How Should You Spend Your Money on Chess?

In this video IM Kostya Kavutskiy reviews and compares the various options for chess study (sites, apps, books, coaching, etc.) from a cost-effectiveness perspective.
Timestamps:
Intro - 0:00
Chess.com - 2:33
Chess24 - 5:13
Chessable - 8:03
Chessbase Accounts - 9:45
Chesstempo.com - 10:50
365chessacademy.com - 11:47
Lichess - 13:47
Chessbase Software - 15:00
ChessKing Apps - 16:41
Books - 19:41
Private Coaching - 22:11
Free Resources - 24:41
Conclusion - 29:27
Links:
Kostya's Full Book Recommendations (no paywall):
/ 27108166
Kostya's video about Chessbase:
• Should You Buy Chessbase?
Sites discussed in this video:
www.chess.com
www.chess24.com
www.chessable.com
www.chessbase.com
www.chesstempo.com
www.365chessacademy.com
www.lichess.org
www.chessking.com
Follow ChessDojo here:
Twitch: / chessdojolive
Discord: / discord
Twitter: / chess_dojo

[@ChessDojo]

Timestamps: Intro - 0:00 Chess.com - 2:33 Chess24 - 5:13 Chessable - 8:03 Chessbase Accounts - 9:45 Chesstempo.com - 10:50 365chessacademy.com - 11:47 Lichess - 13:47 Chessbase Software - 15:00 ChessKing Apps - 16:41 Books - 19:41 Private Coaching - 22:11 Free Resources - 24:41 Conclusion - 29:27

[@botmario6453]

Can you practice chess incorrectly

[@Arif-ee8dk]

thanks

[@scottintexas]

Excellent advice and reviews, also well presented! This was exactly what I was looking for.

[@Flash4freedom]

What an awesome 30 minutes. Great work. I have been stalking your videos of late. I really like your perspective, attitude and knowledge. Keep up the great work. Take Care Be Well Gordon

[@user-kh6xl4yg1j]

Excellent video recap of resources. So much useful info, will of course watch again to ID each available resource. Bravo!

[@Mishavozduh]

Extremely useful and topical. Thank you very much for this.

[@vincentmiceli2554]

Glad I found your channel. You always put out useful, informative information and I appreciate it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@AFeigenbaum1]

I discovered your channel last night around 1 AM while surfing KZbin for Chess related items ... glad I did ... I really appreciate your approach to introducing how to learn chess ... I am a retiree who has returned to the game after a 50 year hiatus ... so your video is most helpful ... this one and the one on chess books ... thank you ... thank you ... thanks you ...

[@theflashbacker5505]

I have a similar story. I’m recently retired and one of our kids said to me in January that he started playing chess...and would I like to play some games with him. The good news is, Chess is not as expensive as most adult hobbies, but it might be more addicting!

[@mikereilly4505]

amazing video kostya, enjoyed every second as usual. appreciate the hard work and genuine heart

[@chetheflin7447]

Great overview of all that is out there to improve!

[@pedrobarrantes1177]

Great info! thank you Kostya!

[@seand8534]

Cheers for the video mate! Very helpful

[@Diffusion8]

Excellent video! Thanks Kostya!

[@ADDG880]

This was fantastic, thank you!

[@tuanmaple2442]

Very helpful. Thank you, Kostya!

[@OregonMikeH]

WOW! That was Grand Indeed. KA-POW, I'm Subscribed with All recertifications On. I find your Ch. very diversified deriving more benefit from it then a host of others I've been with for some time. Host Demeanor is excellent and as for this specific Video, I've not seen a better job on the theme anywhere! I'll Saddle up with Chess Dojo of course and I'm both looking forward to participating and supporting. Thank You for your individual Style, your knocking it out of the Park. A Grand New Year to You and Thanks ever so much!! Mike.

[@ChessDojo]

Wow, thanks Mike! Great to have you here 🙏

[@timothymansker6177]

Just downloaded CT Art 4.0 so far I'm happy with this app thanks for your video

[@Dharmaku56]

Thank you for the thorough and time saving advice

[@1cathexis]

Good video! I liked the way you refused to discard books as too, "old school." In fact, I consider chess books by their nature to be one of the best reasons for the continuing legitimacy of books in general. Their very nature promotes slow, careful, and considerate study in a way that "media" seems not to. And that type of study is highly favorable to improvement in chess, even if society seems compelled to always try to compress the learning process into brief, digestible "tidbits." Some things in life reward only long exposure and repeated focus.

[@ronniewest87]

This comment stronger than a Mustangs wang!!!!! Great analysis!

[@ChessDojo]

All three Senseis are big fans of chess books. You won't see us disparaging them!

[@aussierule]

I'm currently reading a book from the year Deep Blue beat Kasparov. Super interesting both in content and contrast of perception of computers compared to today.

[@user-vq1bx3lj6n]

only fools read books -Mikhael Tal

[@1cathexis]

@@user-vq1bx3lj6n I have books about him as well.

[@azul4em]

Every video I have seen from you, is always top quality content, bravo !!

[@crazyr303]

You deserve a lot more views, this video was very helpful, thank you!

[@ChessDojo]

Thanks!

[@AminBio]

This was a very comprehensive advice on chess sources. Thanks very much!

[@manuelgonzales2570]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@rishabhmanglani6745]

Thank you so much for this video!!

[@SatyaDwivedula]

Excellent video. Thank you!!!

[@stuarthartley6824]

Really helpful video, thank you.

[@rudyardm416]

This is a very helpful video. Thank you.

[@Zenocrat]

wonderful video ... thank you!

[@gygeson5888]

Really great video. EVERY beginning chess player should watch this upon starting their improvement journey.

[@pjayshah]

It has been a while since I used a chess software. I remember liking Chess Master 9000. I liked how it had various characters of different levels and the end game drills like bishop and knight and queen versus rook. They don't appear to produce that software anywhere. Seemed great for beginners and above. I would love to get more up to date software with endgame drills and seems to be as good overall like Chess Master was.

[@LooseToots]

all chess websites facilitate this

[@stevesidare2493]

Thanks for doing this coverage of all the sites/platforms. And I do hate the Right or Wrong type puzzles and being docked or having to start over. Life is not black and white, or all right or all wrong!

[@SaurabhXDD]

Very instructive video 😁

[@HumanistAtheist]

Small correction-- lichess' puzzles are not computer-generated per se, they all come from actual games played on the site. Computer analysis is used to determine if the position fits a certain theme (i.e. mate in 2) and whether there's one clear solution to the position, then it uses statistics using the ratings of players that pass or fail the problem to eventually assign it a difficulty rating. It's not perfect and I would prefer puzzles created by teachers/authors, but it's also free, so... :-)

[@ChessDojo]

Hello, this is exactly what I mean by "computer-generated" -- the computer decides what is a good "solution" and often comes up with strange problems. You should check out my review of CT Art on this channel!

[@sable4539]

So... computer generated?🤔What exactly did you correct here

[@tedzards509]

​@@sable4539The positions were not thought up by computers which however is an interpretation that is reasonable to come to when referring to something as "computer generated".

[@RR-gm1fp]

Computer 'determined' might be a better description. Also note Lichess also allows puzzle selection by Openings - a very useful feature.

[@arteryking]

Fantastic presentation!

[@epictetuscasanova]

Very much appreciated!

[@banihas22]

Much needed content, thanks Kostya.

[@AngelCruz-nr8wb]

Very interesting, thank you so much

[@pjayshah]

I look forward to going through more videos by ChessDojo.

[@aspoonfulofknowledge]

Great insights!

[@glennurquhart2989]

If I stopped drinking beer for a month, I could buy Chessbase for a year, but I have Fritz 17 so why not? Great video! thanks!

[@ngomusoqwabe4684]

Why do most players drink or use drugs?

[@tomhubertemail]

If i stopped drinking beer for a month, I would be able to play chess!

[@AR-gr5xu]

@@tomhubertemail :D

[@uquitilaugh]

Thanks Kostya. Im finding all of your videos very informative and helpful. You have encouraged me to order and read Aagaards books on calculation and theyve been very instructive. Thanks!

[@ChessDojo]

Glad to hear, thanks!

[@akbarsharbati9790]

You literally open my eyes 👍🏻

[@mh6790]

very much enjoyed the video

[@chessfan8673]

You forgot to join a local chess club. In my club we have lot's of IM and FM players that helps a lot analysing games and did training lectures. We have a weekly youth training by an IM. A lot of Club events and tournaments. And all for only a few bugs a month. Here in germany nearly every big city has several chess clubs and every region has a least one club with all the strong players.

[@Pokarface7]

Germany and Russia are both strong chess countries :-)

[@archdukefranzferdinand567]

Germany also has the 2nd highest number of titled players in the world. In Canada, there are less titled players than there are German IM's

[@TodayTestfbsfbsfbs]

yeah we are very lucky here in germany even in small cities there are good chess clubs with IM and FM players.

[@earljohnpil3391]

can I join your chess club? I'm really finding good clubs to help me enjoy my games more :( thanks

[@spacerocks9740]

Not every country has a chess club in every city you are privileged to live in a chess loving country

[@ChessGeek1]

Great "analysis" of the different tools. Wonderful video, and yes: there is no better time to learn chess

[@roeydaz]

Great. Lovely advice! I still use Fred Reinfeld’s ‘The complete Chess Player’.

[@bbax56]

Thank you for such a helpful video. Never seen this topic covered before. One resource I didn't hear you mention is interactive chess books (though Chessable is similar). The interactive books site I use most is Forward Chess.

[@ChessDojo]

To me those are books, just presented in a different format. Personally I prefer physical books but I totally get the convenience of e-books. Glad you found it helpful! -Kostya

[@PeterSodhi]

Such a great video

[@kevinshenoy]

thank you! 😊

[@Gloobster1350]

exceptional video

[@pjayshah]

An interesting challenge I think many of us think about is how I can go very far without chess coaching. I agree personal coaching can be valuable but like your said very expensive. I mean people seem to become computer experts and become leaders there without personal coaching.

[@mariusmarius4832]

Thanks for this..

[@JohnSmith-tz7iy]

Awesome video

[@denisdemonte15]

this was excellent

[@nathanielfaerman]

Great video! Small remark on lichess: all tactics are actually from real games on the site, which can be reviewed after u solve it!

[@ChessDojo]

Right but they are still computer generated, meaning the computer finds the tactic and creates the problem, which can make for a lot of weird puzzles as a computer solution is not always useful, even if it comes from a real game.

[@nathanielfaerman]

@@ChessDojo yes, you are right :) My bad

[@ChessDojo]

@@nathanielfaerman no worries, most of the sites are the same in this regard :)

[@thenapoleonlover113]

I love learning chess through books. I feel like I understand the ideas behind each moves a lot more than studying in online trainers or video courses

[@SasukeUchiha-gs8xl]

which books helped you the most? would appreciate if you would let me know, trying to get better

[@michaelnorman4]

@@SasukeUchiha-gs8xl same here

[@secretunknown2782]

Books suck and are trash

[@wyattbadger8238]

Thanks for the video. I also enjoyed your episode on the Perpetual Chess Podcast. Given the many aspects of chess improvement, I do have a question: If I have 2 hours a day to devote to chess, how would you recommend I partition my time (playing, solving tactics, studying books/videos) in order to maximize progress? What about if I had 4 hours a day? Thanks!

[@CCV334]

How do you balance your time? How much time should be spent on studying tactics, openings, and theory vs actually playing with people? If I had let’s say 100 dollars to spend just to test the waters where is more of that money better spent on? I felt like you provided a good overview of all the resources and material but should outline a path in the end or else we wind up in a similar position we’re all in to begin with. Everything for the most part seems like a decent option but what is worth our time and money.

[@leonromer567]

I bought 4 books on openings, never read them and blunder a lot. So thats definitly a way you should not spend your money lol

[@ignis6144]

Great video

[@sniper9961]

Thanks a lot for the video, definitely subscribing. The book recommendation list you've included is for all levels ?

[@ChessDojo]

It makes it clear on the list which level the book is recommended for

[@sniper9961]

@@ChessDojo whoops, I haven't look the link before asking. Thanks anyways !

[@pedro14185]

Thank you for this! ChessDojo looks very promising, keep it up!

[@ChessDojo]

Thanks!

[@pixelbind]

Love these types of videos! I'm curious if you recommend Excelling at Chess Calculation or Grandmaster Preparation: Calculation. I've plateaued around 1900 USCF.

[@ChessDojo]

Kostya likes that Calc book, Kraai just ordered a copy!

[@pixelbind]

@@ChessDojo Wait which book do you mean? I listed two :p

[@ChessDojo]

@@pixelbind Excelling at Chess Calculation is the one to start with. They're both quite tough!

[@CapitanTavish]

Go dvoretsky or nothing. Go serious 🧐

[@terraincognita1481]

@@CapitanTavish, Dvoretsky forever. Every year I open that book and feel I still can't understand it, lol.

[@davids.3725]

I am really enjoying the chess.com app...I basically only know a few openings and how the pieces move 🤣 but the chess.com app has helped me develope my chess game and learning quite a bit.

[@kravenofspider]

Thanks for keeping it real. What's the best option to just extract the best strategy and tactics for overall life use?

[@ChessDojo]

Chess.com

[@ebbyshosan6673]

great video

[@Extirpo]

Subscribed 👍

[@Xcon00]

@chessdojo Very good video, could you please recommend some other good books for beginner-intermediate?

[@jojothefrikkenclown]

I am never going to be anything like Kasparov or Bobby Fischer, but I train a lot. I have given my life to chess. I play only against myself and bots set to no strength limit even though it isn't recommended, but I ca draw some games. I spend nights adding annotations and playing games as hard as I can on both time. My family is actually concerned, because I basically spend 8+ hrs working in chessbase annotating plans and variations, and I have done pretty well against stockfish with no limits on my phone. I resigned ths game after a battle

[@ChessDojo]

We would recommend playing against human opponents if the goal is to compete in actual tournaments! The engine doesn't play in a very human style

[@seand8534]

Sorry if I missed this but did you not mention chess engines? I won the u120 at the British chess championships a few years back and all I did was use Houdini. I agree that books, videos and apps are great and should be utilised (which I now do) but I find using a chess engine to analyse OTB club and tournament games incredibly useful

[@ChessDojo]

Didn't mention engines because Stockfish and Leela are both free to use, so of course they're a great value for the money 🙂

[@Ninterd2]

I'll say I'm a bit turned off by video courses even though I recognise their usefulness. As someone who's into a more old school way of learning chess, books are really fun!

[@aussierule]

I didn't see you talk about this in the video so I thought id put it here. Note this is different from Chess.com's tactic trainer which you mentioned. Chess.com's guided lessons in the learning tab is invaluable for new players. It takes you from how the pieces move to checkmate with all capable pieces/pairs to book openings to midgame tactics, how to find a strategy in the midgame and executing those tactics to find a winning position in the endgame. Advanced tactics, book openings etc. The format they give is great for people who like hands on approaches. You're shown a video and then have 5 puzzles to apply what was taught in videos. And it has a very clear and extensive structure from beginning to end. After that you should be around 1600-1800ish and then transitioning to the video library with puzzle courses from actual master level games in which you can learn and more importantly understand those videos. For novices, IMO these extensive guided lessons are invaluable for the price.

[@aussierule]

Also GREAT video man. The effort that went into this is very respectable. I should have led with that. Also don't forget to check the public libraries!

[@ChessDojo]

I agree, the chesscom lessons are quite useful as well! I should have mentioned those

[@edhalsim]

Very good. I’m 1100 trying to add a couple hundred rating points in my limited spare time. Cost is a factor. I’m ok with my openings, but then after that I’m stumped as to what to do next. What would you recommend? Thanks.

[@8yearoldcandidatemaster0no37]

I'm trying to watch all the chess24 commentary by players with the first name Peter, either Svidler or Leko!

[@ChessDojo]

Smart!

[@oliverstevens3952]

Do you have any thoughts on Dr Wolf coaching app? Great video btw 👍👍

[@johnmcmurtery9531]

Hi Kostya - thank you for this video. I'd be curious to hear if you've had experience with the Chess Openings Wizard software.

[@ChessDojo]

No haven't heard of it! - Kostya

[@SolimanChess]

Thanks, working on getting my chess.com diamond membership now, also I agree John Bartholomew is great 👍

[@deltatango2581]

Noticed you didn't mention Fritz under the free part. It doesn't appear to teach you moves, but can practice and play rated games. Just something of interest

[@aveeksinha2184]

Thanks

[@brikben1205]

I don't think anyone mentioned this but Lichess tactics are actually not computerized. Each tactic comes from a game between it's users and you can go to the game from the puzzle itself!

[@ChessDojo]

I didn't explain this well but those tactics are still "picked" by the computer. It just looks for moments where there was a large swing in evaluation/only move and presents those as puzzles

[@getrightw1tcha]

at 28:16 how is his name spelled? couldnt find him...Peter leiko(?) :D

[@staycalmandrelaxed5724]

The very first chess book iv owned was Modern Chess Openings back in 2014 when I started studying..

[@craigd123]

Cool story

[@staycalmandrelaxed5724]

@@craigd123 it has all the openings plus games played with that specific opening

[@craigd123]

@@staycalmandrelaxed5724 good door stop

[@tylerdevore6520]

@@craigd123 Is that your takeaway with any knowledge you accumulate in the past?

[@craigd123]

@@tylerdevore6520 It was useful in the past but with today's software and databases, the book is now a doorstop

[@ChinmayDhake]

Hey, you must also check Chessbase India, they also have a large amount of chess content, and so does Hanging pawns.

[@ChessDojo]

They are great channels, and perfectly free

[@seandoc8463]

Thanks for the video! Just subscribed and enjoying all your videos. I'm.confused with chessbase as I want to sign up for the 50 or so per year but there also seems to be a separate chessbase product that starts at 100.. what's the difference?

[@ChessDojo]

The product is a well-known software that high level professionals use, the online service contains the videos/features discussed in the video

[@seandoc8463]

@@ChessDojo Appreciate the prompt response, thank you. I won my division in the British chess championships in 2015 but haven't played since.. your videos are inspiring me to get fully back into the swing of things! Thanks again, all the best 👍

[@ChessDojo]

@@seandoc8463 So great to hear, best of luck!

[@dietmarmayer3639]

Kostya - any thoughts on buying online courses by ichess.net or thechessworld.com? Are they intructive, maybe some particular authors to praise regarding valuable teaching material?

[@ebbyshosan6673]

is fritz from chessbase going to improve? or can you just use something free like lucaschess or shredder?

[@alberthuang4868]

nowadays you don't need a big budget to spend on chess - plenty of free pdf chess books, chess websites to play the game and chess youtube for free coaching. Of course if you want premium coaching from a grandmaster, you pay - nothing comes free. But chess unlike many sports is considered cheap. What is not cheap is the countless hours of playing and training and if you don't make it to become a competitive player, it is as good as recreational play and mental stimulation

[@hermankarsowidjojo6771]

Keep 'the Royal Game' high, also outside the Chessboard . Support, personal 'water - fognets' where they need it most. Sincerely,

[@zacharyhoughton3391]

I really like Dereque Kelly’s Chess Openings app. He is a great teacher, especially if you find remembering some of the openings challenging.

[@georgehoran8307]

have you reviewed your favorite tournaments etc?

[@jindrichzapletal5822]

I found the best investment for opening was chesspublishing.com. Buy their full membership for a year and download all their books and browse their updates for some time. The books have the important advantage that they are written for both sides at once, there are many up-to-date fighting and 100% responsible lines, I thought it improved my chess enjoyment by a mile

[@AnlamK]

ChessCom's lessons in the guess-the-move format was the best. I finished all those lessons years ago but they are not focusing on those anymore.

[@andrewd3428]

Hi, Have you any experience of chessmood.com? Great video by the way.

[@surpawar5933]

Hi need a strong chess engine ..book n setting for it .. can please just but for ipad not android..pls suggest or share the download link if u have any engine

[@scottshaffer5205]

Could be time to update this video. Do you have any content about Aimchess, DecodeChess, and GChess?

[@ChessDojo]

Haven't used any of them!

[@georgehoran8307]

Fab reviews

[@Barkotek]

there's also ichess.net with videos aimed at I'd say 1400-2000 elo and for 2000+ modern-chess.com is the nr 1 resource

[@harry_from_electric_chess]

Great and helpful video! What do you think about the (not mentioned) website chesslecture.com?

[@talstory]

I have been considering chessable recently and find it very hard to navigate and work out if it would be good value..it seems just like a collection of courses for sale, and the value of membership is not clear

[@theshadow6165]

What's the best modern opening book for learning the main the ideas of the openings/ variations

[@ibarix]

Such a great video. How do I give 13 likes? ;) Gj, Kostya, very helpful as usual.