The Chess Improvement Cycle – From Coach Reuben Salimu

Inspired by the principles of Look → Learn → Practice → Correct

At the African Chess Lounge, we believe that anyone can grow in chess — no matter your age, background, or current level. Improvement comes down to applying a simple and powerful cycle:

Look → Learn → Practice → Correct

This four-step system, inspired by the timeless approach from The Way to Happiness, can guide you to consistent progress in chess and in life.

Let’s explore how it works in your chess journey:

👀 Step 1: Look

Before anything else, you must observe. This means paying attention to the game. Watch strong players. Study games. Look at the positions and ideas that make a difference.

Looking trains your awareness. It sharpens your ability to see the board clearly, recognize patterns, and identify what matters in each phase of the game — opening, middlegame, and endgame.

📘 Step 2: Learn

Once you’ve looked, now it’s time to learn. This is where you take in new information — tactics, strategies, principles, and concepts.

Study:

Basic and advanced opening principles
Tactical themes like forks, pins, and skewers
Endgame fundamentals
Key attacking and defensive ideas
How to convert an advantage

Learning gives you the tools you need to handle different positions confidently and avoid common traps.

🎯 Step 3: Practice

Learning must be followed by practice. Reading or watching is not enough — you must play to fully understand.

When you play:

You see how your knowledge holds up under pressure
You build experience through trial and error
You learn to manage your time and emotions

This is how theory becomes skill. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes — they’re part of the process.

🔧 Step 4: Correct

Finally, you must correct your errors.

This is where real progress happens. Go back to your games, find your mistakes, and fix them. That could mean:

Reviewing your games with a coach or software
Noting recurring mistakes and working on them
Re-studying concepts you misunderstood
Adjusting your thinking and decision-making

Those who fail to correct end up repeating the same errors over and over again. Correction turns experience into growth.

🔄 Repeat the Cycle

This cycle is not done once — it’s ongoing.

Look → Learn → Practice → Correct → Repeat.

Each time you go through the cycle, you grow stronger. Your understanding deepens, your reactions sharpen, and your confidence increases.

💡 Final Thought from Coach Reuben

Improving in chess is not magic. It’s a process.

Apply this formula with patience and purpose, and you will get better — not just as a chess player, but as a thinker.

Let’s build not only strong players, but strong minds.

Coach Reuben Salimu