what is that method do ?
Need some advise from advanced players who used "Woodpecker method"
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RonHolmarty wrote:
Oh
Did you use the book/course? What do you say about my question?
Sep 25, 2025
0
#4
well, I am not 1600 elo in rapid but I do know what the woodpecker method is, my advice as someone who is 1602 elo in puzzles is to focus on the principles chess, endgames and positional chess and doing advanced puzzles of the book so you can get more better at using the method
bitanmandal wrote:
what is that method do ?
You have to solve all the given puzzles, then take a break, solve same puzzles again in less time, take a break, solve same puzzles in even less time. This solving of same puzzle may seem counterintuitive but solving same puzzle build pattern recognition of exactly same tactical pattern as in the puzzle position so if similar pattern happens in real game our intuition tells us. Also since the no. of puzzle is huge so all of tactical patterns leant
Sep 25, 2025
0
#6
Supergamer4799 wrote:
bitanmandal wrote:
what is that method do ?
You have to solve all the given puzzles, then take a break, solve same puzzles again in less time, take a break, solve same puzzles in even less time. This solving of same puzzle may seem counterintuitive but solving same puzzle build pattern recognition of exactly same tactical pattern as in the puzzle position so if similar pattern happens in real game our intuition tells us. Also since the no. of puzzle is huge so all of tactical patterns leant
this is true
RonHolmarty wrote:
Since you’ve completed the intermediate Woodpecker cycles, you’ve already built a strong tactical foundation — that’s excellent. At ~1600 rapid, I wouldn’t recommend making the advanced set your main focus just yet. Those puzzles are calculation-heavy, often study-like, and don’t always reflect the type of positions you’ll face in your own games right now.
Thanks for your advise
RonHolmarty wrote:
keep repeating some intermediate puzzles to stay sharp, and treat the advanced set as a side activity in small doses. They’re useful, but not the priority at your stage.
One more question at what rating level you starting giving importance to advanced puzzles? Is it something around 1800 or 1900?
RonHolmarty wrote:
Supergamer4799 wrote:
RonHolmarty wrote:
keep repeating some intermediate puzzles to stay sharp, and treat the advanced set as a side activity in small doses. They’re useful, but not the priority at your stage.
One more question at what rating level you starting giving importance to advanced puzzles? Is it something around 1800 or 1900?
It’s less about a fixed rating and more about when your fundamentals are solid. Once you’re not dropping easy tactics, understand basic endgames, and can calculate cleanly, the advanced puzzles start making sense. For most players that usually kicks in somewhere around 1800–2000, but it depends on how fast you round out your game.
Ok. Again thanks for answering me
Sep 25, 2025
0
#10
RonHolmarty wrote:
Since you’ve completed the intermediate Woodpecker cycles, you’ve already built a strong tactical foundation — that’s excellent. At ~1600 rapid, I wouldn’t recommend making the advanced set your main focus just yet. Those puzzles are calculation-heavy, often study-like, and don’t always reflect the type of positions you’ll face in your own games right now.
let me add something else to this, when you are doing puzzles that are advanced ones, you tend to focus on something that is higher then the elo that you are in which tends to lead to some problems later on, but if you can focus on puzzles that actually match your level and can help in your games then that would be the best choice to do, also if you want to understand how to apply those into your games, studying and actually understanding the concept helps in the long term instead of simply memorizing each move
RonHolmarty wrote:
AkitoClaw wrote:
RonHolmarty wrote:
Since you’ve completed the intermediate Woodpecker cycles, you’ve already built a strong tactical foundation — that’s excellent. At ~1600 rapid, I wouldn’t recommend making the advanced set your main focus just yet. Those puzzles are calculation-heavy, often study-like, and don’t always reflect the type of positions you’ll face in your own games right now.
let me add something else to this, when you are doing puzzles that are advanced ones, you tend to focus on something that is higher then the elo that you are in which tends to lead to some problems later on, but if you can focus on puzzles that actually match your level and can help in your games then that would be the best choice to do, also if you want to understand how to apply those into your games, studying and actually understanding the concept helps in the long term instead of simply memorizing each move
Absolutely, that’s spot on. Doing puzzles far above your current level can actually backfire — you end up overthinking and missing the simple things in your own games. At your stage, it’s way more effective to focus on puzzles that match your level and really internalize the ideas, not just memorize moves. Once those basics are automatic, then the advanced stuff becomes a real weapon instead of a distraction.
I agree with you that we should not do puzzles above our current level, and will focus on things important at my level, like endgames. But I want to say that we are not "memorizing" moves, our brain is rewiring itself to recognize similar tactical patterns as we did in puzzles.
Sep 25, 2025
0
#12
Its really good I am 2200+ on Lichess and That course helps with tactical play in smaller time controls. For your level i would reccomend woodpecker 2 becuasse it focuses more on positional play more thatn tactics and at your level people wont blunder their queen that often.
(Sorry in advance for the grammar issues)
Sep 25, 2025
0
#13
Supergamer4799 wrote:
RonHolmarty wrote:
AkitoClaw wrote:
RonHolmarty wrote:
Since you’ve completed the intermediate Woodpecker cycles, you’ve already built a strong tactical foundation — that’s excellent. At ~1600 rapid, I wouldn’t recommend making the advanced set your main focus just yet. Those puzzles are calculation-heavy, often study-like, and don’t always reflect the type of positions you’ll face in your own games right now.
let me add something else to this, when you are doing puzzles that are advanced ones, you tend to focus on something that is higher then the elo that you are in which tends to lead to some problems later on, but if you can focus on puzzles that actually match your level and can help in your games then that would be the best choice to do, also if you want to understand how to apply those into your games, studying and actually understanding the concept helps in the long term instead of simply memorizing each move
Absolutely, that’s spot on. Doing puzzles far above your current level can actually backfire — you end up overthinking and missing the simple things in your own games. At your stage, it’s way more effective to focus on puzzles that match your level and really internalize the ideas, not just memorize moves. Once those basics are automatic, then the advanced stuff becomes a real weapon instead of a distraction.
I agree with you that we should not do puzzles above our current level, and will focus on things important at my level, like endgames. But I want to say that we are not "memorizing" moves, our brain is rewiring itself to recognize similar tactical patterns as we did in puzzles.
that is true
Supergamer4799 escribió:
As the title suggests I have a question from you if you have completed the woodpecker method training from the chess book or chessable course.
I am soon going to complete woodpecker methods' all the sufficient no. multiple cycles as planned of all the puzzles from till intermediate puzzles. So my question is being someone around 1600 rapid (recently fallen from 1600 a little bit by rating but is rising back to past peak of 1600 again) on chess.com, shall I apart from also working on principles chess, endgames and positional chess also start doing advanced puzzles of the book, or just purely ignore advanced puzzles for now as start working on things I mentioned or shall I work on things I mentioned and also do advanced puzzles but at much lower priority and give those puzzles much less importance?
To those who haven't read the book/took the course, these puzzles are not always move-to-win tactical puzzles, some require dynamic position understanding with calculation, some require finding defensive moves, and few are even puzzles that test you not blunder by putting a move that is tempting in a position but a blunder too so in those puzzles any normal not that tempting blunder is a solution, many also need you find moves that maintain equality. The book does not tell which puzzle is of which type so you have to understand the position yourself, though all the puzzles somehow remain to be of tactical nature.
welll i read my system by nimzovich, the first part read chains pawns, estructures,the blockade not how in the end for middle game block the intencions of your oponents, what is the best square for the bishop or knight, how attack the king, the restrinction, the overprotection but i recommend try to keep your elo in tactic, i leave the tactics for 1500- 1700, only still in the same elo, now i'm improving the strategy and tactics in the next level, i don't play much then idk how many elo improve, too recomend when begins a book see the elo you have and compare when ends, is for recommend the books xd
BANKAI! all depends the work you put
As the title suggests I have a question from you if you have completed the woodpecker method training from the chess book or chessable course.
I am soon going to complete woodpecker methods' all the sufficient no. multiple cycles as planned of all the puzzles from till intermediate puzzles. So my question is being someone around 1600 rapid (recently fallen from 1600 a little bit by rating but is rising back to past peak of 1600 again) on chess.com, shall I apart from also working on principles chess, endgames and positional chess also start doing advanced puzzles of the book, or just purely ignore advanced puzzles for now as start working on things I mentioned or shall I work on things I mentioned and also do advanced puzzles but at much lower priority and give those puzzles much less importance?
To those who haven't read the book/took the course, these puzzles are not always move-to-win tactical puzzles, some require dynamic position understanding with calculation, some require finding defensive moves, and few are even puzzles that test you not blunder by putting a move that is tempting in a position but a blunder too so in those puzzles any normal not that tempting blunder is a solution, many also need you find moves that maintain equality. The book does not tell which puzzle is of which type so you have to understand the position yourself, though all the puzzles somehow remain to be of tactical nature.