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12 Best Chess Training Methods Ranked and Explained

Hanging Pawns

81,511 views

Play high-quality training games: https://noctie.ai/?aff=q9yKD
Get my training routine: Patreon: monthly-hardcore-159357219
On Noctie you can play out specific positions against a human-like opponent, select the rating, get immediate feedback and much more.
If you go premium, use the code "HPYEAR" for a 20% yearly discount.
Sicilian repertoire for black: Patreon: sicilian-defense-152926119

These are the 12 best training methods to improve at chess ranked from worst to best. They are based on recreating tournament conditions, developing skills instead of theoretical knowledge, and doing actual work instead of consuming content!

0:00 Introduction
01:24 12. Watching videos
02:28 11. Opening study and building a repertoire
04:23 10. Blindfold training
07:20 9. Reading Chess books
08:59 8. Studying endgames
12:03 7. Problem solving
14:05 6. Going over annotated games
16:06 5. Solitaire chess
18:35 4. Training games
21:00 3. Analysis
23:49 2. Analyzing with a strong player
25:23 1. Playing chess

This is my training routine for June Patreon: monthly-hardcore-159357219 It's difficult and it takes roughly 4 hours a day.

It will be useful for you regardless of rating. I've chosen positions and games that are suited for any level. The goal for the first month is for you to learn how to analyze games properly.

I will be positing a new routine at the beginning of each month!

It will help you develop skills necessary for tournament play. It should take around 3-4 hours every day to complete all the tasks.

20 Comments

@HangingPawns Creator 3 months ago (edited) Pinned

I've spent 2 years building the ultimate repertoire for black. It's finally done!
http://chessable.com/c6
I tried to create a simple, easy-to-understand, beginner-friendly repertoire that covers absolutely everything white can play, and aims for the same setup whatever happens.
Please let me know what you think!
New July and August routine: https://www.patreon.com/hangingpawns/posts/july-and-august-162674638
Play high-quality training games: https://noctie.ai/?aff=q9yKD
Get my training routine: https://www.patreon.com/posts/monthly-hardcore-159357219
On Noctie you can play out specific positions against a human-like opponent, select the rating, get immediate feedback and much more.
If you go premium, use the code "HPYEAR" for a 20% yearly discount.
Sicilian repertoire for black: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sicilian-defense-152926119

@archhume9796 3 months ago

Training Method number 1 : watch all Hanging Pawns video.

@TheKingDuckYT 2 months ago

The hidden gem of Chess content. No useless yapping, bad advice or clickbait. Straight to the point and actually helps you improve.

@abolbuna8418 3 months ago

Hi Stjepan! I just wanted to say thank you for everything you do on Hanging Pawns. I've watched almost all of your videos, and you have taught me so much. Honestly, what you do is better than any online teacher I've come across, and this is easily the best chess teaching channel out there. Keep up the amazing work!

@sudhandeo 3 months ago

The 12 training methods... I have changed the real order quite a bit

12. Watching Chess Videos
11. Studying Openings
10. Playing Blindfold Chess
09. Studying Chess Books
08. Studying Endgames
07. Solving Problems / Puzzles
06. Studying annotated games
05. Playing Solitaire Chess
04. Playing Training Games (Play Noctie)
03. Analyzing games
02. Analyzing games with a strong player
01. Playing Tournament Games

@ramandeepgill2538 3 months ago (edited)

Stephen is so right here. Srinath once told in an interview when he was coaching arjun erigaisi. He said arjun would play online game and srinath would sit beside him, when game finished, srinath would immediately review the game with him. That's the absolute best method, have the stronger player immediately review your game. But not everyone can afford a personal coach like that.

@VigneshDhakshinamoorthy 3 months ago

Hikaru: Just play lot of blitz
Magnus: Read as many books as you can
Gukesh: Analyze without engines
Arjun: Don’t be afraid to try new openings

@pohb8a272 1 month ago

Number 1, having fun and trying

@Susamongus35 3 months ago

This actually helped me I've been stuck at 800 now I'm 1073

@luxy2854 3 months ago

You are such a GOAT fr haha
You dedicate so much time to making incredibly informative chess lectures for us free of charge I actually can't say enough how much I value these

@whotfislemon 3 months ago

I think blindfold chess is underrated

@iCacawate 3 months ago

I stopped playing chess for two years and 1 moth ago i got back on and this training type of videos helps me to get back on track

@codybouscaren6492 1 month ago

Excellent video! Thank you

@warumjucktmeinsackso3793 3 months ago

I am so grateful that you share the knowledge, which you acquired over almost the last decade of your journey. It is very insight- and helpful.
Much love!

@FiddlerSafelyOnTheGround 1 month ago

Finding a strong player who is also patient enough to analyze a game with me as a weaker player has been tough. So many of the strong players in my area are so full of themselves

@Apparition-hl1vv 3 months ago

Stejepan I just wanna say I’m just getting back into tournmanrt chess in the hopes to reach master level I’m 19 and I have a tournament in a ab two days and I just got a new coach two days ago just dusted off some old narodistky and nun books and I’m ready to get back into it. It’s actually unreal that unreal that u posted this video a few hours ago, ur a godsend to every tourney player out there, I’ve personally used ur openings videos as a last minute reference before matches much love. <333

@jenii1024 3 months ago

Hey stepjan I hope you know how much we are grateful for the content you provide ❤ , that much effort in free videos is quite astonishing

@RandyMerrell 3 months ago

I love your videos. However I coached a young prodigy who was losing in the opening. He then would sometime find a way to pull out a draw or a win, but when I taught him about openings he exploded. It's hard to win in the middle or end game when you are crushed in the opening.

@mohamedchamakh482 1 month ago (edited)

Hey ! Thank you frankly for being honest with us.
Not many can do like u did, so thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️🙏🙏

@maik84268 3 months ago

I really enjoyed your last three video. I feel like you are really talking about your own experience. Thank you very much! I am excited for your Road to GM series.