Strategy & Planning Training Plan Template – Positional Understanding
This template gives you a practical framework for training strategy and planning in chess: learning how to improve your pieces, use pawn structures, and make strong long-term decisions. Where tactics decide the game in one blow, strategy decides which positions you reach in the first place.
Use this plan if you often feel:
- Unsure where to play (king-side, queen-side, or centre)
- Unclear on which pawn breaks to aim for
- That you are “drifting” without a real plan
- Outplayed slowly in quiet positions
🎯 Core Objectives of Strategy & Planning Training
This section outlines the core strategy skills to train, from understanding pawn structures and improving piece activity to creating weaknesses and choosing the right exchanges.
- Understand pawn structures and typical plans
- Improve piece activity and coordination
- Create and exploit weaknesses (squares, pawns, files)
- Know when to exchange pieces and when to keep tension
- Build realistic plans based on the needs of the position
🧱 Structure of the Strategy Training Plan
- 2–3 strategy sessions per week (20–45 minutes each)
- Mix of:
- Model game study
- Pawn structure themes
- “Guess-the-move” exercises
- Strategic review of your own games
Strategy training is most effective when done calmly and thoughtfully. You are training judgement, not speed.
📌 Key Strategic Themes to Study
1. Pawn Structure & Weaknesses
- Weak pawns (isolated, doubled, backward)
- Open files and half-open files
- Outposts for knights and strong squares for pieces
- Pawn majorities and minority attacks
2. Piece Activity & Coordination
- Improving your worst-placed piece
- Rooks on open files and 7th rank
- Good vs bad bishops
- Knights on outposts vs passive knights
3. Exchanges & Imbalances
- When to trade pieces (relieving pressure vs simplifying to a good endgame)
- Keeping tension vs clarifying the position
- Exchanging strong pieces vs weak pieces
4. Typical Plans from Common Structures
- IQP (isolated queen’s pawn) positions
- Hedgehog formations
- Caro–Kann / French pawn chains
- c3–d4 centre structures (e.g. Colle / London-type)
📚 Model Game Study Routine
Model games are one of the best tools for learning strategy. Use this simple routine:
- Choose a game with clear strategic themes (Capablanca, Karpov, Petrosian, Carlsen are great sources).
- Play through the opening quickly until both sides are developed.
- From there, go move by move and:
- Pause at each move and ask: “What is the idea?”
- Try to guess the next move for the winning side.
- Note down key plans and pawn breaks.
- At the end, write 2–3 bullet points describing the game’s main strategic lessons.
📅 Example Weekly Strategy Schedule
- Day 1: 20–30 minutes model game study (guess-the-move)
- Day 3: 20–30 minutes pawn structure theme (e.g. IQP) + 1 example game
- Day 5: 20–30 minutes review of your own games focusing on strategy
You can add more days or extend sessions as your energy and schedule allow. The key is regular exposure to good strategic play.
🔍 Strategic Review of Your Own Games
Pick one of your recent games and ask:
- Where did the pawn structure change and why?
- Did I improve my worst-placed piece regularly?
- Were my exchanges helping my position or my opponent’s?
- Did I aim at clear targets (weak pawns, squares, king) or play “aimless” moves?
Write down recurring issues such as: playing without a plan, exchanging the wrong pieces, or creating your own weaknesses. These become your personal strategy themes to work on.
Strong strategic understanding lets you guide the game into positions that suit you, create long-term advantages, and convert them with confidence. This plan gives you a clear path to building that understanding over time.