Studying What I've Learned

There is a term in exercise training called periodicity. Which means changing up your reps and timing to improve growth or stamina in the muscles.

Here is how I have changed up my studying only recently based on this principle and I am expecting great gains. This studying is meant to be well rounded and has a long term goal in mind rather than make my game great right now. 

Materials: You can add or subtract some of these based on your needs. 

Chess books for your level 

tactics books or computer program

chess board and on line chess board

Something to take notes (optional)

Studying Strategies

There are chess books that have huge lines which you will need a chess board or online chess board to track the moves. If you want to save each game examined to look at again later you can add these games to chessmicrobase.com. The books that have huge lines and larger concepts (concepts meaning strategies as opposed to smaller chunks of information tactics) only need to be studied 1-3 times a week to maintain retention (We can only learn so much, younger people can learn quicker, people with low stress, active lifestyles and so on. I am 29  and I do remember when I was able to learn more quicker, maybe,. Anyways these strategies I am trying out now I am expecting great gains and would have been better to know when I was younger, I'd be stronger now. When you have lower stamina and energy you can study tactics and endgames. These take less information to absorb and can be made fun to change things up. Reading chess books with frequent diagrams that require no board are good books to read that wont burn you out. Such as a tactics book, endgame book, Bruce Pandolfini's weapons of chess strategies book.

Don't memorize lines unless they are openings. And even then memorize the purpose for each move, not the moves themselves. Learn the middle game plan for each opening, this will help guide your opening lines much better. 

Caution 

If you haven't noticed this type of studying will require studying multiple books at a time. This takes practice and may only help 1500 players and up. 1400 and below may be best studying one at a time if you are still getting a grasp on the game. But by all means give it a try and see how it goes. 

What a plan may look like 

Strategies/ complex texts 1-3x  per week MWF

Tactics and endgames 2-3x per week MTh or TTH

Review 2x per week. Don't review it all at once, but in chunks. 20 minutes at a time is best.

Quiz 1-2x per week. Quiz yourself to see if you can RECOGNIZE or RECALL what you learned (recognize is opening the book and remembering what you learned from looking at the pages. Recall is where you can say what is on the pages and what you learned without looking at all).

As always find time to rest. Even if its a study day, but not because of laziness. If you start studying and 5 minutes are tired give it up that day, you are tired. If you wake up and are alert, keep studying you are going to get something out of that session.

Post your strategies and questions.

Best,

Lovebecause

Post any questions for help.