Advance your chess using pattern recognition - The Amateur's mind

[@noahgregory9570]

This might be your best video yet! You are so criminally under-subscribed, it's ridiculous. I feel like my mind is totally opened to a whole new level of chess (I just have to get studying)! Absolutely the best chess content on KZbin! Keep up the good work!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks a lot Noah, enjoy the channel!

[@yawn8974]

I have the Checkmate Patterns Manual on chessable, and one of the things i love about it is that for each exercise they also show the game that the exercise came from. So you can see all the moves that led up to the mating pattern. In other words you learn a mating pattern (i.e. Anastasia's mate) and you essentially have a small game collection where that mate occurred and you can see a bunch of examples of how a good player foresaw the conditions for that mating pattern and then set up the mate.

[@shanastroskyphazer8172]

great lesson thanks. I find learning about mating patterns super interesting. Some people only do puzzles or forget to see how to transpose the position into potential mating patterns. Damiano is one of my favorite. Also won with the Legals mate a few times online. I got a crazy mate with one rook and two knights after blundering my queen to a lower rated player in chess 960. I think its good to learn the names and history of mating patterns because since trying to learn these a few times recently I've been able to sacrifice like its child's play. But its not easy getting these positions against strong players. I've been on the receiving end falling for the same tricks tactics and traps many times. Late middle game can be very difficult phase, easy to drop the ball against stronger opponents, even with a better position. The nitty gritty zone or late middle game.

[@karthiktadepalli7560]

The two best chess videos on KZbin are 1. this video 2. your recent video on calculation and proving yourself wrong rather than right. I have felt my play getting better because of both!

[@RaptureReady2025]

Def expanding my mind. Amazing mate patterns. Imo one of the best lessons on KZbin. 🥇

[@noahz]

What is the best way to learn these patterns? It seems to me doing tactical puzzles, perhaps dozens per day is more important than playing games if you want to develop pattern recognition. "How to Beat Your Dad at Chess" seems like a good book for this. Anything else?

[@milosjovanovic4218]

Also interested

[@ChessCoachAndras]

After that bookk, which is indeed the starting point, you are onto puzzle books and stuff like Hellsten's opening book, that teaches you how to get to positions like the discussed ones.

[@noahz]

@@ChessCoachAndras Mastering Opening Strategy? How do you feel about the Lichess puzzle system? Is it too unfocused to help improvement over the long term?

[@bendtherules0]

Good books on mate patterns (with some theory) - 1. A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns - Vladimir Barsky 2. 1000 Checkmate Combinations - Victor Henkin (alternate to book 1) 3. Mastering checkmates - Neil Mcdonald Book 1 is based on book 2 (covers same mates), but with modern examples. They have good exercises, but don't expect Andras-level intuition with just that 😉

[@teslashorts9675]

This is one of the best chess videos I've watched in a long time. As an adult improving player rated about 1800 USCF, this is a missing link that I didn't know was missing. Blew my mind. I also realized that, while I know all of the common mating patterns and tactical motifs, I don't know them well enough. I need to drill those patterns to a level of deep fluency so that I can better see the patterns emerge ahead of time, as Andras described in his video. Excellent insight. Cheers Andras!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks for the kind comment, glad you liked it. My ‘Amateur’s Mind ‘ series offers many similar topics 🔥💪

[@ignacioflores4666]

Wow just wow, this video here has been more instructive than some paid content. All I can say is thanks, give my like and consider any paid content of yours.

[@framebadger]

Do it. Go and grab his chess principles stuff on Chessable. Even *if* it's not worth it (it is worth it), you keep Andras and his family fed, and make it possible for more vids like this.

[@quantrilion]

Being pedantic but there's a typo in the title: "Amatuer's" -> "Amateur's"

[@RaptureReady2025]

This comment adds zero value .. ffs we all know this but who gives a fk about typos on the internet? Get your head in the game bro 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@quantrilion]

@@RaptureReady2025 People wanting to search for this video in the future give a fk about having to misspell this in order for the video to show up. And I didn't say anything bad, I just mentioned it so that Andras can correct it. If you don't care about typos maybe then we can name the videos simply with numbers or name them like "Advanse yior ches yousing patern recognision" next time. Jeez

[@TheFlagMaster.]

Amateur was spelled incorrectly in the title :) great video by the way

[@chrisjovan]

Check Larry Christiansen attacks videos, loads of great content.

[@Nick2014B]

I used to play non stop for like a little over a year, my tactics puzzle rating was really high but I haven't played due to University work and stuff and I just randomly wanted to try to do some old puzzles and it's like I can remember a postion but my calculation and visualzation is gone, does that come back?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Only with time and practice.:(

[@HongwareeChannel]

Best chess lecture I've ever seen in years. I think this is what has kept me away from improving. I can't thank you enough for making this video. It opened my third chess eye.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Glad you liked it !

[@darrylkassle361]

Yeah he has a way to explain things in ways that help you easily understand . The only problem i have is he sometimes speaks too fast. I think when is explaining the key point he should slow down and even repeat it again using different words or analogies etc to reenforce the conceconcept or idea being explained. This dude should have ten times the subs and views too because not only is he a great seasoned coach but his funny and has a good energy - charisma about him.

[@framebadger]

Great stuff. Don't think I've ever heard people talk about pattern recognition in this way. Some of the lichess checkmating/tactic patterns do a great job of building up in similar ways to basic tactics. I have a memory from when I was a kid playing chess against another school, early/mid-90s. It was nowhere near as easy to get instructional chess content as it is now, so everyone played the first 4/5 moves of theory that they knew, and then it was about wandering aimlessly through a middlegame trying not to blunder. The main form of chess knowledge I had was Times chess columns, where I'd recently been introduced to a double bishop sac mate - probably the one you show. So in one game, I must have played about 8 moves in a closedish position against an opponent who had less of a plan than me, then hung around for a few moves more waiting for him to move some piece and let me do the double bishop sac. And it worked, somehow. I had to do the calculation about 20 times in my head to make sure it worked in the end but I got there. That's probably the only time I managed anything like this but it was so satisfying. A bad plan is often better than no plan...

[@leo-um6yt]

Hiya - somehow I’m stunned that most of these classic mate patterns I’ve never seen before! Do you have a book/website recommendation for me to find such patterns?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Your first go to is 100% checkmate patterns manual by crafty Raf on chessable!

[@leo-um6yt]

@@ChessCoachAndras Thanks!

[@Arthas30000]

When it's 5:30 am and you recognize a top notch Andras video 😏

[@TheChessGiant]

I can get behind this.

[@mischatal]

The art of checkmate by Renaud and Kahn is a old book that covers the mates and present full games showing players aiming for them.

[@DaydreamVacations]

How /where do I learn more classic attacking patterns? I have used “wishful thinking” to plan and execute attacks in games… for patterns I know. For example Greek Gift, Arabian, Anastasia, and more. The Art of Checkmate was a good book. But I’d never seen the double bishop sacrifice before Know Thy Classics and this video. I can’t recognize a pattern I’ve never seen or been taught before. What’s your recommendation?

[@trboenvrnb4tingio4rn]

Adras...this is excellent. I've been attempting to do this in my games but I have a problem. I only seem to think about Greek gift sacrifice so I consistently attempt to make it appear on the board. I definitely need to learn more. It's one of those when all you have is a hammer everything is a nail situation.

[@dendrites]

The voice and accent of Teddy KGB played by John Malkovich in Rounders is famously suspect as having no basis in reality. However yours is spot on for Teddy. Where are you from? It's like a Russian-Australian hybrid.

[@julek94]

I have that sort of internalized pattern recognition when it comes to the Greek Gift but with other mates I feel like I often stumble into them more than I create them fully consciously. Totally agree with the message, another great video! Thank you :)

[@ianmendham6671]

Great stuff as usual. I find getting to specific mating patterns to be more conscious when I know the opening relatively well and know what I am striving to achieve. It’s a good start to know the general ideas of an opening but seeing games played until mate from that opening gives you a concrete goal (and even if you fail to get that particular mate you’re still able to see the imbalances and forcing lines to get a decisive advantage).

[@connormonday]

What do you think of drilling a course like the Checkmate Patterns Manual on chessable. It's my current improvement project at the moment. I'm trying to build a solid foundation in my game by engraining fundamental patterns, an approach Dan Heisman has recommended many times.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

A great place to start

[@tyrelljeffries2527]

Upon further reflection since my last comment, what I have taken away was that it is simply not sufficient to be able to recognize the basic one move mate procedures that are commonly known such as smothered mate etc. However, it is perhaps far more important to recognize other positions which a forced sequence of moves are possible which inevitably result in the basic one move checkmate puzzle with which we are well acquainted with. So my next question is: Would Coach be willing to make a video with the above said positions?

[@southernrun9048]

One of your best videos. Opens up a lot to consider and look at. Can imagine a CPR course in the future around this very topic 🤔

[@gusserflys]

excellent coach... pattern recognition and one step further to positional advantage, such as the double bishops. open file rook, etc.... micro to macro thinking.... thanks again!!

[@atzucatatzucat9615]

That's super cool. Now, how I get there?

[@julienbeghin]

Thanks for the video Andras ! Let's go ! Pimy

[@lawrencesayshi]

The greatest chess coach on the planet does it again

[@Diachron]

18:14 -- "Play for a cheap trick that is likely not going to work out." Been there, done that! You deserve a much larger subscriber base. Your content is consistently engaging, clear, and mature. In a sea of "chessertainment" and drama, you are refreshingly focused and illuminating. Keep going. They will come.

[@kevins4132]

Great video! Any suggestion for a good book that trains such pattern recognition? Im currently reading two books that might cover that but I'm not sure if they are the best. The books are: Combinative Motifs by Bloch, and Excelling at Chess Volume II (calculation and combinational motifs) by Aagaard. Are these two books enough to reach NM level pattern recognition?

[@Australianchessplayer]

I think the capacity to learn this stuff is innate. I recently discovered that I am autistic. It explains so much about me, why as a small child when I found he rules of draughts in an encyclopaedia, I insisted on plying by all of them including the unpopular (in our household) huffing rule. Autistics often like rules. It explains my lack of social schools, my preference for reading a good book over socialising. Think "Doc Martin." Temple Grandin talks about thinking in pictures, in words, in patterns. She's autistic, as a child probably a "slow learner." A lot more difficult for herself and her parents than I ever was. I have her book, "The Autistic Brain." I recommend you buy a copy and read it, if not for yourself then for your students. Autism isn't the only neurodiversity that affects chess. Temple thinks in Pictures, she designs machinery and tests it in her head, I have pictures, but I'm better with patterns. I played a smothered mate once. My opponent was worried about the fork on c7, didn't see the mate. I don't remember the details now, but I remember my first rook sacrifice. It won.

[@lyingcat9022]

Wow! Got a ways to go. Hovering around 1000 blitz and I can say I definitely don’t have the deeply ingrained complex patterns like this and trying to visualize the board after a bunch of moves is murky at best and makes my brain hurt. I’m definitely at the stage of principled moves, trying not to blunder and trying to capitalize on whatever tactics fall out of my hopefully superior position.

[@thechesslobster2768]

As a 2100 looking to be 2200, your channel is a god send. Many chess players like myself have some skill, but are missing some building blocks.

[@tyrelljeffries2527]

I liked the video, but feel that I as well as others need a few more examples 2nd video please!

[@franciscopanchocastro]

Extraordinary video with a very clear explanation. I hope it helps me in the near future to quickly identify not just the pattern but also how to reach it from a few moves before, like in the examples. Thank you!

[@dennisashley7319]

Can’t follow this easily.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thats good news. It means you are engaging with material that challenges you!

[@ayandagwala62]

[@ЯрославГорбушко]

PERFECT. Andras, from what book can we lern those patterns ?

[@sudiprizal]

This was really good video. This is how I play my bullet games when I am at my best but making these patterns reality is lot of work in rapid format because opponent play really well and unpredictable. Will try to implement tho.

[@montreux82]

This is exactly my problem, I can recognize most of the patterns I practice but I'm not able to setup the patterns from arbitrary positions in the middle game (at least some of them). I've been aware of this but I never found a way to solve this issue but keep on practicing tactics.

[@RogerAckroid]

Amatuer?

[@Chessdvds]

I recommend to anyone wanting to get better in just one view purchase any chessables course that IM Toth produced, By far to me the best chess coach I have learned from in the past 50 years. His courses on chessables are mind blowing on how much you don't know or understand about chess. Now I play chess completely different all I can say is I cant get enough of this guy.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks a lot Paul, very kind!

[@Will-rh8ns]

Great video, thanks IM Andras!

[@marcmatthaus4972]

Wouldnt Ne6 xe6 Qg7# be faster in the second example or am i missing something?

So instructive!

[@opeoluwaosideko7625]

Wow you've really opened my eyes to advanced new ideas not just some basic basic things I already know other chess coaches are putting out there😏 Mehhhnn I've gotta recommend you to my friends You're amazing!

[@italomiranda5580]

Do you have Books about Positional and Strategical Patterns?

[@AnGeLofreakinkool96]

This video helps a lot! Is your accent Afrikaans? I cannot pinpoint it at all. Love accents haha

[@adamsasso1]

Another great video, Coach Andras. I am all too familiar with this "gap" in vision you describe. Seeing the board as it COULD BE in a few moves seems so valuable!

[@vivianstevens8977]

I echo Noah: fabulous videos, and a recent discovery for me.

[@rotflolawlmao]

Amazing content. I have done this before but I never truly internalized it. This is great for players trying to be more aware of this stuff. Thank you Andras.

[@ugurtoy1231]

thanks for all Mr.Andras..

[@marcbetting4640]

Wow, this is a fantastic class! I feel I have gained 300 points just watching it :-) Do you have books or apps in mind to train on these pattern recognitions beyond tactics training?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Yusupov's Boost your chess series is very good!

[@ТестТест-в3б]

Andras, do u think puzzle storm is usefull or not?

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Not at all. It force3s you to act fast instead of thinking deeply. Do just regular puzzles.

[@ТестТест-в3б]

@@ChessCoachAndras Spasibo

[@ТестТест-в3б]

@@ChessCoachAndras Thanks

[@chessthinker500]

Thanks so much, coach! Love this video so much!❤👍

[@Antituarec]

AS Always thanks for the great content. Too Bad i cant attend your group lessons due to different time zones !

[@keithlamm1126]

where do we learn the patterns from?

[@juanmiguelguiagarcia9469]

Pretty good stuff! Shared and recommended. Keep up the good work and the numbers will eventually match your high standard.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks, Senor! Glad you liked it!

[@kevinmcgrath1052]

Booomski baby … hard case … how can I forget that

[@althompson3085]

Like watching these multiple times.

[@JuanJaimeLoeraGonzalez]

Very instructive video.thanks.

[@MantraSchultz]

Really insightful. Thanks mate

[@kaladinstromblessed5221]

hey coach can you make a video about Najdorf

[@nickburggraaf3977]

Just starting to watch your videos and it's amazing! Great content! Also love the hitting on the keyboard, it's pure passion for chess!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Welcome on board Nick, enjoy the channel!

[@botramduuze7188]

Will you become a GM one day, Andras?

[@rajsrinivasan3973]

Excellent video. Thanks

[@joeperry1188]

This is such an excellent video. It's such a good point that recognising how close you are to a pattern that you recognise is the way to score really decisive victories seemingly out of nowhere.

[@pabitraghosh1213]

Nice video...have to work on it!!

[@ronfuse6993]

Best 👌 chess channel on youtube

[@teodorobelisario4269]

More patter recognition tips please! 😇

[@russellholloway7465]

Great video , thanks got alot from it

[@frankbrown6305]

I’m all for it. How do I start training?

[@OctavianIV]

I have returned to this video after some time, and it was well worth the time! I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Cheers mate, you are an absolute trooper.

[@naseemabegum7275]

Your content is just awesome, for sure you will hit 100k soon

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Does not look that sadly, But thanks for the kind words!

[@adrianross7615]

Absolutely incredible video

[@israelporras8306]

Great video, thanks!

[@battlescard213]

You’re the absolute BEST!!! #LosAngeles

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks mate!

[@mamun001]

Thank you

[@billc8761]

Excellent video and concept. Thank you very much. I agree with the others that you deserve far more subscribers.

[@davidmays2660]

Excellent, concise lesson. As an amateur player with a provisional USCF rating, I appreciate this great content!

[@inf0phreak]

In the Semi-Slav double bishop sac example, what happens if Black responds to dxc5 with dxc4 opening up the diagonal from b7 to f3 so White can't do the rook lift? Seems to me that Black survives in that case.

[@kevinmcgrath1052]

Daa daaarrr the game is over

[@Rick-si1re]

I agree with most of what was said here, I think Dan Heisman in his "Everyone's second Chess book" talks about the different levels of board vision, this touches on what's being said here as well. I'd say really good Pattern Recognition is needed, a deep understanding of the pattern is needed and just generally being cognizant of these things during the game. "How to beat your Dad in Chess" by Murray Chandler also touches on some of what's being said here as well.

[@bedwarssweat6205]

This is incredible! Do you have any other places to find these more complex mating patterns outside the obvious ones that get mentioned constantly?

[@nicoterradas]

Any book on puzzles for mate in 2 or 3 will do

[@rumpelRAINS]

I first realized this idea of creating a mate pattern in the future from James McConnell vs. Paul Morphy in the King's Gambit. Morphy set's up a smothered mate even though he has to clear a knight from the path of the queen. Paul Morphy vs. Schrufer is probably a crazier example where he set's up an even more complex smothered mate ahead of time. He sac's the exchange I believe then trades his knight off to clear way for a bishop check that allows Morphy to play around 5 knight checks to final deliever mate.

[@jonathanmcgowan7746]

I am one of those "plateau" players you mentioned. This gives me something to build on. Thanks!

[@owengaines9349]

Loved it. I'd wager there's a hot-selling book entitled "Bridging the Gap to Chess Patterns" ready for you to write. Giving the patterns, flags to the patterns potentially present in games, many exercises from present to future chess, etc.

[@MicSam-ws5fg]

Dude I literally started applying this technique in the middle of a game and I must say that it is incredibly amazing.I thank you so much for this incredible video on encouraging one to see the mate and play towards it. I must say that my playing has instantaneously immproved with significance. What I find most interesting about such a beautiful strategy is that once a checkmate is defended, it encourages the attacker to pursue another. Thus, no mate, no victory.

[@jxob]

That just blew my mind. I now recognise how much work I need to do on mating patterns alone, before I can get close to this level of thinking. Thank you!

[@hadakirii]

Thank you for your insight, knowledge and teaching us. Never imagined this concept.

[@kennethlewis3870]

Just outstanding. It's like a chapter out of "The Art of Attack in Chess". A classic.

[@SriramMalladi]

Came across this when a GM recommended it. Kudos to the Coach for pointing out why some players plateau over a period of time. Include me in your fanbase

[@ENoob]

Sounds awesome - would you recommend practicing "mate in 7" sort of puzzles for this?

[@madouken]

Awesome video. I think I'm along way off from developing the mental library of potential mates, but this video reminded me of something you said a while ago about solving puzzles/looking for tactics; at any given point you should take stock of your resources. If you do that and spot the two bishop diagonals, then it's a case of understanding deeply why bishop diagonals are important - the referenced mating patterns. I think building up this skill might be a case of knowledge of games/mates for various themes and creating scenario's where they're successful.

[@dkpandey1996]

Much needed lesson.

[@archiewoosung5062]

I think you're right about this being the key to playing good chess, but it'll be a long and difficult road...but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

[@alwysrite]

what a great teacher !

[@carlosrueda67]

Amazing content