Thank you for this post. What would be an example of a day of hard training according to you?
Thanks for the post - it is refreshing after all the nonsense we get from the guy that does the Chess Mood promotions.
Q1:
"Effective training is highly unpleasant at the beginning. It feels hard and frustrating, until you get used to it - which might take months."
This is a bit open-ended and philosophical: then as an amateur, should you even 'train hard'? I mean what is the point if you don't enjoy it?
Q2:
What do you mean by traditional training methods?
I think that solving tactics puzzles is the best way most amateurs can spend their training time on. I analyze all of my rapid games here and the reason for the result is almost always a tactical mistake by one of the sides.
I think there are better ways to train tactics. GM Davorin Kuljasevic's method of looking at moves by both sides and identifying the blunder seems superior and I've requested that as a feature here on Lichess but short of the exercises in his book, it's hard to engage in that sort of exercise.
Q1:
"Effective training is highly unpleasant at the beginning. It feels hard and frustrating, until you get used to it - which might take months."
This is a bit open-ended and philosophical: then as an amateur, should you even 'train hard'? I mean what is the point if you don't enjoy it?
Q2:
What do you mean by traditional training methods?
I think that solving tactics puzzles is the best way most amateurs can spend their training time on. I analyze all of my rapid games here and the reason for the result is almost always a tactical mistake by one of the sides.
I think there are better ways to train tactics. GM Davorin Kuljasevic's method of looking at moves by both sides and identifying the blunder seems superior and I've requested that as a feature here on Lichess but short of the exercises in his book, it's hard to engage in that sort of exercise.
@AnlamK see hard training is never fun. I also don't do much hard training as its very exhausting and quiet time consuming. As a student it is quite difficult to get sufficient time to do hard training and I usually just do puzzles and analyze my games only to stay in touch. But I usually train hard when I'm about to play a tournament and it gives me good results...
ur second question--- according to me it refers to reading and training through books without using much of the analyzing engines like players from the 90s did. If u play OTB tournaments it is the most important factor to improve
ur second question--- according to me it refers to reading and training through books without using much of the analyzing engines like players from the 90s did. If u play OTB tournaments it is the most important factor to improve
I believe there is not one solution that fits for all. There is a combination of puzzle solving, vizualization training, endgame studies and books that probably would work for many yet I am no authority on it.
Great article and this is the case for areas other than chess too. a know example is: "become a full depth advanced Python progammer in 7 days from stretch" you'll see such courses anywhere for any programing languade. reality check: becoming a programmer requires a long journey of working on your own and trying to write code by yourself.
Great article. What would you then consider to be hard training?
We need to name some names or the snake oil sale never happened. Just sayin
Breath of fresh air to hear someone say the truth about training. Loved your article.
Nice article.