In chess, just like in any other sport, there is this unpleasant term called a plateau. It literally means that you have hit a dead end and do not understand how to progress further. In this article, I, Grandmaster Valery Filippov, will tell you how you can overcome this plateau and take a step to the next level.
Why does every player hit a plateau?
Yes, sooner or later this happens to all chess players and even (especially) to professionals. I have also gone through this state several times during my playing career. And you will definitely face it too, or maybe you already have. Therefore, here are 2 important pieces of advice right away:
Ending up in a chess plateau is absolutely normal
Throw away all doubts. Do not even think that your current level of play is your maximum. Believe me, you are capable of overcoming it.
It is absolutely normal that sooner or later we reach the point in our development where our working training system stops being effective. Opening traps that used to bring you many victories no longer work because your opponents have become stronger (just like you, by the way). And also, tactical combinations are now not only your weapon, but also the weapon of your opponent. And he cunningly lures you into them and beats you. I repeat, this is not the end of the world, it is only a signal that you need to change your training process.
The main reasons why chess players hit a plateau
I will list the most common ones that I have noticed among my students:
1) You have reduced the amount of tactical training or stopped training tactics altogether
This is one of the most common reasons. For the first time, this problem appears some time after a player has mastered all the basic tactical combinations, such as the fork, the pin, the double attack, and so on. During the process of mastering these tactical patterns, we solve a huge number of puzzles, and all of this greatly improves our board vision. It is exactly at this moment that a sharp rating increase happens. For many club players, this is exactly the period when they make the jump toward the 1500 level.
Now imagine that the player reaches a new level and thinks it’s time to switch, for example, to openings, and completely stops tactical training. Openings are usually memorized and practiced without solving puzzles in the process. Over time, your tactical vision becomes weaker. It seems to you that you are training and getting stronger, and that is true. But you lose your playing sharpness. So be careful with this point! If you’re unsure how to train tactics effectively rather than simply solving random puzzles, I’ve covered this topic in much greater detail.
2) The openings that worked against lower-rated players are no longer effective. They need to be improved
This is another very common problem. I have met many players who got stuck around the 400-500 rating simply because in every game they tried to go for Scholar’s Mate, and at first it worked. But only against players rated around 100-200. More experienced players already know exactly how to prevent this trap.
In this point, I am not encouraging you to dive deep into opening theory! But it is important to have solid, correct opening setups and understand how to develop your pieces within them. There is no need to memorize dozens of variations. Don’t waste your time on that!
3) You have started playing blitz too often and long time-control games less and less
Fast time controls in chess, such as blitz or bullet, are the greatest evil that exists in chess. Even though they are fun, believe me, they provide zero benefit. Only harm. Blitz creates the habit of not calculating variations to the end and making the most natural moves without thinking. Blitz is literally chess fast food. If you want to improve at chess, you need to avoid fast time controls. If, on the other hand, chess is like a video game for you and is all about having fun, then there is absolutely no problem! I completely understand and do not judge you!
4) You train chaotically without having a specific plan
By now you probably already know that chess, like any other sport, requires a clear training system. There is really nothing more to add here. Try to create a clear training plan for yourself, and if you cannot do it on your own, then turn to an experienced coach.
In fact, many chess plateaus are simply the result of recurring training mistakes that players fail to notice for months.
How to get out of a plateau?
First of all, it is important to understand why you ended up in a plateau. Think about the 4 reasons I listed above. Perhaps one of them is exactly your case. Also analyze your last 20-30 lost games. Try to understand what was the decisive factor in why you lost. If in 75% of them you made a tactical mistake, this is a clear sign that you need to strengthen your work on tactics. If you want to reach a new level, then tactical skills are the very first thing that will need improvement. It is logical to start with this because the effect will be the fastest.
I do not recommend starting with improving the opening phase because mastering a new opening can take 1-2 months. And at first you will lose because of silly mistakes, and this is normal, you need time to practice it. But if you are already in a plateau and want to see at least a +50 rating increase in the near future, do not touch the opening phase! Otherwise, you risk lowering your rating even more and wasting time, motivation, and the desire to play chess.
If you feel that in almost all your games you had problems with time and because of this you most often lost points, then definitely increase your time control! Ideally, play 15+10, this is the best option. Also be sure to remember the period when you were actively gaining rating. Ask yourself the questions: what has changed since then? Maybe you started playing more games per day, or maybe you play at a different time of day, for example in the evening after work when your brain already wants to rest and has no energy for chess.
Most players don’t hit a plateau because they’ve reached their limit-they hit one because their training lacks structure. Building a consistent chess training plan is often the first step toward breaking through.
Why you should not play more games during a plateau
In this small paragraph, I wanted to warn you against the most common wrong decision players make. Many think that if they simply increase the number of games per day, then their rating will definitely start growing. But this is a very dangerous misconception. During a plateau your psyche is a little suppressed and especially vulnerable. Additional pressure in the form of a large number of games is of no use to it. Moreover, you risk losing even more rating and falling into a big down streak (link), which is critically important for us to avoid!
On the contrary, I more often advise my students to play less during such periods. This increases the value of each individual game and improves your concentration. And of course it minimizes stress – and we definitely do not need it.
When it comes to practice, chess is somewhat similar to boxing. Imagine that you are a professional boxer, your progress has stalled, and it feels like you’ve hit a plateau. How would you get out of that situation? I think you would consider changing your training system or your nutrition, but not increasing the number of fights several times over. Because then you would have even less time and energy for rest and training. Most likely, you would become an even weaker boxer.
The exact same principle works in chess. There is no point in constantly playing without training. But for some reason, many chess players do not understand this, and 90% of the time they dedicate to chess is spent only on practice games. That is pointless. Therefore, focus on studying, not on practice.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A day spent learning is much more effective than a day spent playing online.
When should you turn to a coach?
If you analyzed your recent games, tried changing your training concept, but still cannot get out of the plateau, then a very effective method of solving the problem is to start training with a coach. This always works as a great reset, especially if you have never had such experience before. A good coach will quickly identify your problem and suggest ways to solve it.
I can tell you from my own experience that for me it is absolutely always obvious what the cause of a student’s plateau is. Literally after 1-2 lessons, more often after one. But the main problem is not identifying the issue. The problem is convincing the student to change something. Unfortunately, in this situation habits often work against the chess player and he completely refuses to change what once worked. And this is not only about one specific opening, but most often about a complex overall approach.
But if the student shows flexibility and, of course, effort, then within 2 months it is usually possible to gain around 100 rating points in rapid. And I want to once again highlight here that in the overwhelming majority of cases the main reason for a plateau is the insufficient amount of time devoted to tactical training.
Therefore, a good coach is almost always a guaranteed solution to the plateau problem. In another article of mine, I explained in detail where and how you can Find the Right Chess Coach.
Final thoughts
From my own experience, I know that being in a chess plateau is very unpleasant and demotivating. But please, do not lose faith in yourself! Remember how many times before it already seemed to you that you had reached your maximum and would no longer be able to develop and increase your rating. And perhaps your first plateau was 400-500 points ago, but you got through it and now you are where you are. Which means you will definitely overcome this current plateau too. You only need patience and to make certain efforts to identify the problem, change your training system in the right direction, and start following it. I believe that you will succeed and that you can do it. Good luck!
♟ Article prepared by Grandmaster and chess coach Valery Filippov ♟
FAQ
How long does a chess plateau usually last? Here everything will depend on how soon you start changing something. Many people stay in a plateau for years, stubbornly trying to use methods that no longer work.
Is it normal to lose rating during a chess plateau? Of course, it is very natural. That is why I advise you to play less often and focus more on training.
Should I change my openings if I hit a plateau? Yes, but not as the first priority. Because the effect of new openings will only come after you study them well and practice them. And this will require a lot of time and effort.
Can tactics training help break a chess plateau? Yes, this is usually the best thing you can do while being in a plateau. I even advised some of my students to spend 2 months doing only tactics and nothing else for 1-2 hours a day. And this gives fantastic results – try it too.
Can a chess coach help me break through a plateau? Yes, if you chose a good qualified coach, he will definitely help you. Because this is the most common request with which students come to a coach. And believe me, the coach knows how to do it.
