Is your aim to improve your OTB or online chess? The resources look good, but I'm curious how much you are going to divide working on input through study vs. output through playing games.
I hate to double comment, but have been thinking a lot about this. Though I'll be only using one or two resources per week or month, you've made me really reflect upon the balance of study to play. I think I should try to add another OTB per week. Curious if you have any thoughts.
No worries! Hard to give specific advice without knowing your chess well, but if you want to improve OTB I guess focus on those games in terms of looking at what you think you're doing well vs. what you want to improve on, seems like a good cycle of feedback if you have regular games, analysing those and study as well! OTB is definitely important as the stakes are a lot higher to do your best. I haven't coached many adults so I'm sure you can find better tips on X or if you talk with a coach at some point and see what they can give you.
One game a week sounds pretty good, two could be worth trying—after a 20-year hiatus, going to two games in a week sounds like a lot, so just have sustainability in mind while trying things, and it's good if you have friends or chess buddies you can talk to or are also in a similar boat to keep motivated. I think Martin (Say Chess) maybe had an accountability group or a chat where you can share your chess stuff? Anyway, it's nice to hear you're motivated on your return to chess!
Well, you've got me thinking about that input/output balance. I think the post might have given the impression that I'm taking on too much, but in reality I'd be perfectly happy (okay, maybe not *perfectly*) with two books, one tactics - one other topic. As far as coaching goes, I've never had a one-on-one coach, but did actually purchase Nöel Studer's plan, which was super helpful for about half the year. In the end perhaps a bit too structured for me, but I'll revisit. I feel I could do quite a lot before really wanting a coach, and I'm wondering if AI coaches will be a viable thing by the time I'm interested (might be coming rather soon, I suspect). I am very fortunate to have an online training partner, something that just sort of organically happened. Anyway, look forward to your next substack outing!
Good to hear re: your thoughts on how much you're taking on. Great that you have a training partner! Would be interested to follow how all of your chess goes on here or X. I don't know how close we are to good AI chess coaches, but who knows!
I've recently been absorbed in my new chess YouTube channel (in Japanese) so Substack has taken a backseat...(it turned out to be prophetic when I included a joke about stopping writing on my 1000 subs post!) still plan to write on here, but perhaps not as often, looking to at least pen something this year :-)
AI coaching! the future! lol, who knows. I do suspect there may be some big surprises.
I don't see your Japanese YouTube yet, though did not go on extensive search. I assume this is not shogi (and there's no reason to assume it is), but Western chess in Japan (which you *have* talked about). I don't speak Japanese, but I am curious.
As a content creator, I think unfortunately it can become a burden to create content on a weekly basis. I hope you'll continue to do some long-form stuff here on, say, a monthly basis? Just saying - your stuff is good!
Here's the link https://www.youtube.com/@ikedajunta there aren't many channels on chess in the Japanese language, so I thought I could give more value there as English has enough chess channels (and every other format!). I always wanted to grow chess in Japan.
Thanks, I appreciate it—I haven't totally given up on writing on here, just focusing for now on another platform! When it's become more routine, maybe I'll be able to dip into writing relatively regularly also.
First, honored to have you weigh in on my training plan, thank you!
I hadn't really thought about distinguishing between OTB and online chess. I just want to get better! But I appreciate the distinction. And this is why I'm starting my planning in November, to hash things out. I resumed playing OTB in July this year (after a 20-year hiatus), a weekly G80+5 at a local club. I do play some blitz to work on openings, and am pretty disciplined about only playing 5 games or so and analyzing each one immediately, checking the opening, tactics I missed.
So I guess the answer is I'm mostly interested in OTB. I've definitely noticed my chess has enjoyed a bump in strength since I added OTB to my study routine. As far as the study/play balance - I guess it would be about 5 hours study to 3 hours OTB play as it stands. I could maybe add another game on the weekend.
Well, ChessSpoon, I'm not energized enough to figure out how many chess books I own, plus it would be embarrassing. I guess the core, given what I'm focusing on, would be:
1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players: The Tactics Workbook that Also Explains All Key Concepts by Frank Erwich
The Woodpecker Method by Axel Smith, Hans Tikkanen
Is your aim to improve your OTB or online chess? The resources look good, but I'm curious how much you are going to divide working on input through study vs. output through playing games.
I hate to double comment, but have been thinking a lot about this. Though I'll be only using one or two resources per week or month, you've made me really reflect upon the balance of study to play. I think I should try to add another OTB per week. Curious if you have any thoughts.
No worries! Hard to give specific advice without knowing your chess well, but if you want to improve OTB I guess focus on those games in terms of looking at what you think you're doing well vs. what you want to improve on, seems like a good cycle of feedback if you have regular games, analysing those and study as well! OTB is definitely important as the stakes are a lot higher to do your best. I haven't coached many adults so I'm sure you can find better tips on X or if you talk with a coach at some point and see what they can give you.
One game a week sounds pretty good, two could be worth trying—after a 20-year hiatus, going to two games in a week sounds like a lot, so just have sustainability in mind while trying things, and it's good if you have friends or chess buddies you can talk to or are also in a similar boat to keep motivated. I think Martin (Say Chess) maybe had an accountability group or a chat where you can share your chess stuff? Anyway, it's nice to hear you're motivated on your return to chess!
Well, you've got me thinking about that input/output balance. I think the post might have given the impression that I'm taking on too much, but in reality I'd be perfectly happy (okay, maybe not *perfectly*) with two books, one tactics - one other topic. As far as coaching goes, I've never had a one-on-one coach, but did actually purchase Nöel Studer's plan, which was super helpful for about half the year. In the end perhaps a bit too structured for me, but I'll revisit. I feel I could do quite a lot before really wanting a coach, and I'm wondering if AI coaches will be a viable thing by the time I'm interested (might be coming rather soon, I suspect). I am very fortunate to have an online training partner, something that just sort of organically happened. Anyway, look forward to your next substack outing!
Good to hear re: your thoughts on how much you're taking on. Great that you have a training partner! Would be interested to follow how all of your chess goes on here or X. I don't know how close we are to good AI chess coaches, but who knows!
I've recently been absorbed in my new chess YouTube channel (in Japanese) so Substack has taken a backseat...(it turned out to be prophetic when I included a joke about stopping writing on my 1000 subs post!) still plan to write on here, but perhaps not as often, looking to at least pen something this year :-)
AI coaching! the future! lol, who knows. I do suspect there may be some big surprises.
I don't see your Japanese YouTube yet, though did not go on extensive search. I assume this is not shogi (and there's no reason to assume it is), but Western chess in Japan (which you *have* talked about). I don't speak Japanese, but I am curious.
As a content creator, I think unfortunately it can become a burden to create content on a weekly basis. I hope you'll continue to do some long-form stuff here on, say, a monthly basis? Just saying - your stuff is good!
Here's the link https://www.youtube.com/@ikedajunta there aren't many channels on chess in the Japanese language, so I thought I could give more value there as English has enough chess channels (and every other format!). I always wanted to grow chess in Japan.
Thanks, I appreciate it—I haven't totally given up on writing on here, just focusing for now on another platform! When it's become more routine, maybe I'll be able to dip into writing relatively regularly also.
First, honored to have you weigh in on my training plan, thank you!
I hadn't really thought about distinguishing between OTB and online chess. I just want to get better! But I appreciate the distinction. And this is why I'm starting my planning in November, to hash things out. I resumed playing OTB in July this year (after a 20-year hiatus), a weekly G80+5 at a local club. I do play some blitz to work on openings, and am pretty disciplined about only playing 5 games or so and analyzing each one immediately, checking the opening, tactics I missed.
So I guess the answer is I'm mostly interested in OTB. I've definitely noticed my chess has enjoyed a bump in strength since I added OTB to my study routine. As far as the study/play balance - I guess it would be about 5 hours study to 3 hours OTB play as it stands. I could maybe add another game on the weekend.
Your training partner sounds like quite the silly billy, ignore their incessant babble! ;)
This list is exactly my wishlist + another 20 or so books. I can’t think of any book on my list that isn’t on yours!
What are the ten you will focus on? How many chess books do you own in total?
Well, ChessSpoon, I'm not energized enough to figure out how many chess books I own, plus it would be embarrassing. I guess the core, given what I'm focusing on, would be:
1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players: The Tactics Workbook that Also Explains All Key Concepts by Frank Erwich
The Woodpecker Method by Axel Smith, Hans Tikkanen
How to Defend in Chess by Colin Crouch
Mastering Chess Defense by Johann Hellsten - https://www.chessable.com/mastering-chess-defense/course/189031/ (excited for this one)
Think Like a Super-GM by Michael Adams, Philip Hurtado (halfway done)
Under the Surface by Jan Markos
Silman's Complete Endgame Course: From Beginner to Master by Jeremy Silman
Chess Endgames for Kids by GM Karsten Müller - https://www.chessable.com/course/49790
And yeah, agree on the training partner, totally!