Why You’re Not Improving at Chess: 8 Mistakes You Must Fix
If you feel like you’re not improving at chess despite studying and playing regularly, you’re definitely not alone. A lot of players struggle with the same things: blunders, inconsistency, frustration, feeling stuck. And in most cases, the problem is not talent- it’s the approach.
I decided to write this article to help both beginners and more experienced players better understand how to approach chess in a way that actually leads to improvement, not burnout. I have broken down the eight most common reasons and problems that I noticed among my students. I would also like to make one small remark: this article is aimed primarily at adult chess students. I hope you enjoy reading it.
📌 1. You Must Accept That You Will Make Mistakes in Chess
This is the first thing I tell every student in their very first lesson: You are going to make mistakes. Anyway! There’s no way around it. Yes, it’s annoying. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes you just sit there thinking, “How did I even do that?”- like hanging a queen in one move or missing a simple mate. But that’s chess. It’s a difficult game. It requires constant focus, constant evaluation, and you are never going to play perfectly.
If one day you completely stop making tactical mistakes, you’re basically at master level already. But even masters blunder. Sometimes badly. So the goal is not perfection.
Therefore, you simply need to accept the fact that you have made mistakes, you are making mistakes, and you will make mistakes. The most important thing is not to make a drama out of it and not to become overly emotional. And especially not to think that there is something wrong with you or that you are somehow not capable of playing chess.
⚠️ 2. You Do Not Have “Special” Weaknesses That Prevent Improvement
You don’t have some unique flaw that makes improvement impossible.
What often happens is that players start labeling themselves: “I don’t have a chess brain,” “I’m bad with the queen,” “I don’t see the board well,” and so on.
The problem is – not the weakness itself, but the label. Once you start thinking like that, it becomes a mental block. And over time, it can even make you quit chess completely, thinking the game just isn’t for you. But in chess, almost everything is fixable. Seriously- everything can be trained. And very often, your weakest area can become one of your strengths. The key is simple: don’t give up on yourself too early.
Always analyze your games and look for the critical factor that caused you to lose. And if you do not understand the reason for your failures, then I advise you to take at least one lesson with an experienced coach so they can help you figure it out.
🎓 3. Chess Is Not a Video Game – Treat It Seriously
Chess is not something you should play the same way you play video games. You shouldn’t just start a game randomly-after work, half-tired, listening to music, eating something, checking your phone every minute. If you do that, your opponents will punish you. Every time.
Even if it’s just an online chess game, treat it seriously. Try to create a calm environment. No distractions. Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb.” Playing on the subway, at work, or between tasks on your phone is a bad idea. Honestly, playing on the phone in general is not great – the screen is small, and notifications constantly break your focus. If you want quality games, you need quality conditions. Creating the right playing environment is one of the most overlooked aspects of online chess improvement.
And chess is certainly not something you should use to rest or relax. If you come home tired after work, then believe me, it is much better if you actually play a video game. Because chess will make you even more tired, and moreover, you will experience a certain amount of stress and disappointment with your own play. Furthermore, if you fail to stop in time, you will fall into a losing streak, and that is exactly what the next point is about.
📉 4. Chess Is Not a Casino: Stop Chasing Your Rating
Chess is not gambling. If things are going badly – stop. Don’t try to win it back.
Before online chess, this comparison would sound strange. But now it’s very real. Imagine a player who had a bad tournament and refused to leave the playing hall, asking the arbiter to continue the event until he gets his rating back. Sounds ridiculous, right?
But online, this is exactly what people do. You log in, everything feels normal. You start a game, get a winning position… and then blunder. You lose. You get annoyed, instantly click “New Game,” and try to fix it quickly. But now you’re already emotional. You rush. You lose again. And again. At some point you’re just playing fast, making random moves, and watching your rating drop.
I’ve been coaching for almost 20 years, and I keep some stats. One of my students once played for ❗️18 hours❗️ straight without even taking a proper break – and lost about 550 rating points, from around 1900 to almost 1300. The only good thing? It was chess, not a casino in Las Vegas. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be rating points at stake.
So remember:
DO NOT TRY TO WIN BACK YOUR RATING. IF YOU LOSE 3 GAMES IN A ROW – STOP. THAT’S IT FOR TODAY.
🧠 5. Chess Is a Mental Game – Your Form Will Fluctuate
So you study, you work with a coach, you do everything right – and still some days you just play badly. Why? Because chess is a mental game. And we don’t fully control how our brain performs from day to day.
There are many factors:
not enough sleep (or too much)
fatigue after work
lack of concentration
distractions at home
stress, mood, anything
Sometimes your brain is just not working at 100%. And that’s normal. So don’t force it.
If your game is off, it’s often much better to:
solve puzzles
study something
or just take a break for the day
You don’t improve by playing bad chess in a bad state.
I also want to ask you: do not start a game if you feel that now is not the best moment for it or if you are not in your best physical condition. But if you really want to play, then at least switch to unrated mode or use a secondary account where you do not mind losing rating. Otherwise, after one bad day, you will have to recover your rating for weeks or even longer!
👉 6. Playing Without Training Will Not Improve Your Chess
Chess, in a way, reminds me of boxing. In a real game, you use what you practiced. But you don’t get better just by fighting over and over again. Same in chess. If you only play games without proper training, your progress will be slow. And more importantly – your mistakes will just repeat and become habits. That’s the dangerous part.
Every game should have a purpose. And ideally, after the game, you look at it – first by yourself, then maybe with an engine or a coach. That’s where improvement actually happens. Training builds your level. Games just show where you are.
Therefore, if you want to improve at chess, develop the habit of training regularly. The key is not simply studying more, but following a structured chess improvement plan that keeps all essential training elements in balance. Moreover, training should take up at least 80% of the time you devote to chess. Special attention should be paid to tactical training-solving chess puzzles. If you want to get the maximum benefit from solving puzzles, it’s worth approaching tactical training systematically rather than solving random positions. You can analyze your last 100 games, and I assure you that in 90 of them, if not all 100, the reason for the win or the loss will be a mistake made either by you or, respectively, by your opponent. Never neglect this type of training, otherwise you risk reaching a chess plateau and staying there much longer than necessary.
‼️ 7. Stop Playing Blitz If You Want to Improve at Chess
Blitz is fun. No doubt about it. But if your goal is to improve, it’s not your best friend. 3-minute games are extremely popular online, but that doesn’t mean they’re useful for learning. In blitz, you don’t really calculate deeply. You don’t fully evaluate positions. You mostly rely on intuition and habits. And sometimes – you just guess. That’s why blitz often creates bad thinking patterns. If you want real improvement, give yourself time to think.
Play longer games -10, 15 minutes, ideally with increment. ❗️ 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment is perfect time control for online chess ❗️ That way you actually:
calculate
understand positions
make conscious decisions
Blitz is fine sometimes. Just don’t build your training around it.
⚔️ 8. Playing Too Many Games in a Row Is Harmful
Playing many games in a row might feel productive, but in reality – it’s not. After each game, your focus drops a bit. Then more. Then even more. Fatigue builds up. Emotions start to interfere. You begin to rush decisions. And the quality of your play goes down. So instead of improving, you slowly slide in the opposite direction.
It’s much better to play a few good games – 2 or 3 – with full concentration, and then spend time analyzing them. That gives you real value. And even those games – play them properly. In chess, it’s not about how many games you play. It’s about how much you actually learn from them.
Also, do not forget that you should carefully analyze every game you play with the computer. On Chess.com, you can use the Game Review feature for this purpose. If you do not correct your mistakes and understand their nature, then they will most likely happen again in the future, and you will lose rating once again.
🏁 To sum up: How to Improve at Chess Faster
So, let’s once again briefly go over the eight pieces of advice that I would recommend you start following today!
Accept that mistakes are part of the process
Don’t label your weaknesses
Play in good conditions, without distractions
Never chase your rating
Respect your mental state
Train more than you play
Don’t rely on blitz
Focus on quality, not quantity.
And finally, one last wish from me. Play chess and do not be afraid to make mistakes! Yes, it is a very difficult game that requires a special approach. But at the same time, it is incredibly interesting! And since you have fallen in love with it and decided to improve at it, do not put pressure on yourself or torment yourself. Progress at a pace that is comfortable for you, with the main goal of enjoying the game. I believe you can do it! Good luck!
♟ Article prepared by Grandmaster and chess coach Valery Filippov ♟
Here are some of the most common questions players ask about improving at chess:
How many games should I play per day?
I wouldn’t focus too much on the idea of “per day.” Instead, think in terms of weekly volume. For longer time controls like 15+10, you definitely don’t need to play more than 20 games per week. In fact, around 10 well-played games per week is already more than enough – provided you play them with full concentration and review them afterward.
Why do I play well in training but badly in real games?
This is very common. During training, there is no pressure. You can take your time, think calmly, and there are no real consequences. In games, however, emotions, time pressure, and fear of making mistakes start to influence your decisions. The key is to make your training more practical – and your games more disciplined.
How important is talent in chess improvement?
Talent matters – but much less than most people think. Consistency, discipline, and the ability to learn from your mistakes are far more important in the long run. Many “talented” players stop improving simply because they rely too much on their natural ability.
