Breaking the Illusion: Understanding vs. Rote Memorization in Chess

The Art of Exchanging Pieces on Chessable: www.chessable.com/the-art-of-...
🔵 My Chessable Courses: chessable.com/drcan
♟️ Find me on Chess.com: canka19
♟️ Find me on Lichess: cantosh
🏆 2022 Chessable Community Author of the Year! www.chessable.com/blog/announ...
🏆 2023 Chessable Best Tactics Course of the Year! www.chessable.com/fundamental...
Connect on / kabadayichess
Go Chessable Pro using this link to support the channel: chessable.com/drcanpro
00:00 Introduction
03:55 Position # 2
04:52 Position # 3
08:08 Position # 4
10:43 Homework Position
12:13 Pawn Breaks
12:51 Pawn Breaks and Piece Placement
In this video, I illustrate the contrast between rote memorization and true understanding by analyzing exchange positions, such as Bh6 to trade off the g7-bishop. While the concept of rote memorization can be powerful in certain situations, it's crucial to recognize when it falls short.
I also explore common pawn breaks in chess openings. This content is part of my deep learning series, emphasizing the importance of not blindly repeating information but instead questioning the 'why' behind moves.
I caution against relying solely on watching KZbin videos for improvement; it might create a false sense of learning. To truly enhance your skills, I recommend heading to Chessable and engaging in repeated self-testing. That's where real learning takes place.
In addition to testing yourself on Chessable, consider reinforcing your learning by teaching these lessons to your friends. This not only engages you in retrieval practice, enhancing your understanding, but it also helps identify any potential gaps in your knowledge. By actively explaining concepts to others, you solidify your grasp on the material and ensure a more comprehensive learning experience.

[@mikejschin]

You are by far the best chess teacher I've ever come across, in books or on line. The biggest reason: you don't just address one aspect of chess here and another there. You show how concepts relate to each other and how operations in one area of the board affect other areas. Although I'm 73 years old and don't expect to ever be a strong player, you are helping me understand and enjoy chess in a way I never believed possible. I thank you for that.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am so humbled after your motivating comment. Really happy to help you and make you enjoy our beautiful game ❤️

[@keithwald5349]

Ooh, that's part of the "Feynman technique" of learning: Explaining it to your friends. When you can formulate it clearly, and are able to answer all your friends' questions about it, that very much helps to solidify the idea in your own mind.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Indeed, Feynman technique! Really great for consolidation and understanding the gaps in your knowledge.

[@ibiwisi]

This also relates to GM Jesse Kraai's idea that the best approach to chess training is to have three study partners: a "plus" (stronger player) who can teach you as you go, an "equal" you can spar with, and a "minus" whom you can teach as you go, to help you consolidate and reinforce your own learning.

[@ibiwisi]

This video is a perfect example of why @DrCan'sClinic may be the best chess teacher on KZbin. His emphasis on "deep learning" rather than imitative repetition gets to the heart of chess improvement, especially for adults. It all comes down to "The WHY Question," doesn’t it? (Also true in life more broadly, but that's a comment for a different YT channel. 😉)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much 🙏 I am doing my best to help you improve your game. And "The WHY question" is a must for this quest. More will follow on this theme.

[@kdub1242]

Today is the day I declare this to be the best chess instruction channel on youtube.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am so happy to hear it, thank you for your extremely motivating words ❤️

[@davidmchugh7264]

I agree..this is great teaching..

[@Dr.CansClinic]

🙏☺️

[@Kasperrkuijpers]

Hi again, thank you for this instructive video! In the homework exercise Bd4 is a great move, because the dark squared bishop is the only defender of blacks king. If black takes Bxd4 Qxd4+ Kg8 Nf6+ and mate will follow soon. If black does any other move it can't really prevent white from exchanging the bishop with check and coming in with Qd4 and Nf6, and black would at least have to lose material. Blacks pieces are all close to the king looking like the king is well defended but the defense is an illusion

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your feedback! Indeed, Bd4! is an excellent move and White won the game soon after!

[@gogoghina3937]

i have always struggled to understand when its good to take or exchange pawns on c4 c5 d4 d5 whenever there is a pawn tension between those 4 pawns and that happens in varity of oppeinings nimzo indian QGD tarrasch grunfeld etc ..

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for your feedback! Have you checked my video on keeping or releasing the tension? It may help, although I don't think I mention this specific pawn formation there. I will keep it in mind for future videos!

[@stuarthayward4756]

Bravo Can, exceptional video! Thank-you, Please more on this theme of understanding and deep learning.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏 Alright, I will do more on deep learning!

[@chickenmessiah]

Great video-I will share with the high school team that I coach! Perhaps someday you could explain when/why to develop knights to squares other than f3/f6 and c3/c6? Thank you!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! I will definitely consider making a video about your idea one day, thanks!

[@yousseflahbabi3842]

this video is super useful ! Tesekkur Dr Can

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure, bir sey degil ☺️

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

I was reading that Parham Maghsoodu could beat anyone in his whole province after 6 months of learning chess. For us this could take even a whole lifetime.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Wow, that is impressive, thanks for sharing!

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@Dr.CansClinic yes, that is incredible! A genius!

[@roeydaz]

Wonderful Dr. Can! This is true chess education! I’m working on one of your courses (the latest one) at the moment!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is amazing to hear, thank you so much for your support ❤️ Please let me know how you like that course 🙏

[@eschiedler]

homework spoiler - no engine White is down a pawn and faces two connected passed pawns on the a & b files. White has the bishop pair and the pawn structure is very open. Therefore, in general, white should prefer bishops over knights and try to preserve the bishop pair and keep as much material on the board in order to capture black's passed pawns. However, black's dark-squared bishop has an excellent diagonal to support advancing the pawns and it is their best piece because the other pieces are not very active. Bd4 threatens Bxd4 Qd4+ Kg8 Nf6+ Kg7 Nh5+ (double-check) Kh6 Qg7# therefore black will be forced to give up a knight and therefore will not trade bishops. Bd4 Rg8 Nf6 a5 Nxg8 Kxg8 and white threatens the knight on e7 with the rook controlling the e-file with time to capture the passed pawns. Bxa6 Qa5 Bc4 and white controls the b3 square with the bishop and queen however allows the black queen a lot of active counter-play, so it's not likely the best line. Playing Bd4 allows for white to regain and control the initiative with a lot of winning options.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks as always for your detailed analysis! Bd4 is a great move indeed! Shankland played it and later won the game.

[@eschiedler]

@@Dr.CansClinicShankland works hard at calculation so I'm not surprised he did well. Thanks for the instructive exame and good luck with the awards voting.

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

Home work ,it good trade because the dark black bishop is good bishop also protect dark squatre ,ex 1.Bd4 , Rg8 2.Bxg7,Rxg7 3.Qd4 , b3 and white pin Black rook

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent!

[@jamesleach9444]

another great video, many thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So nice of you, I am glad that it was helpful ❤️

[@jacobleedgaard5968]

Fantastic video with some great examples!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you like them! ❤️

[@vivekdahiya9297]

I thought Andras toth is the only chess doctor here. But man you're surpassing him.👍🏻

[@user-pf9mz2bd2i]

Yeah I only clicked on one of Can's videos because I thought it was Andras Toth. Now these are my favourites.

[@kdubjbass]

Excellent video, so helpful and pragmatic!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much 🙏

[@MrMauPat]

It was extremely useful. Thank you.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So happy that you found it useful! 🙏

[@joeperry1188]

I really love this content. One thing that might be useful would be maybe discussing candidate moves and how to make your choice of move. For example, in the final position where I was trying to figure out playing e5, Re8 was my first candidate move, but I didn't like it much because it weakens f7 But I often find it helpful "we want to support e5. How do we do that? What about Re8?" Then a short calculation

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your feedback and motivating words 🙏 I made several videos about calculation where I talked specifically about candidate moves. Perhaps you could find them useful. ...Re8 is also a logical move here, but ...Qe7 may be more multi-functional as it also guards the bishop and gets ready to connect the rooks - not to mention the f7-problem as you said. But the crucial part is the inital goal-setting process where we read the position properly and identify the logical candidates that meet the demands of the position.

[@joeperry1188]

@@Dr.CansClinic I love your videos- please keep it up!

[@GameFAC]

Just discovered this channel. Its sad to see how underrated you are. I watched some videos and I have to say that you added impressive amount of value to my chess knowledge. Thank you.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am so happy to hear it, thank you 🙏 I believe more people will eventually discover the channel as long as the quality is good. And I make evergreen videos instead of focusing on cheating scandals and drama. So even though people will discover it 5 years from now, they may still get value from the videos. ☺️

[@user-ot8bb3ng7o]

Absolutely phenomenal 🎉💯💯👏👏 am always making haste to exchange bishop in a fianchtto, with the idea that the queen will stress the opponent , 😔a game yesterday went from being won to draw 😢 because this,🤦 can't resist a fianchtto,it's an impulse,also after many yeas,you can never finish study an opening,😢it just goes on an on,even Though you end up with so much information, there's still a level of incoherence 😢in one's play, not to mention lack of study of endgames ,as openings take up all the time, great 🎉🎉great video 👏 💯 actually my game is improving using, blunder check idea🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your motivating words ❤️ It is an impulse indeed to always trade off the fianchetto bishop. Hopefully this video will help resisting that impulse! Blunder check is such a fundamental process. If you automatize it, you will see great benefits!

[@neiloppa2620]

Great video ❤

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you!! ❤️

[@DaydreamVacations]

Great coaching!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much, I am glad that it was helpful 🙏

[@pakasokoste]

Awesome video as always Dr Can! Love you unique teaching approach and recently bought your calculations course.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am so happy hearing it, thank you so much for studying the calculation course too! ❤️ Shankland played Bd4 instead and organized a rapid attack against the black king, by removing the key defender. Later Qd4+ became possible.

[@pakasokoste]

Wow, indeed. Thank you Dr. Can. Looking forward to your next videos.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! More is coming! @@pakasokoste

[@timwoods3173]

Thank you

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You're welcome 🙏

[@professorx3060]

This was so helpful. I always felt like I was superficially learning chess moves. But then I started teaching a friend from college, and she's inspired me to learn how to explain moves to others, and to myself. It helped me a lot.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for sharing ❤️ Teaching really does help a lot!

[@professorx3060]

Of course, and you're great at it! You earned one more sub, let's get to 5k​@@Dr.CansClinic

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for the sub 🙏❤@@professorx3060

[@jaybingham3711]

Excellent

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@donovan665]

Brilliant, I'm subbing.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am very happy to hear it, thank you for the sub 🙏

[@Sebalovedaddy.62]

i think you should trade the bishop in the homework position. the reason being this move creates threats like queen check and knight checkmate. also this move enables the attack for white. this is my reason for the move not sure if it's right or not?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is absolutely correct! Shankland also played Bd4 and won quickly.

[@keithwald5349]

Dr Can, I have a question about what is perhaps a mundane part of chess learning: basic tactics. Many say that repeated drilling on very simple exercises may build the best foundation. But some, like the late great Jeremy Silman, do not put such a priority on this. And famously Magnus claimed to never have been good about solving exercises. Perhaps it depends on whether an individual is naturally adept in tactics or not. Where do you stand on this, and what is your experience with teaching adult amateurs?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for this great question! I made a video about this very topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXbWkH-omah7d5I Tactics are very important as they are always relevant, but to me it's main function is to stop blundering and giving away games easily (seeing the opponent's threat and properly blunder checking your moves before making your move). Safety comes first, and tactical vision is quite important to quickly identify moves as safe. I never liked tactical puzzles myself and did very little of them as part of my training. But this does not prove much, as I could have become even stronger if I did more of those :)

[@magicvoice0741]

Good video ❤️❤️❤️thanks sir❤️❤️❤️

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure ❤️

[@jonnyjansson7320]

Looking at material, white has the bishop pair but black's extra pawn and connected passers on the a- and b-file means that almost every endgame is winning for black. Therefore, White has to attack. At first sight white's king seems more vulnerable than black's with the far advanced pawns, but black's pieces are to passively placed to be able to attack white's open king. It is, instead, the dark squares around black's king that matters especially the long diagonal and the square f6 if black's bishop disappears. Bd4 is therefore a great move. I looked at the following variations: ...Bxd4 Qxd4+ Kg8 Nf6+ Kh8 (Kg7 is mate in two) Nd7+ winning the exchange. Looks good at first sight, but it weakens the attack and black might have compensation due to the passed pawns if black can avoid being mated. If white play Nh5+, instead of Nd7+, then black's only resource is Ne5, but I think white is winning after fxe5 gxh5 exd6+ since black now loses the night on e7. If black plays ...a5 instead of ...Bxd4, trying to activate the passed pawns, white then just takes on g7 followed by Qd4+ with the same variations.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for this great analysis! Bd4 is a great move indeed. Shankland played it in the actual game and later won.

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

In minute 3.03 after white Qh7+ if black 1......Rg7 what is the continuation Maybe 2.Qxh5 + ,Kf8 3.g6 etc

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely!

[@crugy7]

You're doing an opening course? I love to hear that! What will it be about?

[@irjake]

He said it was for black, and the position he was showing was from the Sicilian Dragon, so I wonder if that's it.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes! It is the Najdorf Sicilian. An opening/middlegame course. Typical patterns, pawn structures, plans, but also a classical Najdorf repertoire (pawns on e5 and d6). We will see what emerges by the end of the tunnel 😄

[@Dr.CansClinic]

It is the Najdorf but involves several ...Bg7 structures.

[@davidbatchelder85]

i like your clap editing

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks ☺️

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

In minute 4.05 I dont agree if Bh6 is best move take example 1.Bh6 ,Nh5 2.g4 ,Nf4 3.Bxg7,Kxg7 4.Qh2 , Rh8 Other line 2.Bxg7,Kxg7 3.g4 ,Nf4 4.Qh2 ,Rh8 Other line 2.Rxh5,f5 3.Bxg7,Kxg7 4.Qh6+,Sory Sir white win a Night

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your contribution!

[@davidbatchelder85]

We must learn to look ahead, I like the queen move protecting thte bishop. Clearing the bck rank. I looked at the c push then fancheto the bishop b7 long diagonal. But whites e push could be problem attic Great job. May Jesus bless your efforts.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for your kind feedback 🙏

[@rv706]

16:10 - would the c5 break be decent (after a6, b5, Bb7, Rc8 maybe) in this position, or to slow?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is also decent, although a little slow. White is ready to go e4-e5 in that position, thus ...e5 break is more logical I think.

[@user-gg6df4xr3i]

In the dragon when white castles long,its a race...Good example of when not to exchange the bishop for a bad one instead of going into auto pilot and taking it.Did you mention you were working on an opening for black?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Yes, I am working for an opening/middlegame transition course on the Najdorf ☺️

[@bertrc2569]

Good

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! 🙏

[@douwehuysmans5959]

I preferred hxg6 prior to Bh6 to make sure the file is semi-open

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for this observation. The only drawback of hxg6 is that it allows ...fxg6 + ...Rf7 defense for Black. Thus, Bh6 may be more flexible.

[@douwehuysmans5959]

​@@Dr.CansClinicThe defense with Rf7 has happened in a number of my games, but I never really registered it as a pattern. So thanks for that😅

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure! We don't want to give that extra resource to Black 😄@@douwehuysmans5959

[@magicvoice0741]

Bd4 ....good move

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks, agreed!

[@ImprovePath]

I have watched both of your videos, this one and chess engine one, that chess engines do not tell you why a move is bad. i got my answer. thank you very much. but does that mean we don't have to use the engine to analyse our game ? because you know engines will tell you a move from engine perspective, and we play human opponents, and there is no way our opponents will play according to engines, so we don't need to play like engines. engines don't understand the practicality of the position. so if we don't analyse our game with engines then how can we analyse our game ?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks! Engines can be used on the second round of analysis. First, you analyse it yourself, asking questions, writing your thoughts and evaluations. Then you go through the game again with the engine, getting its feedback on whether your evaluations and moves were right or wrong. But then you need an interpreter: WHY those evaluations were as such? WHY were those moves the best moves? A human coach would be useful with this process.

[@ImprovePath]

@@Dr.CansClinic Oh got it ! thank you so much sir.😊

[@Deadeye1967]

what practice, sounds live evil practice?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Retrieval Practice

[@Deadeye1967]

@@Dr.CansClinic Ok thanks for replying.

[@Chess_venomenon]

Do you love crows? 😊

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes indeed! ☺️

[@ElizabethGreene]

Homework.. Devouring the free pawn on a6 is tempting, but I like bd4 too. If they take, the queen takes back with check allowing you to grab the b4 passed pawn too. Wait, what if they don't take? If they see it and block with the knight, Bd4 Ne5, we can't take the knight with the pawn without opening the door to losing our light squared bishop. If we *don't* take the knight, our f pawn is hanging and the bishop has to step down to guard it. We've helped black move a sleepy knight into a monster position at the cost of making their bishop bad. What if they don't block with the knight or take and just leave the bishops in a staring contest? Our queen is stuck defending it and the b passed pawn can slide forward. I don't see a clear way to turn this into a king attack so I'm leaning to no, don't do it. Then again, I'm incompetent, so maybe don't put a lot of weight in that. Loading it up in the computer, 3q1r1k/4nnbp/p2p2p1/3P4/1p2NPP1/7P/8/3QRBBK w - - 0 1. Stockfish likes bd4 much more than bxa6. Damn, I got another one wrong. :|

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you again for your detailed answer! Bd4 ...Ne5? would be a mistake as after fxe5, our bishop on f1 is guarded. I think it was phantom fears ☺️ The goal of Bd4 is to simply trade off the main defender of the black king. Our queen will quickly replace our bishop on d4, and we will start an attack against the king on dark squares.

[@ElizabethGreene]

@@Dr.CansClinic Thank you again.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@ElizabethGreene My pleasure!