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Weeks 18–21 Chess Improvement Recap: Strategy, Struggles, and Staying the Course

Strategy Phase: Finding My Way

The past few weeks (weeks 18–21) wrapped up my strategy and planning phase and kicked off a new focus on advanced tactics. Looking back, it was a mixed bag—some progress, some struggles, but overall steady effort thanks to sticking to my plan.

I found it surprisingly hard to define exactly what to study under “strategy.” I worked through part of Noël Studer’s new course, which was mostly a recap of ideas he’s shared before. I actually like his material a lot, and the review of basic strategic concepts helped ground me, even if it wasn’t completely new information.

Adjusting When Things Felt Too Hard

At one point, I tried to work through Forcing Chess Moves, hoping it would bridge the gap between calculation and planning. But when I reached the exercise sections, I was getting most of the problems wrong. It was a clear sign the material was a bit too advanced for me right now, so I made the decision to step back. Instead, I returned to the Chess Steps series—one of my favorite resources. I’m currently working through the first book of Step 4. I’m getting most (but not all) of the exercises right, and I’m planning to stick with this for a while. It feels like the right level of challenge for where I am.

Preparing for Advanced Tactics

The Chess Steps material also lines up nicely with my next phase: focusing on advanced tactics in weeks 21–24. I’m excited to keep building up my pattern recognition and calculation accuracy.

One thing I’ve been especially grateful for is having a structured plan. There were definitely days where I didn’t feel very motivated or focused, but the plan kept me moving forward, even if it was just a little bit.

Game Lessons: Slow Down!

In my games, I’ve noticed a recurring issue lately: moving too fast. A few painful losses came from missing my opponent’s threats simply because I didn’t slow down and double-check. It’s a good reminder that sometimes the biggest improvement isn’t from studying more—it’s from better habits during the game itself.

My Chess Improvement Score

Read about Noël Studer’s scoring system here

Week 18: 3.5

Week 19: 1 (low point)

Week 20: 2.4

Week 21: 2.6