Try the 'Boring' 20-Min Practice That Makes You MUCH Better at Chess

[@journeytograndmaster]

Do you want to see more videos like this to train together with me?

[@Prazl144]

@@journeytograndmaster make a video about how to remember chessboard

[@terencetembo8382]

@@journeytograndmaster how do you learn how to visualize the board

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Love those rope lights in the background.

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

That sounds cute, "the upper You go". Higher is good enough, or the higher up You go; sounds proper.

[@mathewsamuel1386]

Yes for sure.

[@loc7909]

It's not free, but I really like chessly's anti puzzle. There may be a tactic, there may not be. If there is, you play it. If not, you say no tactic.

[@celebibalkanl6642]

lichess is free bro

[@flyiscool]

@@celebibalkanl6642he literally said chessly was not free, and he was not talking about lichess. and lichess doesn’t even have anti puzzle anyways.

[@celebibalkanl6642]

@@flyiscool soryy bro i didnt see it, thanks

[@Trynottoblink]

Thank you for mentioning this, just signed up for Chessly for the anti-puzzles lol

[@audiofilo8249]

Great! I have been working on your daily 30 minutes training plan ( 5 or 10 minutes for tactical and 20 minutes for an analized game) and I feel I have improved a bit of my calculation skill. Thanks a lot.

[@journeytograndmaster]

Nice! I am proud of you :)

[@ChessUnderFireLearningJourney]

So far I did 1 of the Lichess puzzles with a max thinking time of 10min, if I don't get it I think 10min for 1 puzzle.. Thank you for confirming and I'll extend to 20min now.

[@journeytograndmaster]

yeah, giving yourself a certain time and moving forward is good. This way you are not stuck forever and don't lose interest in solving all together

[@Sandfox07]

Tactics and calculation are probably the weakest aspect of my game, the problem is that I just cant motivate myself to do tactics and puzzles a lot. It feels really boring, I have a book with tactics that helped me a little bit, I can't stand online puzzles for some reason.

[@journeytograndmaster]

you can start with just a few minutes! Just one puzzle but do your best. You will see how it will boost your motivation and it's much simpler to continue then. So just make your goal to solve 1 puzzle per day but like you really mean it.

[@Sandfox07]

@@journeytograndmaster Yeah that sounds like a good idea. I was really annoyed that I couldnt even focus on puzzles for like half an hour, I guess Ill just have to start slow. Do you think it makes sense to play 3/0 to become faster? I play way too slowly, so over the last few months I only played 3/0 to get faster, but somehow it didnt work at all. I dont feel like Im playing faster, Im constantly losing on time while being a piece up and similar stuff, I get consistent winning position but lose on time A LOT. Is there any way to help with that?

[@Sandfox07]

@@journeytograndmaster Thank you for your answer by the way😅

[@journeytograndmaster]

Well, if you want to improve your chess, 3+0 is not what you do at all :) it's okay to play it for fun but don't expect any improvement out of it. Instead, playing 10 min+ and a good analysis after the game in a combination with solving the puzzles (and of course watching Journey to Grandmaster for principles and tips) will absolutely get the job done :)

[@journeytograndmaster]

It's important to learn it the right way. It will get faster with the time by itself

[@Martin_Neal]

Timestamp 22:08 ... There is a small 'bull's eye' button which appears in the lower left corner of the right panel after the puzzle is solved, which opens a tab with the position in a continuation with an evaluation bar! One may even click the double-back arrow to return to the starting position, then click the bull's eye button to try another variation (to see why it is not so good).

[@journeytograndmaster]

But you can just directly switch on the engine like I did, no?

[@Aquabomba]

Great Video again! 👍🏻 Do you recommed solving puzzles to a specific topic? For example „hanging pieces“ because I believe that‘s a critical factor for many players. What do you think? Thanks in advance.

[@journeytograndmaster]

Thank you! As long as it's not low quality puzzles (lichess puzzles are almost always high quality), it's always super useful. If you notice that a certain topic is especially hard for you (for me it's queens endgames, for example, super complicated, I hate it) then it definitely makes sense to double down there. Good point!

[@mathewsamuel1386]

Please make video about finding moves when no checks, captures or attacks are available, e.g., at the start of the middlegame or during the opening. Thank you for your good work.

[@LeTzPlaY100]

General advice is to cover your vulnerabilities and/or look for vulnerable squares to capitalize on.

[@journeytograndmaster]

Thanks! I do have quite a lot of these, please take a look at more videos :)

[@snehakrishnan-w3g]

Ooh​@@journeytograndmaster

[@shinaka3992]

Heyo i was in your Video, wanted to say that i am 1912 elo now and that i beat Oleksandr Bortnyk today in arena kings 🥳

[@journeytograndmaster]

Wow, that's amazing, congratulations!!

[@shinaka3992]

Thanks i want to be 2300-2400 in 3 years!

[@shinaka3992]

I want my revanche against you!

[@journeytograndmaster]

you definitely can get there!

[@journeytograndmaster]

I hope to have a tournament to celebrate 15k subs so you can do it there :)

[@PickleCODM-hw6cj]

Hi, I am wondering on how much time you spend on these puzzles and I would really love a video/comment outlining the specific things you are doing to become a GM. I am aspiring to become a titled player and have had a lot of trouble finding good resources. Thank you so much for the video!

[@journeytograndmaster]

Hi! Thank you. I try to do it daily similar to the video (around 30 minutes) The problem is, nobody clicks on the video if it's about me and not the viewer :) But I will try to integrate some tips inside of the video, thanks for the suggestion. I am sure you will achieve your goal with enough practice and patience :)

[@PickleCODM-hw6cj]

@@journeytograndmaster thank you so much for your reply, makes sense.

[@CheeserChess]

Pls make a video about chess psychology

[@journeytograndmaster]

Thanks for the suggestion! It's actually a big pain point for my entire chess career :)

[@shinaka3992]

Thank you for your great work after watching some of your viedeo and really using the brain i get headache but i like it because that is a sign that i improve same when you train your muscles they hurt after workout but you like it because you know they will grow, like my chess knowledge after your Videos 😁 honestly my tactics are very strong especially my creativity i even outplay in Such positions some GMs but my Strategic play is so Bad pls give me a tip how to improve it ☹️

[@journeytograndmaster]

Thanks a lot! Well, it's a long way to improve your positional play. It includes analyzing your game, trying to identify the pattern, and watching useful videos to get a better structure. Of course, you can take a good book on chess strategy too to go even deeper.

[@shinaka3992]

@@journeytograndmaster thanks for your response i am on a good way to improve i think ^^

[@journeytograndmaster]

Absolutely!

[@leeharrison2722]

From the presented position white needs to deal with black moving pb4 or qa4 -- of these two I think pb4 is the more threatening, with white having no move but a4, followed by black pa5, bd2 checkmate. This seems to me to be so obvious that I am surprised that it isn't the first item of consideration? White can try to trade queens to stop the mate, but I think black can counter all of this. In consequence I think that white is effectively forced to play pb5 ... am I missing something here?

[@journeytograndmaster]

It would be very helpful if you can specify the timecode you are referring to :)

[@johnnym6700]

The solutions are not always the best moves but are the moves that were played in the game. I have often found better moves or alternative moves which give the same outcome and get a red X. I still think its great training and you can learn new tactical concepts....

[@journeytograndmaster]

To be honest, I have never seen anything like that. Could you please make a screenshot and send it to me if you ever see this again? I would be very surprised.

[@johnnym6700]

@@journeytograndmaster I did reply to this with an example and I see it was deleted.

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@johnnym6700 Have you had any links in your reply? YT sometimes deletes comments containing links unfortunately. P.s. I have zero moderation on the channel and never delete any comments

[@johnnym6700]

@@journeytograndmaster Yes a link to a photo....can I email to you?

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@johnnym6700 absolutely! I would appreciate it, thanks: [e-mail]

[@betterchessnow8835]

why not play at 13:24 Qa5? if Qxd5 we play Qxc3 with mate ! Thanks for your videos!

[@journeytograndmaster]

Always look for checks! :) Qxd5+ is a check and you lose the game, unfortunately

[@rafrokid79]

Thats completely wrong

[@timothywatkins4710]

My biggest problem is that i always think there’s some crazy tactic in my game and burn up 20 minutes when I could just play a simple move.

[@journeytograndmaster]

I totally get where you are coming from! Chech the most active opportunities and if it doesn't work, go on with a normal move that improves your position

[@TheChessProfessor-MyDadsRules]

I do the same thing, except much more efficiently. For FREE. Judge for yourself.

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@TheChessProfessor-MyDadsRules I also do it for free, no? Feel free to share your way. Somehow I feel negativity coming from your side and I don't understand why.

[@TheChessProfessor-MyDadsRules]

@@journeytograndmaster No negativity. It is simply a difference of style. You seem very friendly. Also, your English is quite excellent, sir! Well done!

[@journeytograndmaster]

Ok, then I just misunderstood it, sorry about that. Thank you!

[@TheChessProfessor-MyDadsRules]

@@journeytograndmaster I am also ay fault, as I did not recognize that possibility. I apologize, sir. Thank you!

[@Chess-Talker]

What program/book are these positions from?

[@journeytograndmaster]

it's from lichess.org. Lichess takes it from real games played on the platform. And does it well, I have to say.

[@JackdeVries-h9e]

How to get even more training from you?

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@JackdeVries-h9e do you mean private training?

[@DRAFTqx]

I've watched your all vid3os. Keep uploading bro.

[@journeytograndmaster]

Wow, that's amazing, thank you! I hope it is helpful :)

[@mathewsamuel1386]

These training puzzles are not practical to real games. There has to be better puzzles to find moves in positions where there are no checks, captures or attacks.

[@simonvegas793]

I think the point isn't to directly replicate game positions but get you use to spotting tactical patterns, possible threats, opportunities, see how pieces work together, etc. I'd say give it a try and trust the process. Really think about each puzzle and by proxy you're also training calculation...

[@mathewsamuel1386]

@simonvegas793 I see. So the main takeaway is that you learn from the puzzles the general technique of calculations which you can apply in any situation including actual games. Makes sense.

[@montagdp]

The puzzles are generated from real games, so they are based on practical positions. There's not a tactical opportunity in every move during real games, though, which is the main thing that makes them harder to find in a game. The point is to train your pattern recognition and calculation skills so you're more likely to do so.

[@journeytograndmaster]

each of this puzzles is literally taken from real practical games :) that is how lichess does it.

[@simonvegas793]

@@mathewsamuel1386 yeah that how I see it. You might not see b those positions in your games but they're still really useful. I've only been back playing for about 6 weeks, and since I strayed doing puzzles I've made less blunders, started to spot forks and pins more regularly and actually found moves I never would have before. I'd give the 20 mins a day a go and see if you notice any improvements!! Seems to be the main advice for/route to improvement alongside game analysis!

[@naikfarhan111]

I am a 1650 rated player but I am struggling to hit 2000. Any advice...

[@janicobrackenmillioniarely1617]

Same

[@journeytograndmaster]

how much time per day do you have for chess?

[@naikfarhan111]

@@journeytograndmaster Like 1-2 hours

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@naikfarhan111 then do these 3 things for the next 30 days and you will be shocked with the results: 1) Carefully watch 1 video from this channel (open the 30-day Study plan playlist) and take notes 2) Solve puzzles exactly how I showed here for 20-30 minutes 3) Play one rapid game trying to implement the ideas you just got (literally make it your main goal) and then analyze the game very carefully In 30 days you will not believe how strong you are playing :)

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@janicobrackenmillioniarely1617 Please look at my reply to the author of the question :)

[@teegees]

I thought the order was checks, captures, threats, not threats, captures, checks? I guess in the end it doesn’t matter... or does it?

[@journeytograndmaster]

Checks, captures, threats, the order matters. Have I said otherwise?

[@terencetembo8382]

Whats your fide rating?

[@journeytograndmaster]

2413. What about you?

[@ChessPro-fe7ku]

​@@journeytograndmasterThats pretty good! 👌

[@terencetembo8382]

@@journeytograndmaster I am not rated. You are a strong player and I am learning a lot from your videos

[@janicobrackenmillioniarely1617]

1430

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@terencetembo8382 thanks, happy to hear it :)

[@eddsmith6187]

I'm 2100 Rapid and have 2400 (2500 peak) rating in Lichess puzzles, is that a good relation between those?

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@eddsmith6187 it's hard to day exactly, but it's normal for sure. The important thing is to train consistently and improve those numbers :)

[@eddsmith6187]

@@journeytograndmaster I got really motivated with the video But then I found You can't decrease puzzles diffculty on the phone app :s

[@jakubmciesl]

​@@eddsmith6187You can always use the browser version on mobile.

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@eddsmith6187 you can! You should just go to browser on your phone instead of phone, go to lichess.org and you can change the level there :)

[@DifferentOne-wc2ro]

Buddy please provide deep theory of London system im facing a big downfall rn i reached 2200 by london but now im back around 1600 gimme deep thoery so that i can reach 100000 rating

[@journeytograndmaster]

Thanks for the idea but I frankly hate London and don't recommend playing it so it would be weird for me to make a video on how to play it :)

[@DifferentOne-wc2ro]

@@journeytograndmaster buddy in reality I also hate that boring opening but I'm too lazy to learn any new one and even if I try these 1200s crush me and I don't have any opening for black I just have one opening and it's London so can you please suggest me a legendary opening for both white and black so that I can cross 2000

[@journeytograndmaster]

Exactly for this purpose I have created an entire 10-day Opening Mastery. It's a complete opening repertoire both for white and black for people who don't want to learn tons of theory. Take a look, maybe it's something for you. There are free examples from the course too: www.journeytograndmaster.com/

[@DifferentOne-wc2ro]

@@journeytograndmaster thnx buddy you r kind and not egoistic like others :)

[@journeytograndmaster]

Thanks a lot! I am just trying to be helpful :)

[@miguelangelclaudio6848]

Whole video in a sentence: Do puzzles daily.

[@journeytograndmaster]

sure. But like with the gym, if you do the exercises wrong, it would be much less efficient so I wanted to share my way :)

[@shrirangbondale2263]

Hey, i have 2 criticisms 1. This video is not free, it has immense value for zero cost, if you call these things free then people dont understand its value... 2. You are increasing competition single handedly :)

[@journeytograndmaster]

Thank you! I actually meant not the video but the practice is free. Like you don't need a premium account like on chess.com or something, that was the point. Probably, I formulated it not so clear.

[@shrirangbondale2263]

@@journeytograndmaster no worries, this video helped me understand situations much clearly, i basically played 'hope chess' while solving puzzles too. now i tried to solve 3000 rated puzzles by way of thinking you shared and got 6 correct in a row, each puzzle took atleast 6 mins to solve but i understood it much better.

[@journeytograndmaster]

@@shrirangbondale2263 wow, that's amazing, congrats!

[@jaylenlenear3944]

what rating range would you recommend your 10 day opening challenge for ?

[@journeytograndmaster]

Once you understand the foundations well. There are members even with 800 ratings who enjoy the course a lot. You just have to work more to understand the content. Because it is not for beginners. What's your rating?

[@jaylenlenear3944]

@@journeytograndmaster 2007

[@journeytograndmaster]

Fide or chess.com?

[@jaylenlenear3944]

@@journeytograndmaster FIDE

[@journeytograndmaster]

The course would be in every case perfect for you, you are exactly the right rating group :)

[@rishfiregaming1058]

I am 1468,should i buy chess base database?

[@journeytograndmaster]

no, absolutely not necessary :)

[@Prazl144]

Are u a gm or Im ??

[@journeytograndmaster]

IM, trying to get to GM =)

[@martinhedlin7257]

Lost me at ”boring”

[@journeytograndmaster]

I hope you are kidding :)