@1
"10 min rapid" ++ Better play 15|10.
Thanks to the increment you can always win a won position or draw a drawn position.
"Still lots of blunders" ++ Always check your intended move is no blunder before you play it.
"the first game in a session tends to be a bit iffy"
++ Solve 4 tactics puzzles as a warm-up before you play.
"after a few games I start to become less accurate"
++ Whenever you lose a game, stop playing and analyse it first.
"what I can do with the rest of my time" ++ Study annotated grandmaster games
"are there some solid books"
++ Any endgame book. Very good is Chess Fundamentals - Capablanca
I rejoined Chess.com in June and after a really rocky start I have made steady progress and currently around the 1000 to maybe 1020 mark on 10 min rapid. Still lots of blunders and mistakes but over this time I can see there has been real progress.
I do use the accelerated London (beginning of) when playing white and french defence (beginning of) for Black, but this is more from the idea that they are very simple, solid and it gives me a starting base to try and imporve. I have avoided trying lots of openings or even going down the rabbit hole of 'the best opening'.
I am aware that the first game in a session tends to be a bit iffy and after a few games I start to become less accurate, so really looking to get some idea what I can do with the rest of my time to make progress.
Is it simpy a case of doing puzzles/drills, or are there some solid books or training courses that are worth looking at?
At the moment my rating seems to be going up 70 elo over a month, so feel I'm probably stronger than the 1000ish rating, but not stupid enough to think its massively higher.
Trouble is there is so much reference material out there (both paid and free), its really hard to work out what makes most sense.
Thanks in advance.