Josh Waitzkin

I think Josh Waitzkin courses in chessmaster made me a better chessplayer than I would have been without.

I think if he had continued playing on a high level I think he would have become the best player in the world. even a lot better than Magnus Carlsen.

his courses show that he has a deeper understanding of chess than anyone I read or seen videos with and he understands to apply principles to nearly all chess positions.

This is an old well debated topic but my personal opinion is that he would become a "weak" GM if he continued playing. Some people reach a limit in their talent he found his.

Bobby, I'm a Chessmaster 10/GM edition advocate on here. I finished the Academy a long time ago and it definitely helps, especially if you are rusty on certain topics and tactics in chess. Waitzkin now is a Brazilian Ju-Jitsu martial artist and stopped playing chess competitively I think in 2001. He never seemed to want to or have the desire to make it to GM status. I know a good chunk about him, but since he hasn't played in any tournaments for so long, I think if he went to GM status after all these years, yes, he would be considered a weak GM. He might've been a contender for the World Championship if he kept playing at the high levels, yes, but I think in some way or another, he was burnt out on chess.

I think there's no evidence whatsoever that supports he'd be "even stronger than Carlsen", and the fact is that he couldn't even become a GM. Persistence, determination and not giving up is an internal part of the process.

He is the author of the best chess tutorials I have seen so far though, and that's a huge achievement itself.

He's been doing those tutorials on Chessmaster for years, and each one of them keeps getting better.

I think Josh's lucid ability to vocalize thoughts and ideas makes him a great teacher ... though that in no way implies he has the gajillion facets that a competitive world class player has in this day and age.  

I agree with the earlier post suggesting the old "I coulda been a contendah" cliche. You either make it or you don't.

With that being said, I'd say he's a better teacher than that punk Carlsen.  The nerve of him to not do any training tutorials or videos for us mere mortals. :)

Whether we like Carlsen or not, he is going to be a huge force in chess in the next few years, and inevitably a contender for the World Championship.  Waitzkin I think just had enough of chess and decided to follow other routes. He became indwelled in Eastern Religion and Martial arts, and became champion in some events. But he always has time for the tutorials, and that gets an "A" in my books  :)

 I read his 1994 book "Attacking Chess" (written when he still had high hopes) and I would bet my life that if he could have become a GM, he would have. You could tell by his attitude. He studied for several years after he wrote the book, (under a "World renowned chess coach, and teacher") no less, and was finally forced to admit to himself that he simply didn't have the talent to reach world class level. You're just impressed enough by his by his (admittedly very high) ability, and chess knowledge to believe he could have been world champ. Not so.

I am a big fan of Waitzkin. I've owned several of the chessmaster games and his "Attacking Chess" book. I'm happy to see that in the latest edition of chessmaster he gave some new insights even though he doesn't really play anymore. 

His final FIDE rating is 2464. By my estimation, he could have probably gotten around the 2550-2600 mark. 

 Then why didn't he?

From what I've heard/read he simply did not want to dedicate the amount of time that would take. Keep in mind that he won the under-21 US championship at the age of 18 and place 4th in FIDE's similar world tournament. 

He also talks about the enormous pressure he felt to be the best, in the newest chessmaster game. He says then having the movie made about his life put expectations on him to be so great that it wasn't fun anymore. It wasn't chess. 

As your rating goes up, you get tougher opponents. He seems to have realized he couldn't cut the mustard and decided to leave. There's nothing really to talk about.

Interesting that he actually said this.  

He also states that his chess coach wanted him to get into more positional-type games in order to make his chess more well rounded, but he wanted to play chess like he always had, attacking and tactical. He would need to be more well rounded to be a GM, let alone a top player.

I have no doubt, Josh is a true champion !  Thanks you very much for all yours books and sharing with us !!

i don't know if josh has a deeper understanding than most other players. what i think sets his chessmaster course apart is that he is a good teacher. just because you know the information doesn't mean you can teach well.

 Is Chessmaster as good as Chess Mentor?

Exactly! I think he is not different and "any ordinary IM" in terms of chess strength, yet he is the best teacher among the very best GM coaches.

Is chessmaster better than chess mentor?

I had the privilege of meeting him and playing him when he was about 15 years old and about 2300. I was lucky to draw the game (he is the highest rated player I ever drew in an OTB tournament game). He was a very nice guy and I don't think he had the maniacal will to win that many other top players have. I think he knew he peaked early and did not have the talent to be a world class player. As some of said I don't think the movie helped his psyche either.