Ep. 181: Why "Just Playing a Lot" is a Chess Improvement Myth episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 15, 2026 · 39 MIN

Ep. 181: Why "Just Playing a Lot" is a Chess Improvement Myth

from The Chess Angle · host Long Island Chess Club

Many adult chess improvers start with the same plan: just play a lot of games and the rating will climb. At first, that actually works - until it doesn't. In this episode, we talk about why the "just play more games" philosophy causes most amateurs to eventually hit a plateau and why deliberate study is the key to breaking through it. Referenced: Research Study (2005): The Role of Deliberate Practice in Chess Expertise Reddit Post (2024): What rating would the average person reach if they played daily but never studied? 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) Buy Me a Coffee

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Ep. 181: Why "Just Playing a Lot" is a Chess Improvement Myth

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This episode was published on March 15, 2026.

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Many adult chess improvers start with the same plan: just play a lot of games and the rating will climb. At first, that actually works - until it doesn't. In this episode, we talk about why the "just play more games" philosophy causes most amateurs...

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