"Chess is only a game for nerds."
A bully once told me.
Dumbest thing I've ever heard anyone say.
Yet the sad part?
I actually believed him.
Chess was a very niche game.
There were only a handful of players.
Then 2023 came.
Now it seems almost everyone is playing chess.
Lichess is objectively better than chesscom.
Why?
Because Lichess is non-profit.
Game Review is always free.
Puzzles are unlimited.
The Choice is clear.
Chess is not about strategy,
It is about who can make the least mistakes.
The winner of the game,
Is not the one who makes 49 excellent moves,
But the one who doesn't make that 1 poor move.
The most underrated skill in chess.
Is the ability to still be able to make the best moves on the board in a losing position.
It will be tough but if you nail this skill, then 10% of YOUR losing games will become winning or drawn.
"Bishops are better than Knights in Chess"
Worst advice out there.
Knights are:
- Much More unpredictable.
- Can cover every square of the board.
- Are always better in closed positions or the centre.
Want more proof?
When was the last time you got forked?
Never spend money on chess.
Aren't the Courses Great? - They're Amazing.
Don't you learn a lot from courses? - Of Course.
But are there not a million free tutorials out there enough to get 1800+? Yes.
(PS: can't wait for the comments on this post)
DID ANYONE KNOW THIS EXISTED???
If you type in a page on
@chesscom
that doesn't exist, it will load up a checkers board.
I SWEAR I DID NOT MAKE THIS UP, TRY IT FOR YOURSELF!!!
I used to be a
@chesscom
fan.
Until I found out unlimited puzzles are free on Lichess.
And they actually come from real games.
I've changed ship, and you should too.
Puzzles on Twitter are a waste of time:
Why?
- They don't appear in real games.
- They are designed to farm your engagement.
- They don't familiarize you with common tactics.
Instead,
Do Lichess Puzzles.
Fun Fact!
There are more Billionaires than there are Chess Grandmasters. That just tells you how hard it is to become a GM.
It's easier to make 1 Billion Dollars than to become a Grandmaster!
Playing chess is one of the best decisions of my life.
- The experiences enjoyed.
- The friends I made.
- The lessons I had.
And I'm sure it was for you as well.
Openings are more important than Endgames.
You can not get into a good endgame without a good opening.
Below 1000, the Endgame really does not matter.
Nor does it matter when you're up a knight.
(can't wait for the comments on this one)
Why do I sometimes feel like I'm scared of losing a game of chess, to the point where I don't play it.
I'm scared of just doing something really stupid.
I'm curious, do you experience that as well or am I going crazy?
There are 2 types of
#Chess
players.
1) The Rookie
- Play Bullet Mindlessly.
- Has 46 courses gathering dust.
- Scroll Chess Twitter for 37 hours a day.
2) The Improver
- Ignores Chess Drama.
- Analyses after every game.
- Goes through their Courses/Books.
Which one are you?
"You must never play bullet if you want to improve"
Lies.
Bullet helps you with:
• Intuition.
• Speed of Play.
• Enjoyment in the game.
Is bullet the best way to improve?
No.
But is it worth excelling at something you hate?
Also No.
Do you think Hikaru Nakumara is better than Magnus Carlsen yet?
For:
- Hikaru is the best-performing chess player in 2023
- Hikaru beat Magnus in Fischer Random.
- Hikaru beat Magnus in multiple rapid and blitz events.
Against:
- Magnus has been better than Hikaru historically.
A friend told me last week:
"Gothamchess is honestly overrated."
He said Levy's advice wasn't helpful and he was repetitive.
Couldn't agree less.
I would not be where I am without him.
And guess what?
Gotham is still 1800 Elo points higher than him.
Don't be arrogant. You
I love watching the candidates.
Even though I don't understand anything.
It's like explaining to a toddler Quantum Physics.
Doesn't work.
But I still enjoy it!
(and R.I.P Hikaru)
#FIDECandidates
Caro Kann > French Defense
1) It’s simple really, you trade a flank pawn for a centre pawn.
2) You won’t have to deal with the French bishop.
3) E6 is always a potential move to build for a centre attack.
@chesscom
Hot take:
3D boards are better than 2D. Reasons:
1. They train you for otb.
2. They just look better.
3. I just like them. Staunton's my favourite style.
Thoughts?
@Thisisjdf
That is a very important perspective.
I also think it's ludicrous that because Carlsen exited the WCC now somehow the title gets denigrated.
It really should be the other way around.
@Kaldas90
I am very sorry I am not caught up in the Drama.
Could someone please give me a recap on what hapened/provide some reading material? (For other people not caught up as well)
That would be great, thanks!
A friend told me last week.
"Puzzles are honestly overrated."
He said they don't appear in real games.
I took a look at his account.
He blundered a queen on move 6.
And guess what?
He was spending 3 seconds per move.
In a rapid game.
Biggest mistake I've ever seen.
Want to be good at chess?
Analyse more.
I hated it at first.
But reflection is the most important part.
It's your wheels to success.
Helping you identify weaknesses and fix them.
You can't go far with a broken car.
#Chess
@DanielRensch
@chesscom
Normally, I would vote for the “Underdog”,
But in this situation, It’d be India.
It’s genuinely so exciting to see the next generation of players, Unleashed!!
#FIDEWorldCup
Chess was never a game about mating kings.
The slightest advantage becomes your weapon.
- Space.
- Material.
- King Safety.
Pay close attention to these 3 things every chess game.
Puzzles on Twitter are a waste of time:
Why?
- They don't appear in real games.
- They are designed to farm your engagement.
- They don't familiarize you with common tactics.
Instead,
Do Lichess Puzzles.
I have never seen a dedicated person fail.
They always keep going,
Never giving up.
When it comes to Chess Improvement,
It will take time.
Dedication is required.
Keep going.
#Chess
@ImShahinyan
Ke2 Because:
1. It's close to the endgame, active king is important.
2. Long Castle falls to Rc8, which looks really scary.
3. You can centralise the 2 rooks within a few quick moves.
@GreenPawns
I mean, let’s be honest,
If you reach 2800 ELO, you have a pretty good shot of beating Magnus Carlsen.
You have a pretty good shot at the candidates.
What your favourite response to 1. E4 says about you:
1. E5 - You're Boring.
1. C5 - You're a wannabe GM.
1. C6 - You're gonna sac the rook.
1. Nf6 - How much have you drank!?
My friend told me today.
"I can't get past 1000 Elo."
I told him:
- Don't blunder.
- Get a simple opening.
- Practice your tactics + Puzzles.
What would you add?
@DerekCAtHome
That actually is very true.
Chesscom has done great things for chess, especially for bringing viewership,
Though, I still think it's unjustified for the amount of money they charging + monopolizing the chess world.
Ian Nepomniachtchi.
I feel bad for the guy.
He's played in 2 World Chess Championships,
Lost both of them.
Played in 3 Candidates.
Lost his chance for a rematch against Ding.
Must be tough.