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How many games a day do you play?

Or, as Seirawan puts it, 'When most people learn to play chess, they usually memorise the movements of the pieces and then spend years pummelling away at each other with little rhyme and even less reason.' :)

Well, here are (apparently) some of the best books for various levels:
http://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/FAQ -- this is a frequently recommended guide, so you might get some mileage out of it
Hellball, if you read this thread: http://en.lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/improving-without-studying?page=2#15

We discuss the "1800 barrier".

Whilst I think you can play/do tactics up to a better than average level, there is a certain point where the gains are marginal compared to book studying. As I say in that thread, now my averages are around 1800, it is more time consuming to play to a better level when I know I can study to a higher level. As I say, it could take me another 10,000 games (and 700 hours) to make the jump from 1800 - 1900, whereas 200 hours of study could do the same.

As to German11, I can only think that he never thinks how he can improve; he probably only plays set lines and knows the first few moves. All play must have some study alongside it, so that you know how to maximise your chances of winning. However, I would also point out that 152 days is nowhere near 10,000 hours. 152 days is roughly 3,700 hours, so German11 still has another 5,300 hours to become a master ;)

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