Reach 1500 Elo in Chess
16 weeks · 3 milestones
Achieve and maintain a 1500 Elo rating on Chess.com or Lichess.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Develop a working command of intermediate chess tactics (discovered attacks, zwischenzugs, overloading, deflection, interference) beyond the basic fork/pin/skewer level, and learn a small opening repertoire (1–2 opening systems for both White and Black) sufficient to reach a playable middlegame reliably. The 1000–1500 Elo range is where chess complexity expands substantially: basic tactical patterns are now expected, and improvement requires both more complex combinations and understanding why opening moves make sense, not just memorising sequences. The milestone requires a documented tactics training log (500+ intermediate puzzles) and a brief note describing two opening systems and the key plans in the resulting positions.
Proof required
Submit: (1) a Lichess or Chess.com puzzle section screenshot showing 500+ intermediate-level tactics completed, and (2) a note of 150+ words describing two opening systems (one as White, one as Black) and the key plans in each — what does each side want to do in the middlegame?
What gets checked
- 500+ intermediate puzzles documented — puzzles must be at intermediate difficulty (Lichess puzzles rated 1200–1600, or Chess.com puzzles at a level appropriate for a 1000 Elo player); the puzzle system on both platforms adjusts automatically to the player's rating level
- Opening note describes plans, not just moves — writing out the first 5 moves of an opening is not equivalent to describing what each side wants to achieve; the plans and ideas are the requirement, not the move sequence
- Two complete systems — one opening for White and one for Black must be described; a note covering only one colour is incomplete
Resources
Enroll free to unlock learning resources →Mastery
Chess.com — Opening Lessons
Free — the opening pages include key plans and middlegame themes for all major systems; use them to prepare the plans section of the milestone note
Unlocks after completing Foundation + Depth