The Key to Better Chess Understanding - The Amateur's Mind

In this insightful video, join me as I delve into the crucial concept of taking a step back in your chess position to perceive the bigger picture. As a chess coach of the internet, I emphasize the importance of avoiding hasty conclusions and instead adopting a strategic approach to chess thinking. Learn valuable techniques for evaluating positions, honing your chess instincts, and enhancing your overall chess gameplay. Whether you're a novice or an experienced player, mastering this skill is fundamental for chess improvement. Watch now and elevate your chess thinking with expert guidance.

[@user-ce8nj4pd2q]

I am 2200 FIDE. Your videos seem to be aimed at around 1800 it seems to me. I FIND ALL OF THEM HIGHLY VALUABLE AND INSTRUCTIVE. You're an incredibly good coach, Andras. I can't yet understand why you're so underapreciated on YT.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Wow, thanks

[@Road2ChessMaster]

This is a very nice lesson. I think for amateur players like me this is very hard. But I am working on it. Currently 1700 FIDE and trying to become a Chess master

[@ChessCoachAndras]

You can do it!

[@VictorDiaz-rt3ve]

The difference between dialectics and logic, process and causality is a theme that a lot of people have difficulties to understand.

[@thenapoleonlover113]

i have a classic tournament today. 1st game 60min + 30 seconds. I will make sure to detach myself from the game if I'm unsure what to do. Also I listened to perpetual chess podcast interview with GM Noel Studer and he mentioned another crucial thing about moves where you make the move, press the clock and instantly see that it was a blunder. The worst kind, (what I call temporary blindness) which just hangs a piece or exchange. He said that before you make a move, write down on the game sheet your opponents time (which is legal) to detach yourself for a second from the game and just visualize in your head that you have already made the move and do a blunder check. These two things are what I'm struggling with most and its great I watched this video and that podcast... My positional and tactical abilities are much higher than my rating (currently 1450 OTB) but I cannot seem to get higher due to one move blunders and sometimes what you Andras defined as 'tempo of the game' that is a clever way to put it!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

As far as I am aware it is not legal. you definitely want to double check that! but the point is that its a pseudo act to allow yourself another layer of thinking. You can easily replace writing the move down by simply adjusting your watch, or stretching your arms above your head, whatever.

[@nosmokeweed1888]

Don't adjust the watch when you're playing Magnus tho 😂​@@ChessCoachAndras

[@ChessCoachAndras]

@@nosmokeweed1888 ahaha, good call!

[@todesque]

Fantastic video. Every chess podcast tells you “tactics” is the key to chess improvement. It’s not bad advice, but it’s only half the story, at best.

[@lukastux3024]

Another brilliance from Andras! We can't get this type of content anywhere else!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thanks mate, appreciate the kind words!

[@michaelf8221]

I hope the model game you were referencing was the Polugaevsky - Tal game where he sacrificed the d pawn in order to play e5 next!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

No but I am glad you know that one. It’s a game by Walter Brown 😊

[@thegametwok]

Of all of your videos I've watched, this is probably right up there with the recent study plan video as one of the best. For years, the majority of what I've been taught and told to do is look at things from just the next move and "don't hang anything." So when I play higher-level players, it feels like I'm not making progress because they start a combo and I realize it's too late to stop it, all i was doing was trying to not lose anything. Now I know I will start to take a moment to just see everything and ask myself what is going on and what's the plan. Thanks for all the great content!

[@sambelld1]

Such great advice. Coach Andras has a knack for understanding how amateurs think and then explaining to us what we can do about it.

[@rpd350]

Sweet! Thank you, this will help me & anyone improve. I will though, add imho, this is one important aspect to improving rather, than that this is the key element to improving (as we know tactical & positional understanding along with good calculation/analytical skills are all important in improving too). Best wishes ;-)

[@TikariChess]

This is a video I’m going to come back to again and again.

[@cobeferraro3464]

Awesome video and just what I needed. Thanks Andras!

[@k.m.7351]

I usually get out of move to move thinking when it’s my opponents turn, in other words I think big picture on my opponents clock, it’s little use guessing what they are going to play.

[@songbrothers4342]

Great video! Can’t wait for your ametuers mind course!

[@buddythompson5284]

Great video. If only I could train myself to sometimes stop and ask myself what's going on in a given position. I always play move-to-move, never asking even basic questions like "What is the purpose of my opponent's last move?" or "If I make this move, how is my opponent likely to respond?" I KNOW it's the primary reason I can't improve beyond my current level. I tell myslef before EVERY game that I need to do it. I've tried to give myself triggers (like once development is complete, or a trade is made, or the pawn structure changes, etc) to remind me to do so. But it all goes out the window once the game starts. I've been fighting this problem for at least 10 yrs. It's not something I can expect a coach to fix. I'm now contemplating engaging a sports psychiatrist.

[@nickburggraaf3977]

What helps me is to sit back literally

[@narens4886]

Same is happening to me too almost 3 years fighting this issue, my mind only tries to look for my own moves and not considering opponent move also if I forced to think for opponent move then I come up with lame or very timid move for my opponent as a response to my move if he tries powerful move then only I realized oh I missed it then thinking myself negatively that im not worth enough to play😢

[@sr-py4jc]

You would benefit from playing over the board games with longer time controls - I would suggest at least 20'. Playing online I face the same problem as you. But facing a real person eliminates the race element from my game that takes over whenever I play online. Just a thought. I hope it helps.

[@buddythompson5284]

@@sr-py4jc Thanks. That's good advice in general and I appreciate you offering it. Unfortunately, I play a lot of OTB events both rapid and classical time controls and have done so many years. I have the same focus problems both OTB and online.

[@sr-py4jc]

You 're very welcome, and sorry to hear our focus problems seem to differ after all...!

[@BundyChess]

Excellent stuff, not so easy to master though!

[@iskyline1299]

Amazing video! Thank you Andras!

[@ChessCoachAndras]

My pleasure!

[@bojanpopovicYNWA]

Great video, Coach.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Glad you liked it!

[@MrHockeyChessDude]

Awesome video!

[@whimsnickal]

I have (after your glowing review on this very channel) recently started going through the exercises in "Evaluate Like a GM". Taking a step back from the heat of battle and appraising a/my position from an objective perspective has helped my chess development so much, so thank you both for the recommendation *and* this video! Keep digging up that gold Andras, those who watch your content love it.

[@minoz55]

Awesome video. The message is great, and I really like your no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is style.

[@okayishchess]

Great content as usual! Thanks!

[@gregp.4358]

Thank You!

[@charliesilva1220]

Great video

[@chesst4033]

GREAT LESSON!! I realized that I think of this move or this move, without looking at the changes in the position in the last couple moves

[@millsfamilygardening2634]

Great ideas. I enjoy your videos. What chess engine do you use to create them? Thanks.

[@ThoughtProcessChess]

Ive been just really drilling tactics like crazy lately.

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Nothing wrong with that !

[@NidusFormicarum]

In this particular case, I wouldn't have hesitated and would have played f5, but I lose so many games because I outcaclculate myself missing the critical move 4 to 7 moves down a particular line and play a weaker move instead. Difficult to win winning positions. Easier to win good positions. Easiest to win from losing positions since you only have to wait for your opponent to blunder.

[@thenapoleonlover113]

I would add on top that you can win losing positions but it depends on the position. if material is equal or if you have an extra pawn, but the opponent clearly has initiative, yea - you have a great chance to win due to his/her blunders. but if you are down in material, then good luck surviving

[@NidusFormicarum]

@@thenapoleonlover113 True. You are far less likely to recover if you are down material - especially egainst a stronger opponent - unless we are talking about just a pawn, in which case it depends on the quality of your opponent's extra pawn. I never resign. I have seen too much. People have even blundered stalemates when they were about to mate me at the end of game and was a thousand pieces down. I am not saying that it is common, but it does happen. I was down three pawns in an endgame last year when my opponent blundered an exchange (he missed a check followed by a simple discovered check) and his extra pawns were then very vulnerable so I won.

[@nomoreblitz]

Great as always

[@ChessCoachAndras]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@DumbChessPlayer403]

Finally!

[@tomas-wi8dy]

[@blazevandine5819]

So good.