RoadMap for achieving 2000 Elo rating in 1 year

Here I give you a roadmap for rising to the 2000 Elo level in just one year. Kindly note that this does not apply to rapid, blitz or bullet chess. I only make one assumption here, that you are already familiar with chess and a casual player at 1200.

Step 1: Avoid blunders. Time period: 1 month. Play games for one month, with only focus to avoid blunders. Not a single one. Evaluate all moves no matter how long it takes. Also attempt beginner chess puzzles. 

Worth: 100 Elo points

Step 2: Study chess theory. Time period: 2months. Study chess strategy. Pawn structure, open and closed games, when to trade, forks etc. 

Worth: 300 Elo points

Step 3: Study endgame. Time period: 1 month. Learn to properly recognize common endgame patterns and positions.  

Worth: 100 Elo points

Step 4: Study openings. Time period: 1 month. Openings, variations, proper responses etc. Also solve advanced chess puzzles. 

Worth: 100 Elo points

Step 5: Time period: 1 month. Study others games, historical games etc. Use annotated computer analysis on all games. Note: At this point you will understand why and not merely what. 

Worth: 100 Elo points

Step 6: Practice, practice and practice! It goes without saying that you must be practicing everyday. You will be thrilled as you move forward when you will find yourself beating opponents of higher and higher skill. Armed with your deep understanding and knowledge, you will find your knowledge making the right decisions for you rather than you dreaming up the right moves. Experience is invaluable but in this context, I give it 100 Elo points.

Finally, in an year you would be at par with players rated 2000. Suggestions welcome.

Thanks

Yes, 800 Elo rating points is a lot. I gain only about 1-124 (about) points per month with one tournament. Maybe it's because of the type, quads are suitable for me.

Like finishing 2nd with 2.5/3 in a Swiss where I was ranked 8th out of 10?

That should net some rating points, as long as your opponents were not very low rated.

Shadowknight do you think you could help people see what reasonable goals are and the best way to achieve them without a coach? (I have other expenses ATM)

Why do you focus on avoiding blunders as a specific 1 month goal?  That should be your goal for the rest of your chess life!

How would you specifically practice avoiding blunders?  That is just silly..

I still want to know how you practice avoiding blunders!!

"I won't blunder, I won't blunder, I won't blunder.. AHH DAMMIT!!"

:)

Utter nonsense this list.

Okay, in all seriousness, someone make a BETTER list?

I think that you would have to make notes that include things like:

1. How many hours a day and days per week for each time period

2. If actually gaining that rating, as opposed to possessing the skill of someone rated that high:

a) how many games to play in that year

b) at what time length

c) should one only accept games from higher rated opponents

3. Are we talking live chess or correspondence chess?

a) are we supposed to use opening book for c.c. to help us learn? or is that a crutch?

b) should we use the analysis board? or is that a crutch?

c) Would the potential aforementioned crutches get you the rating, but not the skill?

4. Do you really expect any player to avoid blunders without first attaining all of the skills listed below the attempted recommendation of don't blunder?

5) Are you advertising that this will work for everyone who uses it? I think it could maybe get players to 1500-1800 in a year. It isn't very likely that one can memorize so much material so fast.

6. You didn't mention one key thing that I think takes a player from about 1200-1800 and helps them to go much higher. They must learn how to over come the tendency to never move a piece into what appears to be imminent danger to take advantage of tactics. This includes sacrifices. These types of moves are what separate Class A and above from most of the rest of us.

regardless of what this guy thinks 2000s blunder a decent amount and we make stupid plans in the middle game that are competely wrong.

Try reading de la mazas rapid chess improvement

Let me clarify blunders. I am not talking about high level strategic or positional blunders in the first step. What any 1200 would make like I used to do. Like placing the queen in the mouth of a bishop or not noticing that a particular move would get my mated in one move. I used to lose a lot of games due to silly blunders especially when under pressure. I believe it takes one month solid work to get rid of this problem. And I welcome that many 2000+ rated people think this is impossible and rubbish. Just one advice for beginners. Please try it. Atleast first 2 steps. And see the results for yourself. Be optimistic and believe in your abilities to learn. 

are you a CM FM IM GM?? none?? 

guess you were the mentor in preparing Gelfand in WCC 2012 against anand, good keep it up, keep sharing we are enjoying, thanks for being a part of this site, actually after playing so much a day we need to get fresh up and your post will surely always make us roll down on the floor, thank you master

I still don't understand what you mean by "it takes a month to get rid of blunders".  You have not explained the method one would use to stop blundering.  How would you practice this?  How exactly do you approach developing this "skill".

In my opinion, not blundering is a result of making a lot of careful analysis and calculations, which is really the ability to play tactics at a high level.  That is something that takes YEARS to master, not one month.

Is it working? Does not look like it. Perhaps better to ask somebody that actually reached 2500 elo.

Just saying, but your chess.com rating is lower than 1/2 the people here, how can u teach us, when u can't teach ur self all these things?

These steps are so abstract to be of no practical use, even if you had any basis for them whatsoever.

Step 2: Study chess theory? Oh, that small area. I'll just go do that then, and report back in 2 months.

Sorry to disappoint devarajusa, but it won't work

You all cut the guy a little slack.  He's just thinking out loud and trying to help lower players and himself on how to improve.  A bit naive perhaps, but his intentions are good.  By avoiding blunders for a month, he means looking very hard to make sure you aren't hanging a Queen or rook or minor piece and double and triple checking for it - trying to get the habit of not hanging pieces.  And he's looking for suggestions that he may not have considered or know about. 

   I'm a long way off from 2000 too but trying to improve.  But I would add:

1) Read Silman's books and go SLOWLY through them; actually follow and understand all examples.  Read them twice.  As with ANY book, don't read thru them quickly, but slowly and deliberately.  How many of us have whizzed thru a book too fast?)

2) Get a coach if you can afford it.

3) Play higher opponents and forget about your rating for awhile. (this one I should follow more - I look too much at my rating) 

4) Do an hour of tactics per day.  Listen to videos by GM's here. 

5) Pick one opening and one defense until you're 1800 or thereabouts and stick with it, learning all the lines to it.  Study more for the middle game and end game.

Okay there's my top 5.   

Here is a plan to get to 2000 OTB elo :

- go find a strong (+2000 elo) player, and ask him : "how do you think I should proceed to reach 2000 elo myself ?" - listen carefully, answer his questions and take some notes

- go find another strong player and do the same

- repeat 10 times

- make a summary of their advice and draw your progress plan