Top 5 Chess Habits (to maximize your training)

Top 5 Chess Habits -
1) Keep track of what you study, save games to a database and review later
2) Write down your solutions when solving calculation exercises
3) Review the solution whenever you get a tactics problem wrong
4) After playing blitz/bullet, review the opening to find an improvement
5) Keep your brain active, especially while analyzing with an engine
Recommended Books (affiliate links):
Aagaard - Excelling at Chess Calculation: amzn.to/2rfXXPY
Smith & Tikkanen - The Woodpecker Method: amzn.to/2EGxGgS
Fischer - My 60 Memorable Games: amzn.to/2M8H9lf
Maizelis - Soviet Chess Primer: amzn.to/34zDK5c
Polgar - Learn Chess the Right Way: amzn.to/38PFhI0
Watson - Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy: amzn.to/2M7k4PY
Hellsten - Mastering Chess Strategy: amzn.to/36ISoJ5
Silman - Silman's Complete Endgame Course: amzn.to/2rWl4iQ
Jesus de la Villa: 100 Endgames You Must Know: amzn.to/2EvX9tu
Shereshevsky - Endgame Strategy: amzn.to/2PwNV6h
Hellsten - Mastering Endgame Strategy: amzn.to/2rZqd9R
For a full list of my recommendations, check out this post:
/ 27108166
On Discord? Check out the brand new chess improvement server: Chess Dojo! - / discord
Social Media:
Website: www.hellokostya.com
Facebook: / kostyakavutskiy
Twitter: / hellokostya
Twitch: / hellokostya

[@jackm4457]

The most important habit (to maximize!) is to study as close to tournament conditions. 20 minutes of focused study is worth more than 3 hours of watching chess videos while lying in your bed -- like I'm doing now, btw.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Lol. True

[@joeorawczyk5283]

I've been playing casual chess for 50yrs (yes I'm a boomer) and can tell you one of the study problems I have as a senior is distractions of random thoughts while studying. I came across a video on how to study (not chess necessarily but for school students) and there I learned a great suggestion of bringing a small note pad to your study session to jot down any random thought so you can let it go during your study session and deal with it afterwards. I also suggest avoid consuming too much caffeine before a study session.

[@houdie1181]

Possibly you have ADHD??

[@harrythehpawn2334]

One of the most underrated channels out there. Kudos to you for providing a chess noob like me with such wonderful information.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Glad to hear, thanks!

[@rogergordon1825]

Kostya, thanks for sharing. Really amazed how much I miss when I'm forced to write down solutions. Definitely helps to improve.

[@Robster543210]

Excellent suggestions, thank you.

[@westsidebilling]

Thank You!! Valuable information. I just subscribed.

[@ch3ss-hustl3r67]

Excellent advice. Thanks so much!

[@happyroden8826]

thank you for your content man, i love to discover your videos, they seem promising to my chess elo

[@plectrumura]

Love the idea of saving the games you've reviewed for later, especially if you chose those games for a specific reason. Fischer-Benko 1963 is a game that really showed me how to use doubled f-pawns, for example. That stuck in my memory because of the beautiful final position, but I wish I could remember the reasons I've studied other games (or even just the players and years - I'm getting old).

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Never too late to start collecting your favorite games!

[@phen-themoogle7651]

This is really good stuff!!!! Nice job :)

[@starnamedstork]

Just a quick feedback about the audio: When listening to this through headphones there is a really disturbing low frequent thumping sound recurring throughout. At first I thought one of the kids were stomping their feet upstairs. On closer inspection it seems the sound is linked to your arm movements. Maybe the mic picks up the vibrations through the table or something.

[@njabulosibisi5357]

Now I can't unhear it

[@carmenneumann6162]

Great information especially for a senior just starting with Chess I’ll be new student.Thank you so much for your time.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Glad to hear it!

[@akshay_9146]

The last habit has actually improved my game a lot!! I was struggling against people who push their pawns towards my Kingside whenever I played the King's Indian Defense or the Pirc Defense, but when I analyzed it myself, I was able to perform better against the pawn pushes. And I've been following habit number 4 for the past 3 months and my Lichess rating in Blitz moved up from being stuck in the 900 range upto 1250 :) and my win % moving up from 27 % to 43%. I have also started to keep a chess journal, which has been useful in improving my positional play a lot.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Glad to hear! Yes developing your analytical skills (through using your brain as much as possible) is the best way to go. Keep me posted on your progress and make sure to join Chess Dojo if you haven't already! (Discord link in description)

[@ChessJourneyman]

At that level picking your nose every day will increase your rating.

[@666dogville]

Thanks for this kind of videos Saludos desde México

[@chrismaks2518]

Very helpful. The engine is a blessing and a curse. Btw, I am one of those people you mentioned on "Overrated books" who got Dvoretsky and was lost after 15-20 pages...many times we buy stuff way beyond our level and only get frustrated & confused.

[@ZachBelcher94]

Hi Kostya, thank you for this video series, really beneficial, some refreshing ideas for me to keep in mind.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Glad you liked it, thanks!

[@lrshelar]

Yours is the best chess channel I have ever subscribed . Ur always on spot provide what is required to beginner like me and it's always simple things. So thank u...

[@Anoop9633815341]

Writing down ideas about chess in a book will be a super habit

[@thomasrowley6643]

I have always tended to analyse my rapids and classical games because I do not take my blitz games too "seriously". Nonetheless, your advice about using them as a resource to analyse your openings is really sound. I also used to write down the solutions to puzzles but haven't done it for a while. Many thanks for the advice!

[@andrewlabit]

Just recently started taking chess seriously, and found your channel and subbed! I love the videos on chess books (I just started on Art of Attack in Chess) and am DEFINITELY going to add your recs to my online wish list! Of course, because it takes twenty minutes or so to do a page in a chess book, I'll have plenty stocked up to read eventually :)

[@raunakkamat3748]

HI , How is your chess practise is after 2 years, what is your elo, are you still obsessed with chess?

[@JYGamerDad]

Last habit is hardest for me due to laziness! But is most helpful since I am not going to have an engine during the game

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Indeed! The more you use your brain, the better

[@PaulFritzsche]

Very good video, I see you have mentioned a few books above, as well in the complete list, later in the description. However, the books are a bit expensive here in Sweden.. If you would to prioritize the books in the description (Recommended books, 11 of them), which would you start with?

[@AlexThib92]

Really good content

[@Optim40]

I would love to see you play some 5 min or longer instructional games online !

[@mickdrummer5965]

Over rated book discussion - very helpful! Think you.

[@lastsonofkrypton3918]

You have the best practical improvement videos. Also you can save games and collections in the free Tarrasch chess GUI too!

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Thanks!

[@chesstime_0720]

amazing

[@Saltydishes]

You are my hero

[@ReflectionOcean]

00:00:13 Keep track of all the games and concepts you study during practice by recording notes or saving games for later review. 00:02:09 Write down your solutions when working on calculation exercises instead of relying solely on mental calculations. 00:03:30 Review the solutions for any chess problems you miss to improve pattern recognition and understanding. 00:04:10 Review the opening after a blitz or bullet session, especially if you faced difficulties, to avoid repeating mistakes. 00:06:24 Always use your brain and thinking skills when analyzing positions, even when using an engine, to deepen your understanding of the game.

[@TheLula26]

Hi Kostya, Great video! Thank you. Would you recommend to a beginner to always solve puzzles and exercises over the board?

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

It's not necessary, but would be very helpful if the goal is to play over-the-board tournament chess!

[@ChessWithMouselip]

I also made a personal chessable book to put my (corrected) mistakes from online blitz games.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Oh very cool, that is exactly what I'm talking about!

[@atharva1821]

I first analyse my game on my own and write down everything I thought during the game and then I check my analysis with the engine . Do you think I am doing correct thing .

[@ibrahimalizaini9411]

Hello sir can you suggest me the great books for queen gambit opening?

[@youngt2827]

Good shit

[@CSRookie]

I really like your ideas about the usage of computers/engines especially....... I've been falling into the exact trap you mentioned, now I will be careful. Do you teach by the way?

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

I do, check out kzbin.info!

[@commonman8229]

You are giving good content for chess.. but unfortunately subscribers are less. Indian chess lovers may follow more if they are seeing you're vedios. Thanks for heartfull chess content and suggestions.

[@dayoldeggplant]

I like this angle alot! Definitely a more personal feel. Calculations are super difficult for me, never thought to write them down. Kostya! Im looking to develop a positional-attacking (probably not a thing) style, do you think Karpov's games are best Kasparov's games? Or neither?

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Thanks Rick James! I'd say start with Capablanca's games if you haven't studied them yet, then Botvinnik, Petrosian, and Kramnik. Or if you'd prefer a modern player, start with Kramnik's My Life and Games

[@abdullahgideon9391]

i realize it's kind of randomly asking but do anybody know a good website to watch newly released movies online ?

[@brendanxzavier3649]

@Abdullah Gideon flixportal :P

[@abdullahgideon9391]

@Brendan Xzavier Thank you, I went there and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) I really appreciate it !!

[@brendanxzavier3649]

@Abdullah Gideon glad I could help xD

[@naveenrastogi6880]

Server you not adding that join option on your KZbin channel

[@Chocoholic1337]

Perhaps a stupid question but: what would writing down a solution look like? I have no idea what to imagine with this. Could you share what one of your written solutions looks like? Even without the context of the playing board.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Sure - 1.Nd5 Qe7 2.Nxe7 Rxe7 3.Qd6 1...Be7 (alternate defense) 2.Nxf6 1...Kh8 (another alternate defense) Nxc7 Bg5 4.Nxa8

[@pixiechickmd]

im using a database and engine for openings, reading the art of attack and my system, and two endgame books and I'm becoming a lot better by studying properly. I think I'll climb out of 1800 in a few months

[@zeus1141]

Have you by now?

[@howtobecometoolkit]

Can you reccomended some books for middlegame and tactics for 1500 rating.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

I'm a fan of Understanding Chess Move by Move by John Nunn

[@itboznkgvjugjtfg]

Isn't the point in calculation to be able to hold every variation in your head simultaniously and being able to evaluate them? Wouldn't writing them all down kind of be an easy way out? I suppose writing helps you more with being able to read the notation and imagine variations 'blindly', also to read the notations faster. I'm having problems with calculating without looking at the board (I don't move pieces or guess, no cheating). What's your opinion on that? Nice video btw :)

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Let me clarify- you can also practice keeping all of the variations in your head and only write them down at the end. The point of writing your solution down is to make you more accountable to what your answer is, and allow you to check it against the solution. Practice makes for better visualization

[@itboznkgvjugjtfg]

@@IMKostyaKavutskiy makes sense, thanks :)

[@matteo1735]

Do you think that playing/reviewing without an engine famous games is worth it for a beginner player? (games from books such as Logical Chess: Move by Move and A First Book of Morphy) I feel like my understanding of chess is growing at least a little doing that, but I would love to hear your opinion!

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Hi Matteo, yes I think it's absolutely fine. The games of the past are instructive even if they do not hold up to the engine's high standards. I would recommend you use the engine as little as possible, only when you're confused about a position (why was one move played and not another) or if you lost a game and are trying to understand why. Hope that helps!

[@TheHisho93]

@@IMKostyaKavutskiy I have always been conflicted on this. Aren't you depriving yourself of potentially new/forcing ideas by not using the engine? I totally understand not using the engine as a crutch, but I do think engines are an incredible tool so I definitely want to use it to my advantage. There has to be a balance no? Big fan of all your content by the way! Edit: My comment was premature. After watching the full video, we are on the same page.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

@@TheHisho93 haha thanks for correcting -- yep the engine is absolutely useful but we should use it as a tool and not a guide

[@AFeigenbaum1]

Many thanks for your helpful suggestions. I think I might need to replay this video at the start of every week just so that these habits become wired. As for your closing suggestion, let me tell you my variation of your suggestion: I have been and will likely continue to play with four elements at the same time: 1) a physical board; 2) the Chess.com Analysis board, on one of my three PC monitors so that I can input the move; 3) a video on my second of three PC monitors that has a GM review of a significant match between two top ranked players, or, alternatively a puzzle and solutions book like the most outstanding moves by Fischer by Pandolfini; and, finally 4) on my third PC monitor, any reference books or articles, etc., that might help me research the current position, including strategies, tactics, and commentaries on the match. Armed with all of this, I will play one move at a time ... and then analyze the position and come up with my best guess for the next move ... then I see what the next move is and compare that move made ... with the Analysis board, into which I've loaded as a PGN for this game ... I can now also compare the comments by the GM in the video, if there are any, as well as the analysis by the Chess.com engine, and compare that with my suggested next best move ... just to make sure that I am not guessing my way through this, I take as long as necessary to come up with my next best move and then say it out loud, along with a kibbitz, very loudly and emphatically, just to make sure that the universe has registered my selection ... then I compare the other two sources ... and then either stick to my guns or seek to understand why I might have missed something ... the good news is that I am more often correct than I would otherwise expect ... while actually missing the next best move is even more instructive, so the feeling of reward, though different, is just as satisfying ... thank you for your video. I am enjoying your channel and thank you again for the overall quality and selection of your material and commentary.

[@AFeigenbaum1]

I forgot to mention ... I keep my physical board on a lazy susan so that I rotate it with each color's move ... I also flip the board on the Chess.com Analyze page ... so I play from both sides simultaneously ... the physical board, while spinning in 3D on my lazy susan, allows me to view the board from all angles ... among the things I look at are the diagonals, the weights of the pieces and their advance status across the midline of the board, I look at the material weightings on the sides of the board ... I identify the target squares for the strategy and tactics over the course of several moves, including the interim steps to get there ... and when those target squares shift to others that were secondary or newly developing opportunity targets ...

[@AFeigenbaum1]

... the physical aspect of moving the piece and slamming it down on the board with a resounding >>clunk

[@AFeigenbaum1]

I also do this when replaying a game vs the Beth Bot ...

[@AFeigenbaum1]

or after an online game vs an opponent

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Very cool! I would caution you against using the chess.com engine too much...only if you really need it!

[@reversiblecutting8031]

Sir mainly people need videos regrading exact self training plan. Please make a playlist of how to reach 1400 elo 1600 elo 1800 elo and 2000elo. There is many videos in KZbin but many peoples just do 2-3 videos which going to help . need to make entire playlist for one thing. Not only me many peoples need this. For example what kind of opening required to reach 1400 elo. What is the book, training plan free and paid options. Game study. Mistakes study. Tactics study, traps and almost everything to reach 1400 elo. These kind of videos every chess player badly need this time. Because many players struck in one level . they learning opening and end game and try to learn middle game. Nothing is working. Exact playlist required. And I am writing here because you are wonderful coach.

[@saucysally5870]

What books would you recommend for someone around 1200-1300, I've read "logical chess move by move" but have no idea what book to buy next

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

I would recommend John Nunn's Understanding Chess Move by Move. You can find my full list of recommendations here: www.patreon.com/posts/27108166

[@saucysally5870]

@@IMKostyaKavutskiy much appreciated :)

[@kevingray4980]

The idea of analyzing a position for up to 20 minutes, writing down the relevant lines and checking them against the solutions, then repeating until you get it all was described by Kotov in Think Like a Grandmaster. Everyone gets so hung up on the rigid analysis tree, they miss the takeaways.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

I agree most of the book is filled with good stuff!

[@KarYungTom]

Kostya, just stumbled on your channel. Do you think playing/training long time controls is super important or overrated by some articles/coaches that preach it? Is playing long time controls a big % of your regular chess routine?

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Yes if you're going to play classical time controls, you should practice those. Although even for blitz players playing longer games allows you to actually think about the game

[@jonahrabinowitz-buchanan6050]

So none of these chess habits includes binging videos on good chess habits? Aww... Biscuits...

[@mitchellfabian7694]

6 people disliked this? Who has Kostya obliterated in OTB tournaments?

[@goacoworking8764]

Should you play a minimum of 1 game everyday? or its okay not to play regularly and study more instead?

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Playing is very important but no you don't have to play every day

[@goacoworking8764]

@@IMKostyaKavutskiy Thanks, Kostya!

[@jerrydulin6029]

Love those pieces are they Staunton set or something different.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

I believe they are!

[@MisterChris1978]

I would love to know what set that is.

[@raveendrank.n.3449]

The only thing I need to say is wow

[@raveendrank.n.3449]

Y'a chess engines won't sacrifice pieces or pawns for the positional advantage good point but not alpha

[@sandrageter5221]

Play for $$$

[@stevensears6829]

That banging is annoying

[@wondersoflife7617]

you should stoping saying "um" with every sentence, will help with your communcation.

[@IMKostyaKavutskiy]

Um thank you so much for the feedback

[@joeorawczyk5283]

@@IMKostyaKavutskiy LOL! Could be worse "you know?" or Ben Johnson's ubiquitous "That makes sense." Almost everyone uses some sort of spacers to transition between thoughts. You're guilty of being normal while providing great content.

[@sirigor82]

Here is my question, Kostya: I consider myself an advanced intermediate player (I am about 1600 in blitz on chess.com, and around 2700 in puzzles there) and I usually like studying with books, like going over classic games from all sorts of games collections books I have in my modest library. I go over games using the analysis feature on chess.com, but turn off the engine initially. Depending on the book I am using, some authors go very deeply in various positions, sometimes around 10 moves deep for alternative lines. I am not a fan of exploring opening theory from games (as I think learning opening theory should be done more systematically, rather than picking up bits and pieces from games), so I usually begin to explore alternative lines at various critical points of the game. In terms of approach, what in your opinion is most effective, in going over games? 1. Go over a game relatively quickly the first time, without much stopping, then going over it again and exploring some alternative lines. And then maybe go over for a third time, for a considerably deeper dive? 2. Go over a game once with some exploration of lines and then do it again with a deeper dive? 3. Try to guess the moves at a handful of critical positions in the game, for both sides? If so, how many moves deep is most practical? Also, one of the books I am studying now (Great Games of Chess Legend by IM C. Pritchett - a compilation of two books actually), the author not only provides relatively deep dives in critical positions (helpful), but also provides string of moves of whole other games, as a way to show examples of alternative opening lines. I don't find this helpful at all, but do you think it is? Thanks!