Adult Chess Improver? You MUST Do THIS!

[@benedictineonchessable]

FREE Basic Chess Patterns: www.chessable.com/basic-chess-patterns-/course/46181/

[@chickenmessiah]

I learned chess at 20, started tournaments at 30. I bounced between 14-1600 for a few years. Then did Lev Alburt’s “ Chess Training Pocket Book”. It’s 300 “most important” tactical puzzles, with a little endgame and positional stuff scattered within. I went pretty quickly to 1750, then eventually peaked at 1950. Lent/gave the book to students and friends, who usually saw similar results.

[@benedictineonchessable]

That's excellent going. Yes, the Lev Albert book is a classic, must have book in my opinion. I mention the book A LOT and often use the puzzles here and there. You might recognise this one then from my last video (me being a bit silly though, be warned) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2fEqK1rZ8aoirssi=Yh8zcE9eZ7bZkBsT

[@benedictineonchessable]

Sorry, this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6S9fpuliLNnjqs

[@tobiass3540]

Started playing chess at age 30. Now I'm 34, so 4 years in. I got to 2050 lichess by playing online chess and watching youtube videos. Never did tactics, read books or studied. 5 months ago, I started taking lessons with a titled player (we mostly do endgames and I get Complicated calculation excercises as homework. In Addition to that, I do daily tactics online and just started reading my first chess book (mainly to train my visualization). Went from 2050 to 2150 lichess rating in the last months and I feel like, I'm only getting started. My experience: learning tactical patterns is a neccessary Basis, but for real improvement you also need to drill your calculation/visulization. I came to the conclusion, that visualization is the most important skill in chess. There is a reason, everyone above 2000 Fide can play blindfold. Because you need that skill to react that Level. And while a big library of patterns helps with that, you also need to simply do a lot of really heavy calculation/visualization excercises.

[@benedictineonchessable]

Hi, that's a really impressive jump. Did you not play any chess as a kid at all? What time controls do you play with? Normally someone starting as an adult will struggle tactically and blunder a lot to simple tactics. This is why the usual route is to train simple tactics on mass to try and eliminate (and also get stronger tactically). With that said there are many ways and different approaches in chess. Working with harder puzzles and training visualisation is also important. I've had loads of messages in regards to the Visualise series saying that their coaches told them to work on this area. Whether this is a particular weakness in adults starting out I don't know.

[@tobiass3540]

@@benedictineonchessable I learned, how the pieces move, when I was a kid, but that's it. I never had ot anyone to play with, so I picked up other hobbys and didn't play chess at all. I didnt eben know the very basic prinicples, until I started playing At 30. I guess, for the very beginner level, starting with tactics and basic patterns is certainly the best way to go. But beyond that visualization is really important. I got lucky, in the way, that I have exceptional memory and a natural Talent for calculation. In those areas, I am in the top 0.1 percentile, so that helps picking up patterns really fast. I never had problems memorising openings and remembering games, I Players months ago, they are all stored up, and I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out on my own, even if I haven't seen the patterns before. Visualisation is a different thing though. It's not even the pieces, but visualising the chess board and which seems to be really important and really needs to be learned and practiced. I just realized, that I would miss winning moves or miscalculate deep lines, because I am struggling to visualise the positions clearly in my head. So that's what I focus on a lot right now. Every day 15 Minutes of placing a bishop or a Knight on a chess board in my head and move then around the board, to ingrain every single square and all piece movements into my memory. Hope, that will help me improve much more. Brain studies showed that masterlevel Players actually use their long-term memory, while calculating and visualising in their head, so it seems to be an important part of it. Of course, there are many ways to reach that, and in the end everyone is build differently and has different weaknesses, but I think visualising and memorising the chess board and positions is as crucial as having the basic patterns stored up. In the end memorising the patterns of the board itself and the piece movements is even more Basic, than simple tactics 😅

[@benedictineonchessable]

I see, well congratulations on the level of play you have managed so quickly. it is very hard to do for most people so you must have a natural talent as well. Interesting reading. Good stuff!!@@tobiass3540

[@sunway1374]

Lichess rating is highly inaccurate. I didn't even play 5 games, some of them the opponents abandoned, I already reached 1600.

[@noahz]

That blog post is wild. Q: "What about pawn structures and strategy?" A: "I have no idea!” That said, I'm watching this while taking a break from doing ~130 puzzles in one day at the end of a Woodpecker Method cycle on Chessable.

[@benedictineonchessable]

Nice, good going.

[@StuartReid999]

Really appreciate this video. More videos targetted at adult improvers please 😊 Im not aiming for GM, just to improve and hold my own at my local chess club, and see how much I can improve as a late starter in chess, with a few hours available each week for practice, play and review.

[@benedictineonchessable]

Cheers! Noted. As an adult improver myself it is my area anyway. I will try to think of something for those really limited to time for a few hours each week. Luckily, for myself I had 20-30 hours a week as it kind of took over my life for a bit. Thanks for the feedback.

[@StuartReid999]

@benedictineonchessable No worries - I'm happy to give feedback as a way to support your channel so you keep putting out videos! I've got about 10 hours a week for chess. My learning programme at my level is a) tactics puzzles b) 1 classical game a week c) a few 15+10 online games where my main goal is not to blunder a piece for free d) analyse my games to figure out why I lose.

[@benedictineonchessable]

@@StuartReid999 Cheers. I'm kind of addicted to doing the videos as I find the whole process an interesting learning experience (editing etc) and maybe I'm developing skills I can apply to other things. Anyway, your study breakdown sounds spot on. It also depends on what your rating level is and what the time controls are at your local club and also your starting point, i.e. age when first started playing, previous experience etc. All in all though, it sounds like you have a nice balance. Threat awareness is also a HUGE factor I annoyingly forgot to mention in the video in the final cut. Damn!

[@StuartReid999]

@@benedictineonchessable Well, that's your next video sorted then 😊

[@garyarnold3141]

I just bought your chessable tactics course. How long will it take to complete and assimilate? I realise it will be different for everyone but if you could give me some idea, it would be appreciated. Thank you for all your content.

[@benedictineonchessable]

Thank you very much, much appreciated! It's impossible to say really as everyone is different, depending on their starting points and how you tackle the reviews etc. I would focus on one section first, work thorough that section doing the reviews before moving onto the next. You don't necessarily have to go in order, but I recommend doing an isolated section (say the knight patterns) and then the test section (knight test section) and work through the course that way. Just keep drilling the patterns and aim to get faster and faster as you do further reviews. Don't worry about getting any wrong at first. It doesn't matter. Just keep repeating and the patterns will stick. Good luck!

[@assaqwwq]

Is there an app or a website where you can drill the same patterns again and again. I would, for example, really like to learn mating patterns. I don't see when the king is in danger, or even when its mate vs a simple chess. The way I know it's mate is the game ends.

[@benedictineonchessable]

Chessable 100%. Not only can you drill but the built in spaced repetition algorithm means you actually remember those patterns. It's free to join and there are free courses on there AND you can import your own stuff in there for free. Here is my Basic Chess Patterns course which is also free: www.chessable.com/basic-chess-patterns-/course/46181/ You can pay to upgrade to more extensive courses or keep with the free stuff. I've got paid courses on there but I would recommend it regardless because of the spaced rep algorithm which just works. If you have any more questions just let me know. Cheers.

[@assaqwwq]

@@benedictineonchessablei havent seen anything of what youre talking about on chessable. Just people selling courses. Where is the drilling section?

[@benedictineonchessable]

@@assaqwwq You need to get a course to drill it. There are free courses and paid ones. Or, you can make your own course by importing variations. The courses are like the software if that makes sense. Chessable itself is the hardware.

[@benedictineonchessable]

@@assaqwwq Lichess also has some basic puzzles which are good. There's no spaced rep though so you would have to keep your own records if you want optimal study. Lichess in general is a great website and in my opinion the best place to play online.

[@chrisheapsenhouse7086]

What sources do you recommend for this?

[@benedictineonchessable]

Hi, I would recommend Chessable because the spaced repetition is built into the platform. This makes everything easier over trying to do it yourself. I would say get my Basic Chess Patterns course on there as that's free and you can then get a feel for it and the platform and see if it's something that works for you. There are several tactics courses on there, but I honestly think my CCP is best, but I'm obviously biased because it's mine and I'll make a few quid if you buy it. It is good though but that's up to you. Aside from that, you could import positions yourself into Chessable or do it from a tactics book. If you do that make sure the tactics are not too hard as you want simple positions or core tactics that crop up over and over again. Cheers, John.

[@chrisheapsenhouse7086]

Thanks for the quick reply! I've already done CCP a bunch of times over and it's great, I'm just looking for others!@@benedictineonchessable

[@lyingcat9022]

Tactics don’t exist in isolation. People losing to tactics below 1800 could be a symptom not always the cause. If you play badly creating a tactic rich environment for your opponent where you are always on your back foot can be a reason they lose to simple tactics. They are constantly in danger and it only takes missing the one simple tactic to throw the game. Tactics are great to see opportunities for your opponent and yourself and to train calculation and visualization. But it just one side of the coin. If you can’t create positions rich with tactics for yourself then you’re rating with suffer. Spotting tactics for your opponent and avoiding them will only get you so far, cuz you will just be relying on them making a big mistake in order to save the game for yourself.

[@benedictineonchessable]

This is a great point. Really, it's under represented. The intense tactical study needs to be combined with positional understanding. In other videos I strongly recommended going over good quality annotated master games. This helps with the positional understanding from which the tactical study can then kick into play. Cheers.

[@PatrickRecordon]

« Tactic flows from a superior position » « Help your pieces and they will help you »

[@PatrickRecordon]

The oldest guy to become a master was 74 years old so plan carefully, study and most of all, enjoy the process.

[@benedictineonchessable]

Absolutely, 74? Good stuff.

[@TikariChess]

I clearly need to smell more chess books. And study tactics, I guess.

[@benedictineonchessable]

Ha, ha me too!

[@davidblue819]

I think this is right. We are taught that endgames are the magic key to success in chess, but do we see adult improvers who got to 2000 because they learned Averbakh's Comprehensive Chess Endings by heart? I do not.

[@benedictineonchessable]

I do think there are some advantages to studying the endgame, but it's no way near as important as getting tactical study right. Not even close. You could make a case that endgame study is more effective than opening (I think that's probably true) but tactics trumps both of them by a distance in my opinion and experience. Cheers.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

How many chess puzzles we must do everyday to get from 1700 elo to 2000 elo?

[@benedictineonchessable]

Hi, it's not possible to answer that question I'm afraid. There are just too many factors to consider. Plus, as you climb up the rating ladder progression is harder. Going from 1700 to 2000 is really hard and you will have to do other things to get there (openings, endgame, strategy + play and review). Also, threat awareness is a factor. The tactics sets should ideally include this as well. Cheers.

[@PatrickRecordon]

Imagine it’s like a workout. You need to find something stimulating but not too easy. If it’s too difficult, you will resign. Do a level you enjoy but difficult enough to improve. Write those you have done wrong and review them the next day. Analyze what you missed in your games, ask yourself how you can improve and keep track of your efforts. It will pay in the long run.

[@alexhall1862]

Holy crud noise gate pleeeeease! The t's and s sounds are going to my bones. Turn that crud down and ill listen more.

[@benedictineonchessable]

The noise levels should be equalised by filter settings. Nobody else has mentioned an issue with sound but I'll look into it.