Best Way to Improve

Hello Everyone,

I have been playing chess for a long time but never to a very high level. I am currently rated around 1200 and would really like to improve my game. What is the best approach to this? Is it worth getting a full chess.com membership to gain access to "Chess Mentor"? Is it worth getting books? If so, what books? Should I study many openings? How would I go about this?

I intend to play/practice every day. But what is the best kind of game to play on chess.com? 15-30 minute games or longer "online" games? I want to have a daily training "routine." But what is the best way to spend my time? Should I study the games I play after I play them? And if so, what aspects should I study?

Sorry, I am just very new to the world of "advanced" chess and hope to gain some insight into how I can improve my play long term.

Thank you!

First of all, never enter at a club and never play OTB, your level would go down in a few month. Or if you really want to play OTB, be sure your opponents are very weak (600 or 800 rated are the best opponents to improve your skills), and just play blitz (no long games).

You have to buy 100 or 200 books about chess for your study routine, starting with Smyslov's Rook ending (an easy one, you'll finish it in 2 days), and finishing with the tough and famous "How to beat your dad at chess". You will have to read the cover of each book and play 50 000 bullet games to reach grandmaster level. Buy everything you see about chess, books, programs, design boards and internet stuff. 

I'm not familiar with How to Beat Your Dad at Chess though I could recommend Pandolfini's Ultimate Guide to Chess.  Don't fall into the trap of expecting quick results, and do Chesstempo.  Don't even bother signing so you only do the tactics from their guest database, which are all under 1500 problems. 

I agree with Chessmicky, also go through a few classic games (pre 1900, as in year, not rating) very quickly to get the patterns, and then go over them in depth to see why the pattern works (it actually works, I actually just ran though the Opera game this way with a computer for the first time and learned a little bit more) don't use engines too much, only to see if a move you played was a blunder. review your games as much as possible. and as has been said do as many tactics problems as you can and learn KRvK, KQvK, and KBBvK all without pawns. C.c premium membership is good for the chess mentor and unlimited tactics trainer. But for time controlls, never play less than 15|0

I like that quote. It reminds me of one that I often need to tell myself during games; “Long analysis, wrong analysis.”

And don't get stuck memorizing openings except for refutations to weak ones you may encounter (e.g., 1.e4,e5 2.Nf3,f6?? 3.Nxe5! and 1.d4,e5? 2.dxe5,Nc6 3.Nf3,f6 4.e4!,fxe5 or 3.Nf3,Qe7?! 4.Bf4,Qb4+ 5.Bd2,Qxb2 6.Nc3 (not 6.Bc3??,Bb4 falling for the trap) and black is up the creek without a paddle) 

Read a book like Fine's Principles Behind the Openings and remember to study endgames!  FCE might be a good starting place. 

Work through the chess mentor! From the very beginning. This is what I do when I know I'm in a slump.