Whether you are a beginner or an intermediate, unfortunately, chess players always hit a plateau. This is the most frustrating moment for a chess player, and many times that stagnation can last for months and even years. How can I sharpen my chess skills and overcome this inevitable plateau?
You can beat the plateau and get better at chess and so you won’t have to spend months or years playing at the same level. You can certainly reduce the plateau to a minimum. You will need to improve your chess position evaluation as well as your short tactical calculation. For more information on how to get better at chess, check out the article below.
Puzzles Training
In chess, just like in school, it’s best to start with the basics and build up to harder ideas. This is called learning “from the known to the unknown.” That means we should understand simple tactics before trying more advanced strategies.
When you play chess, your brain remembers patterns—like how pieces usually work together to checkmate or win material. Your brain saves these patterns in two ways:
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- One part remembers how the pieces are placed (piece patterns)
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- Another part remembers ideas like good plans or strong positions
One of the most important skills in chess is called pattern recognition. This means seeing a position on the board and quickly knowing what’s going on because you’ve seen something like it before. Chess champions are really good at this. They don’t have to figure everything out from scratch—they remember patterns they’ve seen many times.
The 13th World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov, said something important:
“You can’t build strong pattern recognition just by studying a few examples. You need to practice over and over again. Solving lots of puzzles is the best way to train your memory for tactical patterns.”
That’s why tactics and puzzles are the foundation of good chess. If you can’t spot tactics, it’s very hard to use smart plans or win games.
The good news is that you can find free chess puzzles and practice tools on websites like chess.com, lichess.org, Chessable, and Chess24. Even just searching “chess puzzles for beginners” online will give you plenty of fun and helpful exercises made by chess players and coaches from around the world.
Also, a simple Google search, such as “chess tactics for beginners on lichess.org,” will yield a list of free tactics studies for online chess practice. These free materials are created by chess fans, chess players, and even chess coaches who spend their spare time creating chess studies on the well-known linchess.org website, and many of these materials are open to the public.
So remember: doing puzzles and repeating patterns is one of the best ways to get better at chess. The more you practice, the faster you’ll recognize winning ideas—and the stronger your game will become!
Learn – Chess basics for Absolute Beginner
Since lichess.org provides access to most of the resources on their site for free, I chose this site to show you how to access their free resources. Thus, if you’re looking for material for absolute beginners, follow this link https://lichess.org/learn#/ or click on LEARN-Chess basics. This section will teach you how to move the chess pieces and the basics of the game. The best of all, you can move the pieces as you learn. That’s an excellent free tool for any age and true beginner.
If you already know how to play chess, then I recommend that you skip to the next recommendation to start learning chess patterns.
Puzzles – Puzzles Themes for Beginner/Intermediate
This section is for practicing the more advanced and most common chess patterns. Even if you already know some of these patterns, this section will help you reinforce your knowledge of them. The backbone of your strength in chess is your memory bank of tactical themes and patterns. Follow this link https://lichess.org/training or click on Puzzles, and then Puzzles Themes. In this section, you will be exposed to many chess pattern positions. You must solve at least 50 puzzles for each theme. If necessary, repeat some puzzle patterns until you understand the concept and names of these chess patterns.
Again, my recommendation is to complete at least 50 puzzles for each THEME.
Puzzles – Puzzles Themes for Intermediate
In this section, everyone starts with a 1500 rating. According to the US Chess Federation, “A chess rating is an estimate of your playing strength based on prior results.” Thus, proceed to the puzzle area only after you have completed the previous sections mentioned or have already gained enough experience in handling basic tactics. Try to adjust the difficulty level and by trying the easiest (-600). If you get to a point in which you can solve this level, then skip to the next level.
ChessKid: A Safe and Fun Chess Platform for Kids
ChessKid is designed especially for children to learn and enjoy chess in a safe online environment. While the platform is child-focused, it’s also a great tool for parents, teachers, and coaches to support young players.
Free Membership Features
With a free ChessKid account, children can enjoy:
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- Unlimited live chess games against other kids
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- Up to 3 puzzles per day
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- Beginner-level lessons (up to Queen Level 9)
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- A selection of beginner-friendly videos
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- Play against the first 3 levels of computer bots
These free features provide a solid starting point for young players to build essential skills and have fun while learning.
Gold Membership Benefits
Upgrading to a Gold Membership gives access to:
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- All lesson levels beyond Queen 9
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- Unlimited puzzles and puzzle duels
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- All 10 computer bot levels
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- Over 800 educational videos
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- Game review tools and computer workouts
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- Interactive classroom features for deeper learning
What’s the Bottom Line?
Although the free membership has some limits (like puzzles and videos per day), it still offers plenty of value. Lessons and games alone make it a fantastic resource for kids just starting out. For those who want to go further and unlock everything, the Gold Membership is a great next step.Upgrade to Gold Membership
Learn -Lesson at chesskid.com
I confidently say that ChessKid offers one of the best-structured chess curriculums in the world, particularly for young learners. One standout feature is the “Learn – Lessons” section, which guides students through chess concepts in a clear, step-by-step, and progressive format.
With a free membership, students can access lessons up to Queen Level 9 and complete as many as they’d like each day—there’s no daily limit, just a cap on how far they can progress.
While a Gold Membership is required to unlock lessons beyond Queen Level 9, it’s a worthwhile upgrade for those seeking full access to videos, puzzles, and advanced training tools. The video explanations that accompany each lesson are especially helpful, reinforcing key ideas and supporting a deeper understanding of more complex topics—giving students the knowledge and confidence to complete each puzzle theme successfully.
Each lesson must be completed to unlock the next, ensuring that students build their understanding in the correct sequence. Most beginners and early intermediate players benefit from progressing through Pawn Level to Knight Level. However, for more experienced young players, these early levels may feel too easy or repetitive.
To address this, ChessKid allows parents or coaches to request a level adjustment. Simply use the Contact Us form on the website or send an email to the ChessKid support team to request a level-up for students who are ready to advance. They typically allow you to level up directly to Queen Level. I highly recommend taking advantage of this option for children who are already beyond the novice level.
For any questions or support, a Contact Us link is available at the bottom of the ChessKid homepage.
In this Learn-Lessons, there are 120 levels in total, ranging from pawn level 1 to king level 45. You will be able to learn by doing puzzles.
If you decide to complete all the levels starting from the pawn level, you will always have the option to skip the videos and go straight to completing the assignments to finish the levels faster
Chess Puzzles by Theme
Chesskid has a large selection of themed chess puzzles that are easily accessible.
This access area allows you to practice a wide range of patterns. I would use the lesson area daily in conjunction with the puzzle themes.
Playing Chess Games
Chess is like learning a new language: just as language learners begin speaking from day one, chess players should start playing games from the beginning. According to World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, one of the fastest ways to improve at chess is simply to play a lot of games. Experience is the best teacher.
Encouraging children to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to actual games is essential. Peer matches—playing with classmates—are an excellent way to motivate young players. Children enjoy playing each other, and friendly competition helps boost enthusiasm and engagement. These games fuel intrinsic motivation, which is more powerful than external rewards. When a student wants to become the best in their group or beat a friend in a fair game, they’re inspired to improve.
As the saying goes, “The best way to learn is to do.” Coaches should encourage students to participate in peer games during class and to attend weekend tournaments. The atmosphere of a real competition—where prizes, rankings, and pride are at stake—often brings out a player’s best performance and sharpens their decision-making under pressure.
Online chess platforms such as ChessKid, Chess.com, and Lichess offer great opportunities to play anytime and practice skills.
Analyzing Your Games
Game analysis is one of the most valuable tools for improvement. Every player—especially beginners—should try to record their games to review them later. If the player is too young to record the full game, they can aim to write down the first 10 to 20 moves. If a mistake is made in the notation, they should skip a line and continue writing. The point is to create a record that can be used for reflection.
The purpose of game analysis is not to dwell on mistakes, but to learn from them. Chess coaches can identify where a player went wrong—whether it was a tactical blunder, a weak opening, or a poor endgame choice—and use it as a teaching moment. This method of post-game review is widely practiced in leading chess nations like Russia, Ukraine, and Armenia.
Even painful losses can become powerful learning experiences. According to World Champion José Raúl Capablanca, “You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player.”
Losing is part of the journey. Coaches should acknowledge the emotional aspect of chess. It’s okay to cry after a hard loss—it means the player cares. As a coach, I teach my students to take that emotion and turn it into motivation. Many of the strongest players I’ve taught were once children who cried after a loss but chose to keep learning and growing instead of giving up.
Analyzing losses helps players process their emotions, refocus, and come back stronger. With every review, they build resilience, deepen understanding, and move one step closer to mastery.
Key Takeaways:
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Start playing games from the beginning.
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Use peer matches and classroom games to build enthusiasm.
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Participate in weekend tournaments for experience.
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Record and analyze your games to learn from mistakes.
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Channel emotional setbacks into motivation.
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Growth in chess is built on consistency, reflection, and passion.
Analyzing your Games
Thinking Technique During a Chess Game
Chess is not just about playing your own ideas—it’s just as much about uncovering your opponent’s intentions. Each move is a conversation between two minds, trying to outmaneuver one another. If you focus only on your plan and ignore your opponent’s threats, you’re far more likely to make mistakes and lose.
To improve beyond the beginner level, you need a clear thinking process—a structured way to guide your decisions during each turn. This section presents practical strategies used by top players to strengthen decision-making, including frameworks endorsed by Grandmaster Judit Polgar and International Master Levy Rozman.
Decision-Making Process Using CCTV-PB
One of the most reliable thinking tools in chess is the CCTV-PB method:
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- Check – Identify any checks you can give or need to defend against.
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- Capture – Look for possible captures (yours or your opponent’s).
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- Threats – Spot non-capturing tactical ideas such as forks, pins, skewers, or mate threats.
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- Variations – Calculate short 2–3 move sequences to visualize potential outcomes.
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- Pawn Breaks – Consider pawn moves that open files, challenge your opponent’s structure, or gain space.
This method builds on the original CCTV framework from Master Your Chess by Judit Polgar, where she emphasizes identifying serious tactical threats early. The added PB (Pawn Breaks) component helps guide your long-term planning and positional play. This structured sequence keeps your calculation focused and efficient.
Gotham Chess’s CCA Method
In How to Win at Chess, popular educator Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess) presents a simplified approach for beginners called CCA:
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- Checks
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- Captures
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- Attacks
The CCA method encourages players to begin every calculation with the most forcing moves. It’s quick, easy to remember, and a great way to avoid blunders. While less detailed than CCTV-PB, CCA promotes the same principle: pay attention to the most critical ideas first.
Why These Methods Work
Using either method consistently trains your brain to:
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- Recognize key tactical patterns
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- Stay alert to threats and opportunities
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- Calculate short variations more accurately
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- Build confidence under pressure
Both CCTV-PB and CCA help reduce mental clutter and improve focus. Whether you prefer the thorough approach of CCTV-PB or the beginner-friendly CCA, both systems will strengthen your ability to make better decisions at the board.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Smart Moves
Step 1: Understand Your Opponent’s Move
As soon as your opponent moves, ask yourself:
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- What is my opponent’s idea?
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- Is this a quiet move or an aggressive one?
Check for immediate threats:
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- Checks
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- Checkmate threats
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- Captures
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- Tactical ideas (forks, pins, etc.)
If none of these apply, continue to Step 2.
Step 2: Improve Your Position if No Immediate Threats Exist
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- Develop or reposition your pieces to more active or useful squares.
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- Label your minor pieces (knights and bishops) as good or bad based on activity.
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- If possible, exchange your bad pieces for your opponent’s better ones.
If no piece improvement or trading options are available:
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- Identify the stage of the game (opening, middlegame, or endgame).
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- Apply stage-specific principles (e.g., central control in the opening, piece coordination in the middlegame, king activity in the endgame).
Step 3: Identify and Compare Candidate Moves
Use skimming and scanning (a quick visual scan of the board inspired by GM John Nunn):
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- Identify 2–3 candidate moves that look promising.
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- For each, consider your opponent’s best reply (especially forced ones).
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- Look for LPDO (Loose Pieces Drop Off) — unprotected or hanging pieces.
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- Do a sanity check: Re-evaluate the board one last time before you commit to a move.
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- Avoid tunnel vision: Never play a move that wasn’t on your candidate list unless you have reanalyzed it carefully.
Step 4: Create a Plan
If there’s no tactic to play, build a small plan:
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- A plan is a sequence of 2–3 logical, connected moves.
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- It might involve improving piece placement, weakening the opponent’s position, or preparing a tactical strike.
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- A good plan is flexible and responds to changes in the position.
Final Tip
Smart thinking comes from smart habits. By using structured approaches like CCTV-PB or CCA, you train yourself to make clear, disciplined decisions—even under pressure.
Remember: Smart thinking wins games!
Learn How to Evaluate a Chess Position
Evaluating a Chess Position with K-MAPS
One of the most important skills in chess is learning how to evaluate a position accurately. A good evaluation helps you understand who stands better—White or Black—and guides you in creating an effective plan.
To do this, we use the acronym K-MAPS, which stands for:
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- King Safety
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- Material Balance
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- Activity of Pieces
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- Pawn Structure
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- Space
These five elements help you assess the position by comparing both sides. For example:
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- Who has the safer king?
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- Who is ahead in material?
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- Who has more active and coordinated pieces?
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- Which side has a better pawn structure?
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- Who controls more space?
When and Why to Evaluate or Re-evaluate
You should evaluate or re-evaluate a position:
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- After every trade, even a simple pawn exchange
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- When entering a new phase of the game (e.g., from middlegame to endgame)
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- Before making any critical decision
The reason is simple: chess is dynamic. Even small changes can shift the balance. Constant re-evaluation allows you to stay updated on who has the advantage and what plans are best.
As Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion, once said:
“There are unlimited possibilities in chess, but there is a limited amount of patterns—and most of the time, good players usually find the best idea. The ability to adapt to new situations separates the best players from the second-best players.”
This quote reminds us that chess is about flexibility. Your evaluation must guide your adaptation.
Using CCTV to Guide Puzzle Solving
To make better decisions during the game or when solving puzzles, use the CCTV method, introduced by Grandmaster Judit Polgar:
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- Checks
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- Captures
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- Threats
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- Variations (short calculations of 2–3 moves)
This method ensures you’re always looking at the most forcing options first—keeping your calculations sharp and helping you spot tactical opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Accurate evaluation leads to better plans. Use K-MAPS to compare both sides and understand the position, and use CCTV to guide your calculations and find strong moves. Together, they will help you make more informed decisions, improve your tactical awareness, and adapt like the best players in the world.
Trusting Your Intuition in Chess
What Is Intuition in Chess?
In chess, intuition refers to the ability to make decisions based on pattern recognition, experience, and instinct—without needing deep calculation. It is not guesswork, but rather the result of countless hours of practice, study, and familiarity with thousands of positions.
Insights from Chess Champions
Garry Kasparov – Former World Champion
In his book How Life Imitates Chess, Kasparov argues that intuition is central to a chess player’s decision-making process. He writes:
“You have to learn to trust your intuition, which means you have to use it. Think of your intuition like a muscle. Do pushups and run. You have to strengthen it.”
Kasparov believes intuition comes before calculation. It generates candidate moves based on subconscious pattern recognition. Then, calculation is used to confirm whether those ideas hold up.
Magnus Carlsen – Current World Champion
Carlsen has frequently expressed that many of his decisions—especially in rapid and blitz games—are based on intuition. He has an uncanny ability to find strong moves without needing long reflection, thanks to years of deep experience.
Vladimir Kramnik – Former World Champion
Kramnik defines intuition as:
“The immediate awareness of the position… difficult to explain logically. Intuition in a sense depends on knowledge; the more you accumulate, the better your intuition becomes.”
In other words, intuition is informed instinct. It comes from familiarity with common patterns, structures, and themes.
Viswanathan Anand – Former World Champion
Anand also relies on intuition, especially during time trouble. He emphasizes that over time, intuition becomes more accurate and efficient, as it draws from a broader base of internalized knowledge.
What Does the Research Say?
Cognitive science backs up these ideas:
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- Studies show that expert chess players use pattern recognition and chunking to evaluate positions quickly.
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- According to psychologist Adriaan de Groot, master-level players do not calculate more than amateurs—they just recognize what matters faster.
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- Neuroscience research (e.g., Bilalić, McLeod & Gobet, 2008) has found that chess masters access long-term memory representations of familiar positions almost instantly.
These findings show that intuition is a trained skill—not magic. It’s the brain’s way of efficiently accessing stored knowledge in real-time.
How to Strengthen Your Chess Intuition
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- Solve tactical puzzles regularly – Focus on themes like forks, pins, skewers, and sacrifices.
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- Play lots of games – Both slow and rapid formats help build practical pattern exposure.
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- Analyze your own games – Especially decisions made quickly. Were they right?
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- Study master games – See how strong players handle typical positions.
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- Practice visualizing without moving pieces – This boosts internal pattern recall.
Intuition + Calculation = Strong Decisions
While intuition offers speed and flow, calculation provides accuracy and structure. Strong players balance both:
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- Use intuition to generate move ideas quickly.
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- Use calculation to test, verify, or discard them.
Final Thought
Intuition is a powerful ally in chess—but it must be trained. Trusting your gut is not about skipping work; it’s about recognizing that your unconscious mind can become your sharpest tool, if you give it enough training and experience.
“Train your intuition like a muscle. Use it. Strengthen it. Trust it.” – Garry Kasparov
