This week we return with another “Chess Improvement Q & A” episode with another top trainer. Our returning guest is 2019 Swiss National Champion, turned trainer and blogger, GM Noel Studer. Noel is always insightful on everything related to chess improvement and answers a wide range of questions from the online chess community. Topics discussed include: how to diagnose weaknesses, what to look for in a chess trainer, limiting blunders, improving tactics as well as Noel’s helpful advice for dealing with various common psychological pitfalls that chess players face. After 75 minutes of chess improvement talk, we turn our attention to Noel’s new course, Beginner Chess Mastery. It is a comprehensive guide for newer chess players designed to take you up to about the 1200 level. If this describes you or someone you know, you will want to stay tuned until the end of the pod.
If you or someone you know is below 1200 and looking to improve their games, check out Noel’s course. (on sale for a limited time)
(Using this link helps to support Perpetual Chess)
Course link- Beginner Chess Mastery
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https://benjohnson.substack.com
Sign up for Noel’s chess improvement blog here:
https://nextlevelchess.blog/newsletter/
0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black
If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod!
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
Prior Noel Studer appearances on episodes 248 and 312
04:30- Chess improvement Q and A! Is it possible that an amateur player would be a better teacher for a beginner than a Grandmaster?
Mentioned: Nate Solon’s Tweet:
https://x.com/natesolon/status/1765044706885468204?s=20
Also Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard
18:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Noel diagnose what a student needs to do to improve? How does he know when a weakness has been sufficiently addressed?
22:00- Advice for limiting blunders
25:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Noel’s advice for someone who struggles at rapid compared to slower time controls?
31:00- Advice for improving at tactics
Mentioned: 600 Practical Chess Exercises
36;30- Is it more effective to have a coach then to use online training courses?
38:00- Noel’s excellent advice for avoiding making impulsive moves.
45:00- Noel’s advice for a player that struggles to embrace complications when short on time
51;00- Is one better off studying the games of lower level masters compared to those of Super GMs and the all-time greats?
56:00- What does Noel think of solitaire chess/guess the move?
1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: Diet and weight loss are known as the keys to losing weights, what are the chess improvement analogs to diet and weight loss?
1:03:00- Patreon mailbag question: What are some ways to evaluate improvement besides rating?
1:05:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Noel’s favorite chess book on the middlegame?
Mentioned: Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios
1:07:00- Does Noel think its better to repeat tactical puzzles a la the Woodpecker method, or to solve new ones?
1:09:00- Noel’s tips for avoiding burnout
1:13:00- What is the best time control to practice online?
1:15:30- We discuss Noel’s new course, Beginner Chess Mastery
1:19:50- Who is the target audience for this course?
Thanks to Noel for joining me again!
Sign up for his blog here:
https://nextlevelchess.blog/newsletter/
And get his course here (using this link helps support Perpetual Chess):
https://nextlevelchesscourses.teachable.com/?affcode=1152624_qcx_s87s
If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess
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EP 309- Dr. Joel Sneed- An Author and Psychology Professor on How to Regain One's Chess Motivation, Curbing "Blitz Tilt" and How he Made Unusual Rating Gains as an Adult
Book Recap #30- 10 Underrated Chess Books for Different Ratings Levels, with FM Carsten Hansen
EP 308- GM Srinath Narayanan- Lessons Learned from Training Some of the Chess World's Brightest Young Talents
EP 307- IM Dean Ippolito- A Longtime Trainer, Author and Champion Competitor on the Adjustments one Should Make for the Modern Tournament Landscape
EP 306- Adult Improver Vishnu Warrier. Can a 31 year old USCF 2100 become a GM? Vishnu wants to find out!
EP 305- WIM Andreea Navrotescu- The Latest on the FIDE Women's World Championship Cycle + Her Life as a Chess Professional in France
EP 304- Neal Bruce- What We Can Learn from the Studying Classic Game Compilation Books
EP 303- Adult Improver Kyle Boddy- A Pioneer in Sports Analytics and Peak Performance on His Approach to Chess Improvement
EP 302- Chess Improvement Q & A with IM Andras Toth- One of YouTube's Best Chess Teachers
Bonus Pod- GM Hans Niemann is suing Magnus, Chess.com and Hikaru Nakamura! Law Professor David Franklin joins to Assess What Might Happen From Here
EP 301- Computer Science Professor and IM, Dr. Kenneth Regan on the Carlsen/Niemann controversy and the Current State of Cheating in OTB Chess
EP 300- Swedish Chess Legend, GM Ulf Andersson on his Encounters with Kasparov, Karpov and Fischer and How he Keeps up With Chess Today.
Bonus Pod- FM Nate Solon joins to Discuss Chess.Com's Report about the Carlsen/Niemann Controversy
EP 299- Chess Blogger and Trainer FM Dennis Monokroussos on Lessons from Tal and Petrosian, how 'Toiletgate' compared to the Current Chess Scandal, and the Importance of Playing with Different Styles
Book Recap #29- Discussing The Longest Game by GM Jan Timman a Great Book which Tells the Story of the Kasparov-Karpov matches
Bonus Pod- GM Jonathan Rowson and GM David Smerdon discuss the Carlsen/Niemann Saga
EP 298- Adult Improver Hans Henning on Why he Loves Studying Openings, and How Chess Helps Give Him Purpose
Bonus Pod- GM Alex Fishbein and IM Greg Shahade share their thoughts on the latest developments in the Carlsen/Niemann Sinquefield Cup Controversy
EP 297- IM Carissa Yip on her love for the King’s Indian Defense, Why Levon Aronian is her favorite player and the ups and downs of her first Chess Olympiad.
Bonus Pod- GM Jacob Aagaard joins for an update on the Sinquefield Cup Controversy
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