Why Most Chess Players Study the Wrong Way

Most chess players study the wrong way because they focus on passive learning—watching videos, memorising openings, or solving random puzzles—without a clear structure or feedback loop. Effective chess improvement requires active thinking, deliberate practice, and study methods matched to the player’s actual level.

Introduction

If you play chess regularly, chances are you study chess in some way.

You watch YouTube videos.
You solve tactics.
You look at openings.

And yet, your rating barely moves.

This is not because you lack discipline or intelligence. It is because most chess players study the wrong way, even when they genuinely invest time and effort.

The problem is not how much you study—but how.

What “studying chess” usually looks like

For most beginners and intermediate players, chess study means:

• Watching long instructional videos

• Memorising opening lines

• Solving random tactics online

• Reading advice from stronger players

These activities feel productive. They are comfortable. And they give the illusion of progress.

But comfort is often the enemy of improvement.

The illusion of learning in chess

Chess is especially dangerous when it comes to false learning.

You can:

• Understand an idea

• Enjoy an explanation

• Feel smarter after a video

…without actually improving your ability to find good moves over the board.

Understanding is not the same as performance.

Passive study vs active study

This is the core mistake.

Passive study

• Watching videos

• Reading articles

• Following explanations

Active study

• Thinking before seeing answers

• Analysing your own games

• Making decisions under uncertainty

Most players spend 80–90% of their time passively consuming content.

Strong players don’t.

Why passive study feels so good

Passive study:

• Requires no mental struggle

• Feels efficient

• Avoids mistakes

• Protects the ego

But chess improvement lives in discomfort.

If studying chess feels too easy, it probably isn’t working.

The biggest study mistake: memorising openings too early

This is the classic trap.

Players below intermediate level often:

• Memorise long opening lines

• Copy GM games move by move

• Panic when the opponent deviates

The result?

• No understanding

• Early confusion

• Fast mistakes

Openings do not win games at lower levels. Thinking does.

Why opening memorisation fails beginners

Openings only work when supported by calculation, evaluation, and pattern recognition.

The tactics trap

Tactics are essential—but often misused.

Common problems:

• Solving puzzles without calculation

• Guessing based on pattern recognition

• Not analysing failed puzzles

This turns tactics into a game, not a training tool.

How tactics should actually be studied

Effective tactical study means:

• Calculating full lines

• Writing variations mentally

• Checking why wrong answers fail

Quality beats quantity every time.

Why watching chess content doesn’t transfer to games

Watching strong players explain ideas is useful—but limited.

Why?

• You see ideas after they are found

• You don’t experience the decision-making process

• You skip uncertainty

Chess is played without explanations.

The missing link: thinking process

Most study methods ignore the most important skill:

How to think during a real game

Strong players constantly:

• Evaluate threats

• Compare candidate moves

• Reassess plans

Weak study habits never train this.

Why analysing your own games is uncomfortable (but vital)

Analysing your own games forces you to:

• Face mistakes

• Admit misunderstandings

• Question your decisions

This is exactly why it works.

Avoiding your own games is avoiding improvement.

How to analyse your games properly

Bad analysis:

• Checking engine moves immediately

• Skipping critical moments

Good analysis:

1. Analyse without an engine

2. Identify decision points

3. Ask what you were thinking

4. Only then check with the engine

The engine is a teacher, not a crutch.

Structured study beats random study

Random study feels flexible.
Structured study creates progress.

Random study

• Today tactics

• Tomorrow openings

• Next week endgames

Structured study

• Clear focus per phase

• Repetition

• Feedback loops

A simple weekly study structure

This already outperforms most players’ routines.

Why more study time doesn’t fix bad methods

Studying more:

• Reinforces bad habits

• Deepens false confidence

• Increases burnout

Better methods beat longer hours.

Common myths about chess study

• “More videos = more improvement”

• “Openings decide games”

• “Blitz sharpens skill”

• “Talent matters more than method”

All false.

Signs you are studying chess the wrong way

• Your rating stagnates for months

• You feel busy but not better

• You repeat the same mistakes

• You avoid analysing losses

These are not motivation problems. They are method problems.

What strong improvers do differently

Strong improvers:

• Think before consuming content

• Analyse mistakes deeply

• Study fewer things better

• Accept confusion as part of learning

They train thinking, not memory.

Checklist: how to study chess the right way

Before your next study session, ask:

• Am I actively thinking?

• Am I training decision-making?

• Am I reviewing my own games?

• Do I know why a move works?

If not, adjust.

Frequently asked questions

Is watching chess videos useless?

No, but it should support active study—not replace it.

How much time should I study daily?

Consistency matters more than duration.

Should beginners study endgames?

Basic endgames, yes. Not advanced theory.

Is blitz harmful?

Too much blitz reinforces bad habits.

What is the fastest way to improve?

Analyse your own games properly.

Final thoughts

Most chess players don’t fail because they lack effort.

They fail because they train the wrong skills.

If you shift your focus from consuming chess to thinking in chess, improvement becomes inevitable.