00:04 Choosing active openings is key for breaking 1500 rating barrier 02:09 Avoid playing moves backward unless forced 04:03 In chess, development and castling within 10 moves are the priority in the opening stage. 06:03 Consider Knight D4 or Knight E4 for white's move. 07:56 Prefer Knight D7 over Bishop B7 for guarding 09:55 Avoid making ugly moves in chess 12:01 Pressure on E-file can lead to a bad position. 14:16 Emphasize finishing development in opening phase 16:12 Focus on attacking and creating threats in chess Crafted by Merlin AI.
Igor, you are amazing. I started subscribing in April. My Blitz rating was a dismal 203, complete nube. I watched most of your videos and many of them multiple times (more than 6). 2 weeks ago my rating was 598 and I am staying in the mid 500s. I wish I had picked up chess sometime before my 70s. I wish you all the best. I would love to take your lessons, but I am retired and very tight budget. You have blessed my life, for sure. Because of you, I now love chess.
I fillow these tips. My online rating has been all over between 1100 and 1300 recently. Im currently at 1250. My problem is that I either blunder or play like an 1800-2000 rated player acxording to game review. Some of those higher level games, I still get outplayed by opponents. Almost everyone usually plays well above their rating. It's all about minimizing those devastating blunders and improving calculations.
I played above my rating by at least 200 to 300 pts on an online game once, and this schmuck from S Africa accused me of cheating. He couldn't accept the fact that I wiped him off the board. There's some games that can go that way where you can see through your opponents defenses and know where to attack.
yes, it can be that simple! I believe that there is an order that should be applied when considering which move is probably the best next! If you manage to maintain an order of "thinking" that is subject to this order, then a jump up in the ELO is a given! Igor shows us “this” best!!
Love your overviews, thank you Igor! I must admit, I sometimes get a bit bogged down in the dichotomy. Sometimes "to take is a mistake" is the mantra, and other times "it's prudent to trade off" is the guidance. I think that is what trips me up more times than not
He was the local prodigy from what I understand. Even KASPOROV awarded him a prize in a tournament once. He also has a degree ( master's maybe can't remember?) In psychology hence why he is so good at marketing and understanding what chess i.provers want. What amazes me is his excellent English. I been asking if one of his parents is a native English speaker or if he lived in the west. He has an almost international accent it's not heavily accented like a lot of Russians when they speak english. I have asked many times but he never answers . I am very curious. I know native English speakers who can't speak as well as he does
@@darrylkassle361if you listen to his older videos from around 10 years ago, he used to have a typical Russian accent. In the last 3 or four years it has really improved. He’s never discussed the details as far as I know. But he has definitely put in some work.
Another valuable video added to my chess luggages . I want to thank you, because there are quite a few chess youtubeurs, but you are the one who has helped me the most with the principles you are teaching. Regards!
I very much enjoy your chess analysis more than any others on RUclips. I try to write down the moves, especially on your gambit lessons, but it’s difficult to do while listening and taking down the notation. Have you considered giving some thought to displaying the algerbraic notation on the right side, while showing the board moves on the left? I’ve been watching another do that, and it speeds things up considerably, and lets me concentrate more on what you’re saying as well as reducing my mistakes on notation.
1. Try Aggresive Opening 2. Backward is awkward unless forced 3. in an opening development is a priority 4. Castle within 10 moves 5. Middle game is to attack [ Go forward and make attacks ] 6.Neutralize pieces that attacks your territory 7. Ugly moves are rarely good 8. Play active openings
As a beginner, don't focus on playing specific openings. Focus on developing your pieces (ideally towards the center). I highly advise not playing to Scandinavian in general for anyone under 1800, it is just too tricky to play properly and actively. If you absolutely must have specific names of openings, though, I recommend Igor Smirnov's favorite Bishop's Opening for white against e4. Against c4, just play the Open Sicilian and avoid putting your bishop on c4. Against e6, the exchange French is probably the easiest for a beginner to understand. Against c6, I am a firm believer in the Fantasy Variation, but the exchange caro-kann is also very powerful. Against anything else, just try to occupy the center with your pawns, knights, and bishops. As black, being active is much more difficult. Against e4, you can play the two knights with e5 (just learn the center fork trick and don't fall for it yourself) or you can be bold and learn the Elephant Gambit. Against d4 there are a million options and it is hard to recommend a good one-size-fits-all solution, just search and find your own style. A king's indian or any style of benoni can be very powerful, my biggest advice is that any time that white has played d4, playing c5 as black is almost always a viable move for one reason or another. Against c4 I would say as a beginner just treat it like an e4 opening and assume your opponent doesn't know how to play the opening unless they play over the board at a 2000 level. Against anything else, just secure the center and develop your pieces. A little warning from me: systems may make it easier to reach middlegames without blundering, but once you are able to do that without needing the system, you are actually ready to improve.
Make sure you always use all your pieces. Do online tactical exercises. Learn basic endgames (rook behind the passed pawn etc.) Read a good book on middle game planning, eg Herman Grooten's Chess Strategy for Club Players. Remember and apply three rules for the opening: control the centre, prepare castling - and activate all your pieces.
You need to understand the basic endgame principles and be very good at tactics and have a good plan. Achieve atleast 1600 elo by following these then it is a bit hard to progress
I broke 1500 after playing nimzowich Larsen attack and Blackburn kolsterbeer Gambit the latter is awesome opponent thinks he is winning as he is always up with material but in the end it's always me who is winning . GM Igors videos are the best
Hi. I've been learning great lessons from your videos. But there seem to be inconsistencies that I find difficult to parse. "Develop your pieces before you make any attacks", vs many videos where you outline early attacks. "Don't play stock, meaningless openings", vs videos showing (and promoting) the Scandinavian, etc. "To take is a mistake" vs many times you recommend a own capture. Etc, etc... I find it difficult to determine when to follow which pieces of advice, they seem to be in conflict sometimes. Can you please advise? Thx.
For the first one, it mostly depends on the opening you're playing, where it should be clear if you should be going for an early attack if you just watch a tutorial for that opening on youtube. Personally I find it far too easy to mess up early attacks so I prefer to play openings that prioritize development first (kings indian as black, Italian as white). For the second one, I kinda disagree that playing more active openings is really necessary to get to a higher rating (you could definitely reach 1500 exclusively playing the scandinavian as black and some other relatively uninteresting opening as white if you really wanted to) but it also doesn't hurt to try more gambits if you find one that interests you. As long as you play the opening well enough to not be losing straight away that's probably not what's preventing you from gaining elo. To take is a mistake to me mostly means taking is bad if it allows your opponent to develop by recapturing or if it damages your pawn structure (causing doubled or isolated pawns).
@@pierce9104 I reckon "to take is a mistake" is not a bad rule of thumb when all is equal on the board, as with each equal trade the game will probably be heading closer and closer to a draw. When you are up, however, equal trades are generally always in your favour. I have had the same feeling as the original poster that sometimes the advice seems contradictory but I think it comes down to building up experience in which kind of situations the advice is applicable...there will always be exceptions. Life itself is like this: "many hands make light work" or "too many cooks spoil the broth"?
I get that we need to play more active opening but the point of scandinavian defense is to go to c7 you are saying that it is not immediatly needed but after the knight move black can no longer move is Queen to c7 he is blocked by the knight mhmm
What are more active openings for 1500 ELO player ? I play Ponziani with White Or Alapin Sicilian I need help what to play with black. I don't want my opponent playing Italian or Ruy Lopez... Too much theory there
If you want to get out of theory, I would play the caro kann and dutch. However, some of the most attacking lines are in e4 e5 positions. For example, you can play h6 d6 against italian with ideas of g5. Also, you could play the rousseau gambit against the ruy lopez and traxler if they go for the fried liver.
I have to say this, if you are really beginner like realy² new to chess, gothamchess video is the best learning material in youtube. But if u are above 1200 Igor Smirnov video is the best learning material in youtube.
![ONE Main Reason Why You LOSE At Chess [And How To Prevent It]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BK7hiv17PS0/mqdefault.jpg)
![ONE Main Reason Why You LOSE At Chess [And How To Prevent It]](/img/tr.png)
📈 A Complete Guide to Your Chess Progress. Get "Level Up Your Chess" - online.chess-teacher.com/levelupyt
00:04 Choosing active openings is key for breaking 1500 rating barrier
02:09 Avoid playing moves backward unless forced
04:03 In chess, development and castling within 10 moves are the priority in the opening stage.
06:03 Consider Knight D4 or Knight E4 for white's move.
07:56 Prefer Knight D7 over Bishop B7 for guarding
09:55 Avoid making ugly moves in chess
12:01 Pressure on E-file can lead to a bad position.
14:16 Emphasize finishing development in opening phase
16:12 Focus on attacking and creating threats in chess
Crafted by Merlin AI.
► Chapters
00:00 7 Tips To Break 1500 ELO Rating In Chess
00:34 Tip-1
02:02 Tip-2
03:05 Tip-3
04:41 Tip-4
05:09 Tip-5
08:20 Tip-6
09:39 Tip-7
10:25 GM Smirnov's personal story
15:35 Summary
Is the kings Indian to passive for the 1500 level?
Literally broke 1500 today
New accounts start at 1500 on lichess
We’re not talking about lichess
New advance account" and after few game's you will be near your original@@southerncharity7928
@@blyss.😂😂😂😂
Any updates?
Igor, you are amazing. I started subscribing in April. My Blitz rating was a dismal 203, complete nube. I watched most of your videos and many of them multiple times (more than 6). 2 weeks ago my rating was 598 and I am staying in the mid 500s. I wish I had picked up chess sometime before my 70s. I wish you all the best. I would love to take your lessons, but I am retired and very tight budget. You have blessed my life, for sure. Because of you, I now love chess.
Appreciate you for being here!
I hope you get to your goal
Wow
I fillow these tips. My online rating has been all over between 1100 and 1300 recently. Im currently at 1250. My problem is that I either blunder or play like an 1800-2000 rated player acxording to game review. Some of those higher level games, I still get outplayed by opponents. Almost everyone usually plays well above their rating. It's all about minimizing those devastating blunders and improving calculations.
I played above my rating by at least 200 to 300 pts on an online game once, and this schmuck from S Africa accused me of cheating. He couldn't accept the fact that I wiped him off the board.
There's some games that can go that way where you can see through your opponents defenses and know where to attack.
Igor is the best chess teacher, in only three months playing and watching his videos I'm reaching 900+
Appreciate you for being here!
yes, it can be that simple! I believe that there is an order that should be applied when considering which move is probably the best next! If you manage to maintain an order of "thinking" that is subject to this order, then a jump up in the ELO is a given!
Igor shows us “this” best!!
Very helpful thanks ❤
Love your overviews, thank you Igor!
I must admit, I sometimes get a bit bogged down in the dichotomy. Sometimes "to take is a mistake" is the mantra, and other times "it's prudent to trade off" is the guidance. I think that is what trips me up more times than not
Bro was 2200 at 11!!
What!!!
legend all are gm gem
He's also an excellent instructor
I think he said 20 to 100😂😂😂 lol.
He was the local prodigy from what I understand. Even KASPOROV awarded him a prize in a tournament once. He also has a degree ( master's maybe can't remember?) In psychology hence why he is so good at marketing and understanding what chess i.provers want.
What amazes me is his excellent English. I been asking if one of his parents is a native English speaker or if he lived in the west. He has an almost international accent it's not heavily accented like a lot of Russians when they speak english. I have asked many times but he never answers . I am very curious. I know native English speakers who can't speak as well as he does
@@darrylkassle361if you listen to his older videos from around 10 years ago, he used to have a typical Russian accent. In the last 3 or four years it has really improved. He’s never discussed the details as far as I know. But he has definitely put in some work.
Really like this video format. Watching a game and coaching it live is awesome
Thank you
And Good Luck For you games
Another valuable video added to my chess luggages . I want to thank you, because there are quite a few chess youtubeurs, but you are the one who has helped me the most with the principles you are teaching. Regards!
Appreciate you for being here!
I very much enjoy your chess analysis more than any others on RUclips. I try to write down the moves, especially on your gambit lessons, but it’s difficult to do while listening and taking down the notation. Have you considered giving some thought to displaying the algerbraic notation on the right side, while showing the board moves on the left? I’ve been watching another do that, and it speeds things up considerably, and lets me concentrate more on what you’re saying as well as reducing my mistakes on notation.
Appreciate you for being here!
1. Try Aggresive Opening
2. Backward is awkward unless forced
3. in an opening development is a priority
4. Castle within 10 moves
5. Middle game is to attack [ Go forward and make attacks ]
6.Neutralize pieces that attacks your territory
7. Ugly moves are rarely good
8. Play active openings
@@neilrhyanllumpera8712 not always thought.. Just becoz king indian defense is not that active.. It doesn't mean it is a bad opening
I love the jokes Igor puts in his videos, "Kramnik's like should i start the procedure?" 😂 never too serious with some good general advice.
You are very brave with this joke you must be expecting to be sued 😂
This guy's videos are excellent.
Very good video. Well done sir 👏👏👏💪🤙
Thank you for watching!
Thanks Igor!
i have been stuck at 1200 to 1300 for a long time now. hopefully this will push me above 1500
When you say avoid passive openings, do you consider the Caro Kann to be a "passive opening" for black?
Thanks you
Suggestions for active openings for black and white?😢
Yes yes same question here
As a beginner, don't focus on playing specific openings. Focus on developing your pieces (ideally towards the center). I highly advise not playing to Scandinavian in general for anyone under 1800, it is just too tricky to play properly and actively.
If you absolutely must have specific names of openings, though, I recommend Igor Smirnov's favorite Bishop's Opening for white against e4. Against c4, just play the Open Sicilian and avoid putting your bishop on c4. Against e6, the exchange French is probably the easiest for a beginner to understand. Against c6, I am a firm believer in the Fantasy Variation, but the exchange caro-kann is also very powerful. Against anything else, just try to occupy the center with your pawns, knights, and bishops.
As black, being active is much more difficult. Against e4, you can play the two knights with e5 (just learn the center fork trick and don't fall for it yourself) or you can be bold and learn the Elephant Gambit. Against d4 there are a million options and it is hard to recommend a good one-size-fits-all solution, just search and find your own style. A king's indian or any style of benoni can be very powerful, my biggest advice is that any time that white has played d4, playing c5 as black is almost always a viable move for one reason or another. Against c4 I would say as a beginner just treat it like an e4 opening and assume your opponent doesn't know how to play the opening unless they play over the board at a 2000 level. Against anything else, just secure the center and develop your pieces.
A little warning from me: systems may make it easier to reach middlegames without blundering, but once you are able to do that without needing the system, you are actually ready to improve.
Gambits
I agree with this comment . But which gambits?!
Owen defense
Make another part of this type of video I really like fbat
Thanks sir I am from India . I stucked at 1350 elo what is the main thing to improve in this stage to gain more elo.
Get bitches😂
Make sure you always use all your pieces.
Do online tactical exercises.
Learn basic endgames (rook behind the passed pawn etc.)
Read a good book on middle game planning, eg Herman Grooten's Chess Strategy for Club Players.
Remember and apply three rules for the opening: control the centre, prepare castling - and activate all your pieces.
You need to understand the basic endgame principles and be very good at tactics and have a good plan. Achieve atleast 1600 elo by following these then it is a bit hard to progress
Can someone point out why at 10:16 white cannot play knight takes on F7 winning a rook for a knight?
As soon as I stop the insta-move when I get impatient, I'll conquer the Chess world. Lol
By saying play active openings, you would not recommend the caro kann?
What are the active openings please post
I broke 1500 after playing nimzowich Larsen attack and Blackburn kolsterbeer Gambit the latter is awesome opponent thinks he is winning as he is always up with material but in the end it's always me who is winning . GM Igors videos are the best
Thank you for watching!
I would not have played Re1 but Bd4 instead with the idea f2-f4-f5. That attack is as specific as can be.
How does one come up with a plan / strategy in chess
Sir what your name? You are a great chess teacher
Hi.
I've been learning great lessons from your videos. But there seem to be inconsistencies that I find difficult to parse.
"Develop your pieces before you make any attacks", vs many videos where you outline early attacks.
"Don't play stock, meaningless openings", vs videos showing (and promoting) the Scandinavian, etc.
"To take is a mistake" vs many times you recommend a own capture.
Etc, etc...
I find it difficult to determine when to follow which pieces of advice, they seem to be in conflict sometimes.
Can you please advise?
Thx.
For the first one, it mostly depends on the opening you're playing, where it should be clear if you should be going for an early attack if you just watch a tutorial for that opening on youtube. Personally I find it far too easy to mess up early attacks so I prefer to play openings that prioritize development first (kings indian as black, Italian as white).
For the second one, I kinda disagree that playing more active openings is really necessary to get to a higher rating (you could definitely reach 1500 exclusively playing the scandinavian as black and some other relatively uninteresting opening as white if you really wanted to) but it also doesn't hurt to try more gambits if you find one that interests you. As long as you play the opening well enough to not be losing straight away that's probably not what's preventing you from gaining elo.
To take is a mistake to me mostly means taking is bad if it allows your opponent to develop by recapturing or if it damages your pawn structure (causing doubled or isolated pawns).
@@pierce9104 I reckon "to take is a mistake" is not a bad rule of thumb when all is equal on the board, as with each equal trade the game will probably be heading closer and closer to a draw. When you are up, however, equal trades are generally always in your favour.
I have had the same feeling as the original poster that sometimes the advice seems contradictory but I think it comes down to building up experience in which kind of situations the advice is applicable...there will always be exceptions. Life itself is like this: "many hands make light work" or "too many cooks spoil the broth"?
this is helpful
Fantastic
I get that we need to play more active opening but the point of scandinavian defense is to go to c7 you are saying that it is not immediatly needed but after the knight move black can no longer move is Queen to c7 he is blocked by the knight mhmm
Before watching, I'm pretty sure I still make those BAD habits despite of being a 1800 :))
What are more active openings for 1500 ELO player ?
I play Ponziani with White
Or Alapin Sicilian
I need help what to play with black. I don't want my opponent playing Italian or Ruy Lopez... Too much theory there
If you want to get out of theory, I would play the caro kann and dutch. However, some of the most attacking lines are in e4 e5 positions. For example, you can play h6 d6 against italian with ideas of g5. Also, you could play the rousseau gambit against the ruy lopez and traxler if they go for the fried liver.
@@jacobbrennan4704 thank you will check these out
play c5 so they can't do Italian or Ruy López
@@SuhbanIo what's c5 ? English opening ?
@@michaelzardalian4076 Sicilian Defence
is this 1500 rapid or blitz? I struggle with blitz more than rapid
First get the rating in rapid because the smaller the time control the smaller your rating will be.
@@devthemasked4343 thanks but I reached 1500 rapid but struggling to reach it in blitz now
@@DankMagician420 reach 1700 in rapid and then try for 1500 in blitz
how can i get higher than 1700?
You need to have a strong plan and be flexible with your options
"I'm not lazy, I'm energy efficient"
Igor… 10:11 you cannot move the bishop because the horse will take the rook
do you have a repertoire of active opening you would recommend to players in the amateur level?
I´m 1680 but I play the London. Shoul I change my opening?
Thank you my brother for the helpful info but the problem is my opponents are watching this video 😭😭😭😭
😂😂
😂😂😂
bro was 2200 at 11
i didnt even know how knight moves when i was 11😂
Igor why i rhink white open engen for move
ah the instructional chess content
Bro please make for 1800 elo
Kramnik catching strays
1:12 2200 at 11 years old 😶
❤
Instead of an increase of elo. Mine decreases
I broke 1500 long time ago please make how to broke 1800
Wow, I've never been this early
❤
I have to say this, if you are really beginner like realy² new to chess, gothamchess video is the best learning material in youtube.
But if u are above 1200 Igor Smirnov video is the best learning material in youtube.
I have never been this early
"Chess is a simple game" 😂
I couldnt get pass 1000 😢
Igor i am 1900 elo i like to how be 2000 i like be im in futer
I reached 1500 rating unfortunately it went down again 🤣 to 1300
White cheated.
What opening recommendations for black that are agressive
Stafford, Busch gass
White played like 1800 not 1500 lol. maybe a smurf?
1500 means different thing on different platforms
Pin me, and I'll pursue chess
First
third
have we talked before? your pfp is familiar
Thanks sir for your information and guidance ♟️
Appreciate you for being here!