ELO 800.

I’ve been playing regularly since March, Diamond account, 3,300 games, over 2,500 puzzles. I’ve climbed from the 600s to around 780–800 now.

I keep hearing from streamers and titled players that "600 to 1200 is all the same".

That players under 1000 don't need openings, only four book moves, develop your pieces and castles, and that studying only really starts after 1000.

In past topics, I received the advice to read some books, but since every streamer says you should only study above 1000, I keep the reading on hold.

Yes, the book suggestion seems to be the most accurate one.

I’ve reached 760+ five different times and dropped back to 600 again. And it took me six months to cross 800 for the first time.

People who are already very strong seem to completely forget what the lower levels are like. They say things like:

• “You only need 100 games to reach 1000.”
• “Just play normal moves, don’t study.”
• “You don’t need more than 5 moves openings under 1000.”

But what I’m actually seeing:

Below ~750, games are chaotic but manageable.
Once you approach 800, the move quality jumps a lot. I’m seeing consistent replies. Not theory yet, but players who clearly know what they are doing.

No, I’m still not facing London Systems, Sicilians, Grünfelds, Catalans, etc. The most common opening is still the Italian, and yes, the Scholar’s Mate attempts still exist (not so frequent but it still).

And yes, the Scandinavian players still do the early-queen dance. But some of those “queen dancers” are dangerously competent. You can tell they have experience, even if the opening looks ridiculous at first glance.

And that’s the part that stands out:
There are many players in the 700–800 range who clearly know more than just random moves.
Their precision might not show it many times, but their understanding is not “beginner chaos” anymore.

So I’m starting to think that 800 is exactly where studying becomes necessary.
Not deep theory. But real preparation.

ie. For the Scandinavian:
If someone plays 1...Qxd5 and immediately follows with Qa5, I instatly know I’m not facing a “typical 800.” That’s someone who has seen stuff.

And recently I played ten games against 800+ in the last week.
I lost nine. And the average precision of the opponent was 80.11 which are crazy to me.

So the “you can freestyle until 1000” advice feels outdated.
Maybe it used to be true.
But in 2024–2025, the pool is different.

I think the baseline level at ~800 is higher now.

Let me explain some stuff about this rating range, and in general about ratings:

#1 Rating depends a lot on how many games, you have played, previous experiences with chess and opening knowledge (it doesn't have to be deep, maybe 4-8 moves, or maybe just understanding the concept of your opening)

#2 My suggestion for you would be to have a balance between playing, doing puzzles, watching instructive chess videos

#3 The level of play like I said can be very annoying, I have seen some new accounts created who start as "New to Chess" but really are actually about a 1200 rating level. (Also I wouldn't say 800-1600 is all the same, each rating has different knowledge, for example around 1200 knowing more opening moves is key)

#4 Analyzing and not caring about rating is going to be a good way to get better (also playing longer games)

#5 While playing something key to develop is looking at checks, captures and other threats...this is why puzzles are so important, also double check your moves to make sure you aren't blundering something...

If you have more questions feel to reach out to me in DM.

I'm slightly below you (750 rapid) but yeah, i see what you mean. All those GothamChess videos must've brainwashed me into thinking ppl under 1000 make 83747918382 blunders per second. Though some people blunder their queen early so that's always fun. (Unless it's me)

But yeah, you do need an opening, even at 600 you need an opening, idk what these GMs are on about

Of course you’re right. High rated players suggesting 600-1200 is all the same: that’s just arrogance or stupidity (yes you can be good at playing chess but dumb at comprehending other people’s situation).

Idk if you want advice but if you do, mine would be (since you already do lots of puzzles):
1) play longer games (30 min)
2) adjust your settings so as not to show your opponent’s rating during the game. I try not to obsess about rating and this helped a little bit 😂
3) when it’s your turn, look for checks and captures and if you can’t find any, stare at the board a little longer looking for forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks and possible mating scenario’s. As if the position is a puzzle.

Hang on in there, I wish us both much rating-unrelated chess fun 😉

It stands to reason that 800-rated players are stronger than 700-rated players. No surprise here. Probably they are slightly stronger in every phase of the game on average. But it's pretty unlikely (impossible even) that there is some huge jump in anything at that point.

Also, if you face the Scandi a lot, feel free to study it. It certainly won't hurt. But don't expect it to have any dramatic effect on your results. It's extremely rare that a chess game is decided in the opening. Most games are decided in the middle game, the rest in the endgame.

last 2 months I was a 800, after meeting my chess coach I am now 1300+

Would like to give u some advice:

Watch Youtube's chess instead if no one teaches u chess (trust me it will improve ur play)

U have diamond? U should go to the analyze where they show u ur weak points, try learning key things of those points

Best wishes:3

DM me anytime

I'm in a very similar boat to the OP - my rating wobbles about in a very narrow range, typically between 730 and 760. I know when I start to face players who are rated up towards 800 then I get crushed, so they are significantly better than me. I suspect players who are punching down from somewhere way above 800 can't tell any difference in how they crush a 700 vs. a 800 or a 900, however to those of us in that range there's a very noticeable difference. I just wish I could figure out what it was that was that separated the levels and what was holding me back (probably very obvious mistakes).

This is possibly the best thread I've read on chess.com. I'm right where the OP is and, for once, the comments were reasonable and to the point.

yes! totally agree!

Lol

This is the best thread I've seen

Okay so there are a number of things that you are interpreting the wrong way when it comes to what you are seeing in games with 800s. They may know a move or two more, or a particular variation of an opening but they will not be able to adapt very well when they face an opponents who knows the ideas of their opening, knows why you make certain moves (of course assuming it is an opening that is good and not some random opening or bad variation), and has a very solid understanding of the opening principles and can apply them well even surprised in the opening. There are a few things that you are probably running into at around the 800 level that you have not really been tested in. The first is facing opponents who will play an opening consistently (even if it is not very good). That means they have experience in that particular variation, and will know the traps that exist (and often will try to get you to fall for one). When I was around 800 that is when I started to choose openings to play, and while two of those openings were not great long term openings (I didn't know any better), but they were not bad openings. There weren't anything crazy either. I played them consistently so I learned how to play the opening through experience. Another thing that you will start to experience at the 800 level in the opening is that they start to apply one to at most two goals of the opening (those being control the center, develop your pieces, get your king safe (via castling), keep your pawn structure as in tacked as possible, all while keeping the material either equal or in your favor). The thing is they still don't do any those things well, but they are at least striving to do those things.

The other big thing that happens at around the 800 level is a decent jump in their tactical and calculation ability compared to below 800. This is probably the thing that is effecting you the most. They are punishing you for your tactical blunders (or failing to calculate the exchange all the way through) more often.

As for your conclusion of that 800 is when you need to start studying: I would agree that studying is probably needed.

I would also second Doezelhaas's advice of playing longer time controls. I looked at your last loss, and you played 21 moves in 3 minutes that is not enough time to think about your moves well. https://www.chess.com/game/live/145309699012?username=rodrigo-moraes

Also your opponent did miss being able to take your knight on move 19. They did put more pressure on your position by creating what is called a battery with their rook and queen though that did have a threat to your position. You moved too fast though (2 secs), and plundered away the rook for free. You could have played Ne6 which would have stopped that threat of the battery for at least the time being, and would not have lost material.

Hope this helps.