Best of luck...looking forward to the daily updates!
FiftyTzent's Rapid & Classical Plan
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I just started the Novice plan. I agree 100% that playing is key. I too have spend too much time studying chess and not enough time playing. Good luck with your continued success.
Oct 31, 2021
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#4
Rating anxiety is something I've felt myself. Has made me stop playing for periods. I think something that's helped me is focusing on the process (making my goal be the number of games played instead of a rating goal).
Best of luck!
Week 1 - Day 1
First day! Starting the plan out with four 5+5 blitz games - the fast pace was really tough! I ended up losing most of them on time, even with winning positions, because I couldn't play good moves fast enough (considering the fact that I have 12.5 seconds on average to make a move, I guess that's reasonable at my level).
Results
- 1 win, 3 losses
Main observations
- I keep falling prey to simple tactics by my opponents, mostly pins
- My a-rook gets in the game only on move 20 or so
Key takeaways
- Don't obsess over attacking an exposed queen
- Always look for checks, captures and attacks!
- Develop all pieces before launching an attack!
- Move every piece once before moving any piece twice (unless attacked)
End Note
It's really heartwarming to see all the comments on this forum, thanks everyone! More to come soon enough 
Oct 31, 2021
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#7
Sounds like my Blitz weeks. Your resolve sounds like it is still just fine though!
harpbench wrote:
Sounds like my Blitz weeks. Your resolve sounds like it is still just fine though!
Well I had to take a couple minutes of break after each loss since I got fairly upset at myself for losing 
Still, four games is four games but I did want to avoid tilt, so after I calmed down and distracted myself, I got to play another. Of course I'd prefer to win, but I'd rather improve in rapid and classical play even if I lose some blitz games.
Oct 31, 2021
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#9
I learned a way to be more consistent in blitz last week - I played without the breaks and managed to lose all of the day's 4 games. I think I will remember your method if have another blitz week like this last one.
Oct 31, 2021
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#10
Nice gains on your previous run! Congratulations. Blitz is hard as the timing is too tight for tactics, but it sounds like you have a good plan to make it easier I'm looking forward to updates from you. It looks like you've done a really good job with those in your previous run.
Thank you for sharing information about "7 Circles". I haven't heard of that before.
lmplay wrote:
Nice gains on your previous run! Congratulations. Blitz is hard as the timing is too tight for tactics, but it sounds like you have a good plan to make it easier I'm looking forward to updates from you. It looks like you've done a really good job with those in your previous run.
Thank you for sharing information about "7 Circles". I haven't heard of that before.
Thank you for the kind words! I'll be sure to try and play faster in blitz time controls, aiming for simple and principled moves. Previously I neglected blitz play almost completely because I couldn't bear losing on time almost every game! Now I'm trying to face my demons a bit more head on. Hope it works!
The "7 Circles" method by Michael de la Maza is a really interesting approach to studying tactics. I assume you've looked it up but if you haven't, it's basically taking a set of around 1000 tactics puzzles (preferably basic ones in order to drill the fundamental patterns), and going through them 7 times total, solving more per day and taking less time per puzzle with each cycle, up to the point of solving them all in one day 
Sounds hard but after several cycles it's less calculation and more recollection of patterns. Currently I'm cycling through "Everyone's First Chess Workbook" by FM Peter Giannatos using Chessable - I really like this one! It's relatively basic but perfect for this very purpose.
I really liked Dr. Luka Popov's review of de la Maza's book "Rapid Chess Improvement", in which he details his method - Link here. Enjoy!
Nov 1, 2021
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#12
FiftyTzent schreef:
First day! Starting the plan out with four 5+5 blitz games - the fast pace was really tough! I ended up losing most of them on time, even with winning positions, because I couldn't play good moves fast enough (considering the fact that I have 12.5 seconds on average to make a move, I guess that's reasonable at my level).
Losing more than half of my blitz games on time I had to change my strategy. Win or lose does no longer matter, the only challenge is: not to lose on time. This helps me a lot.
Akoestix wrote:
FiftyTzent schreef:
First day! Starting the plan out with four 5+5 blitz games - the fast pace was really tough! I ended up losing most of them on time, even with winning positions, because I couldn't play good moves fast enough (considering the fact that I have 12.5 seconds on average to make a move, I guess that's reasonable at my level).
Losing more than half of my blitz games on time I had to change my strategy. Win or lose does no longer matter, the only challenge is: not to lose on time. This helps me a lot.
Sounds like a great strategy! Thanks @Akoestix!
Week 1 - Day 2
I was supposed to play OTB today, but the game was postponed so I played a 30+0 game according to the plan!
Result
- Win by checkmate!
Main observations
- Opening:
- Blundered a pawn on move 8 and a central pawn fork on move 11... I played way too fast and mechanically in the opening.
- Developed the a-rook on move 10! But with it came a blunder. Still, I would've developed it earlier.
- Tactics:
- Fell prey to a fork very early on, spotted it the moment I made the move prior...
It always happens to me - the second I make a move, I see an possibility by my opponent that I completely hadn't thought about in my visualization before making the move, and usually that's his best move! - Spotted a checkmate with low time on the clock - good job!
- Fell prey to a fork very early on, spotted it the moment I made the move prior...
- Time management:
- Got very low on time due to one move decision taking me 7 full minutes! I can't do that in 30 minute games.
- Eventually ended the game by checkmate with less than a minute on my clock, but I was ready to win the game quite fast even with a queen vs king. I even thought I sacrificed the rook for his passed pawn to simplify, but I missed the fact that my rook was being guarded from afar by my bishop! Therefore the mate was quite easy.
Key Takeaways
- Look out for central pawn forks in e4-e5 positions.
- In 30 minute games, take no more than 2 minutes per move (max in critical positions!).
- In slow games, allow some time to consider best moves in the opening, don't play mechanically and automatically like blitz!
- Before making a move, try to visualize the move itself on the board and the best likely response.
Nov 2, 2021
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#15
Thank you, FiftyTzent. 7 circles sounds a lot like The Woodpecker Method that I was hoping to do one day. If it goes well for you then I might try it as well.
Week 1 - Day 3
Played a quite long 15+10 game, and then chess.com servers crashed, so I pondered whether or not I should play another game, since it was already late. I relented and played another game, and it paid off really quickly... 
Game 1
Result
- Won by checkmate!
Main observations
- Opening
- Missed some tactical opportunities to punish my opponent's risky play, not guarding his e-pawn. The miss was of "good reason" though - following the habits of quick and solid development perpetuated by GM Aman Hambleton of Chessbrah.
- Tactics
- I blundered a counting exercise of attackers and defenders on the d5 square, I thought I was okay to capture but eventually it ended up centralizing his queen for no benefit for me.
- I blundered a pawn here and there, which I should've seen and taken the time to notice.
- I had a plan of marching my b and c pawns up the board to restrict my opponent's bishop, but didn't follow through on the last push that I certainly calculated and thought about during the game, instead I let myself get attacked from afar by that same bishop!
- Time management
- I kept an eye on my time, and eventually got low on time but I made quick enough moves and calculated fast enough to convert the endgame after his mistake.
- I got a little cocky in the end and premoved a potential checkmate, but it wasn't so I had to take extra moves to checkmate with a queen and king.
Key takeaways
- When down a pawn in queen and pawn endgame, keep the queen on the board and keep checking the king - it's my only hope of winning!
- Play aggressive moves when controlling the center! Try to limit the opponent's mobility as much as possible!
- Never resign - keep fighting and try to play best moves, it gives the opponent the opportunity to make more mistakes!
- Don't premove if you don't have to!
Game 2
Result
- My quickest win of all time! Checkmate in 7 moves!
- My little "Oh no my queen" moment a la Eric Rosen!
Main observations
- I realized I could play a trap that I was in the receiving end of in one of my OTB tournaments, and it paid off with a checkmate!
Key takeaways
- Analyze games thoroughly and look for positions that you can apply in the next games, especially from the other side of a losing game!
Nov 2, 2021
0
#17
Nice Checkmate! It looks like almost 400 people fell for it in the Lichess database. Now I want to reconsider my opening against Scandi.
Week 1 - Day 5
Couldn't manage to play the 30+0 game yesterday according to the plan, so I postponed it to tomorrow. Today I played two 15+10 games though, and here are the results!
Game 1
Result
- Lost on time in a winning position...
Main observations
- Opening:
- Took the center against the Reti opening and played a London system setup as black.
- Tactics:
- I tried to break through his fortified position, but didn't think of he key idea of c4, breaking open the position and opening lines against his king! Played it only near the end of the game where I was low on time and quite "desperate".
- Also missed creating an absolute pin of his bishop to the king, winning material.
- Time management:
- Lost on time again, was struggling to find good moves in complicated positions.
Key takeaways
- Play faster!
- In closed positions look to break open mostly with pawns!
- Look for pieces lined up with the king for potential tactics.
Game 2
Result
- Won by checkmate!
Main observations
- Opening:
- First time in a while that I faced the Sicilian, but I didn't play the Open Sicilian, but rather developed pieces rapidly, my knights and my king-bishop.
- Tactics:
- My opponent sacrificed his bishop for no reason other than to expose my king, but still kept my king safe from attacks.
- Spotted some good forks and attacks, also by my opponent, and kept my pieces safe until a surely won ending.
- Time management:
- Managed my time well, was able to play good moves quickly and quite accurately.
Key takeaways
- Look for trades of pieces when ahead in material, and if opponent refuses, try to force the issue with tactics.
Week 1 - Day 6
I wanted to play the overdue 30+0 game, but suddenly just as I prepared for it, a notification popped in the ChessDojo discord server announcing a 3+2 Blitz Sub Battle with Samay Raina's subscribers that will be streamed live on the ChessDojo twitch channel! And so I joined, having to play in the <600 category, and the last game of the event. The Dojo team had already lost by the time I played my game, but it was still featured on stream with @hellokostya's commentary - Link to the stream!.
Result
- Lost on time...
Main observations
- Opening
- Played the King's Indian vs the London, and my opponent played it rather systematically, and not in the best way.
- Tactics
- Missed a mate in 1...
- Sacrificed my rook on the open c-file to penetrate his king position with the queen, a la Sicilian Dragon (which I don't really play, but maybe should!)
- Missed a mate in 1...
- Time management
- Again lost on time, taking too long to figure out how to stay in the game (after missing the mate)
Key takeaways
- Practice mating patterns repeatedly - and a lot!
Week 1 - Day 7
Earlier today I played the OTB game that was originally scheduled for Monday (day 2). Later I played that 30+0 I was due in the study plan. Below are the results!
OTB Game
Result
- Won by checkmate!
Main observations
- Opening:
- Some tactics in the opening as always in the four knights game, but I managed to come out just fine.
- Tactics:
- Recognized and avoided the equalizing central pawn fork.
- My opponent blundered her queen... and I took advantage - sacrificing my queen for her rook and be up a rook in a king and pawn endgame, eventually queened a pawn and mated!
- Time management:
- I played slower than my opponent (who ended up having more time than initially given) but I paced myself, and after the queen blunder there wasn't much meaning to the time - all about converting the position efficiently!
- Almost blundered my own queen twice by picking her up to move way too fast! Eventually I found good squares but I should've taken my time, especially with having more than an hour left!
Key takeaways
- Play slow when you can! Don't rush winning a won position, because that invites mistakes.
Online 30+0 Game
Result
- Lost on time (again)
Main observations
- Opening:
- My opponent's aggression in the opening cost him a piece, which I did take advantage of.
- Tactics:
- Spotted some nice counterattacks and won a piece in the middlegame
- My endgame play was atrocious, squandering away all of my advantage in the end there.
- Time management:
- I took way too much time in the opening, used up half my time by move 10!
Key takeaways
- Play f---ing faster! I can't keep losing on time every complicated game and certainly not in the opening... Just decide and make a move!
Rapid Chess Improvement - IRL?
Hey everyone!
After completing the Novice study plan with relatively great success (Link here), this is my 3rd attempt at creating a long lasting chess playing habit. The "playing" part is critical here, as I've been neglecting playing online games in favor of burying my head in books and video courses, which of course don't provide the same value without actual playing experience.
I've joined an OTB tournament this past month and I want to keep myself sharp and get some training games in rapid/classical time controls, while playing little blitz (if only to practice fast intuition skills), so this Intermediate Rapid & Classical Plan is just for me
My goals for this study plan are:
Life has been messy these past months, and now after things have settled down a bit I feel ready to tackle this challenge. I hope this will be beneficial for others like me, eager to improve and struggling to balance the hectic occurrences of life with the hobby of chess. I'll be posting a status update every day to maintain accountability. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts and comments on my progress here. I'm also a moderator of the ChessGoals Discord server, so feel free to hit me up there too!
Let us begin this journey, and hope for impressive rating gains in the following weeks! Stay tuned