Why You're Focusing on the Wrong Things

Most chess improvers are stuck because they fall into the chess improvement trap. They focus on sophisticated strategies and forget the basics.
New York Times Best-Seller Mark Manson recently said:
“There are two steps to self-improvement: From bad to okay and from okay to great.”
He argues that many people struggle because they try to apply “okay to great” advice without mastering the fundamentals. This is true in chess as well.
Most chess players should work on reducing their big mistakes. Instead, they dive into deep strategic ideas or memorize extensive opening theory.

Two Groups of Chess Players

0-2000 Rating: Improving in this group is simple (but not easy!). Most games are decided by blunders or big mistakes.
Focus on:

• Opening Fundamentals
• Basic Strategic Knowledge
• Decent Tactical Skills
• Concentration during games
• Basic Endgame Knowledge

Many players in this group mistakenly follow advice meant for the 2000+ group.
2000+ Rating: Once you master the basics, you need to outplay your opponents with more sophisticated strategies.
Focus on:

• Opening Theory (analysis + memorization)
• Deeper Strategic Ideas
• Calculation
• Time Management
• Putting Pressure in Slightly Better Positions (especially in endgames)

Neglecting the basics at this level will lead to immediate punishment, so continuous practice is crucial.

The Problem

Players in the 0-2000 range often study 2000+ level material, leading to blunders and missed simple tactics. Their advanced opening knowledge gets them good positions, but they lose to basic mistakes. This creates frustration and the false belief that they need more advanced training.
Even some higher-level players stagnate because they neglect the basics.

The Solution

In both life and chess, focus on the basics. Do them well and consistently. Prioritize the 20% that yield 80% of the results.

1. Make solving tactics a daily habit. Start with as few as five positions, but solve them correctly.
2. Analyze your games and focus on correcting big mistakes to avoid repeating them.

Doing the basics might seem boring, but it’s always worth the time and energy. You'll become happier, more resilient, less frustrated, and a stronger chess player.