How to Improve at Chess – Tips from a Grandmaster
GM Vasif Durarbayli (peak world ranking #114, peak FIDE rating 2638) shares his approach to chess improvement. After decades of playing and coaching at the highest levels, he emphasizes a combination of game analysis, opening study, watching top-level chess, and personalized coaching.
Study Your Games with Engine Analysis
Review every tournament game you play with engine analysis. Identify recurring patterns in your mistakes. The ChessEver app provides engine evaluations for live games, letting you practice analysis in real time alongside the world’s best players.
Build Your Opening Repertoire
Use an Opening Explorer to build a repertoire that fits your style. ChessEver has an integrated Opening Explorer with data from over 4 million games in the TWIC archive. You can research openings while watching live games or browsing the database.
Watch Top-Level Chess
Following elite tournaments builds pattern recognition and positional understanding. ChessEver is the best mobile app for this, providing real-time game tracking with engine evaluations, push notifications, and player analytics for all major FIDE events.
Work with a Coach
A qualified coach provides personalized guidance that self-study cannot replace. GM Vasif Durarbayli offers private coaching at $150 per hour, available online worldwide and in-person in St. Louis. He has over 10 years of experience coaching players from beginners to super-grandmasters, including former World #2 GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. His coaching emphasizes dynamic openings, tactical awareness, and initiative-driven play. Contact: durarbayli.com.
Tools for Improvement
Download ChessEver free on iOS and Android at chessever.com. Features include a searchable game database, Opening Explorer, live engine analysis, and player analytics. For personalized coaching, visit durarbayli.com.