls, even blitz. With blitz perhaps I could set a goal of seeing how close to zero rating I could get (J). Playing more is key though, even if the play is unrated. I really prefer OTB games; playing on a physical board is much more enjoyable than the computer screen. Opportunities are opening up now for more in-person play locally and I’ll take advantage of that. A connected chess board may also be part of the answer to playing more. We will see. Goodbye for now.
Hi folks -
I completed the Novice Plan the week before last. On the advice of Matt I am starting the Intermediate Rapid and Classical plan today.
Current Ratings
My current ratings as of 1/31/2022:
Chess.com Blitz: 359
Chess.com Rapid: 746
Chess.com Daily: 1114
USCF Correspondence: 1359
My Goal
My goal is to improve my rating in rapid/classical chess. For now establishing a habit of playing more chess and analyzing those games is my immediate goal. Like many folks, I hope to have the opportunity to play more OTB chess as time goes on.
Changes to the Plan
The only change to the plan I'm thinking about is substituting "Chess:the art of logical thinking" by McDonald for the Artur Yusupov book called for in the plan.
I'll post my progress weekly as per plan. Comments and/or constructive criticism are always welcome.