Hi, I'm Igor Smirnov, International Grandmaster and a chess coach.
Welcome into this new lesson called "Misguided Techniques".
When talking about chess lectures, we're usually told what to DO.
You will find a lot of my lessons making such recommendations about different aspects of
chess - attack, positional play and the list goes on.
However, this lesson is completely the opposite.
Here, I'm going to tell you what you should NOT do.
Unfortunately, chess players fall into the trap of using ineffective techniques, and
worse, the methods that are harmful for their progress.
In this lesson, I'd like to warn you against them.
This will save you from spending time on futile efforts.
This will remove the obstacles from your way to chess success.
And, this will explain WHY your progress is not as speedy as it should be.
Indeed, knowing these useless and harmful habits, I'm making sure YOU do not fall for
them is important.
Okay, without further ado, let's have a look.
And here is the first one....
Spending so much time solving tactical puzzles and exercises.
Nowadays, a lot of chess players do it.
They solve tactical drills day in and day out.
Heck!
You will even find some books that recommend it as the easiest way to get to expert level.
But now let me ask you one question.
If everybody solves tactical puzzles, then WHY tactical mistakes still happen so often
in chess tournaments?
Why do those players keep making tactical oversights constantly?
Doesn't it show that something is wrong with their training methods?
Actually, it's easy to explain why this happens.
You see, if you do the same thing over and over again, you will get the SAME results
constantly.
And the end result - your progress will be quite abysmal.
It's like a caged-squirrel running in a wheel.
It's time-consuming, tiring, but the squirrel is NOT making any progress.
True enough - solving tactical exercises make some sense.
However, this is of secondary priority and should not eat too much time.
There are other training methods which are much more effective when it comes to honing
tactical skills.
I know what some of you are thinking.
If you memorize a lot of typical tactical patterns, they should become natural for you,
and you will start using them automatically.
Unfortunately, this is a delusion that were spread by many chess authors.
It's simply does NOT work in this way.
Such a mechanical approach is rather suitable for a computer, not for a human.
Instead, we should focus on developing our independent THINKING skills.
After all, chess is a thinking game, not of who memorizes the most.
Similarly, attempting to memorize all opening lines would be a quite dull and inefficient
method for getting better in an opening stage.
It's round upon.
Think about the players whose combinations you have studied.
Anderssen, Morphy, Alekhine...they obviously did not have access to massive databasesof
tactical positions or websites with tactical puzzles.
But, they were able to play brilliant combinations, and they do so quite often.
They did it with the help of their deep UNDERSTANDING and good THINKING skills.
Nowadays, we study thousands of typical tactical positions, but use tactics very seldom in
our own games.
Doesn't it seem like there is something wrong here?!
Next on the list - an analysis of Grandmasters games.
We have seen a lot of DVDs, video lessons on Youtube and other places in the Internet
where a strong player analyzes games between chess heavyweights like Aronian, Kramnik and
the rest of the gang.
Now, let me show you an interesting and a very sudden clip.
Cool, isn't it!!
That fellow is lifting 300 kilograms.
There is no doubt about his phenomenal strength.
But let me ask you one question.
Does watching this video clip help you lift weights like he does?
Did it in anyway, help you better physically?
Of course, NOT!
In the same way, watching video analysis of Grandmasters games will not be of much aid
to your chess progress.
Okay, you will see that this Grandmaster can play powerful moves.
Impressive, indeed.
But, it does not help YOU to do the same.
They show you what they do.
But, they don't elaborate HOW they do it.
They do not show you HOW you can find the moves like they do - calculate with the same
precision, or visualize with the same clarity.
The folks who upload such video analysis get more "likes", more subscribers to their channel
and rise in popularity.
They love doing such videos, as it is an easy work for them.
But, what do YOU get out of it?
Almost, nothing.
In conclusion, this is more for entertainment, than improvement.
You get to see a breath-taking game, maybe it inspires you for your your next game.
But, nothing more.
Day in day out, books are published about some new approach, or new theory about chess.
A lot of my students asked me to clarify certain such theory.
I will not spell out names.
I certainly don't want to offend others.
But, let me tell you this.
Most of the time, this new theory about chess turns out to be completely ridiculous.
Most often, such theories are too unnatural and far too complex to be applied in a real
game.
So what is the point of knowing such complex theories, when you only have few minutes for
every move?
I want you to ask yourself these 3 questions when reading some 'clever' new theory about
the real game - 1.
What is the LOGIC behind this theory?
2.
How was this system CREATED?
3.
How will you APPLY it at your every move and every game?
Remember, simple is better than complex.
If something is too complicated, it does not mean that it is very clever.
Quite the contrary, most probably, it's something completely wrong.
Take whatever you read with a grain of salt.
Don't blindly believe all chess books and all those new theories.
Unfortunately, some of them can only confuse you.
Once again, simple is better than complex.
And that brings us to the next part.
Which is better - knowing a thousand rules about chess, or knowing only 5 ones?
Some of you might pick the first.
After all, knowing more sound a lot more favourable.
But, this is not the case.
Chess is not a quiz show.
It's a game of skill.
It's a game where the one who applies what he learns usually wins the game.
Think about this - will you be able to apply a thousand rules when you play a real game?
Heck, I'm sure you will have a hard time remembering them!
Let alone and apply them in practice.
Five simple, logical, and applicable rules will trump a thousand confusing ones any day.
Less is better than more.
There is no need to collect tons of chess books and try to learn thousands of rules.
This will rather confuse you, than help you.
Okay, those are just some of the misguided techniques and delusions that improving chess
players fall for.
If you know any some of these mistakes in your chess training, then maybe, it's about
time you correct it.
Stop wasting time on effective methods.
The time you free up can be used in training methods that deliver solid and positive results.
Thanks for watching, have a good day!
Goodbye. :)