How I Raised 400 Rating Points with ChessMood Method

You set a goal. You have a plan. You’re ready for action.
And then, reality hits. Hard. Familiar story?

This is exactly what happened to me.

Today, I want to share a story with you — not just about how I raised 400 rating points with the ChessMood method in a chess variant, but also about the challenges I faced that you probably face too, the ups and downs, and a few confessions that I think you'll love!

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About two years ago, perfectionism punched me in the face (again). 

But this time, I didn’t mind. I was gearing up for a big project: creating the ultimate beginner chess course. A course so good, it would take someone from 0 to 1,000 guaranteed.

Sure, I could’ve finished it in a few weeks. But would it be perfect? Nope. And “good enough” wasn’t in my vocabulary. 

So, I went all in.

I became obsessed with understanding how beginners think. I read books on how we learn, dove into neuroscience, and took a few courses. But something still felt off.

If I wanted to build the perfect course, I couldn’t just think like a beginner. I had to become one.

The Beginner’s Mindset

At first, I considered learning Go. It felt exotic, mysterious, and frankly, kind of cool. The plan? Use all the learning methods I’d been researching, sprinkle in the ChessMood method, and get myself to an amateur level.

But then Bughouse crashed into my life.

Bughouse is a chess variant played in teams of two, where captured pieces are passed to your partner to use on their board, even for checkmate.

This isn’t an insane position. It's standard for Bughouse. lol

My Humble Beginnings in Bughouse

Here’s the thing: I wasn’t just bad at Bughouse. I was terrible. 

In my first 20 games, I got mated in 10 to 20 moves, max.

And not by titled players or anything — I was getting destroyed by players with ratings below 2,000 in regular chess.

After about 50 games, something clicked. I finally understood how the game worked. My rating stabilized at 1,800, and... I fell in love.

I was a beginner again. No openings, no patterns, and even the pieces' value felt different in Bughouse. (Spoiler: They are!)

That’s when I decided, “Let’s do this.”

The Challenge: 400 Rating Points

I set a goal: climb from 1,800 to 2,200 in Bughouse using everything I preach at ChessMood. It was time to walk the talk. 

One hour a day. That’s all I’d give myself. I wanted to experience the grind that most adult improvers face — limited time, limited energy, and big dreams.  

The Plan 

My strategy was simple (on paper):

• Study-Practice-Fix: My go-to method for improvement in chess — and life.
• Find a mentor: Because great teachers save you years of trial and error.
• Study the right stuff: Quality over quantity, always.
• Detach from results: Play for growth, not ratings.
• Analyze everything: Wins, losses, blunders—each game was a lesson.
• Enjoy the process: Gaining 400 rating points wouldn’t be worth it if I tortured myself along the way.

And the grind started, soon to meet lots of challenges!

Challenge #1: No Coaches, No Courses, No Clue

Finding a good mentor and studying from solid sources? Great plan! Absolutely brilliant, on paper.

But as they say, “No plan survives first contact with reality.”

Here’s what I discovered: Bughouse, despite being one of the most popular chess variants, is a wild, untamed land. No courses. No books. No coaches. Google? Useless.

Every time I was paired with a strong partner, I’d hop into the chat, hoping for a resource.
“Hey, any good courses on Bughouse?”
“We all learn by playing,” they’d reply. Every. Single. Time.

And sure, playing helps. But just playing? It’s like trying to win a marathon by jogging a mile a day. Improvement is slow, painfully slow. And there’s a ceiling you can’t break through without guidance.

But I wasn’t about to settle for that. There had to be a way to hack the system.

Something is Better Than Nothing 

After endless searching, I finally struck gold — or at least bronze. A blog on chess.com.

It wasn’t a treasure trove, but it was something.

The writer from Bulgaria, with the nickname “Sorsi,” has written some articles. No structured courses… but for someone like me, desperate for guidance, it felt like finding water in the desert.

I read all of them and learned lots of stuff.

For example:

• A queen isn’t worth 9 pawns in Bughouse. It’s closer to 6. (Yes, Bughouse flips chess logic on its head.)
   
• Castling? Dangerous. In Bughouse, kings are often safer in the center, surrounded by pieces. Castle too soon, and enemy pieces will rain down like a meteor shower.
   
• Moves like Qe7 or Rg8 on the first moves — things that would raise eyebrows in classical chess — are totally normal here.

I had to unlearn a ton of classical chess habits while picking up brand-new ones.

I learned some tactical and mating patterns, attacking and defending ones! 

Like this one:

See Example

Seems Black is winning? Nope.

You put Knight on h6! If they take it, you put the Rook on h8, mate! 

And if 1…Kh8, then you put the Rook on g8, and then deliver a beautiful Smothered Mate with a Knight.

The problem — it wasn’t structured learning, plus I inhaled the material in just two days. But already, I could feel a difference. My rating, too. 

Slowly but surely, I crossed the 1,900 mark.

Challenge #2: Building Bughouse Openings from Scratch

In Bughouse, not knowing openings is like walking into a battlefield with a water gun. You get crushed. Fast.

And guess what? There’s no magical Bughouse opening database, no YouTube gurus breaking it down, and no mentors to guide you step-by-step.

I wished someone had created a Bughouse opening course like we do at ChessMood — where every move is explained, and the plans are broken down. But no, I was on my own. 

The Mad Scientist Approach

I took what I could from Sorsi’s articles (which, to be honest, were more “introductory vibes” than actual explanations), and I rolled up my sleeves.

Step 1: Make my own PGN files.
Step 2: Analyze them like a chemist concocting some wild potion in the lab. 

Yeah, I was mad and had my Bughouse PGNs, haha

After every session, I’d sit down and compare my games to my files.
(Unfortunately, our FixMood feature doesn’t work in Bughouse. lol)

• What worked?
• What didn’t?
• How could I tweak it to improve?

I’d test these “experiments” in my next games, refine them, and repeat. It was like being a one-man Bughouse research department.

Learning the Hard Way

I also reviewed my games immediately after playing. If I lost, I’d ask, “Why?”
If I missed a checkmate, I’d figure out how I could’ve landed it.

And here’s the kicker: Bughouse doesn’t have the luxury of a connected engine like chess.com games. No “You blundered” pop-ups. 

It’s all manual work. 

But okay, the results came… 

Armed with my amateur openings (sometimes 5 moves deep), I went from being knocked out in 80% of games to surviving that stage 80% of the time.

With each practice session and analysis, my rating climbed. 

Slowly but surely, I hit the next milestone: 2,000!

Challenge #3: The Plateau Problem

Reaching 2,000 in Bughouse felt amazing — until it didn’t.

It’s a serious rating, like being a 2,500 blitz monster on chess.com. The competition gets fierce. No more beginners. Your opponents know the openings, the patterns, and — let’s be honest — they probably play more Bughouse in a week than I did in a month.

To beat them, I needed something extra. Something I wasn’t doing.

“Hello, plateau! Haven’t seen you in a while. How’s life?”
“Welcome, Avo! Let’s hang out for a bit.”

Hmmm, no thanks.

The Real Challenge: Time

I had to change something.

One obvious solution would be to double my practice time — go from one hour a day to two. But I had already committed to staying in the shoes of most chess enthusiasts: limited time, big dreams. 

The goal wasn’t just to hit 2,200. It was to do it with just one hour a day, the way most adult improvers juggle chess with their jobs, families, and lives.

So, I needed to think smarter, not harder.

The Power of Asking  

I read about a study once. It found that people think they’ll get help only 30% of the time when they ask. The real number? Closer to 80%.

We underestimate how much people want to help because we overthink it. 

But here’s the truth: Most people don’t mind. In fact, they feel good helping. 

I decided to test it. 

Every time I hit “Play” and was paired with a stronger partner, I had a secret weapon: a copy-paste message ready to go.

“Hey! I’m a Grandmaster at chess, but a beginner here. Excuse me if my moves disappoint you. Feel free to advise and help me during and between the games.”

And let me tell you, the magic of asking combined with the shiny “GM” title next to my nickname Avetik_ChessMood, worked wonders.

People didn’t just tolerate me; they taught me! 

• How to coordinate better with my partner.
• Subtle nuances about defending and attacking that I’d never have noticed.
• Tricks and ideas that would’ve taken me years to figure out on my own.

Voila! Another + 50 points.

I crossed 2,050!

Finding My Hero

One day, one of my kind partners dropped a game-changing suggestion:

“Hey, you should watch streams of strong Bughouse players. Here’s a link.”

And just like that, I discovered my hero.

In chess, every player has their idols — Capablanca, Fischer, Kasparov, Carlsen. In Bughouse, I found mine: JarlCarlendar.

She’s one of the rare “Grandmasters” of Bughouse, (a few times I played against her, had zero chance…) and a very sweet person. 

JarlCarlendar would stream her games, comment on her moves, and explain her strategies in real-time.

Here’s the kicker: she was playing my openings!

Finally, I could connect the dots.

Finally, I could learn the real ideas behind my openings, how to attack and defend and when! 

It wasn’t structured learning, and it wasn’t gold. But it was decent silver.  Watching her gave me insights I’d been craving.

Keeping the Balance 

Watching JarlCarlendar play and comment on her games was mesmerizing. I’d sit there, glued to her streams, completely losing track of time.

If before I could play Bughouse non-stop, now I could watch non-stop.

But then reality (and my own advice) hit me: studying alone isn’t enough.

I’m the one who says it’s crucial to balance studying and practicing. That’s how you turn knowledge into skill.

And now I had to walk the talk. Even if it meant forcing myself to close the stream and hit “Play.”

I kept the balance this way: 

• Watch JarlCarlendar play and learn.
• Then, play myself and apply what I’d just seen.
• Some days, I’d split it 50/50. Other days, I’d alternate — study one day, practice the next.

I would put into practice everything I was learning from her. 
My rating didn’t just climb — it felt like it was on turbo.

Step by step, game by game, I broke through another milestone: 2,150.

Finding a Mentor… Finally! 

One day, my friend GM Robert Hovhannisyan stopped by our office, and somehow, Bughouse came up. 

My masterpiece. Lol. They didn’t allow me to enter the playing hall
of the Olympiad in Budapest, so I “became” a photographer 😁

Robert is brilliant — his brain works faster than a Ferrari — and he loves Bughouse. But here’s what I didn’t know: he plays it regularly and has a 2400 rating.

For context, that’s Bughouse royalty. Somewhere between an International Master and a Grandmaster.

We agreed to partner up and play the next day.

Playing with Robert was an insane experience.

He didn’t just play; he coached me during the games — shouting tips, pointing out ideas, and steering me in the right direction.

And after the games? He’d break things down even further, explaining what I did wrong, what I could’ve done better, and how to think in certain situations.

Finally, I had someone I could ask those “What do I even do here?” questions.

Hello, My Goal! 

After just three sessions with Robert, I was a different player. My understanding of Bughouse had leveled up.

And then it happened: I crossed 2,200.

I don’t even remember the final game, but the emotions? Oh, they were amazing. I’d achieved my goal — raising 400 rating points using the ChessMood method.

It had been two years since that day, and I’d been meaning to write this article ever since. Finally, I sat down, forced myself to do it, and now I’m sharing my journey with you, the talk I walked. 

Getting to My Peak 

In the weeks that followed, I even managed to cross 2,300!

But if you’re wondering why I started with “How I raised 400 rating points” and not 500, well... it’s because 2,300 wasn’t my true strength. It was my peak.

Peak vs. Strength 

Here’s the thing: your peak rating is not your actual level. I see this mistake all the time — chess players hit their highest rating, then cling to it like it’s their identity. They chase it, stress over it, and lose perspective.

Your real strength isn’t your peak or your lowest slump. It’s somewhere in between.

For me, my rating bounced around between 2,100 and 2,300, but mostly stayed around 2,200. That’s my level. Even now, when I play Bughouse occasionally, I hold steady at 2,200.

By the way, my main partner these days? GM Gabuzyan! After long workdays, we team up for some fun Bughouse battles. 

Confessions I Have to Make 

I kept the walk I talk, but not with 100%.  

I teach about discipline and deciding the number of games you’ll play before a session, so you give it your all and don’t easily click “Resign” and then “New Game.”
I failed sometimes, I kept playing beyond what I’d decided.

I teach about detaching from results and focusing on progress.
I failed sometimes, especially when I got close to 2,200 and started caring too much about the number.

I teach about staying calm, having fun, and enjoying the journey.
I failed sometimes, tilting when I was partnered with “creative” players (let’s not say stupid). 

I teach to stop playing when you’re tired.
I failed sometimes, playing for hours in the middle of the night, completely drained.

I failed… about 5% of the time.

Why do I share this? Because I see so many chess players who think top players do everything perfectly. And when they can’t keep discipline or they tilt, they get angry at themselves.

No, no. Everyone tilts. Everyone slips. Every Grandmaster you can think of has their moments.

Take it easy when it happens. Accept it, learn from it, and move on. Just aim to keep those failures below 10%.

The Universal Improvement Formula 

I struggled to find good resources to study. I struggled to find software or a coach to fix my mistakes.

But through it all, I stuck to the one formula I believe in:

Study – Practice – Fix – Repeat!

This formula is my go-to for learning and improving anything.

Business? 

• Study: I read books, take courses, and work closely with coaches. I dive into everything that can teach me something new.
   
• Practice: Every time I step into the office, I’m practicing—making decisions, solving problems, running the business.
   
• Fix: I make mistakes (plenty of them!) and then ask for feedback. I consult with my investors, advisors, and mentors to figure out what went wrong and how to improve.

Writing? 

• Study: I devour books about writing and storytelling. I take courses and learn from my coach, James Altucher.
   
• Practice: I write daily—articles, notes, ideas, and everything in between, including what you’re reading now.
   
• Fix: With James, I go over my drafts. Together, we refine, adjust, and improve until the words feel right. 

Yeah, we play chess sometimes, too 😊 BTW, we’re on the 62nd floor,
at the headquarters of Spotify!

This is exactly how I approached Bughouse, raising my rating by 400 points.

And it’s what I recommend for your chess improvement — or anything else you want to master. The formula is simple, powerful, and most importantly, it works.

How Can ChessMood Help You? 

In the past few years (soon to be our 7th anniversary!), we’ve built a system to support your improvement at every step.

Step 1: Study

We’ve created over 500 hours of courses, covering everything you need — openings, tactics, strategy, and endgames — for every level, from beginner to master. 

(So, you won’t struggle with Step 1: Study, like I did during my Bughouse journey.) 

Step 2: Practice

With over 10,000 handpicked puzzles and training exercises, each time you learn something new in a course, you’ll solve exercises tailored to help you apply it and turn your knowledge into real skills.

Step 3: Fix

Our forum and Discord community let you ask questions and get answers from Grandmasters and other students. And we’re building advanced AI tools to make this step even better.

To learn more, click the link below:
https://chessmood.com/holiday-special

And if you decide to join ChessMood now, you can take advantage of our big Holiday discounts, that end on Dec 27!

With best wishes and love,
For your growth and fun journey,
GM Avetik (or Avo, as my friends call me)

P. S.

Do me a favor — send some love and congratulations my way, right here.
This past month was brutal and drained me completely.
I need your energy to bounce back. Thanks for being amazing!

Originally published Dec 21, 2024

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