Improvement
How I Finally Got to 2000 ELO on Chess.com
It wasn’t easy, but worth the effort. Here are 4 actionable tips to reach your online chess goals
It’s been a while since I played rated chess games online. I generally still play here and there unrated blitz games. Nonetheless, it does not compare with the excitement of gaining rating points.
Playing chess is fantastic and highly beneficial. However, rated online chess games are also addictive. That is why I avoid rated matches as much as possible to focus on my side-hustling goals.
This weekend, though, I dared to sign into my account and try to fulfill my repressed desire — to reach that 2000 rating threshold. So, I doubled down on playing at chess.com and ultimately did it!
This was a refined moment of contentment.
Before that, my rating on this platform fluctuated between 1850 to 2000, but I was rarely able to pass the 2000 bar. I fell short each time I played and was close to reaching 2000. If you play chess online, you can relate to that frustrating tendency.
So, how did I make it? What actual measures did I take to reach 2000 ELO this time?
Watch my video to find out:
If you prefer to read, here are four takeaways from my journey to inspire you to reach your chess goals:
Master Surprising Chess Openings
To improve your chess level, you need to work on all parts of the game — the opening, middle game and ending game. This is true on every level, and you should see where your weak spots are to work on more.
That being said, it’s best to double down on surprising openings in online chess. Having unexpected variations at hand will increase your winning chances versus those who are better than you. This is what I did to finally reach that 2000 threshold.
For example, I mastered an underrated yet effective response for black against e4 — the Nimzowitsch defense. I developed my approach with specific side variations that get my opponents out of their comfort zone and give me decent winning chances. This link is to a definitive YouTube guide I made on the Nimzowitsch defense.
This is only an example, however. Choose whatever unusual opening you can relate to and master it as much as possible. There are tons of YouTube tutorials on almost any opening today. Learn to respond to at least the popular first moves by white (e4, d4), and with white, you can have one or two special openings as your aces.
Here is another opening guide I made so you can surprise even strong Scotch opening players:
In blitz and rapid games online, surprising chess openings can make the difference between being stuck on your current level and stepping up to the next one.
Set a Goal That Is Slightly Above Your Level
When setting your online rating goal, go above your level but only slightly. If it goes too high, then it will be an unproductive goal. From my experience, a player progresses until getting to a specific rating level and then stops. This happened to two of my friends in real life and to me.
My chess.com rating has improved in the last three years — from 1700 to 1900. However, it was challenging to hit the mark and go above. This has made me frustrated not getting to 2000. Last year I reached this benchmark, but I quickly regressed to my previous zone. I couldn’t keep this rating for long.
Now I’m a bit better at online chess, yet I don’t know how much time I will hold in the 2000 zone. Moreover, I don’t know if I want to. As mentioned, I wish to manage my free time wisely and focus on my side-hustling goals.
If improving your chess rating matters, you should set ambitious goals but not too much. For example, if you feel stuck in the 1800 range, try first to reach the 1850 mark and work on your chess. Then, focus on your opening arsenal and practice chess puzzles for pattern recognition. Finally, raise the bar again when you feel competitive enough under the new rating range.
Become Obsessive about Your Goal
This is a double edge tip but essential to reach your chess goal.
First, don’t buy the excuses you might tell yourself you can’t do it. Instead, improve your chess and groundhog your goal. Play chess. Then play some more. And more — until you reach that goal you set.
It’s not easy and can take some time — from days, weeks, months, to even years, but gradual goal setting and working on your chess fundamentals should eventually bring success.
It all comes down to dedication and priorities. Ask yourself how chess is essential to you now and how much you will sacrifice for it. Yes, that means staying awake at night sometimes to hit that new rating. Don’t give up, and zero in on your chess.
Also, try to focus on just one time control. If you are best at blitz chess, play only blitz. If blitz makes you anxious as it does to me, chill out on rapid 10/10 minutes of chess. Be aware that more extended time controls might take too much to see improvements as you’ll play fewer matches.
It would be best for your chess if you were obsessed with the improvement until you get it. That is not to say being obsessed with the goal itself, but with the process of achieving it.
Be mindful of what works for you better — which opening and time control bring you more victories? How many games can you tolerate a day? Answer these questions and focus on your aces.
Take a Break and Avoid Burnout
This tip contradicts the previous one. Sorry to confuse you. Nevertheless, life is complex, and so is your lane to reaching your chess goals. The key is to find your ideal balance for playing online.
Unlike other activities, chess can become addictive in an unproductive way. For example, I’m happy after a prolonged streak of wins and angry after a streak of lost games. When I lose a lot, I must win at least one game to protect my ego, leading me to play like a zombie.
At this point, I usually lose many rating points. I don’t just lose games but also lose my peace of mind, which is crucial for chess. Then I also tend to neglect what works better for me. Therefore, taking breaks is critical — after wins and especially lost streaks. Breathing fresh air outside, talking to a friend, or doing any other activity would indirectly help you improve your chess results.
Taking a break also means stopping playing occasionally — for a few days or weeks. This way, your mind restores its “chess cells,” and you come back refreshed and sharper. I don’t know why it works for me scientifically, but it works, and this is what matters.
Final Words
Reaching 2000 ELO at chess.com was challenging. It has made me dedicate an entire weekend to just that. Yes, that includes playing rapid chess again and again for hours.
Being obsessed with my chess goals productively helped me hit the mark. I loved developing unusual openings to get my opponents out of their comfort zone. That played a significant role in reaching my chess goal too.
Focusing on chess and dedicating most of your time to chess is needed to overcome level barriers. However, that’s not good advice for general well-being or achieving your REAL goals in life.
Being hyper-focused on my chess goals was the main reason I delayed my other plans. I still try to balance my chess hobby with my other goals. For now, I am back to avoiding online chess and playing it only on some weekends.
I hope you find this article valuable and are inspired to reach the online chess rating you aim for!
To learn my chess openings to surprise your opponents, along with side hustling stuff to grow your brand, check my YouTube channel.
If you are serious about reaching 2000 ELO, you can check this FREE structured chess study plan by GM Igor Smirnov.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in the article are affiliate links. I’ll get a kickback if you purchase something through these links (at no additional cost to you).
