How to improve from 1200 to 1400 in chess
To improve from 1200 to 1400, practice calculation by listing the checks, captures and threats for both sides before each move, and give your moves a plan. Then follow the weekly routine below for the hours you have. Among 255,171 rated Lichess games between players rated 1200 to 1400 on 1 September 2026, 18.8% ended on time and the average game lasted 32 moves, and the most common puzzle theme is mate in 2.
What should a player rated 1200 to 1400 work on first?
Calculation becomes the main skill. For each move, list the checks, captures and threats for both sides before you choose, and take the time to look one move further than feels necessary. Pair that with king safety and with the idea of a plan, such as which pawn break or which piece to improve, so you are not moving without a purpose.
The sections below show what the data say about games and puzzles at this level, and the last one turns it into a weekly routine you can adjust.
How do games end at 1200 to 1400?
18.8% of the games in this band were decided by the clock rather than on the board, and White scored 52.0% with a margin of 0.2 points. The table sets the band beside its neighbors.
| Rating band | Games | Ended on time | Average length (moves) | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 to 1200 | 165,494 | 19.3% | 30.3 | 51.9% |
| 1200 to 1400 | 255,171 | 18.8% | 31.9 | 52.0% |
| 1400 to 1600 | 327,869 | 18.8% | 33.4 | 51.8% |
Which openings do players rated 1200 to 1400 play most?
The five most played opening families in this band make up 35.7% of its games. A score near 52.0%, the average for the band, means the opening does not stand out; the last column says whether White's score is clearly above or below that average once the margin is allowed for, and fewer games mean a wider margin.
| Opening | Games | Share of games | White score | Against the band average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Pawn Game | 26,751 | 10.5% | 52.6% | No clear difference |
| Sicilian Defense | 17,748 | 7.0% | 50.6% | Below |
| Italian Game | 16,824 | 6.6% | 51.8% | No clear difference |
| French Defense | 15,087 | 5.9% | 50.7% | Below |
| Scandinavian Defense | 14,573 | 5.7% | 52.3% | No clear difference |
Which puzzle themes are most common at 1200 to 1400?
Among the 740,507 Lichess puzzles whose puzzle rating lies between 1200 and 1400, mate in 2 is the most common theme (15.7% of the puzzles), followed by fork and mate in 1. A puzzle can carry several themes, so the shares add up to more than 100 percent.
| Theme | Puzzles | Share of the band |
|---|---|---|
| Mate in 2 | 116,550 | 15.7% |
| Fork | 107,497 | 14.5% |
| Mate in 1 | 86,259 | 11.6% |
| Kingside attack | 64,687 | 8.7% |
| Pin | 51,809 | 7.0% |
| Sacrifice | 51,399 | 6.9% |
| Discovered attack | 48,075 | 6.5% |
| Advanced pawn | 44,005 | 5.9% |
| Deflection | 41,694 | 5.6% |
| Rook endgame | 38,797 | 5.2% |
What does a weekly routine look like at 3, 6 and 10 hours?
Pick the column that matches the time you really have. The rows add up to the hours at the top of each column, and the last column gives the reason for each row.
| Activity | 3 hours | 6 hours | 10 hours | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tactics puzzles | 55 minutes | 100 minutes | 145 minutes | Calculation moves a rating in this range, and puzzles train it in short, checkable steps. |
| Slow games | 50 minutes | 100 minutes | 145 minutes | Longer games train clock management, which decides many games here. |
| Reviewing your own games | 40 minutes | 75 minutes | 125 minutes | Find the move where the game turned, ask what you missed and write the lesson down. |
| Endgame study | 15 minutes | 35 minutes | 70 minutes | Rook endings and converting an advantage win the points a good middlegame earned. |
| Opening repertoire | 10 minutes | 25 minutes | 55 minutes | A small repertoire you understand saves clock time and avoids early trouble. |
| Lessons and model games | 10 minutes | 25 minutes | 60 minutes | Plans, pawn structures and weak squares are easier to learn from annotated games. |
Where do these numbers come from?
Lichess games on 1 September 2026 between players within 100 rating points, banded by the lower rating, and the Lichess puzzle database of 2 October 2026. The routines are our own advice. The hub page explains the method in full.
Frequently asked questions
How do I improve from 1200 to 1400?
To improve from 1200 to 1400, practice calculation by listing the checks, captures and threats for both sides before each move, and give your moves a plan. The weekly routine on this page splits your hours across tactics, slow games, game review, endgames, openings and lessons.
How long does it take to get from 1200 to 1400?
No source can say. Players improve at very different speeds, and what you do each week matters more than the calendar. The routines above give a structure, and reviewing your own games shows whether it is working.
Should a player rated 1200 to 1400 study openings?
Yes, in moderation. A small repertoire you understand saves clock time and avoids early disadvantages, and it grows from the lines your own games reach.
Are puzzle ratings the same as game ratings?
No. Lichess puzzle ratings are a separate scale from game ratings, so a puzzle rating of 1200 does not mean a playing strength of 1200.
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 1000 to 1200 in chess
- How to improve from 1400 to 1600 in chess
- How to improve your chess rating, by rating band
- Chess opening statistics for players rated 1200 to 1599
- Is a 1300 chess rating good?
- Fork in chess
- Pin in chess
- Sacrifice in chess
- Discovered attack in chess
- Deflection in chess
- Rook endgame in chess
- Chess ratings explained
- Book your first lesson
Last updated 2026-10-22.
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