How Should You Spend Your Money on Chess?

[@pamlee823]

Who else is watching in 2024??? 🎉🎉😂

[@Kelcipher]

First

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@CassianAndor-c5z]

only fools read books -Mikhael Tal

[@1cathexis]

@@CassianAndor-c5z I have books about him as well.

[@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

[@scottintexas]

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

[@chetheflin7447]

Great overview of all that is out there to improve!

[@Mishavozduh]

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

[@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

[@timothymansker6177]

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

[@Ebobster]

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

[@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!

[@gygeson5888]

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

[@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

[@AminBio]

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

[@crazyr303]

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

[@ChessDojo]

Thanks!

[@mikereilly4505]

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

[@azul4em]

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

[@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

[@Dharmaku56]

Thank you for the thorough and time saving advice

[@Diffusion8]

Excellent video! Thanks Kostya!

[@pjayshah]

I look forward to going through more videos by ChessDojo.

[@pedrobarrantes1177]

Great info! thank you Kostya!

[@Zenocrat]

wonderful video ... thank you!

[@Re2OnlyMove]

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

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@akbarsharbati9790]

You literally open my eyes 👍🏻

[@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 🙏

[@roeydaz]

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

[@ADDG880]

This was fantastic, thank you!

[@tuanmaple2442]

Very helpful. Thank you, Kostya!

[@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.

[@SaurabhXDD]

Very instructive video 😁

[@seand8534]

Cheers for the video mate! Very helpful

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@kevinshenoy]

thank you! 😊

[@ChessGeek1]

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

[@rishabhmanglani6745]

Thank you so much for this video!!

[@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

[@stuarthartley6824]

Really helpful video, thank you.

[@SatyaDwivedula]

Excellent video. Thank you!!!

[@8yearoldcandidatemaster0no37]

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

[@ChessDojo]

Smart!

[@epictetuscasanova]

Very much appreciated!

[@banihas22]

Much needed content, thanks Kostya.

[@hermankarsowidjojo6771]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@arteryking]

Fantastic presentation!

[@SolimanChess]

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

[@pedro14185]

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

[@ChessDojo]

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

[@mh6790]

very much enjoyed the video

[@Ebobster]

I had Chessbase 16, but regrettably never could figure out how to use it in any sort of meaningful way. The online manual seemed useless as it was not intuitive. My hunch is Chessbase was created by German data base scientists & learning how to use it is sort of like learning the old DOS system for Microsoft vs the intuitive system that everyone loves on Apple.

[@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

[@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

[@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!

[@ravenshadowz2343]

chess.com is a great resource for learning, they have courses in everybody’s price range. Plus if you sign up for their membership, they give you $20 credit each and every month that you have a membership.

[@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

[@marvineagle1437]

Excellent Vidéo!!!

[@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

[@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.

[@denisdemonte15]

this was excellent

[@twogunrider1592]

Study good books, solve many exercises, play a lot of games and once a week work with a coach. Kind of an old school way. I like that more than spending so much time with these online stuff.

[@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 🙂

[@DMR57]

Internet Chess Club (ICC) has a lot of good video content.

[@ChessDojo]

That's true, I was always a big fan of ICC'S stuff - Kostya

[@almarn]

SCID VS PC available free of charge for Windows, Linux, MC OS and if you are not at 2000 elo..it is largely enough...analyzing games, database, play against engine

[@Zhought3391]

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

[@AngelCruz-nr8wb]

Very interesting, thank you so much

[@mariusmarius4832]

Thanks for this..

[@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!

[@Oi-mj6dv]

Honestly im shit at chess but i find looking at great players play openings im interested in while trying to understand them with the help of an engine is probably one of the most ways to get really valuable information about common positions that arise from that opening, what the attacking and defending ideas are etc etc etc. Much much more useful than any spaced repetition or raw move play percentage and if its winning or not via straight engine analysis. Its like the difference in music learning approaches. You have people learning etudes (Akin to studying games) and people that drill technique alone and then play music. I find the later method much drier and boring. But then again im shit at chess ahjaaj

[@aspoonfulofknowledge]

Great insights!

[@Gloobster1350]

exceptional video

[@JohnSmith-tz7iy]

Awesome video

[@getrightw1tcha]

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

[@oliverstevens3952]

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

[@angel_machariel]

How are the tactics on Chesstempo.com "too computerized"? Those are positions extracted from real games. And when you say you don't like how said tactics are "organized", what do you mean by that?

[@ChessDojo]

The solutions are often not found by the human but by the engine. Also the responses to the solution are often not critical, i.e. the engine doesn't always provide the obvious "human defense"

[@angel_machariel]

@@ChessDojo Tactics are tactics, why would one care who (or what) found them? Also, the best defensive moves must not be discarded in tactics-training just because they're not human like. Sure, the method of filtering and generating the defense isn't flawless, but that's another topic. I would have agreed if the positions themselves were composed; that would make them useless. A good example is Laszlo Polgar's 5334 chess problems, which are 100% composed mating problems and resemble nothing like real life. The usual themes and patterns we see in actual games are barely (or not at all) recognizable.

[@ChessDojo]

@@angel_machariel What I mean is that "computer-solutions" are often not logical but just based on a series of concrete moves. I would suggest to solve tactics that are thematic as these are more likely to show up in games. Pattern recognition is built off of patterns, not random tactics in my view. Regarding the defense -- this is how I see it: Let's say you calculate and play a Bxh7 sacrifice...the key line runs after Kxh7, right? But instead the engine plays the 'best' move Kh8, where you have won a pawn and the calculation is over. Isn't it better to test the critical 'human' line? Kxh7, even though it is objectively worse for the defender? The point is to test the calculation, but sometimes the engine will play a non-critical move that doesn't test the solver at all. Hope that makes sense!

[@angel_machariel]

@@ChessDojo Two points are made here, let me go through them: " I would suggest to solve tactics that are thematic as these are more likely to show up in games." But that's exactly what happens on Chesstempo! You even get to see what themes were involved and to what extent as well! The positions are from real games, so the tactics are bound to be themed and... they are far better indexed or named than for example Chess.com or Lichess! The combinations without a clear theme are to be found under "counting", where it's hard to figure out who ends up on top after a slaughterfest. Notice that pure themes go up to Elo 1370 and above that other factors weigh in, so the primary theme might not be apparent. I'm 1800 FIDE, so often you have to setup before you get to the beef. I'm sure at your level you'll see the same. On the Greco's Gift example: It happens a lot that you won't see the refutation you hoped for. I agree on that. The engine has to pick one so it picks the best, however, often if you expand the solution you'll find the alternative defensive resource posted as well! Sometimes you'll even find how to continue! And then there's the comments which show up after the tactic is done where almost always you'll find somebody who posts the consequences of other moves. I don't think you had a paying account as you don't seem to realize how atomized the themes are. You can set your own filters to perfectly pinpoint your needs. Very detailed and correct, though I share with you some of the annoyances.

[@ChessDojo]

Well I have the same issue with both chess.com and lichess trainers in that I'm not a fan of randomized puzzles. When I was using chesstempo even if the problems were labeled under a theme, the solution would often be illogical to me. Again, the engine can find any random series of concrete moves in a game and proclaim them as "best", but I don't think all 'solutions' are created equal. This is all from my experience, but none of the online trainers raise a candle to CT Art when it comes to building a tactical foundation.

[@jakeb.2990]

chesstempo has problems, but they are by far the best for online puzzles, which is convenient the puzzles on chesscom, chess24 or lichess are nowhere near as well set-up, even though they've moved to copy them in several ways puzzle books may be better but you have a non-interactive, more cumbersome experience (except for CT-ART using Blokh's puzzles)

[@ChessDojo]

You should check out our review of CT-ART!

[@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

[@Sozakh]

Correction: chesstempo tactics problems are not computer generated. 100% of their tactics puzzles are from actual tournament games. They show their sources on every puzzle if you have premium membership

[@ChessDojo]

Yes but the solutions are found by a computer, so they're not always "human solutions". The puzzle can come from a human game but have an inhuman solution

[@Sozakh]

@@ChessDojoYes but all tactics puzzles have computer solutions which we solve online no?

[@ChessDojo]

Yes that's why I'm not a fan of online tactics in general. But the bigger point is that you need a human eye to choose problems, not just an engine which points out which moves were +3 in the position

[@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

[@lolololololololol11]

If I could go back in time, I would spend almost 100 percent of it on private coaching. Supervised learning is just so much more effective than unsupervised learning for my chess.

[@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

[@PeterSodhi]

Such a great video

[@ernst7704]

Don’t forget ICC chess , they were around long before chess.com and chess 24

[@Extirpo]

Subscribed 👍

[@Coach_Jan]

Hi, I even think that a lot of these things are useless.. buying a few books and good opening courses from GMs and playing on lichess is all you need. KZbin Videos Are also Good and free.

[@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

[@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 !

[@aveeksinha2184]

Thanks

[@andrewd3428]

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

[@sarterus]

Books best value but most people do not finish them or even do more than start Best Quote "Just Read!"

[@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.