ChessGoals Study Plans

Let us help you reach chess master!

Expert Study Plan

2000+ Chess.com Blitz, USCF, or FIDE.
Looking to reach the master level.
 2

Introduction

Hi! I’m National Master Matt Jensen.

I’ve played chess for over 30 years and coached for the last 25+ years. I obtained the
USCF National Master title at the age of 29 after years of intense study as an adult.
Subscribe to the ChessGoals YouTube Channel to get a sense of my teaching style.

I have a degree in Statistics and have combined my love of numbers and chess to form
the ChessGoals project. Survey data from over 400 chess learners guided the
recommendations in the ChessGoals study plans.

The structured 12-week study plan will give you daily activities to complete. We will do
our best to answer common questions within this plan. There are some recommended
purchases, but you can run this plan for free if you’d like to.

For support and accountability, join the ChessGoals community for as little as $5/month.
NM Matt Jensen and other study plan experts will help guide you on your journey.
 3

Getting Started
1. Setup a chess.com membership if you do not have one already.
2. Join the ChessGoals Club on chess.com and introduce yourself to the
community. Let us know how you found ChessGoals.
3. Consider joining the ChessGoals community and introduce yourself. We have
study plan channels to help guide you on your journey.
4. Have one endgame resource available. This is only about 2.5% of your chess
time or 40 minutes per week out of 7 hours. We recommend three options in the
Best Chess Endgame Books blog post.
5. This course will be using Yuspov’s Chess Evolution 3 Mastery.
6. Log your ratings here:
a. Chess.com Blitz _____
b. Chess.com Rapid _____
c. USCF _____
d. FIDE ____
 4

Tasks Explained

Rapid/Slow Games: To be played at 10+0, 15+10, or slower. These games can be

replaced by over-the-board (OTB) rated events like USCF or FIDE. At the expert level,
it’s important to test your skills in over-the-board competitions. You will need to play
OTB to earn the master title. After each game finishes, go into analysis mode and
complete game analysis.

Blitz/Bullet Games: To be played at a 3+0 time control. After each game finishes,
go into analysis mode and complete game analysis. Check out this blog post if you
aren’t a fan of blitz chess for improvement: Can blitz make you a better chess player?

Openings: Openings become very important at the expert level. You should
spend approximately 10% of your time on openings. Be very careful about how you
study openings. If you purchase a book or Chessable course, don’t complete them in
their entirety. They have far too many lines. ChessGoals opening courses are designed
to be efficient and effective. Quality Chess publishers are the recommended print books.

Create a personal repertoire in Chessbase, a Chess.com library, or a similar product.

Base the repertoire on your games.
1. Create two databases to store your notes. One is called White Repertoire, and
one is called Black Repertoire.
2. Add a ‘game’ for each opening line you’d like to reference in the databases. I
recommend about 20 lines max per database, each game accounting for 5-10%
of your games. ChessGoals opening courses can get this for you if you download
the PGN files after purchase.

Game Analysis: First, read the post on game analysis:

https://chessgoals.com/game-analysis/.
- If you decide to add bullet games, just check your openings. Bullet games are not
recommended in the plan, but feel free to add some.
- For blitz games, complete both levels 1 and 2 of the game analysis post.
- Use level 3 or level 4 of the game analysis post for slower games. Create a list of
common takeaways to notice trends and proactively think about them in future
games.
 5

Puzzle Warm-up: Start each game day with 5 minutes of puzzles. One puzzle
rush, one puzzle battle, or spending about 5 minutes on a complicated puzzle at your
rating level.

Silman’s Endgame Course: Use your physical board to practice the endgame
positions. Work through the chapters slowly and focus on your ability to calculate
everything thoroughly.
 6

Tips To Reaching OTB Master

1. Slow over-the-board is the highest priority each day. Thirty minutes or slower
should count for FIDE Classical, USCF Regular, or your country’s rating category.
These games work towards the master title. You can substitute slow
over-the-board games to replace any activities in the checklists that take a similar
amount of time. Always review OTB games.
2. Game analysis is the second most important thing you can do after playing
games. Do an excellent job in this area. Spend half of your playing time
analyzing your games. In your game review, look at openings, strategy, tactics,
and endgames.
3. To complement the slow OTB games, focus most of your online play on rapid and
blitz categories.
4. Keep organized and focused
a. List of takeaways or other game analysis notes
b. Opening repertoire files
c. Store positions that you didn’t understand in Yusupov or in games to
review later
5. Use a physical board when possible. Blitz and rapid are efficient online because
the servers log your moves. Classical, Yusupov, Endgames are nice to use on a
physical board. Calculation tactics on a physical board are best. Intuitive tactics
on a screen for speed.
6. Consider joining the ChessGoals community for help from myself and other
strong players.

Two Tracks

If you are rated under 2100, start on page 7 with the Expert Plan. Yusupov’s Build Your
Chess 3 Mastery can serve as your guide.

If you are pushing towards the 2200 level, begin on page 21 with the Master Plan.
Yusupov’s Build Your Chess 3 Mastery can also serve as your guide or move on to the
next book in the series.

After completing a 12-week schedule, reevaluate which plan you’d like to run next.
 7

EXPERT
12-WEEK PLAN
 8

Week 1 - Slow & Strategy

Start each day with your daily game. Start a new forum topic titled “X’s
Expert Plan” and replace X with your name. Once you complete the base
work for the day, move to the extra credit.

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Start study plan post In order of Priority
❏ Check daily game ❏ Classical game
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Level 4 game analysis
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) ❏ Additional rapid game
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game Any Order
❏ Play four 3+0 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Opening Review
❏ Analyze games (lvl 2) 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Endgame Review
❏ 20 minutes of tactics ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
❏ 20 minutes of endgames
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start Yusupov Chapter 1
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20+ mins of Woodpecker
tactics
 9

Week 2 - Fast & Openings

Openings this week and push to complete some extra credit.

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post Complete in order
❏ Check daily game ❏ Master game analysis
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0 ❏ Yusupov chapter
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Any Order
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Opening Review
❏ Play 45 mins. of bullet ❏ Endgame Review
❏ Analyze games (level 1) ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Setup and organize opening
repertoire files
❏ Start review of past two
weeks of openings
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish review of past two
weeks of openings
 10

Week 3 - Slow & Strategy

Try to start implementing ideas learned from reviewing your games.

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of Priority
❏ Check daily game ❏ Classical game
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Level 4 game analysis
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) ❏ Additional rapid game
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game Any Order
❏ Play four 3+0 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Opening Review
❏ Analyze games (lvl 2) 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Endgame Review
❏ 20 minutes of tactics ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
❏ 20 minutes of endgames
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start Yusupov Chapter 2
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20+ mins of Woodpecker
tactics
 11

Week 4 - Fast & Openings

One-quarter of the way done! Try analyzing some master games in your
opening repertoire if there’s time.

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post Complete in order
❏ Check daily game ❏ Master game analysis
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0 ❏ Yusupov chapter
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Any Order
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Opening Review
❏ Play 45 mins. of bullet ❏ Endgame Review
❏ Analyze games (level 1) ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start review of past two
weeks of openings
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish review of past two
weeks of openings
❏ 20+ minutes of Woodpecker
tactics
 12

Week 5 - Slow & Strategy

One-third of the way is done! Now would be a good time to compare your
ratings to where you started. You should probably see some rating gains
already, but if you don’t, it’s OK! Stick with the plan; you’ve been focused
for four weeks already. Gaining rating points at 2000+ is hard work.
Base Work Extra Credit
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of Priority
❏ Check daily game ❏ Classical game
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Level 4 game analysis
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) ❏ Additional rapid game
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game Any Order
❏ Play four 3+0 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Opening Review
❏ Analyze games (lvl 2) 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Endgame Review
❏ 20 minutes of tactics ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
❏ 20 minutes of endgames
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start Yusupov Chapter 3
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20+ mins of Woodpecker
tactics
 13

Week 6 - Fast & Openings

Almost to the halfway point! Back to openings at the end of this week.

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post Complete in order
❏ Check daily game ❏ Master game analysis
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0 ❏ Yusupov chapter
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Any Order
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Opening Review
❏ Play 45 mins. of bullet ❏ Endgame Review
❏ Analyze games (level 1) ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start review of past two
weeks of openings
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish review of past two
weeks of openings
❏ 20+ minutes of Woodpecker
tactics
 14

Week 7 - Slow & Strategy

Halfway done! Go check in on the ChessGoals Club and let the members
know how you’re doing!

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of Priority
❏ Check daily game ❏ Classical game
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Level 4 game analysis
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) ❏ Additional rapid game
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game Any Order
❏ Play four 3+0 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Opening Review
❏ Analyze games (lvl 2) 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Endgame Review
❏ 20 minutes of tactics ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
❏ 20 minutes of endgames
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start Yusupov Chapter 4
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20+ mins of Woodpecker
tactics
 15

Week 8 - Fast & Openings

At this point, you are becoming an opening guru! Keep up the good work.

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post Complete in order
❏ Check daily game ❏ Master game analysis
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0 ❏ Yusupov chapter
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Any Order
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Opening Review
❏ Play 45 mins. of bullet ❏ Endgame Review
❏ Analyze games (level 1) ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start review of past two
weeks of openings
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish review of past two
weeks of openings
❏ 20+ minutes of Woodpecker
tactics
 16

Week 9 - Slow & Strategy

2/3rds of the way done! Keep plugging along and try to get to the extra
credit when you have time.

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of Priority
❏ Check daily game ❏ Classical game
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Level 4 game analysis
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) ❏ Additional rapid game
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game Any Order
❏ Play four 3+0 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Opening Review
❏ Analyze games (lvl 2) 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Endgame Review
❏ 20 minutes of tactics ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
❏ 20 minutes of endgames
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start Yusupov Chapter 5
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20+ mins of Woodpecker
tactics
 17

Week 10 - Fast & Openings

3/4ths of the way done! Finish strong!

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post Complete in order
❏ Check daily game ❏ Master game analysis
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0 ❏ Yusupov chapter
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Any Order
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Opening Review
❏ Play 45 mins. of bullet ❏ Endgame Review
❏ Analyze games (level 1) ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start review of past two
weeks of openings
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish review of past two
weeks of openings
❏ 20+ minutes of Woodpecker
tactics
 18

Week 11 - Slow & Strategy

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of Priority
❏ Check daily game ❏ Classical game
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Level 4 game analysis
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) ❏ Additional rapid game
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game Any Order
❏ Play four 3+0 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Opening Review
❏ Analyze games (lvl 2) 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂 ❏ Endgame Review
❏ 20 minutes of tactics ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play two 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze one game (level 3) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
❏ 20 minutes of endgames
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play a 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 3)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start Yusupov Chapter 6
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20+ mins of Woodpecker
tactics
 19

Week 12 - Fast & Openings

Last week!

Base Work Extra Credit

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post Complete in order
❏ Check daily game ❏ Master game analysis
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0 ❏ Yusupov chapter
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Any Order
Day 2 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Opening Review
❏ Play 45 mins. of bullet ❏ Endgame Review
❏ Analyze games (level 1) ❏ Strategy Review
Day 3 ❏ Check daily game ❏ Chess Content
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2) If there’s still time after the
above, add more daily
Day 4 ❏ Check daily game games or slow games.
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Start review of past two
weeks of openings
Day 7 ❏ Check daily game
❏ Finish review of past two
weeks of openings
❏ 20+ minutes of Woodpecker
tactics
 20

Congrats, you’ve completed the 12-week program!

Revisit your ratings from the program's start and compare them to your current ratings.

How did you do? You can rerun this plan or move on to the next one.

Please send me an email (matt@chessgoals.com) and let me know your thoughts on

the program. Post your results on the Discord server as well!
 21

MASTER
12-WEEK PLAN
 22

Week 1 - 15+10 & Yusupov

Start a new forum topic titled “X’s Master Plan” and replace X with your
name. Once you complete the base work for the day, move to the extra
credit. OTB classical always takes priority. If you have time to increase
15+10 to 30+0 or slower, that will be beneficial. If you are short on time, it’s
better to play a 10+5 than no game. If you find your average rapid
opponent is lower-rated, that’s OK! As your rating increases, this will
happen in both rapid online and OTB events.

Base Work (7 hours) Extra Credit (7-10 hours)

Day 1 ❏ Start study plan post In order of priority
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Play one 15+10 game ❏ Analyze Classical
❏ Analyze game (level 4) game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up Game Review
❏ Play one 15+10 game ❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 4) ❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game ❏ 1.5 hours of openings
Review ❏ 30 min. of challenging
❏ 20 minutes opening review puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up mistakes
❏ Play one 15+10 game ❏ 60 Minute Master
❏ Analyze game (level 4) Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ Level 3 analysis
❏ Play one 15+10 game 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review
 23

Week 2 - 10+0 & Yusupov

Shifting a bit faster this week. Push to complete some extra credit. Extra
credit will stay the same each week.

Base Work (7 hours) Extra Credit (7-10 hours)

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of priority
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Analyze Classical
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂 game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up Game Review
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂 ❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game ❏ 1.5 hours of openings
Review ❏ 30 min. of challenging
❏ 20 minutes opening review puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up mistakes
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂 ❏ 60 Minute Master
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂 Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ Level 3 analysis
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review

Week 3 - 15+10 & Yusupov
Try to start implementing ideas learned from reviewing your games.
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game
Review
❏ 20 minutes opening review
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review
24
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of challenging
puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂

Week 4 - Blitz, Openings & Tactics
One-quarter of the way done! Try analyzing some master games in your
opening repertoire if there’s time. 3+0 games can be replaced with 5+5 or
3+2 in any of the weeks. 3+0 gets more games in but makes some players
too nervous or frustrated.
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 3 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ 60 minutes of opening
review
Day 7 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ 60 minutes of tactics training
on deeper calculation
puzzles
25
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of challenging
puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
 26

Week 5 - 15+10 & Yusupov

One-third of the way is done! Now would be a good time to compare your
ratings to where you started. You should probably see some rating gains
already, but if you don’t it’s OK! Stick with the plan... you’ve been focused
for four weeks already. Gaining at 2000+ is hard work. The weeks now
repeat the first 4 weeks on a cycle.

Base Work (7 hours) Extra Credit (7-10 hours)

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of priority
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Play one 15+10 game ❏ Analyze Classical
❏ Analyze game (level 4) game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up Game Review
❏ Play one 15+10 game ❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 4) ❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game ❏ 1.5 hours of openings
Review ❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ 20 minutes opening review ❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ 60 Minute Master
❏ Play one 15+10 game Game Review
❏ Analyze game (level 4) ❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review

Week 6 - 10+0 & Yusupov
Almost to the halfway point!
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game
Review
❏ 20 minutes opening review
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review
27
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂

Week 7 - 15+10 & Yusupov
Halfway done! Go check in on the ChessGoals Club and let the members
know how you’re doing!
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game
Review
❏ 20 minutes opening review
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review
28
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂

Week 8 - Blitz, Openings & Tactics
At this point, you are becoming an opening guru! Keep up the good work.
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 3 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ 60 minutes of opening
review
Day 7 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ 60 minutes of tactics training
on deeper calculation
puzzles
29
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
 30

Week 9 - 15+10 & Yusupov

2/3rds of the way done! Keep plugging along and try to get to the extra
credit when you have time.

Base Work (7 hours) Extra Credit (7-10 hours)

Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post In order of priority
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Play one 15+10 game ❏ Analyze Classical
❏ Analyze game (level 4) game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up Game Review
❏ Play one 15+10 game ❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 4) ❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game ❏ 1.5 hours of openings
Review ❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ 20 minutes opening review ❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up ❏ 60 Minute Master
❏ Play one 15+10 game Game Review
❏ Analyze game (level 4) ❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review

Week 10 - 10+0 & Yusupov
3/4ths of the way done! Finish strong!
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game
Review
❏ 20 minutes opening review
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play two 10+0 games 𐄂𐄂
❏ Analyze game (level 3) 𐄂𐄂
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review
31
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂

Week 11 - 15+10 & Yusupov
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 3 ❏ 40 minutes of Master Game
Review
❏ 20 minutes opening review
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play one 15+10 game
❏ Analyze game (level 4)
Day 6 ❏ Start Yusupov Chapter
Day 7 ❏ Finish Yusupov Chapter
❏ 20 minutes opening review
32
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂

Week 12 - Blitz, Openings &
Tactics
Last week!
Base Work (7 hours)
Day 1 ❏ Update study plan post
❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 2 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 3 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 4 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 5 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ Play 45 mins. of 3+0
❏ Analyze games (level 2)
Day 6 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ 60 minutes of opening
review
Day 7 ❏ 5-minute puzzle warm-up
❏ 60 minutes of tactics training
on deeper calculation
puzzles
33
Extra Credit (7-10 hours)
In order of priority
❏ Classical game(s)
❏ Analyze Classical
game(s) level 4
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 15+10 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 4 analysis 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ 1.5 hours of openings
❏ 30 min. of hard puzzles
❏ Review past Yusupov
mistakes
❏ 60 Minute Master
Game Review
❏ 5+5 games 𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
❏ Level 3 analysis
𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂𐄂
 34

Congrats on completing the 12-week program!

Revisit your ratings from the program's start and compare them to your current ratings.

How did you do? You can rerun this plan or move on to the next one.

Please send me an email (matt@chessgoals.com) and let me know your thoughts on

the program. Post your results on the Discord server as well!