How to Get Better at Chess | Exploring Calculation Techniques | The Amateurs Mind #27

A continuation on the previous Amateurs Mind 27, this time with no particular target rating range. In this video I am modelling the typical mistakes made in calculation and how to best fix them.
Please like, subscribe if you enjoyed this video. As always I welcome any feedback as to how I can improve my videos.
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#Chess
0:00 Intro
3:29 Game 1
8:48 Game 2
15:33 Game 3
18:13 Game 4

[@trlspann]

I realise now how lazy my calculation is. Wonderful explanation of the merits of making yourself calculate more.

[@MrDanielfff777]

Same, this is why I hate puzzles

[@rogermichou8654]

what is your elo fide ?

[@TheJJO]

Calculating variations is like lifting weights for your brain, hard! That's why people don't do it.

[@yokoso2386]

and people look for the other brain trainings like reading books, scroll social media to get some knowledge, play video games, watch some podcast, play online brain training games and there is easy things to engage with not need a much effort yeah also some are play chess but necesarry doesnt play a quality game as just playing without much planning and calculation, just moves the pieces with no reason what do you think?

[@Anton-eh3ny]

​@@yokoso2386you're right and I'm definitely that guy you're talking about 😭😭

[@Joel-vw9mo]

I know myself, as I play mostly 10|0 rapid there is not much time to calculate every move ir at all so I play mostly on my intuition, and calculate at critical moments, otherwise just blunderchecks. 1944 in rapid right now

[@dalriada]

We're genetically wired to conserve energy and calculation is mentally taxing (energy-consuming). So it's normal to want to avoid it, but if we can become aware of when we're being lazy, we can try to resist it.

[@kendreamer6376]

Alexander Kotov was correct you can play better chess just by brute force calculating all the forcing move lines. Modern day chess engines are a testament to his theories. However Nimzowitsch was also correct about systems because it helps human player play instinctively and not have to waste time calculating every move.

[@markhathaway9456]

Just last Saturday I was teaching about how to plan and part of that was using calculation. I told my students that one of the easiest ways to loosen up your imagination is to use one of two things: just think of where you would move your own pieces for some moves with the other side only responding to captures and checks and the other is to use Capablanca's idea of just mentally picking up pieces and setting them on the squares where they are needed (particularly useful on a more open board endgame). These are very effective ways to free a player from the my-move_your-move_my-move_your-move thing where a lot of rational limits kick in and hinder imagination.

[@hermanodejesus7264]

Your thought process starting at 16:17 and then visualizing getting rid of the Knight on e4 takes absolutely great skills 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼. Congratulations man!!!

[@lefterislef5630]

17:57 that "oopsie" is the reason my calculating process is really hard. There are always things missing. I find that although I calculate a lot, my calculations are inefficient because I'm missing pieces of the puzzle. The deeper I go, the more chances I'm missing something and it's kind of frustrating

[@garri235]

I realized surpriisingly that calculating is hard, but evaluate the future position is even harder at least for me,because it requires to be sure who is better and why and this is the most difficult thing for me especially when material is equal or if you are material down.

[@PaulTopacio]

Andras, how did you become such an effective chess communicator? There are a lot of coaches out there but your way of teaching chess is phenomenally good! You emphasize key points really well especially with your body language. Thanks for this awesome content!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks Paul for the kind comment (sorry for missing it) 2 keys: Lots of experience (almost 2 decades) and also I thrive to improve myself along my students. Learning is eternal!

[@jW-zu6rw]

This reminded me of a POV video by an extreme athlete :D. Very educational! Most other people just tell you which candidate moves you should look for (checks, captures, threats). Nice to see the actual thought process by a professional line for line. I'd love to see more of this. Maybe even with example positions for different levels (if that is not too much to ask for)?

[@krdaniel123]

i gotta say coach, your videos are fantastic. i learned a lot from them. thank you very much.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks man!

[@malcolmc2466]

Notice at 22:28, Qxe6 looks scary but is met with the cheeky Qxf3!, if anybody was wondering. Very nice game.

[@gilwolff6785]

+1

[@Mozar2020]

Your content is “top notch.” Your videos always make me go “Wow,” this is such “high level” “legendary” stuff. As appreciation for your content, I purchased all your courses on Chessable, and haven’t been disappointed. Love the new thumbnails. They are almost as awesome as your videos. Thank you, for all you do!

[@stuarthartley6824]

Thanks for all the great content Andras, it’s given with lots of enthusiasm and always of a high standard. It’s greatly appreciated.

[@analogblues]

This is an absolutely superb video, Andras. Calculation and how to properly think through the moves is a topic that I'm constantly trying to get better at. Thank you for the great help!

[@ishanr8697]

Amateur's Mind- best series on YT! Thanks Andras!

[@elneneray6679]

I don't speak English very well and I saw this video three time, one for reading comments, one for listening trying understand the words and one for see the moves. Lol. Thanks for this video

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks a lot for watching!

[@screamingliner]

As usual, spectacular video. In the comments I see people asking how to practice calculation. What I personally like to do is spectate live games at classical time controls. You can try to work out lines while the game is going on. This has several advantages: 1) Unlike puzzles, you don't know if there is a tactic or not 2) there's not a rush to get the calculations done in a few seconds, but there still a bit of time pressure in that someone will move 3) You can be a lot more cold-blooded, as you don't have any skin in the game Another thing that helps is that I realize I like to calculate. It's fun! Working out a study correctly is quite enjoyable. If you find that you enjoy calculating, you become less inclined to turn to the computer for an immediate answer. I'd rather do it myself that watch it get done.

[@stanleytime9193]

Ooh, this is really good

[@stag6161]

I've been doing something like this with any matches I can find between Ginger GM and John Bartholomew, those 2 have an awesome combination of attacking and positional chess that really gives you a well rounded display, because they each push the other to think more like them

[@DanielBachmann]

One of the best videos I came across this year.

[@jesterco12]

Awesome video, thanks! I’m always struck when watching Magnus’s banter blitz videos how quick and deep he’ll go with lines. Even after his opponent plays something other than he expected he’ll continue and finish his calculation for the other move, I suppose as an exercise for himself.

[@nightmarefake]

Your content is gold. This video really changed my mindset about calculation. Let's play the future. Thank you

[@christmackey]

Fantastic video Coach. Appreciate the work and professionalism you put in to KZbin.

[@d.foerster6475]

Thank you for this! I tried being disciplined and doing my calculations in a recent game and I discovered an overworked defender. It allowed me to obtain a material advantage.

[@emoryparish3083]

YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST TEACHER ON KZbin!.

[@Ishikawa-Goemon]

Az egyik legjobb sakkvideó! Mindenki a csodát keresi, megnyitásokat tanul, megnéz 600 leckét, de a fejlődés elmarad... Te pedig kristálytisztán rámutatsz a helyes ösvényre. Persze valahol fura, hogy ezzel felnyitottad az emberek szemét (az enyémet is beleértve). De az emberi természet már csak ilyen: aki nem versenyszerűen sakkozik, az minden csodaszert kipróbál, minden követ megmozgat, csak gondolkodni ne kelljen. :)

[@ChessCoachAndras]

KOszonom a kedves szavakat!

[@madhavsanap6690]

Great comment. Openings is mostly this is what he told. Little memory and 3,4 moves deep look into the future.

[@steveauguste4498]

Great video! I've done the "this doesn't work" and have given up on a move many games. Thanks for the "deep calculation". I plan on working on this part of my game.

[@eitanchess]

This legit opened my eyes. Literally.

[@markjuhasz2803]

András, you are great! You stated the obvious, BUT It was really what I needed to take it seriously and put more effort into it. Thx!

[@kieran6330]

Cool video - pushing you to calculate more, and to keep going deeper as you progress

[@martin-steiner-photography]

OK, I was ELO 1100 few months ago. now I am 1600, beating many 1700 guys. Few months and a rapid difference in my game. And the only difference - calculation. I did not do that before properly, now I am trying to be way more conscious and tactical about it. If someone thinks the calculation is important, it is an underestimation. Big thank you for sharing your insight Andras :)

[@skylarmimikyu7844]

hi can you teell how you came all the way here

[@martin-steiner-photography]

@@skylarmimikyu7844 Hi, I started to learn how to play - found 2 openings which suits me and I can force them to my oponent most of the times - London for white, Indian deffence for black and I play only these so I get better and better in the upcoming lines. And I try to analyze the games if I have time at least a bit. And watching guys like John Bartholomew (quick tutorials, important tactics) and Agadmator (for fun, but you will get much from the explanations) and sometimes I play chess puzzles (now ranked 2300 :)) that helps with the calculation, you need to think in a way "if I play this, he can play this and this and I can reply with this and this..." And then I play at least 1-3 times per day. Sometimes blitz or bullet just to force myself to get used to fast playing and not making many mistakes. And then I am at my best in rapid - I have solid and very quick openings, I can calculete the middle game and I am able to play fast and quite ok and precise in the end game if needed. Now 1700 in rapid. It is just a skill. At least until 2000-2500 I would say. Then also genetics play a role.

[@timwoods3173]

I'm watching this for the 2nd time and learning even more. I like the part about assessing the now and then, calculating the future.

[@Jagdwurststulle]

Excellent video, thank you so much!

[@mugbhary]

What an amazing video .. the best video I have watched in my life on chess that actually addresses me .. thanks Roth .. be proud u have actually ignited a 36 yr old guy interst who might actually teach his son this method over a cup of tea and he might be happy forever

[@chessthinker500]

I love your sound analysis on the positions, which is based on logical & deep calculation. 😊👍

[@joeweider9471]

very very nice! first time i've seen your video here on youtube, so i just subscribed...koszi nagyon!

[@owengaines9349]

It would be great to get a list of ways to improve calculation. In Pulgar and Toth's Chessable course, Master Your Chess Pt. 1, the blurb about the book says visualization and calculation are NOT improved by doing tactical puzzles, and I didn't see in the course what the suggested method was (I was disappointed with that fact.) My only thoughts to improve on calculation (and I'd love other ideas or corrections) are: 1. Play longer time format games and calculating diligently. 2. A course like Visualise on Chessable 3. Courses like Knight Fork Trainer, Moves Ahead, and Survive and Thrive on Chessable. 4. I don’t see why tactic puzzles wouldn’t improve on calculation…I’d love to here from Andres on why not. Wonderful content, as usual, thank you.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks. Visualisation is a mighty issue, and frankly, other than some focused calculating exercisers, I have not much else to recommend.

[@owengaines9349]

@@ChessCoachAndras Are tactic puzzles focused calculation exercises?

[@JohnCooper1]

@@ChessCoachAndras how did you get better at calculating?

[@anastasiosantoniadis8690]

I just wonna say thank you for making this amazing content it has helped me so much love from greece

[@mortenlund1418]

Thanks for sharing great knowledge to us. ❤

[@fn3205]

WHAT A PHENOMENAL VIDEO 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@maximechecinski8422]

Thank you so much Sir for all these bunches of advice!

[@theosis101]

This was enormously helpful. Thanks a bunch.

[@lonwabocharles3506]

I can't believe I only recently convinced myself to look at your channel, Mr. Toth. This is priceless material for an adult improver such as me. Thank you so much.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Welcome onboard kind sir! Enjoy the channel ! I recommend binge watching the whole Amateur's mind series!

[@aryaplayzzz]

@@ChessCoachAndras you are amazing mr. Toth

[@Harpoika]

Thank you for this amazing video. I remember myself when i figured out that I should use also the opponents time to my benefit, it really improved my game but after watching this video i know my calculations are still too lazy. I'm not putting in my best effort so I guess I have to play fewer games and concentrate on the quality over quantity.

[@ecc315]

As always, your videos are very helpful.

[@cobeferraro3464]

Great video. Just what i needed. Being a 1800s otb rated player, it is clear to me that my positional knowledge is greater than that of my peers at my level, but, oddly enough, my calculation level is below them. I know what i need to work on to break 2000. Thanks, Coach Andras! The best channel on the YT! 💯

[@b.1565]

Did your rating rise?

[@cobeferraro3464]

@@b.1565 yes!

[@syntaxerror274]

Thank you for this training😊

[@mangai3599]

What a lesson; thanks a lot sir🙏🏻.

[@robertsweeney1162]

This is just amazing content. Thank you very much. Apart from making me realise how much hard mental hard work is needed for good chess I also realise how much Blitz games are hurting me. Although good fun I just play off instinct. So thanks again :)

[@Chris-zf5jz]

Just came across this channel the other day and subscribed! Excellent content with awesome explanations - I really profit a lot from it! Thanks a lot Andras =)

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Welcome on board Chris, feel free to spread the love!

[@kavinkumar6354]

Exactly what I needed! Thanks Toth!!!!!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

My Pleasure!

[@kavinkumar6354]

@@ChessCoachAndras Are you going to do any more opening videos?? Hope the love spreads!!! Can we analyze some of my games on lichess sometime?

[@chriscarpenter5688]

Really helpful thanks. I had an OTB game this season where I just did not go deep enough. I am trying to try harder!!!

[@shivakrishna1743]

Arguably the best chess improvement video on youtube. I felt like you were talking to me :D. Are there resources/books to develop and test this skill.

[@user-ce2gl6ky2y]

Thanks, Andrei

[@brasileirosim5961]

Great video Andras, thanks!

[@SanMarin0]

Super helpful for a 1000 player. Very well explained. I appreciate the video.

[@bustersbrain]

"You need to calculate your guts out" - Andras Toth (T-shirt suggestion.)

[@timwoods3173]

Omg , you explain really, really, I mean really, well. Thank you.

[@FireboltJB]

Checks, captures threats. Is a really good thought process. It's helping me a lot.

[@ridegreen78]

This was an eye opener

[@vilmarcabanero2500]

First video I watch from your channel, and I learned a lot! So cool.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

HOla senor, welcome to the channel! Glad you like the content!

[@zeezmusic7245]

Mate I just discovered your channel, what an eye opener. I could calculate that d5, Ne5, Bxc4, Nxc4, Qa4+ etc but my assessment was wrong, I was thinking ‘oh I have doubled pawns on f file, and isolated on d file, I don’t like it’ The assessment of the position is something I’m lacking still. Great video

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks man, glad you like the content!

[@benpict]

Loving the videos on calculation, it's certainly a weak point for me, your advice is excellent as always!

[@sriramadithya4799]

This is the best chess video I have seen

[@kriswaelput]

On several occasions I heard Ben Johnson (PerpetualChess) praise your teacher's qualities. Well, he was absolutely right !!!

[@Shellback13202]

It really stood out to me how important calculation is from the start and in a 'standard' position. I think so many of us autopilot opening moves with little thought as to why we're moving the pieces. Another top-notch video. When practicing calculation with puzzles/problems, is it ok to write down variations or is it better to try and do it all mentally?

[@ofurhieraphael7633]

Wow the calculations in the last game was so beautiful

[@wiggininin]

Excellent tutorial!

[@randysalichez1202]

Great video, big piece of advice

[@evanderfrey736]

Another Amateurs mind video? Couldn't click fast enough. Always a treat with these.

[@roeydaz]

‘Forcing yourself to think’ …..that’s the key…..forcing yourself to do physical exercise……same thing. It’s about overcoming the inertia of laziness….good advice…maybe start with a 2 or 3 move evaluation and when your comfortable extend it. I suppose at some point you will find it easier to go in deeper. Good video Andras. Thank you.

[@petermead8229]

Thanks Sherlock! 😂 Great video, great attitude...really enjoing your thinking. The 51% 49% rule about favouring your line but looking for the best defense is great. Same with reacting to the future not the present. Chess has so many philosophical & practical applications, amazing ❤

[@ralphbuschmann740]

Hi Andras, I would love to see a video where you order tactic books according to their level of difficulty as it is always a question which one to buy next.

[@kirkd1631]

Thanks for explaining this. Calculation skills is the one thing that I believe holds me back.

[@stanleytime9193]

Nice pfp!

[@roddunsmore8449]

This is such a great video. Probably the best chess coaching video for adult improvers I've seen.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks ROd, plenty more of these on the channel!:)

[@joeperry1188]

Andras Toth ftw. After his "understanding your openings" series, I started playing the nimzo Indian in casual games and crushing people rated 1900 on lichess. When I'm 2000, I'm going to try and buy him something haha

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks mate, glad to hear about your success. Btw looking to upgrade my Camry to a new one if you are short of ideas 😉❤️

[@joeperry1188]

@@ChessCoachAndras how do you feel about Porsches? World class coach needs a world class car.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

@@joeperry1188 Nahh, I am a modest guy and a new Camry has been a dream of mine for very long

[@wellutopia2237]

I played a 15:10 game today in the kings Indian where white allowed me to kick a knight with b4 and i absolutely crushed his position. Everything collapsed. 85.9 percent accurate and said i played like an 1850 on analysis. Thanks for improving my game. Much appreciated.

[@grafendorfer5272]

Amazing video, that relly touches on the main problem in my (and i would assume many other's) chess: the problem isn't that i CAN'T, it's that i often DON'T :p That being said, i think you need fairly good visualization skills to actually calculate properly, and i'm not exactly sure how to get there sometimes... do i solve puzzles? practice blindfold? play more long games? If you need ideas on future videos, any pointers in how to improve visualization would be greatly appreciated :) Anyway, you are by far and away the most instructive guy on YT when it comes to chess improvement imo, great stuff!

[@dekkard79]

Awesome video! I feel exposed because I've been trapped in diagnostic assessement for years, but I never had a name to put to the concept. This year one of my resolutions is to get better at calculation although it takes effort (nobody sad it was easy 😊)

[@eschiedler]

Excellent video. Game three is saved by black by Knight to A6 preventing the follow-up queen check but then losing the game by being down a piece. Good example of a winning game by having more active pieces with a pawn gambit.

[@npcompletenate]

Hi Andras! KZbin had your videos in my recommended and I'm glad I clicked cause the content is superb! I'm a very new chess player (only about 4 months) and I'm making my climb up and had a question about calculation. Currently, what I try to do is scan the position for checks, captures, and attacking moves to find potential moves, then from there I try to go around 3 full turns deep to see if the idea holds water. This works decently well at my low 700s elo, but I feel like I need to go deeper to be able to truly out calculate my opponents. However, I struggle to visualize the board past that depth. How best should I practice visualization to let myself go deeper into lines?

[@southernrun9048]

Great video and very helpful

[@niloydey6147]

This video is actually helpful. Good work.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks, generally the idea is to make helpful videos!😉

[@lukastux3024]

Wow. This was exactly what I needed now.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Awesome, enjoy!

[@musicalasaurus9619]

Thank you!

[@MrAM4D3U5]

one of the best chess videos on youtube imo

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks a lot, I like this one too!:)

[@StiTchEvidence]

I've witnessed a few videos on chess calculations but they mostly explained how to calculate what you can already do. This is a damn good resource with great pointers and, if nothing else, will encourage me to actually use time in a productive fashion. With any luck, I can get my rating from double figures to triple figures! ...I mean I jest but I am never going to be great at chess. I am content with being barely capable and watching miracles happen in others' games. To some extent, you do also have to accept some people just can't calculate 10 moves without missing things :(

[@shridhar_rao]

Awesome!

[@kennethcabangon]

good explanation , i can only calculate 1 move as of the moment and then after playing it i realize its a blunder

[@darrylkassle361]

I have calculated that Andras is one of the best online coaches for improving players

[@ricj441]

I've just discovered this channel and i think it's very good!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thank you and welcome on board!

[@manishkhanduja689]

So much to learn simply superb!!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks, glad you like the content!

[@godfreyofbouillon966]

That's one of the best chess videos I've seen. Also, I'm guilty as charged. Living in the present. Its a very tough habit to break.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks very much for the kind words!

[@teamllubtip]

Great vid.

[@guilhaspilhas]

"You must play the future, not the present!" Fabulous. Thank you, Coach Andras. This is really hard to improve... What books, exercises, resources you recommend to train calculation (beginner/intermediate)? Thank you.

[@Galadrew]

Puzzles are readily available in lichess, going through a bunch of puzzles every day will make you a better calculator.

[@marcofrey2903]

@@Galadrew They certainly have helped me greatly. However, what they don't exercise is the ability to calculate where there are no tactics (or the tactics are inherent but you assume your opponent will see them), and then to visualize and evaluate the resulting position. I don't really know how to practice that. I just try to ask myself: What are the dynamics of the resulting position? "Oh, I see that I'm left with an IQP but pieces are too easily traded down. Maybe not." Or, "Oh, this is great, I'm left with a space advantage and my opponent will find it hard to create meaningful threats."

[@asdf14051]

@@marcofrey2903 try going over master games, but hide the next move. try guessing what the next move will be. of course, unless you're already very high rated, you won't be correct most of the time, but its still a good way to practice

[@holgerkummel8828]

Very good advices and examples, thanks. Greetings from Germany

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks Holger, Grus Gott !

[@Riverofnaamjaap2910]

Awesome stuff ❤️

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@pasadenapsych44]

Great content, again! Reminder that there are no scary moves though, Andras. :)

[@davidbatchelder85]

you are funny on your opening statement, I laughed. Calculations, wow. Shows me how far away I am. May Jesus bless me with the sight in my mind. Thank you for your video. Great.

[@7352SoS]

man this is what i need, i am desperate to go beyond 1600 and i realize how lazy my calculation is. hopefully I can improve it

[@phukyu9016]

Your best vid yet! Kreygasm

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks man!