How to plan daily study sessions for chess players in 2026

Q: Which browsers work with YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey, a small add-on that runs scripts for you. YTSort can also be run from a bookmark. All these ways to get it include the same features.

A plain guide for chess players to plan daily study sessions, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-19

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Fix a daily block for chess, choose one topic to study, keep the material in one place, and fit the study to the time you have.

Option	How it helps you plan daily study
Paper notebook and sticky notes	You write the day's topic and keep it by the board.
Spreadsheet	You keep a list of topics and tick off each day's pick.
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first, so study videos fit the block you have ^[1]

What you need before you start

Planning a daily chess study session takes only a few things, and most players already own them.

A daily time block you can keep. Study works when it happens on a regular day. Pick a block you can protect even on crowded days.
One topic per session. Chess has openings, tactics, endgames and game review. Picking one keeps the session focused.
Study material in one place. Books, puzzle sets and a playlist of instructional videos you own all work. What matters is that the day's material is ready before the block starts.
A place to keep the plan. A notebook, a spreadsheet or the playlist itself all work. The order and the topic live in one spot so nothing gets lost.
A match between material and time. A short block suits short items, and a long block suits deeper study. Fit the material to the time, not the time to the material.

Set aside the block before a busy stretch of the day. Planning while you are tired tends to shorten the session.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a notebook.

Pick a daily block you can keep. Choose a time that is free most days, even if it is short.
Choose one topic for the session. Write the opening, tactic, endgame or game you will study.
Gather the material for that topic. Put the book, puzzles or videos for it in one place the day before.
Fit the material to the time you have. For a short block, take one short item. For a long block, take a fuller study.
Write the plan down. A line or two in a notebook or spreadsheet is enough.
Start with a quick warm-up. Solve one easy puzzle or look at the position before the deep study.
Study the topic. Work through the material you gathered, and stop when the block ends.
End with a short review. Note what you understood and what still confuses you.
Carry the note into the next day. The next session starts from what this one left open.
Adjust after a few days. If the topic is too big for the block or too easy, change the material rather than the routine.

Tools that can do it

You do not need separate software for this. Here are options to consider.

Paper notebook and sticky notes. You write the day's topic and keep it by the board. Nothing is published here about price or limits because it depends on what you already own.

A spreadsheet. A list of topics on one side and a date column on the other gives you a running plan you can tick off. Check how it behaves on your phone if you plan to use it away from your desk. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. It is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It reorders the videos for you, with no dragging or scrolling. ^[1] After sorting, it checks the new order and fixes any videos that did not move into place. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end, which fits a short study block. ^[1] It shows total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. ^[1] It exports position, title, duration and URL of every video to a spreadsheet file. ^[1] YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

You can get YTSort through a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1] Its panel follows YouTube's light or dark theme automatically. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Studying too many topics in one session. A daily block rarely holds an opening, tactics and an endgame. One topic keeps the session doable.

Planning more than the block holds. A long list in a short block ends in a rush. Cut the material to the time you actually have.

Skipping the block when it gets busy. A missed day now and then is fine, but a plan dies when the block is the first thing dropped.

Only watching and never solving. Study works when you try the position yourself. Check the material you chose includes something to do, not just watch.

Never reviewing the plan. If the topic is too big or too easy, change it. A study plan that is not reviewed quietly stops being used.

Frequently asked questions

How to plan a daily study session for chess?

Pick a daily time block you can keep, choose one topic such as openings, tactics, endgames or game review, gather the material for it in one place, and fit the material to the size of the block. Write the plan down, study until the block ends, and note what still confuses you for the next session. Review the plan after a few days and change the material if it is too big or too easy.

How long should a daily chess study session be?

There is no single correct length. Choose a block you can keep on most days, even a short one, because a daily habit beats a long session that never happens. Match the material to the block: short items for a short block and deeper study for a long one. If a topic will not fit the block, split it across two days instead of rushing it.

Can YTSort help plan chess study sessions?

YTSort can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] A short block can start with the shortest videos, and longer videos can move to the end for days with more time. It sorts the full playlist and shows the before and after order before applying. ^[1] ^[1] It is free, so trying it costs nothing. ^[1]

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge. ^[1] The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey, a small add-on that runs scripts for you. ^[1] YTSort can also be run from a bookmark. ^[1] All these ways to get it include the same features. ^[1]

Can YTSort show the new playlist order before it is applied?

With YTSort, yes. It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] With a paper list or spreadsheet, you see the order as you write it, so read it through once before you start the session. Checking first catches long videos that ended up in the middle of a short block.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)