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To answer this tricky question, we will review the schedules of the very best chess players in the world. While in general copying the training routine of a top grandmaster is unreasonable for less proficient players, here the situation is somewhat different. The world is not perfect, so most amateurs simply can’t afford to allocate too much time for tournament play. On the other hand, non-elite grandmasters often have to flock from one event to another to earn a decent amount of money. Naturally, neither of these cases is optimal. That’s why we will be looking at top pros: they are supposed to know this as no one else does, and have the opportunity to choose the amount of games that suits them best.

First of all, here’s the September 1, 2010 top-20. Next to each name you can see how many rated games the person has played in 2009:
 

1. Carlsen – 75

2. Topalov – 41

3. Anand – 25

4. Aronian – 93

5. Kramnik – 26

6. Eljanov – 86

7. Grischuk – 55

8. Mamedyarov – 69

9. Ivanchuk – 135

10. Gelfand – 96

11. Ponomariov – 42

12. Shirov – 93

13. Radjabov – 60

14. Karjakin – 69

15. Nakamura – 86

16. Wang – 83

17. Svidler – 114

18. Adams – 74

19. Jakovenko – 71

20. Malakhov – 84

Now let’s sort the list by number of games per year to make it more expressive:
 

1. Ivanchuk – 135 (well-known chess addict)
2. Svidler – 114 (admitted being tired, but couldn’t miss some important events)
3. Gelfand – 96
4. Aronian – 93
5. Shirov – 93
6. Eljanov – 86
7. Nakamura – 86
8. Malakhov – 84
9. Wang – 83
10. Carlsen – 75 (median number)
11. Adams – 74 (median number)
12. Jakovenko – 71
13. Mamedyarov – 69
14. Karjakin – 69
15. Radjabov – 60
16. Grischuk – 55
17. Ponomariov – 42 (doesn’t play a lot after becoming FIDE ex-World Champion in 2004)
18. Topalov – 41 (was busy preparing for the WC match against Anand)
19. Kramnik – 26 (always acts like he’s preparing for a WC match)
20. Anand – 25 (was busy preparing for the WC match against Topalov)

It’s easy to see that the median number for elite grandmasters is 74-75 games per year (ironically, by doing so we get Magnus Carlsen, the highest-rated player in the world, as a role model in this respect). This should be close to the optimal amount of games/year for a person who takes chess seriously. However, it is essential to remember that this list doesn’t include rapid/blitz/blind/exhibition events, training games; doesn’t reflect the time spent on studying chess and analyzing one’s games. To become an eminent player, one should keep in mind all the intricacies of the training process, not only one feature.

Warning: this article should serve as food for thought, not a medical prescription stating that “you won’t improve unless you play X games a year.”

In case someone is interested in my chess schedule, it normally includes about 90 rated games per year. The end of 2010 is going to be especially busy since upcoming are the Women’s World Blitz Championship (unrated), World Chess Olympiad, European Club Championship, Russian Superfinal, Women’s World Championship and (maybe) ACP Rapid World Championship (unrated).
 

Meanwhile, let’s take a look at another game from the recent Russia – China friendly match:
 

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A1: While beginners need to pay special attention to the endgame to learn basic mating techniques and get to know how the game ends, top pros spend most of their time trying to find interesting plans and novelties in the opening and middlegame. The golden middle for an average (between beginner and grandmaster) player is to pay attention to all the three stages and concentrate on the weakest one.

Q2: Who is stronger - Anand, Topalov or Kramnik?
A2: The answer depends on the circtumstances, motivation and many other factors. I guess every person can have her/his own favorites.

Q3: Russia has recently lost a friendly match to China. Can Russia win against China if it invites the top players to participate?
A3: In a few weeks we will find out the answer if China gets to face Russia-1, 2 or 3 at the Chess Olympiad.

Q4: What are the most trendy openings today?
A4: The Berlin, Catalon, Gruenfeld, Petroff... Hope you are not asking this to abandon your repertoire for the "fashionable"?

Q5: Your plans for the end of 2010?
A5: World Women's Blitz Championship, Chess Olympiad, European Team Championship, Russian Superfinal, World Women's Championship. Quite a busy schedule.

Q6: Have you started teaching your baby to play chess?
A6: At 9 months old he's very formidable. Give him a few seconds, and all your pieces are gone!

Q7: Do you know any efficient chess doping?
A7: I guess that some people could be taking some special medicines (just like students who wish to sharpen their memory, sleep less, stay concentrated, etc.), but for me and my friends the only "doping" is proper nutrition, sleeping well, staying positive and fit, support from fans and love for the game!

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