NOPE. I am NOT going to tell you to study more. It does help, but it is not the medicine to this problem. If anything, over the last two years, I have probably read about 5 chess books, and that's it. And yet, in those two years, that's when I improved the most.
Chess improvement is a very tricky issue because the solution is different for everyone. It is also tricky because everyone has different goals, so there is not a general solution, especially because everyone can improve more in other areas. But there is one overarching factor which can accelerate your chess improvement: Enjoying the game.
Enjoying the game
I doubt many of you have the "Magnus Trainer" app (which actually is REALLY good for improving, although it is more so for newbies in my view), but there is one lesson about Ian Nepomniachtchi, which really highlights the key to chess improvement.
About Ian and Magnus
I'm sure as to where he has reached today, he needs no introduction. He is the top player for Russian chess, with a fide rating of 2771 in classical chess. While currently Magnus has a much higher fide rating of 2830 in classical chess, Ian once was the stronger player!
Ian learned to play at the age of 4, becoming a prodigy soon and winning numerous medals from famous tournaments such as Russian Championships, European Championships and World Youth Championships! In 2002, he beat Magnus in the U12 European Championships! Yes, he beat the 11 year old Magnus who will regularly crush you for fun on the "Play Magnus" app! Just to highlight how strong this Magnus is, he became an International Master very quickly at the age of 12.
But (according to Ian), his impressionable success and fame had made him complacent about the game, and struggled with the transition to elite chess whilst Magnus became a Grandmaster very quickly. At the age of 16, Ian finally became a Grandmaster.
So how did Magnus overtake Ian?
According to Magnus, Ian had many, MANY, interests, especially gaming. In fact, he had a dream to become a pro DotA (Defence of the Ancients) player, but while he didn't go for it (as the prize money was very little for "E-sports"), he still tried to become an E-sports commentator over recent years. It is clear: he just had too many interests (including chess) to handle. Magnus, on the other hand, could focus a lot more on chess. It also shows that Ian just didn't have the same interest for chess as Magnus.
So from this, we can see the main factor behind your chess improvement: Your love of the game. It's true! Those who enjoy the game the most are those who improve the most. Sure, Magnus and Nepo were both child super-prodigies, but the same may apply elsewhere. After all, if you enjoy something, it no longer becomes "Hard Work"
But that's not the only thing required to improve quickly.
Reasonable goals
Having reasonable goals is key for any sort of improvement. If a goal is too easy, then you will not put in enough effort to achieve it. If, however, it is too unrealistic, you will just end up dejected when you barely get close to it. The best thing to do is to set yourself goals which are achievable (within the time you expect to complete them).
Of course, with this, you have to be very honest with yourself about what you are capable of doing, and you need to know what you want to work on.
Humility
Being humble is very helpful. Just because you lose a game does not mean that you played badly or that they got lucky. Being humble about results (whether a win, loss or draw) means that you are much calmer during your games, which is when you play the best chess. It also means that you will understand much more clearly what your strengths and weaknesses are.
However, this being said, don't beat yourself down too much either! You have to give yourself some credit for what you have achieved! It is also fine to feel a little good or a little bad about your games because that makes them more memorable to you.
Strengths or weaknesses?
If you want to be very strong in the long term, you should definitely focus on your weaknesses. However, you do want to be able to win games still, which is why it is still good to work on your strengths. But if you don't have much time, probably work on weaknesses as they are easier to pinpoint.
To work on your strengths, keep a document of what you feel are your best games so that you know how you win. It is also good to look at games from a top player you feel your playing style suits.
As for working on weaknesses, analysing your most recent games will help you more. Coaches are very good at pinpointing your weaknesses and dedicating exercises to these, but you don't have to have a coach to improve. It also helps to analyse games from top players with a contrasting playing style to yours.
Summary
It is very difficult to give a concrete way to improve at chess because some days you are stronger, and some days you are having a rough time. Also, everyone is different, but it is important to:
Love the game
Have some Humility
Make good goals
If you don't have much time, study your most recent games to find your weaknesses and try to work on them.
NOPE. I am NOT going to tell you to study more. It does help, but it is not the medicine to this problem. If anything, over the last two years, I have probably read about 5 chess books, and that's it. And yet, in those two years, that's when I improved the most.
Chess improvement is a very tricky issue because the solution is different for everyone. It is also tricky because everyone has different goals, so there is not a general solution, especially because everyone can improve more in other areas. But there is one overarching factor which can accelerate your chess improvement: Enjoying the game.
Enjoying the game
I doubt many of you have the "Magnus Trainer" app (which actually is REALLY good for improving, although it is more so for newbies in my view), but there is one lesson about Ian Nepomniachtchi, which really highlights the key to chess improvement.
About Ian and Magnus
I'm sure as to where he has reached today, he needs no introduction. He is the top player for Russian chess, with a fide rating of 2771 in classical chess. While currently Magnus has a much higher fide rating of 2830 in classical chess, Ian once was the stronger player!
Ian learned to play at the age of 4, becoming a prodigy soon and winning numerous medals from famous tournaments such as Russian Championships, European Championships and World Youth Championships! In 2002, he beat Magnus in the U12 European Championships! Yes, he beat the 11 year old Magnus who will regularly crush you for fun on the "Play Magnus" app! Just to highlight how strong this Magnus is, he became an International Master very quickly at the age of 12.
But (according to Ian), his impressionable success and fame had made him complacent about the game, and struggled with the transition to elite chess whilst Magnus became a Grandmaster very quickly. At the age of 16, Ian finally became a Grandmaster.
So how did Magnus overtake Ian?
According to Magnus, Ian had many, MANY, interests, especially gaming. In fact, he had a dream to become a pro DotA (Defence of the Ancients) player, but while he didn't go for it (as the prize money was very little for "E-sports"), he still tried to become an E-sports commentator over recent years. It is clear: he just had too many interests (including chess) to handle. Magnus, on the other hand, could focus a lot more on chess. It also shows that Ian just didn't have the same interest for chess as Magnus.
So from this, we can see the main factor behind your chess improvement: Your love of the game. It's true! Those who enjoy the game the most are those who improve the most. Sure, Magnus and Nepo were both child super-prodigies, but the same may apply elsewhere. After all, if you enjoy something, it no longer becomes "Hard Work"
But that's not the only thing required to improve quickly.
Reasonable goals
Having reasonable goals is key for any sort of improvement. If a goal is too easy, then you will not put in enough effort to achieve it. If, however, it is too unrealistic, you will just end up dejected when you barely get close to it. The best thing to do is to set yourself goals which are achievable (within the time you expect to complete them).
Of course, with this, you have to be very honest with yourself about what you are capable of doing, and you need to know what you want to work on.
Humility
Being humble is very helpful. Just because you lose a game does not mean that you played badly or that they got lucky. Being humble about results (whether a win, loss or draw) means that you are much calmer during your games, which is when you play the best chess. It also means that you will understand much more clearly what your strengths and weaknesses are.
However, this being said, don't beat yourself down too much either! You have to give yourself some credit for what you have achieved! It is also fine to feel a little good or a little bad about your games because that makes them more memorable to you.
Strengths or weaknesses?
If you want to be very strong in the long term, you should definitely focus on your weaknesses. However, you do want to be able to win games still, which is why it is still good to work on your strengths. But if you don't have much time, probably work on weaknesses as they are easier to pinpoint.
To work on your strengths, keep a document of what you feel are your best games so that you know how you win. It is also good to look at games from a top player you feel your playing style suits.
As for working on weaknesses, analysing your most recent games will help you more. Coaches are very good at pinpointing your weaknesses and dedicating exercises to these, but you don't have to have a coach to improve. It also helps to analyse games from top players with a contrasting playing style to yours.
Summary
It is very difficult to give a concrete way to improve at chess because some days you are stronger, and some days you are having a rough time. Also, everyone is different, but it is important to:
If you don't have much time, study your most recent games to find your weaknesses and try to work on them.