How to improve your chess rating, by rating band
Find the band that matches your Lichess rating, from 600 to 2400. Each page shows how games at that level end, the openings and puzzle themes that are common there, and a weekly routine for 3, 6 or 10 hours. The numbers come from public Lichess games and puzzles.
Which improvement plan matches my rating?
Use the lower of your blitz and rapid ratings if they differ, since the bands are drawn from games in those time controls. There is one page for every 200 points from 600 to 2400.
| Rating band | Games counted | Ended on time | Average length (moves) | Most common puzzle theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 to 800 | 23,283 | 21.0% | 26.1 | Mate in 1 |
| 800 to 1000 | 82,202 | 19.9% | 28.3 | Mate in 1 |
| 1000 to 1200 | 165,494 | 19.3% | 30.3 | Mate in 2 |
| 1200 to 1400 | 255,171 | 18.8% | 31.9 | Mate in 2 |
| 1400 to 1600 | 327,869 | 18.8% | 33.4 | Fork |
| 1600 to 1800 | 345,536 | 19.9% | 35.0 | Fork |
| 1800 to 2000 | 260,613 | 21.9% | 36.4 | Fork |
| 2000 to 2200 | 114,990 | 23.6% | 37.6 | Defensive move |
| 2200 to 2400 | 33,486 | 24.0% | 39.3 | Defensive move |
What do the plans have in common?
Each plan rests on the same four habits: practice tactics in short sessions, play games slowly enough to apply what you learn, review your own losses, and study the endgame and opening ideas that your games reach. What changes from band to band is the mix. Lower down, tactics and avoiding blunders take the largest share; further up, preparation and reviewing games with a stronger player take more.
Where do these numbers come from?
Game figures come from the Lichess open database: rated Blitz, Rapid and Classical games played on 1 September 2026 (UTC) between players within 100 rating points of each other, placed in a band by the lower of the two ratings. Puzzle figures come from the Lichess puzzle database as it stood on 2 October 2026. Puzzle ratings are their own scale and are not game ratings, so the puzzle band with the same numbers is a guide to difficulty, not a match for your playing strength.
The weekly routines are our own advice. They are a starting point to adjust to your schedule and your games, and they make no promise about how long a rating gain takes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I improve my chess rating?
Practice tactics regularly, play slower games, review every loss to find the move where it turned, and study the endgames and opening ideas that your own games reach. The page for your rating band gives the mix and a weekly routine.
Which rating should I use to pick a band?
Your Lichess rating in blitz or rapid, whichever is lower. A rating from another site or from FIDE is a different scale, and this site publishes no conversion.
Can a coach help more than self-study?
A coach can find the weakness that repeats across your games, which is hard to see alone. The first lesson with George Li starts from your own games and ends with a written study plan.
Sources
- Lichess open database, standard rated games (CC0), file for September 2026, read 2026-10-22
- Lichess puzzle database (CC0), read 2026-10-22
Related guides and tools
- How to improve from 600 to 800 in chess
- How to improve from 800 to 1000 in chess
- How to improve from 1000 to 1200 in chess
- How to improve from 1200 to 1400 in chess
- How to improve from 1400 to 1600 in chess
- How to improve from 1600 to 1800 in chess
- How to improve from 1800 to 2000 in chess
- How to improve from 2000 to 2200 in chess
- How to improve from 2200 to 2400 in chess
- Average chess rating and a good chess rating
- Most popular chess openings and win rates
- Chess terms glossary
- Book your first lesson
Last updated 2026-10-22.
Want a plan built from your own games?
Start with a first lesson: George reviews your games, reads your level and ends with a written study plan.
Cancel or reschedule a lesson up to 24 hours ahead by replying to the email that set it up, and it stays on your package.