Hypothetically: How would you improve your chess given the chance?

Say you had two weeks. Two weeks of just being in an empty room no need for food no need for anything blah blah hypothetical. How would you train yourself to become better at chess? Mainly tactics? Mainly openiing study? Mainly reading books? Mainly endgame study? 

just make my mind comfortable and fun

Studying endgames for me, I need to get better at them.

tactics, tactics, tactics...

Probably endgames or wherever I'm weakest to fix the knowledge gaps. 

From the perspective of, my choice, be it right or wrong in the eyes of highly trained players or successful coaches, I don't know. In my mind there are too many opinions to really focus on one approach, as if it is the absolute perfect answer.

From the perspective of what I think would be the best for me personally, I would probably take my favorite opening, and study the best moves against each move I hope to make, then my replies,deep into the middle game, then study the strategies against them and potential tactics of the ideas too. I think this would be a good goal, for me for a two week period.

If you are asking what you think you'd like to do with an up coming vacation, you might have someone mention the right idea for you and your needs. Chances are though, you need to have a good understanding of your needs, the potential ideal techniques and the amount of time any of them could be accomplished in. It would be a tall order to get someone to divulge the specific information you need on a whim.

If you are asking this as a way of gleaning a more profound sense of how to develop most efficiently, by getting others to think hypothetically, because you think perhaps they wouldn't usually otherwise, it is a decent idea, people who think outside of the box are more likely to discover what is hidden elsewhere.

The most "outside of the box" type of idea I have ever seen ( I haven't studied many training ideas in depth, but I get the sense they tend to be from theory study and practical application exercises of various types and with proven results also) and also the most successful, but to what detriment I am not sure, was Bobby Fischer playing himself in games. I think if you were to go a step further, and analyze the games very deeply, aided by, opening book, books on the strategy of the openings, an engine analysis, to help you see tactical ideas and a table base to help you see how to best play the endgames, I think this would be the most effective solitary activity you could engage in. In fact this incorporates not only study but play as well and experience is generally the best teacher. It just so happens it is hardest on us too, especially in the short term. Doing it for two weeks, will only result in a minimal gain most likely.

Over the long hall, you could not only master your favorite opening, but have a really good sense of all of the others. And perhaps more importantly, you will understand the best defensive strategies, for your favorite opening, as well as, anything that is thrown at you. This is what Bobby Fischer did, without the computers, and you see the results. He became someone who pretty much knew circles around everone else, chessically speaking.

I would study the art of combinations. And then work both directions from the middlegame.

or comfortably numb ;)

in said hypothetical room, lets call it a cell.  Conjure a Tactical Monster, A Daemon of the Chess Underworld.  The Archmagi that created this beast to be later exiled gifted the creature with many talents, Intellegence Wisdom, Dexterity and Strength, oh yes Strength. This Creature is bereft of classic Tombs of Knowledge.  Caged and bound to an underworld of concrete and fire and chess.   Uses openings like  1.e3  2.Ne2 3. Ng3 and plays very closed positional nightmare type positions.. After two weeks of straight combat with this demon, provided he doesn't eat you for braking many of the ill-defined rules of the underworld,  your game will improve.  

+1

One of the biggest keys to success and wholeness in any endeavor, is to have balance. If you are a tactical genuis, but a strategical moron, a savvy positional player with eat you for breakfast. The best players in the world, can play top notch chess moves, regardless of their label or purpose, even outside of their preferred style. Achieve balance between strategy and tactics, as well as, attack and defense, and you will be a well rounded and difficult adversary.

Let's say I would have a best of five match with a class A player with a $5000.00 prize for the winner. I would get ten games each of Lasker, Petrosian, and Hou. Have a Houdini chess engine, coffee, and pot. A chess board, a notebook, three pens, and a lighter. I would also need a view, probably of a lake with ducks and squirrels running about. Oh, and some chocolate. That should make me better than I am

Oh my, that does sound nice.  For a minute I forgot what site this was.  I like cabins, water, granite and positve energy. Through in a chess board and some squirels, A vision like that will help you conquer any of life's demons!

Chess in the park on a nice day sound really darn nice for a few weeks...repetitively....lol

With a bench that has a big umbrella so you can play while it's raining

Yes, you seem to be quite confused whenever you see her name. An Abbott and Costello movie would probably lead you to an insane asylum.

Same thing I do now...I'd play over annotated master games.  The nice thing about playing over games is that it gives you balance.  You're exposed to tactics, strategy, endgames, openings, etc. all at the same time.

I'm weakest in openings I think so I'd want a large database and some good opening books and a titled player to provide feedback.

Although two weeks isn't much time, make it more like two months and that'd be good.

If you want to knock off some rust before a tourney in two weeks then play some long games and do tactics mostly.

I would study openings and endings so much until there is nothing left in the middle. Then I would strike.

For me, I would need to have a chess tournament to have to play in at the end of two weeks. It's not about having the free time, it's about the motivation to study hard.

Yeah, there are always cool books and the like. But what I'd need more than anything else would be a human who was rated about two hundred points higher than me (USCF) who was willing to play and talk about chess as much as I do.

I'd need a really good study partner and a deadline.