---
url: 'https://dri.es/elo-1400'
title: 'Elo 1400'
author:
  name: 'Dries Buytaert'
  url: 'https://dri.es/about'
date: '2022-12-10T17:42:39-05:00'
license: 'https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/'
type: blog
summary: 'Reached a chess rating of Elo 1400 on Chess.com by studying the Four Knights opening and the Pirc defense.'
tags:
  - Chess
published: true
id: 5391
---

# Elo 1400

Today, two months after reaching [Elo 1300](https://dri.es/elo-1300) on [Chess.com](https://www.chess.com/), I reached Elo 1400.

Since reaching 1300, I decided to study two openings: [Four Nights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Knights_Game) for when I'm playing with white, and the [Pirc Defence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirc_Defence) for when I'm playing with black.

I watched some YouTube videos and memorized the top 3-5 lines for each. In practice, it is not often that my opponents follow any of the main lines that I studied. That said, I found it helpful to start each game with a basic plan.

I noticed a pattern on my path from Elo 1300 to Elo 1400: I'd make a move and then immediately realize it has problems. There were just too many: *"I could have avoided that mistake if I spent more than 15 seconds thinking!"*-moments.

I now realize that the weak point in my play isn't any theoretical knowledge of openings, but a lack of discipline before making a move. I've been trying to force myself to slow down, pick a few candidate moves, and calculate the one that is best. It has helped me blunder less.

As a next goal, I'd like to get to Elo 1500. That would take me from "decent social player" to "beginning club player". My best win to date was against a player with Elo 1488. Reaching Elo 1500 feels far off right now.

Trying to become better at chess has been a humbling experience. I'll let you know when I get to Elo 1500 – if I can get there at all.