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The 5 Steps to Improve from 1000 to 1800 on Chess.com in One Year
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by FIDE Trainer Darko Polimac
Improving 800 rating points in a year is absolutely possible if you train with structure and discipline. Here’s the roadmap I recommend to all my students:
Play longer games, not blitz
Stop playing endless 3-minute games. Switch to 10+0 or 15+10. This gives you enough time to think, calculate, and apply ideas instead of rushing.
Study tactics every day
From 1000 to 1800, the majority of games are decided by blunders and missed tactics. Do 20–30 puzzles daily on Chess.com or Lichess, focusing on forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks.
Learn basic opening principles, not long theory
Know how to develop pieces quickly, control the center, and get your king safe. Play simple, solid openings — the goal is to reach a playable middlegame, not to memorize 20 moves.
Improve your endgame basics
Know how to checkmate with king and queen, king and rook, and how to win simple pawn endgames. Understanding opposition and basic king activity will win you many points at this level.
Analyse your own games
After every game, check it without the engine first. Ask yourself: Where did I lose the initiative? Where was the blunder? Then confirm with the computer. Learning from your own mistakes is the fastest way to grow.
If you follow this plan daily for one year, reaching 1800 rapid on Chess.com is not just realistic — it’s likely. Remember: consistency is more important than working 5 hours one day and skipping the next three.
For coaching inquiries, contact me:
📧 Email: dpolimac@gmail.com
📅 Book a lesson: https://scheduler.zoom.us/darko-polimac/coaching-with-darko-