Self-Study Course?

So, I learned to play chess when I was a kid - how the pieces move, the basic tactics, etc.  That being said, I never was taught and never got "good" at chess (no one else played, no courses, no scholastic, etc.).  As an adult, I'm interested in playing and getting "good" at chess. My goal is a 1600-1800 range - enough to hold my own against an average player, but I have no dreams of titling, etc.

I've tried getting back into it, and have read Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess, I'm working through Yasser's series (I have books 1-3), as well as The Soviet Chess Primer.   I'm working through Polgar's 5334, as well as Everyone's First Chess Workbook, in addition to lichess and Chess.com puzzles (on top of playing terribly in games of 10|0 rapid here on Chess.com).  Pandolfini's was a great introduction - but nothing I didn't already know.  Yasser's books are great as well, but while the content is amazing, I don't find myself engaging with it as much as I should - instead "just reading" it.  The primer is beyond phenomenal, and I can see why it's so well beloved.  However, it's so dense that without a coach / stronger player, I believe that I'm missing ingraining 90% of the material.  In schooling all the way up to post-grad, I learned how to learn and study - but without some form of structure for topics / exercises / direction / application, I find myself unable to actually build & apply the things I'm doing.  All this brings me to my actual question:

Could someone recommend a specific self-study course?  Or not?  I know of the Steps Method, as well as Praful Saveri's "The Chess Course."  I see a lot more information about the Steps method, but it seems much more designed for classroom education for kids.  And Praful Saveri's looks amazing - but is only available from Chessbase India, and limited reviews available.  I'm aware of the study plans here on Chess.com, but they are a bit too "not-specific" to my brain, and I apparently don't learn well from that.  I'm getting the feeling that getting a coach is probably the best route - but with two young kids, their extracurricular, a full time job, house, etc. - that sort of scheduled time (i.e not during lunch, or after they go to bed, etc.) isn't going to work out.  Thus, some sort of course I could follow on my own is what I'm thinking.

Sorry for the wall of text!  TL; DR - Can anyone recommend a self-study course for a learner that guides & builds you through everything like a chess academy (i.e. didactic, exercises, exams, next topic)?

Chess Fundamentals - Capablanca

I appreciate the directness, and want to thank you for all the wonderful posts on resources. They've definitely already been bookmarked, and following through of the content. That said, you response and tone are dismissive, and unhelpful.

EDIT (sorry, posting to forum from app posted instead of new line)

I continue to work through all of the material i already have, and I'm not providing excuses for not working.  In addition to doing 50-100 problems from polgar per day, and sequentially through EFCW, I'm reading (and re-reading) Yasser's books, as well as working through all the entertainment pages and sample games in the Primer.  As i progress  im working through Chernevs logical chess, and Lichess problems as time allows.  My desire for a self-study course recommendation has nothing to do with that.  However, none of these materials provide any form of user/reader feedback.  How does one build good (and correct bad) habits without feedback?  I presumed that something along those lines already existed or could be recommended. 

An example is that I understand the need to analyze my own games - but without something to compare an analysis against, how do you know its a "good" analysis?  I figured that some course would provide some form of example and rubric to evaluate an example game from.  My current plan is to try and analyze and annotate some out of LCMBM, but was hoping for something more structured. 

Also, thank you for Capablancas book recommendation.   It's been on my list, but based on Perpetual Chess' review, o figured I'd wait until I worked through my current material.   I'll look at getting it more sooner that!

@4

"How does one build good (and correct bad) habits without feedback?"  
++ The real feedback are your own games 

"An example is that I understand the need to analyze my own games" ++ That is key.

"how do you know its a good analysis?"
++ If you lost a game, then you made a mistake. Find it and learn from it.

I am thinking about this blog when i read you 

https://www.chess.com/blog/MatBobula/game-analysis

Maybe the woodpecker method could be useful

Thank you! This course looks in the vein of what I'm looking for. I'll definitely reply back based on the material once I receive it! (It's 10 weekly emails)

OTB, classic time control, most definitely.  I've been doing 10m games because I'm trying to balance fitting in a number of games with time available.  I currently find myself rushing, ending up with plenty time on the clock,  but hasty evaluations.  As I get better at evaluating,  I'm trying to use more time.  When I start running into an issue with time (typically doesn't pressure me currently) but not evaluating,  I planned to move up in time controls (longer).  

I'll do that then!  I presumed that since the amount of time I had wasn't an issue (as I'm already forcing myself to spend more time evaluating, and still not running out of time), that it would be more important to switch time limits once I bumped up against it.  It's a bad habit from a lifetime of other games - and one that I need to break.

I'll definitely keep that in mind!  I'm not sure on that puzzle, because I definitely should have gotten it (the Queen-Bishop checkmate/battery has been a topic in quite a few puzzles I've been doing lately, it seems).  I've been doing much more paper-based tactics, as I find it too easy to get pulled away with kids / distracted with something else and end up just guessing (much like the 8min spent on another puzzle that day) when on the computer.  Thank you so much!

woodjrx, your experience with chess sounds like you're describing my life exactly: self-learner, coming to chess late in life, modest goals.

I started getting into chess properly at the age of 45 (about five years ago). I joined my local chess club, and started playing in their monthly tournaments and attending talks and classes. OTB play with classical time control is drastically different than playing online. And after playing a game, analyzing with your opponent or with a stronger player from the club is infinitely more helpful than anything available online. Excellent advice in the comment from 'Nerves of Butter' above, If your goal is to get better at OTB chess, then definitely start playing in OTB events.

I saw in your profile that you live near Jefferson City, MO. The Jeff City Open is occurring this weekend (Dec 10 and 11, 2022). If you're actually nearby, why not go check it out? Don't stress about playing in it, but just go take a look. Walk around and get the vibe. Watch some of the games. Meet some of the local players. I know the organizer of the event, and he's a very friendly guy. He would be able to tell you about other events in that area where you could join in and start playing. Send me a Private Message if you like, and I will share his name and contact info. I'm not sure about the rules for posting stuff like that in the forums. 

And to put it on your radar: the Mid-America Open is an awesome annual tournament that happens in March, in St Louis. Maybe a New Years Resolution could be that you'll register and play in that in the unrated section.

Thanks!  I'll definitely have to swing by, but birthday party for my son this weekend means other priorities (much the same reason for online chess rather than OTB - 2 kids with soccer, scouts, job, spouse, house, pets - only so much time in the day!), so that may be limited.  And the Mid-America open might too big an event until I'm quite a bit better... but you never know!  Thank you all again for your insights!

A Theoretical Framework for Adult Improvement might be of interest. I'd be happy to answer follow-up questions and help you make a personalized training plan in a trial lesson.

Easier said than done. It’s not easy to find classical time controls online and at the chess clubs I have visited it was also pretty much speed chess that was being played. I would play longer games (or without a clock even) a lot more if possible, but it is really hard to find opponents.

Lately I have been playing a lot of blitz, because that seems to be what everyone plays and I am lost in the games at chess clubs, because it is 3|0 or 3|2 or whatever and near no-one plays 30|20 or longer… So I have to get used to the faster games and just try to become quicker at seeing tactics and all that. Not really what I want to play, but there is not a lot of options…

I have no experience with teaching chess ; however I do know the 'Steps method' was designed for kids, but it's a perfect method to teach adults aswell.  Other than Step 6 i have no idea if the books can be used for self education.

Thank you very much for the article - a very interesting read!  I definitely agree with the exposition, but I would actually extend it further, as most professions run into this same dichotomy, but call it domains.  As a clinical pharmacist, we learn that the same two different types of domains exist:  the factual/observational, and the logical/interpretive.  It doesn't matter how much you know/see if you can't apply it, and it doesn't matter how much you can apply something - if you don't know/can't see it.  The believe same is true for everyone from engineers to mechanics to teachers (we all had a teacher who was super smart - but couldn't teach worth a darn!).

In regards to my chess education, I believe this formulates an answer to my desire on how to progress:  Do both.  Longer games, books, etc for logic/calculation development, and Puzzles and some rapid for pattern recognition and "board vision" (however, without guessing or blundering!).  I feel lucky that I already interpret my elo as a measure of progression - not value, so I'm not invested in what it actually is - only my ability to improve and enjoy the game!

It additionally sounds like STEPS, The Chess Course, or ChessDojo should provide enough structure/feedback from which to start my progression.  I think my greatest difficulty, coming later in life, is that without that neuroplasticity, along with the figurative "ocean" of information available - it is extremely difficult to cope with the diversity of information, opinions, and approaches available.  This just reinforces my desire for a more structured method, with concrete feedback - I'm willing to put in the work, I just need it to be directed somewhere/somehow that provides correction to bad habits and faulty thinking!  No matter what though, at the end of the day - it's my effort and engagement that is going to determine my progress!

I hope to report back in due time with my progress / improvement!

LogoCzar - again, thank you for the article!  I will definitely be in touch when I have more consistent (scheduable) time available!

Habanabananero - that's a definite shame!  I'm exceedingly lucky - there is an OTB USCF chess tournament/Grand Prix locally (less than 10mins away) that apparently meets most weeks that I'm looking at engaging with - but I was planning on waiting until I was a bit better before joining.  I think they do 10min games, but longer tournaments every couple of months – but I’m not sure.

In rapid, I have a not insignificant number of losses on time. They are a calculated choice for me. If I am playing someone who has me on the ropes and I'm forced to use more time, then I do that. I do not make fast moves that are wrong or not thought out, just to save time. That's not to say I don't rush a little, but I would much rather lose on time in a winning position after doing proper thought on my moves, versus losing the game because I blundered trying to save time.

I figure I'm out played either way. So I may as well make a decent learning experience out of it and try to find the best moves I can. I don't need any more practice at making bad moves with no thought. That's probably not most people's approach but I think it's best for me.

Hi, I'm in the same boat and just started learning how to play chess better. I came across the ChessDojo Training Program and it's very good. You can follow the course for free or paid. Free gets you the outline; watch their videos on YouTube (ChessDojo Training Program - YouTube) where they explain each rank's tasks. Alternatively, for paid (14mo/100yr) you get access to a Discord server, and they have a teaching ladder where stronger players review your games while you review lower and equal players' games.

What I like about it is that it is really a structured self-guided course with books, puzzles, goals, and tasks along with feedback. Be aware that they strongly discourage learning specific openings and opt for focusing on opening principles until you are in the 1800 range. They are also very big on playing 30m+ games and annotating them.

I ended up joining the dojo, and have been very pleased with the cohorts. However, to call it a "training plan" below 1100 FIDE (approximately 1400 here on Chess.com) is a bit of a farce. The "training" consists of Polgar's puzzles, tactics out of EFCW, and mating patterns How to Beat Your Dad at chess. That, and playing slow games and analyzing them. Oh, but most online (including here on CC) don't count (they have to be exceedingly long OTB time controls that only major tournaments around this area once or twice a year have).

Struggling? Do more tactics. Done more tactics? What do they tell you? Do more tactics. So, I agree that the training plan is good, and that when you're higher into the "real chess" ratings (as Dan Heisman calls them), that it's a better program. But until you're there (such as where I'm stuck - at about 1000), there isn't a lot of benefit. Don't get me wrong though - the structured plan got me from 600 to peak 1040 (currently at about 950), and I've signed up for a year. But other than that, the program is "light" on just about everything until you're higher ("club player") rated.

Any realistic chess improvement plan must include at least 50% playing and analyzing your own games. Your own play will be your best teacher. Books are useful, no doubt, but you can read something ten times, but it really sticks when you experience it in your own game!

It sounds like you've been in the Dojo longer than me, so you're in a better position to say how effective it is for us lower players. After coming back to chess last month, I'm also floating around the 1000 range. Have you found anything else that's structured that may assist your progression?

Also, if you want to play some of those longer games, I'm up for it. I'm free in the mornings this month and most weekends. I'll have more evening time next month when I switch shifts.

Agreed. My main problem with OTB around here isn't even the time controls. It's that there's no one that's anywhere near my rating. I know that they're better players - but there isn't a lot a 700 USCF can learn from the way a 1900 plays... (not that I shouldn't model better players - it's that the level they're on and what I'm on aren't even overlapping). And continuously having a 1% chance (or less - since the average player around here is 1400 or higher) of winning means I just get destroyed every time I play. They tend not to analyze much, and even when they do, I don't see what they see, and they don't seem to understand that I won't for quite a while.