Reach 1500 ELO with the Ultimate Climb Guide

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

Love your presentation and format. Present a game. Show the last move. Then ask: What is the threat? What is White's [Black's] best move? Where is the weakness in the position? What is the weakest piece? What can you do to improve your weakest piece? Can you make your pieces more active? Have you done a blunder check. It really is like having a private coach. More please. (I'm looking forward to your upcoming course on Chessable.)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am very humbled to hear your kind feedback. I am doing my best to give the best instruction and almost becoming your personal tutor ☺️ Thank you! The Chess Elevator will be published on the 25th of July!

[@oumarjaffar4605]

Great content with an interesting enthusiastic way of delivering it 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Many thanks for your encouraging words!

[@eschiedler]

Applying cognitive science to chess is a fantastic area of study. Congrats on your excellent progress so far.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so very much!

[@tedlis517]

Useful and well organized content. You are great resource.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am very happy to hear this, thank you so much for your kind comment.

[@ManishSingh-bq2un]

Very informative and instructive. Never seen such kind of material before. Patiently waiting for 1800 elo video which is my level.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your kind comment! I am working on it, stay tuned :)

[@aniseedtwist]

loads of positive comments and rightly so, these videos and Dan's chessable courses make you feel you are indeed learning to play chess, every so often somebody comes along and brings some common sense to the table, Dan Heisman is certainly one that comes to mind, here we have it ,another Dan and another class teacher, don't get lost in the forest of chess spoon- feeding what you need is here, so far i have 3 of dan's chessable courses , well worth the money .

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am honored to read your words, thank you so much! Really motivating! Just a small correction. My name is Can and not Dan :) It is pronounced like "John" though :)

[@aniseedtwist]

@@Dr.CansClinicsorry Can, my bad

[@3Slippers]

Simply ideal content on this channel,please, keep going. Huge thankyou. Heading to your chessable courses.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your motivating comment! Great that you will get my courses. Please do not hesitate asking any questions while studying them!

[@PeterBoelen-c3t]

Great content, watched most of your videos, top explanation Been to 1500, back at 1400, started a year ago, you describe exactly my weaknesses Learned so much so far, my goal is to reach 1800 this year and god your content talks to me, it helps so much Thanks for the advice and positive attitude, keep it up Doc

[@thelosts9940]

To reach 1400 fide just wait until january first and youll get there for free if you are 1000 bc of those new changes propositions.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Haha yes indeed. Although I was talking about chess.com ratings here :)

[@davidbatchelder85]

Just what I needed. You told me about my pit falls

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am glad to hear it, thank you!

[@Jonalexher]

This was really really helpful. Thanks a lot. I subbed and saved 5 of your other videos to watch later. Great stuff man 👍 (I'm 1200 rated right now and I feel like this was the exact video I needed to watch to start thinking like a stronger player).

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Awesome! Thank you so much for your motivating words my friend! Please do not hesitate asking any questions along the way!

[@gulabrathod4484]

Very nice educative video. Thank you Sir.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Most welcome, thanks!

[@PatrickRecordon]

I received a good advice that helped me on the long term. 90% of the time, to take is a mistake. If you can allow it, keep the tension.

[@Mikejones011990]

08:05 I'm usually cognizant about trading on my own terms. I got it wrong this time because I'm still not sure when doubled pawns are strong. But my first choice was Bb6 or Re8 or Nd7->c5->xe4->xf2 if white's mouse dies. "Occupy outposts with pieces, not pawns." I want my N to move in, not just visit...how do I convince my opponents to quit kicking horses? I still screw up trade orders sometimes. Still miss too many forks. What's worse: committing blunders, or forgiving them? 12:10 I learned chess just before computers did. It took 6 years to learn there's more to the game than calculating. Using the pin to attack the Q to gain a tempo to maneuver the N to the f6 outpost was natural long before I knew those words. (Btw, I'd keep the Qs. [Connect black's isolated pawns, let 'em pass, AND give his R an open file? "For free" ain't a good enough reason to turn all his weaknesses into strengths.] I admit I didn't know what the best move was. I wasted time considering a N sac on h5 then Rg3+ and Qd2. I lost for fancier reasons?) 14:10 and black to move. How on earth did I get into this mess? Never mind. Up 2 pawns with the bishop pair, but my whole army is asleep. White hopes BxNe7...Bxe7 Qxc7+, winning the rook and everything else. Is the disappearing Qs trick still on the table? No? Well, what can black do? ...Rc8 stops the shenanigans for the price of an isolated pawn. a2 is lollygagging across the board from the action anyway; will it really miss its head? Ok move, but time is free. ...0-0 gives up c6 pawn after BxN. ...Kd7? Can my man defend everything and prove castles are outdated? My Q is lazy. After Ra1c1, what can she do? c5 is falling and c6 is next. Castles aren't outdated yet. I'm missing a resource. I know this because it's a puzzle. My Q has to wake up, but I have no checks. ...Qb4? Qa6, still coming for that Qb7+ fork. Qb6...Qb4, is it a draw by repetition? I gave up on my Q too quickly - one day I'll learn to check new move orders before new lines. 1. Bg5 Qb4! and timing is everything. Also, no chance I'd find that with a timer going. Why was Qb4 so hard to find? I didn't discard it initially, I just didn't consider the possibility. 15:22 The R endgame trade down was natural. Just like we drew it up, complete with the pretty R sac for the cherry on top. 18:06 What threat is white facing? Re1, pinning the N to the Q, and winning a piece with f3 and/or Bg5. Black is lucky if he only loses a tempo. 20:30 Consistency!? We haven't met, which extra dimension are you from? Yeah. You were beautiful, but divorce is inevitable, and I only play 10 minutes max, no bonus time for no one. 21:32 I got the right answer for the wrong reason. I thought it would isolate the pawns. It would. But I didn't take the N invasion seriously. I'm still not sure why it's a big deal after NxNd4. This might be the biggest lesson for me so far, but don't discount tactics. "The Art of Awakening Pieces." Heard, understood, and acknowledged. 24:16 "Ya really can't go wrong by lining up your R with the opponent's Q." -Simon Williams's dad, I think. But I understand the mental lapse: it's not about material count - it's my K pawn! (I can only count to...FOUR. My five year old insists it's quality music.) 25:15 1...Nxc6 2. Qf2/g2/h2...Ne2+ and thank ya kindly. Ok, you went Ng3 instead of Ne2+. Please tell me my way good too. At least I didn't win a rook. Oh wait! You came back to check on that move. Whew. What are these "plies", again? I thought we're supposed to run 'til our vision gets blurry and hope for the best. 27:57 The biggest problem with chess is you have to think, and thinking is hard sometimes. I would like it if our rooks could trade places - if we shake hands, does that make it a legal move? Re4 or Re5. Centralized as centra can be lized. Maybe Re3 is better, because ...Rd3 cuts off Kh3, and my K prefers his options unlimited. Which square? I want to push c4. I don't want to allow ...c5 forcing doubled pawns. Re5...f6 gxf6+...kxf6 and suddenly his K has opinions. Rc6...f6 and the position is complicated. I think the R is fixed on f6, the white k has just enough help to defend, and we can eventually trade or push the b pawn. I don't like thinking if I can help it, but it probably does win. Re4...same thing? ...Rd3 Rc4. Your move, hot shot. Re3 doesn't work. We don't want our rook behind those pawns. Re5 or Re4? Again, we don't want our rook behind those pawns. We know our pawns are marching, and we know the K can't stop it, and we know our opponent isn't a gentleman who'd agree to let our rook hop fences like we all know he's physically capable of doing quite easily even if he is 35 or so. That is not middle aged, and that is the lesson I hope we've all taken away here.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I love your comment. Every word of it. Seriously. Please keep on commenting ❤️

[@Socrates...]

can't wait until you get to 2000, 2200

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks. These episodes take a lot of time to produce, so you have to be patient. 😄

[@anthonyjaglal]

Absolutely great fantastic information 🎉💯👏 exchanging ON YOUR OWN TERMS 🎉🎉I saw this concept occur in a game,kamsky v Karpov,caro kann 1996 elista,was taken by suprise,on move 9Be8 ,a retreat of bishop,and move 11Nf6 not exchanging but retreat🤔 the retreat proved good eventually,the new challenges am facing as chess knows increase,is one of DECISION making.where we becomes confused by having options that clash with each other,to be or not to be,🤔double pawns or no double pawns ect one chess principle vs another principle,great video👏👏💯

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for your input! Those trade-offs between principles make chess a difficult game!

[@uygarbaksi]

you're talking about me, dude. thanks!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Haha the doctor has diagnosed your issues!

[@davidbatchelder85]

I once read, one of the grand masters stated, Russian I think. You find a move, find another. So I appreciate you giving a real live example. That is the key, its great to say things. But to show in order to make it concrete. Just like my old industry, construction, I have had the privilege to train hundreds of men in the realm of building. A good teacher show great examples of the situation being discussed at present. Thus anchoring the lesson. May Jesus bless you for you are sharing your talent from him. Amen Thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for this beautiful comment. 🙏

[@anthonyjaglal]

Perhaps you may one day consider a book especially for beginners,so beginners can get dlunders out ones games, EARLY like myself still struggling with ideas i should have know when I started chess years ago,and now trying to remedy💡

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is a good idea :)

[@nolsterbuckr4833]

I always see stuff like this in my games, even as a 1200 player (on a good day). Outposts are always an important consideration.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your kind feedback! Now I am working on a course about raising your chess floor, and I will include such positional exercises in 1200 ELO section.

[@greatdanelegend7001]

Very interesting. Materialism is definitely a big problem for me as a 1400

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad that you found it relevant! You can tackle my course "The Value of Pawns" once you reach 1500.

[@davidbatchelder85]

I did see and find the queen trade. I did see the threats. You did say look at the threats from your last opponents move. Very good advice.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you!

[@ItsKyleMang]

If you did a rating climb, I'd watch it! 😊

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am writing that down to my video ideas list 😀

[@timwoods3173]

Thank you for all the reminder.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You are so welcome.

[@riaanstrydom1692]

Just discovered you and your channel and by far the best chess teacher I have found so far 😃

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am so happy to hear your kind feedback 😊 Really motivating! Please do not hesitate sharing the channel with your chess friends.

[@chesslover8829]

Sometimes, I miss the forest for the trees. That is, I can do a 10-ply calculation on the wrong move candidate or miss an important branch in the calculation tree, which might cause me to abandon the entire sequence. On another topic, it might be helpful if you were to offer a sequence of courses on Chessables that takes a rank beginner all the way to 1700. Many people might find such a course offering useful.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for this honest feedback. Long variation, wrong variation! I have just finished a course on climbing from 700 to 1200 ELO. I modeled it on my rating climb series. It will probably be published around July/August! :) If people like it, I may continue towards 1500 and even 1800!

[@chesslover8829]

@@Dr.CansClinic Outstanding! Thank you so much!

[@davidbatchelder85]

yes chess is very cruel but life is the same but you do not get to reset the board of life and give a new start. But yes, chess is brutal

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Well said!

[@joeperry1188]

This is a really excellent video

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks a lot! 😊

[@joeperry1188]

@@Dr.CansClinic honestly, I think this is exceptional content. Especially with the way you revisit your points with examples. I really like the way you structure your videos. Definitely subscribing and I'm surprised I've not encountered you before

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for the subs! Yes, I believe in good instructional methods to deliver material. Please do not hesitate sharing the channel with your friends. It is still very much unknown in the chess world.@@joeperry1188

[@shlomolaufer]

Thanks. Great videos!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much!

[@ndmb6333]

I'm a 1500 player and i can totally relate to 19:03 ( consistency problems ) , i often play amazing games with strategic and positional dominance , with many times being up a piece or an exchange , but then comes that one moment when i lose focus or make that one move without really thinking ( sometimes due to time troubles ) and just throw the game away because of it. anyway great video i can't thank you enough for the amazing chess content you presenting on your channel , your videos about calculation and always thinking about the opponent threats already helped me improve alot !

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am extremely happy to hear this, thank you so much for sharing your own story too! Indeed, consistency is such a key determinant of our chess strength! I plan to make another video on consistency actually :)

[@ermanevcil]

Great video series ! Thank you

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure, thank you!

[@bakrob99]

Thanks for this video.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You're welcome!

[@mrnelgin]

At 18:44 I don't get it. After Re1 why not Bf5 to protect the knight since c6 is protected by pawn on b7. If Rxe4 then Bxe4 it has a direct line to g2 right in front of the king. If rook doesn't take then move your queen and life is good. Finally if white advances pawn to g4 the bishop can always drop back. It starts to get messy but it could delay things long enough for your opponent to make a mistake rather than just losing it without a fight (and no, don't do "wishful thinking" :) ) Am I missing something?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for this question! But can't White still go f2-f3 against ...Bf5, and win that pinned knight?

[@remic_s2775]

Beautiful content 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@lastcraft]

1200 to 1500 is a big jump. Was hoping for a smaller step, as I'm coaching some 1200 and 1300 players.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the feedback. I am now underlying the general contours of chess development. Once this project ends, I may dig deeper in those smaller margins too. But I guess you can imagine how time consuming it is to produce one such video :) But I am not going anywhere, so stay tuned!

[@epictetuscasanova]

You are incredible at explaining. This is appreciated. You nailed it, I am close to 1500 but your assessment is so accurate.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Amazing feedback, thank you so much! Hopefully with targeted and not overwhelming training, you can reach 1800 ELO.

[@epictetuscasanova]

@Dr.CansClinic you're appreciated, sir. finding your channel and chessable courses, i have some renewed motivation to try again despite being 37 now and feeling too old for improvement.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@epictetuscasanova Such lovely comment! I am glad to have reignited your passion for the game. Please let me know about your progress. Rooting for you!

[@epictetuscasanova]

​@Dr.CansClinic do you have recommendations on which of your courses for this level to begin with? I was thinking of either starting with Chess Crime and Punishments or Art of Burying Pieces

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@epictetuscasanova Crime and Punishment is a good start! Fundamental Calculation Skills is a must as well. Then Exchanging/Awakening Pieces is good order, followed by Burying/Multi Purpose Moves.

[@blundergoat]

Thanks! 👏👏

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your support! Much appreciated.

[@brutusjack4911]

Nice

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️

[@firerook]

Great video, for which level you would recommend each of your chessable course?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Many thanks! These are the rough numbers: Chess Crime and Punishment & Fundamental Chess Calculation Skills: 1000-2000 ELO The Art of Series: 1200-2000 ELO

[@josephsalmonte4995]

I need this. I quite often beat people WAY above my level (even a couole of 2000's) but I can lose to 900's. How os this possible? 🤷‍♂️😭

[@lastcraft]

Post an example?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Consistency is the key word! I will make a seperate video about it. As I mention in this video, some 1500 ELO players play an amazing chess and then they blunder all away with a single move.

[@DaydreamVacations]

I think you nailed it!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! ☺️

[@DaydreamVacations]

@@Dr.CansClinic When will you release the next level? 1800?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Still working on it :) Not any time soon I believe, but it will surely be published!@@DaydreamVacations

[@Eathisword]

I went from 800 to 1500 in the last year and all the videos in this series have been spot on so far. You verbalize very clearly a lot of the change I can see in my games library. Its actually quite spooky 😂 I feel like that around 1350-1450 the games are a lot less often decided by opening blunders/traps and a lot more by either tactical or positional play in the middle game. In my experience, 1500 has also been the moment when I started to see piece activity as valuable. For example, sacking an exchange to remove an active piece or to activate one myself. Which is something the would never occur to me at 1200. Amazing work, sir.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is amazing to hear, thank you so much! Haha I take the word spooky as a compliment as I could diagnose your issues :) Indeed, piece activity and strategic play improves around that level. I have one Chessable course that is exactly on this: "The Art of Awakening Pieces".

[@RoZaxTheGreat]

Same for me. 800 - 1500 blitz in the last year and i almost completely agree with you. Makes me wonder what is happening between 1500-2000 now lol. I guess endgames and some advanced middle game knowledge

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your input! That is also my hunch, but we will see what data looks like :)@@RoZaxTheGreat