I stumbled on this while threading one of Levy's recent uploads. The title intrigued me and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the content. Takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there like that IMO, so props to you for that. I am hardly one to be giving advice. I abandoned competitive play a long time ago, only recently returning to the game for the cognitive conditioning, focusing on puzzles, game analysis and playing v the computer. Having said that, what I will offer to you is to simplify. Pick one opening for white and one for black and study them until they are part of your psyche and you can play them against anything blindfolded. But choose an opening that is extremely versatile, and less commonly played, such as the Pirc, or the English for example. And puzzles. Spend half an hour a day on puzzles if you can. Positional, not just checkmates. You've already analyzed the game you put up, but I do have one query/comment on the Nf6 line you chose: why did you take with the queen instead of the pawn? Again, props for putting this up. Wishing you the best in your endeavors.
Thanks for your wonderful comment. Since this video I have narrowed in my opening repertoire. I only play the English, Dutch and French now. I know mainlines and some nice sidelines. I only exclusively play those openings and do coach others to do the same narrowing of openings. I also mainly work on my tactical ability. This slump video was shortly after I had returned to competitive tournament play so I sent myself on a path. Now I mainly work on tactics and endgames which is my weakness. I work those 1-3 hours a day. Openings for me are now really solid. I have two training partners from my club. One my level and another far above us. The three of us are always working together on out process and improvement. Again thanks for watching and commenting.
That's amazing, sounds like you've really got it sorted and running smoothly. I for one would like to see a follow up to this video, a sort of retrospective on the slump detailing how you pulled it together. In the meantime, keep on keeping on.
Great job I will be following your climb out of the basement, remember literally no grand master started from the bottom anyone who can get to 2000 elo starting at the bottom is doing something! You need more in dept plans just moving around to capture pawns or pieces is not good enough, to have to if you are being positional focus on space and squares not pieces.
Good video. To answer your question. I think the weakest point for black is that pawn on b7, so working a rook to the b file would allow you to attack and make better use of your bishop and queen!
Sorry to say that, don't take it as criticism, but having problems with tactics doesn't make you a positional player. I had a mistake of thinking I am a positional player myself. And secondly, randomly changing your openings like that is probably not a good idea either. Definitely good idea to analyze your games deeply and keep track of reasons of your mistakes. Again, not a criticism, just from my own experience.
100% agreed. I recently actually changed my thinking on this. I put myself into this positional player style box and I should not have. I have changed all my openings to more aggressive style to work on my weaknesses. It seems to be proving to be fruitful. Thanks kindly for your wonderful comment.
That is a huge part of chess. Perhaps a little opening training might be in order. Normally I wouldn’t suggest opening training or study but it can help some.
If you start playing e4, and have no idea how to face the Scandinavian, that sounds more like a 900 elo issue than 1600-1800 slump, no offence. Scandi is so popular opening in online blitz. I play the English with white and Alekhine with black, and I would never start playing 1.e4 OTB, with out playing it in blitz first and scouting the basic stuff. The Alekhine often transposes into the Scandinavian if the opponent refuses it, so its kind of mandatory theory for me. The field of e4 (with white) is too broad to go wondering after settling into the safe English territory. If I would take that risk, I would propably start with a new account and new identity with fake passports and all.
I'm actually surprised how this isn't a popular RUclips video perfect thumbnail and good video
Thank you so much. Please like and share it with all your people so it can get the attention you think it deserves. I am happy to help.
I stumbled on this while threading one of Levy's recent uploads. The title intrigued me and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the content. Takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there like that IMO, so props to you for that.
I am hardly one to be giving advice. I abandoned competitive play a long time ago, only recently returning to the game for the cognitive conditioning, focusing on puzzles, game analysis and playing v the computer.
Having said that, what I will offer to you is to simplify. Pick one opening for white and one for black and study them until they are part of your psyche and you can play them against anything blindfolded. But choose an opening that is extremely versatile, and less commonly played, such as the Pirc, or the English for example. And puzzles. Spend half an hour a day on puzzles if you can. Positional, not just checkmates.
You've already analyzed the game you put up, but I do have one query/comment on the Nf6 line you chose: why did you take with the queen instead of the pawn?
Again, props for putting this up. Wishing you the best in your endeavors.
Thanks for your wonderful comment. Since this video I have narrowed in my opening repertoire. I only play the English, Dutch and French now. I know mainlines and some nice sidelines. I only exclusively play those openings and do coach others to do the same narrowing of openings.
I also mainly work on my tactical ability. This slump video was shortly after I had returned to competitive tournament play so I sent myself on a path. Now I mainly work on tactics and endgames which is my weakness. I work those 1-3 hours a day. Openings for me are now really solid.
I have two training partners from my club. One my level and another far above us. The three of us are always working together on out process and improvement. Again thanks for watching and commenting.
That's amazing, sounds like you've really got it sorted and running smoothly. I for one would like to see a follow up to this video, a sort of retrospective on the slump detailing how you pulled it together.
In the meantime, keep on keeping on.
Thanks for the idea. I will do that.
Thanks for this coaching this is very applicable
You are most welcome. 💪❤
Great job I will be following your climb out of the basement, remember literally no grand master started from the bottom anyone who can get to 2000 elo starting at the bottom is doing something!
You need more in dept plans just moving around to capture pawns or pieces is not good enough, to have to if you are being positional focus on space and squares not pieces.
Much appreciated for your thoughts and comment. Thanks for watching.
Good video. To answer your question. I think the weakest point for black is that pawn on b7, so working a rook to the b file would allow you to attack and make better use of your bishop and queen!
P.S. Hope I got that position correct! LoL
What game are you referring to? Also if you can give me a time in the video I may be able to help answer as well.
I have ADD which makes it so that after like 1-2 games i cant really focus and if i continure playing i will lose a lot of games in a row.
Its more or less like Brain Fog
I suggest getting some books on how to focus and then practicing that. You can improve your focus and attention even with ADD.
Same here. I don't try. I do my stuff with focus, call off the day and go to sleep. The next day comes with fresh dopamine.
Sorry to say that, don't take it as criticism, but having problems with tactics doesn't make you a positional player. I had a mistake of thinking I am a positional player myself. And secondly, randomly changing your openings like that is probably not a good idea either.
Definitely good idea to analyze your games deeply and keep track of reasons of your mistakes.
Again, not a criticism, just from my own experience.
100% agreed. I recently actually changed my thinking on this. I put myself into this positional player style box and I should not have. I have changed all my openings to more aggressive style to work on my weaknesses. It seems to be proving to be fruitful. Thanks kindly for your wonderful comment.
I'm in a super slump
Did this video help you identify where the issues are in your game?
My opponents are getting to positions faster than me I need to be more focused on the board
That is a huge part of chess. Perhaps a little opening training might be in order. Normally I wouldn’t suggest opening training or study but it can help some.
heres the move it starts with
With……
nice!
Thanks for watching.
If you start playing e4, and have no idea how to face the Scandinavian, that sounds more like a 900 elo issue than 1600-1800 slump, no offence. Scandi is so popular opening in online blitz. I play the English with white and Alekhine with black, and I would never start playing 1.e4 OTB, with out playing it in blitz first and scouting the basic stuff. The Alekhine often transposes into the Scandinavian if the opponent refuses it, so its kind of mandatory theory for me. The field of e4 (with white) is too broad to go wondering after settling into the safe English territory. If I would take that risk, I would propably start with a new account and new identity with fake passports and all.
Thanks for watching and commenting.