A very candid video, it would be good to go through details of your journey, how often you played OTB tournaments, how your openings changed with time, how much you studied endgames, how much blitz you played, how much tactics training you did? Etc. keep up the good work.
RespectfulDave! That is a very cool handle in a world where humility is an underrated virtue, if not stricken from the virtue list altogether. For a man with one decade of chess under your belt, you speak with the wisdom of someone who has been around much longer. Thanks for your work, Dave!
To your second point about memorizing openings, what I've learned after y years of studying is that learning openings should teach you about the ideas in an opening and the nuances of move orders, but it should more importantly tell you your game plan for the rets of the game. There's no point in having a full pawn advantage according to the computer if you'll have no clue how to capitalize on it. The maxim I learned is "openings show you how to play the middle game and endgames teach you how transform the middle game." All parts of the game work in tandem with each other, if you know openings, you'll know where to put your pieces in the middle game, if you have good endgames, you'll know how to set up your pieces so you can exit the middle game into the endgame with your advantage.
Correct I played the caro kann since I started chess and at first I memorized the lined but only had like a 40%win rate with But after understanding the major ideas of the carokann (attacking White's center pawns) I reached a 60% win rate but unfortunately I learned the ideas by myself Because most youtubers never talk about the middlegame ideas in opening videos
I really like that 'dont play’ point it has been helping me a lot. And I thought that this is my discovery but when I see it in your video it even make my trust strong in how I am understanding myself, channeling the emotions after losing the game! Yeah guys it's really helpful. ❤️ And thank you for the content.
It's fun when I play some 'sacrifice kinda' moves and lose... it is more fun when I realise those moves were actually good but I didn't know to play in that complex position
Fantastic video, great advice, I am a 1400 rated player I have been struggling to reach 1500 because I have been doing the things you have suggested I shouldn’t do 😂.
I do not focus on the opening at all. I use opening principles and try get into the middlegame with equality. I focus on middle game ideas and try win in the middlegame at best or if not try simplify and win in the endgame.
Just practice tbh. Playing over and over again and you'll get a feel for what your opponent is trying to do. Ask yourself, what would you play/what would your plan be, if you were your opponent?
I can't agree with the second point about memorization and partially disagree with the point about results. I played for several years without knowing any opening theory. Then suddenly hit a massive wall. Over a year and no progress no matter how many puzzles and game analysis I did. Then for a couple of months I focused on nothing but learning opening theory and built my own opening repertoire from scratch. Suddenly, my rating jumped 100+ points both otb and online. Opening theory is very important these days when even beginners are booked up. Also being results oriented is extremely important in a competitive game. I can't imagine playing any type of sport and not caring about the results. Yes, I analyze my games and learn from them. But I will always strive to win and be unhappy with losses as long as I know I can play better.
I don't think the "no memorizing opening" rule applies for every opening You can quite easily play the Italian game without knowing anything about it but with openings like the grunfield (where you give up the center) or the danish gambit/goring gambit, (where you sacrifice pawns for development) one might have trouble with playing the middle game after these openings Personally, I used to play and memorise the goring gambit double pawn sacrifice but I sucked at it so I switched to the scotch gambit and despite also memorizing it without any understanding of the opening itself I managed to get more wins with it
Thank you for your comment and sorry for taking too long to reply! I believe everyone is different and what worked for me may not work for someone else. For instance, I didn't learn opening theory seriously until I was around 1800. That being said, when you add 40 k-factor, playing lots of tournaments in a row, rating inflation due to the pandemic and other aspects to the equation it becomes more difficult to really measure when opening theory starts "mattering". I like promoting the idea that chess is more than memorising move by move and that you can survive the opening as long as you understand pawn structure and have good tactics awareness (I wish I fully understood those two myself haha!). About the result, I guess it's difficult to find a balance. You do want to be competitive but you don't want to torture yourself to the point where your mental health starts deteriorating. For instance, I see players like Hans Niemann and Hikaru Nakamura (in his 20s but his behaviour nowadays is not great either) using little "tricks" to make their opponents feel uncomfortable while playing. Mainly eye contact and even sometimes talking during the game. To me, and to many others, that's very unnecessary and disrespectful. Caring about the result to the extent of losing values is awful, and I know, by what you wrote, that that is not what you meant. On that last note, I agree and apologize because I could have explained it better on the video. I too think that one should "always strive to win and be unhappy with losses as long as they know they can play better". Thanks again for taking the time to write your comment, I must be more careful with my opening theory opinion and articulate it better.
"How to Lose." Maybe top players don't have this problem. They are always expected to be on top of their game, no excuses. I have good days and bad days. Before I play a human opponent I play a couple of bots, to see where I am. If I am playing badly, today is not the day. I try again later, or come back tomorrow.
@@joeyblogsy I've also struggled (and will keep struggling) with that. Maintaining a rating is tough. Solving daily puzzles and checking some super GM games for 20 mins a day is a good remedy for me.
Good question. Rather than memorising move by move what you should do, it's better to "understand" the opening. That means knowing the answer to questions like: Is my play in the queenside, middle or kingside? Is this an open, semi-open or closed position? Which pieces should I exchange? What is my opponent's plan? How can I stop my opponents plan? Who has more space? You can argue these questions are more for chess in general but that's the reason why chess is difficult. All these principles serve as a guide and it comes down to the player to know which questions they should ask at any given position.
Hello! It's unfortunately a mixture of many things. I believe the most helpful thing to do is to become strong tactically in order to understand the ideas of a pawn structure better. I answered a similar question before, I will copy what I replied. Hope it's useful. "Rather than memorising move by move what you should do, it's better to "understand" the opening. That means knowing the answer to questions like: Is my play in the queenside, middle or kingside? Is this an open, semi-open or closed position? Which pieces should I exchange? What is my opponent's plan? How can I stop my opponents plan? Who has more space? You can argue these questions are more for chess in general but that's the reason why chess is difficult. All these principles serve as a guide and it comes down to the player to know which questions they should ask at any given position."
for players under 1500, I would recommend the Ponziani or the London for white and the Caro-kann, the French (against e4) or the King’s Indian (against d4) for black
@@theroaman8759 Good question. I'm not sure how much each day for the last 10 years, but I can tell you that when I started getting coached 4hrs/day, 4 days a week I felt improvement. I did that for a good 2 years, but now its been more like twice a week. For me, I have to really focus on what I like about chess so I can enjoy playing it and improve.
I don't get how 10 years for a CM isn't good. It's great! It's all dependent on how much study time happened within those 10 years. Most people play chess forever and do not improve much. To get to a CM level you need a lot of improvement on the way...
*Salem is not Saudi he is from UAE
Poor mistake by me. Sorry about that and thank you!
Same thing habibi
same thing?
@@antonioa.jepkoko4588 different countries. it's like saying france and switzerland are the same.
@@ZDTF different countries. it's like saying france and switzerland are the same.
That last advice was eye opening. Thank you for sharing.
Is that pun intended?
A very candid video, it would be good to go through details of your journey, how often you played OTB tournaments, how your openings changed with time, how much you studied endgames, how much blitz you played, how much tactics training you did? Etc. keep up the good work.
One of the best chess videos I've seen in a long while
RespectfulDave! That is a very cool handle in a world where humility is an underrated virtue, if not stricken from the virtue list altogether. For a man with one decade of chess under your belt, you speak with the wisdom of someone who has been around much longer. Thanks for your work, Dave!
I completely agree, humility is an underrated value. Thank you for taking the time to write your comment!
To your second point about memorizing openings, what I've learned after y years of studying is that learning openings should teach you about the ideas in an opening and the nuances of move orders, but it should more importantly tell you your game plan for the rets of the game. There's no point in having a full pawn advantage according to the computer if you'll have no clue how to capitalize on it. The maxim I learned is "openings show you how to play the middle game and endgames teach you how transform the middle game." All parts of the game work in tandem with each other, if you know openings, you'll know where to put your pieces in the middle game, if you have good endgames, you'll know how to set up your pieces so you can exit the middle game into the endgame with your advantage.
Correct
I played the caro kann since I started chess and at first I memorized the lined but only had like a 40%win rate with
But after understanding the major ideas of the carokann (attacking White's center pawns) I reached a 60% win rate but unfortunately I learned the ideas by myself
Because most youtubers never talk about the middlegame ideas in opening videos
I really like that 'dont play’ point it has been helping me a lot. And I thought that this is my discovery but when I see it in your video it even make my trust strong in how I am understanding myself, channeling the emotions after losing the game! Yeah guys it's really helpful. ❤️
And thank you for the content.
Thank you, I'm glad it's useful!
Those 15 minutes were incredibly valuable, and I've never watched a more insightful chess video. 😊
Thanks a lot for showing path to newcomers!
My pleasure!
It's fun when I play some 'sacrifice kinda' moves and lose... it is more fun when I realise those moves were actually good but I didn't know to play in that complex position
Finding sacrificing pieces "fun" is a good sign of someone who enjoys the game in my humble opinion.
Great tips man, I’m definitely going to take the final advice because I feel more stressed than enjoyment when playing
Friend nice work helping this 1800 guy. Keep inspiring .
14:31 been there, yesterday i lost 100 elo because i was super tired but insisted in playing because i wannat to get back elo
@@bernardovidigal1306 it's a very dangerous and toxic cycle. Hope you are doing well with your online chess detox!
@@RespectfulDave thanks
Wow, man. What a amazing content: I most of the time make these mistakes that you've mentioned in this video. One more subscriber for sure.
Quality content, I didn't have a hard time understanding and the ideas we're presented clearly
Fantastic video, great advice, I am a 1400 rated player I have been struggling to reach 1500 because I have been doing the things you have suggested I shouldn’t do 😂.
Very good teaching thank you
Good vid. How to Lose is a big one, as when as don’t play. Thanks!
Thanks for the important information
as an improving chess player, its really a remarkbly helpful video
Good vid, hope u get to 1k subs soon🎉
Thanks!
"Your opponent can't sac when it's his pawn" that's a good note
I do not focus on the opening at all. I use opening principles and try get into the middlegame with equality. I focus on middle game ideas and try win in the middlegame at best or if not try simplify and win in the endgame.
Thanks! 😊
But it's so difficult to guess your opponent's ideas! How does one get good at this prophylaxis thing, please?
Just practice tbh. Playing over and over again and you'll get a feel for what your opponent is trying to do. Ask yourself, what would you play/what would your plan be, if you were your opponent?
@@BjoernFilms This is helpful. Thanks!
I just found a goldmine.
Thank you David Maycock
Awesome vid man!
Thank you for the chess advice, David. ^-^
Great content, followed
great video!! subscribed
That's why i hate memorizing
Great stuff, subscribing! Thank you!
ur so underrrated!!
I can't agree with the second point about memorization and partially disagree with the point about results. I played for several years without knowing any opening theory. Then suddenly hit a massive wall. Over a year and no progress no matter how many puzzles and game analysis I did. Then for a couple of months I focused on nothing but learning opening theory and built my own opening repertoire from scratch. Suddenly, my rating jumped 100+ points both otb and online. Opening theory is very important these days when even beginners are booked up. Also being results oriented is extremely important in a competitive game. I can't imagine playing any type of sport and not caring about the results. Yes, I analyze my games and learn from them. But I will always strive to win and be unhappy with losses as long as I know I can play better.
I don't think the "no memorizing opening" rule applies for every opening
You can quite easily play the Italian game without knowing anything about it but with openings like the grunfield (where you give up the center) or the danish gambit/goring gambit, (where you sacrifice pawns for development) one might have trouble with playing the middle game after these openings
Personally, I used to play and memorise the goring gambit double pawn sacrifice but I sucked at it so I switched to the scotch gambit and despite also memorizing it without any understanding of the opening itself I managed to get more wins with it
Thank you for your comment and sorry for taking too long to reply!
I believe everyone is different and what worked for me may not work for someone else.
For instance, I didn't learn opening theory seriously until I was around 1800.
That being said, when you add 40 k-factor, playing lots of tournaments in a row, rating inflation due to the pandemic and other aspects to the equation it becomes more difficult to really measure when opening theory starts "mattering".
I like promoting the idea that chess is more than memorising move by move and that you can survive the opening as long as you understand pawn structure and have good tactics awareness (I wish I fully understood those two myself haha!).
About the result, I guess it's difficult to find a balance.
You do want to be competitive but you don't want to torture yourself to the point where your mental health starts deteriorating.
For instance, I see players like Hans Niemann and Hikaru Nakamura (in his 20s but his behaviour nowadays is not great either) using little "tricks" to make their opponents feel uncomfortable while playing. Mainly eye contact and even sometimes talking during the game.
To me, and to many others, that's very unnecessary and disrespectful. Caring about the result to the extent of losing values is awful, and I know, by what you wrote, that that is not what you meant.
On that last note, I agree and apologize because I could have explained it better on the video. I too think that one should "always strive to win and be unhappy with losses as long as they know they can play better".
Thanks again for taking the time to write your comment, I must be more careful with my opening theory opinion and articulate it better.
underrated
Great advice
This is so good
You should analyze some of your games
"How to Lose." Maybe top players don't have this problem. They are always expected to be on top of their game, no excuses. I have good days and bad days. Before I play a human opponent I play a couple of bots, to see where I am. If I am playing badly, today is not the day. I try again later, or come back tomorrow.
Ottime riflessioni.
Grazie mille
omega 3
I’ve been playing chess also for about 10 years and still struggle to maintain 2000.
Spill imsiu
@@joeyblogsy I've also struggled (and will keep struggling) with that. Maintaining a rating is tough.
Solving daily puzzles and checking some super GM games for 20 mins a day is a good remedy for me.
Hi David in new sub at this channel but is that really your surname?
how do you "understand" an opening?
Good question.
Rather than memorising move by move what you should do, it's better to "understand" the opening. That means knowing the answer to questions like:
Is my play in the queenside, middle or kingside?
Is this an open, semi-open or closed position?
Which pieces should I exchange?
What is my opponent's plan?
How can I stop my opponents plan?
Who has more space?
You can argue these questions are more for chess in general but that's the reason why chess is difficult. All these principles serve as a guide and it comes down to the player to know which questions they should ask at any given position.
What's a good way for point 2? I find myself trying different openings but I don't know how to learn to play better conceptually. Thank you
Hello! It's unfortunately a mixture of many things. I believe the most helpful thing to do is to become strong tactically in order to understand the ideas of a pawn structure better.
I answered a similar question before, I will copy what I replied. Hope it's useful.
"Rather than memorising move by move what you should do, it's better to "understand" the opening. That means knowing the answer to questions like:
Is my play in the queenside, middle or kingside?
Is this an open, semi-open or closed position?
Which pieces should I exchange?
What is my opponent's plan?
How can I stop my opponents plan?
Who has more space?
You can argue these questions are more for chess in general but that's the reason why chess is difficult. All these principles serve as a guide and it comes down to the player to know which questions they should ask at any given position."
@RespectfulDave thank you. Any sources to get a better a understanding of this at the French, sicilian or caro kann?
Good tips
KIller video!
Thank you!
Jail
Good video
Following your recommendation to "understand" and not memorize - which openings would you recommend as a repertoire?
for players under 1500, I would recommend the Ponziani or the London for white and the Caro-kann, the French (against e4) or the King’s Indian (against d4) for black
@@archiebaldbenedict5391 and above? 1800 here :D
@@leonromer567 the Spanish or the English for white and the Sicilian (against e4) or the Dutch (againts d4) for black
I highly recommend the carokann
Because it has one idea : attack white center pawns and play in queenside
Op bro
Thanks!
W video🔥🔥
How much do you play daily for 10 yrs?
@@theroaman8759 Good question. I'm not sure how much each day for the last 10 years, but I can tell you that when I started getting coached 4hrs/day, 4 days a week I felt improvement. I did that for a good 2 years, but now its been more like twice a week.
For me, I have to really focus on what I like about chess so I can enjoy playing it and improve.
This video earns much more views and likes!
Great!
Meanwhile Tomas Andre wasnt even born for 10 years and has CM
soo what's your rating? ;)
@@nowisek sadly on 1857 and i play only 1 year..... Dont play online long time controls many cheaters short time controls bad for my chess
Hi
Hey
Omega 3 😉
Bruh 10 years and you are CM???
Life is tough
Hey man it happens, not everyone can be GM
Be respectful!. CM Dave will beat me 9 times out of 10, the 1 game dave accept a draw out of pity for me
I don't get how 10 years for a CM isn't good. It's great! It's all dependent on how much study time happened within those 10 years. Most people play chess forever and do not improve much. To get to a CM level you need a lot of improvement on the way...
Most people can't even get a title bro relax
can't wait to see hikaru react to your video and laugh to all your useless tips you give in this video lmao
thanks a lot