Play tons of blitz.
Analyze 10 bullet games per weak.
Hang around with FMs,
get laid,
try out cofee and enchancing drugs.
but most importantly, BE HAPPY!
My plan to improve in 2017; what's yours?
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Jan 1, 2017
0
#3
Seriously tho. Im gonna try to at least read a chess book per month. Im gonna also try to once and for all solidify my repertoire by fully testing out my openings in blitz. Lol.
I think that speed chess has few benefits in terms of improving your chess: perhaps a good sampling of openings, and learning how to think faster, but beyond that not so helpful. I think your plan to focus on longer games is a good idea. Regarding tactics, I have a subscription to chesstempo.com. The monthly fee is small, and its my favorite Web site I've found for tactics training. I agree with you that a lot of tactics training is a good idea.
Mar 21, 2017
0
#5
not hanging pieces is my main goal and then follow sound opening principles!
Mar 21, 2017
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#6
My plan was tactics, tactics, tactics until I'm not missing as many of them as I was. When I feel comfortable, I'm going to spend more time on strategy. If I improve a lot, great. If I don't: I'm having fun. Where else can I, an American, join a team and play two games against Team Moscow, etc? If I win one it will impress my non-chess playing friends!
To get more members to join my club and of course, improve.
Join the New Zealand Chess Legion: https://www.chess.com/clubs/members/new-zealand-chess-legion
Apr 22, 2017
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#8
Making decent progress so far this year. My bullet, blitz and rapid ratings are all up 50 or more points -- I even crossed 1300 in bullet for a game or two. I haven't spent as much time as I like on studying, but I've followed the basic plan. I had been limiting my bullet play, but it was pretty motivating to keep playing when I started regularly beating opponents with higher ratings and my rating was shooting up.
Apr 22, 2017
0
#9
@johngdon: Congrats on your improved ratings.
I want to get my rating to 1100. If only I could stop playing checkmate puzzles and start playing more games. 
Apr 22, 2017
0
#10
I set rating goals.
1200 bullet
1400 blitz
1400 rapid
1800 daily
1450 in rapid. About 300 points to go. Just 1 point a day!😊
Apr 22, 2017
0
#12
@JoeHarper That's funny -- I had the same goals last year, to have all my ratings at or above 1200/1400/1600. With my new study plan (and some luck), I hit 13/15/17/19 (well, 1300 for a moment anyway).
I play too much bullet chess (and rather poorly at that) and when I do play longer time controls, I play much too passively, usually just hanging around waiting for my opponent to screw up. I rarely have a plan. I checkmated an opponent in a rapid game the other day from a level position (materially) and nearly fell off my chair. I also recognized and made some effort to exploit a weak square in a game the other day and thought -- oh, this is what chess should be like!
My plan:
1. Play longer time controls. (Quit playing bullet. Play as much 30 min chess as I can and keep 3-5 daily chess games going.
2. Annotate one of my games each week.
3. Work through Chess for Post Beginners. Follow by re-visiting Reassess Your Chess or other similar books recommended here on the forums.
4. Do tactics on a daily basis. I have loaded some trainers/books on to my phone and kindle to do during a few minutes of down time here and there during the day. Focus on re-doing tactics I get wrong.
Time permitting...do more of the above? Perhaps add in a review of GM games. I see that Judit Polgar's recent series is well regarded.
I don't run into very many level endgames at my level, but I crack open Silman's endgame study occasionally, and it will be a good sign that I am improving if I find I need to delve deeper into it!
I have a few opening books I like to support my limited repertoire (Caro Kann and Slav, and 1.d4).
I 'd appreciate any feedback, but also would be just as interested or more so in hearing what your plan is.