Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with Grandmaster Axel Smith
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Feb 7, 2025
0
#341
Hello
Feb 7, 2025
0
#344
CornerPawn wrote:
Hello Axel,
I'm an amateur intermediate player who is middle-aged and has about 5 to 10 hours of study time per week. Let's keep this in mind when you answer the questions.
I have four:
1. How should a player study an opening?
I have some preliminary thoughts that you can reorder, delete, add to, or give feedback on.
a) Understand the main goals and themes of the opening and don't worry too much about specific moves
b) Identify the main pawn structures associated with the opening and how pieces interact with it for optimum harmony.
c) Study the tactics and opening traps associated with your opening
d) Get a bird's eye view of the opening's variations along with winning percentages and move frequencies
c) Start a detailed study of the main line of the opening
d) Start a detailed study of transpositions and move order tricks so you will get the lines on the board that you have studied.
e) Choose the variation(s) that you intend to play
2. What are the guideposts for creating and working on a repertoire?
I understand that a repertoire is a bigger project than an opening study and I want a lighter rather than a heavy workload. I like the idea of having one response as Black for answering 1.e4. For example, the Scandinavian Defense and one opening for everything else like the QGD Tarrasch or Dutch.
I wonder about taking advantage of the overlap in the pawn structures to save study time. Or is this a mythical concept? Using the Caro Kann and Slav has that overlap but it's more work, no? It's also a different style of play, no? I'm a refugee from the Caro and Slav by the way. I had a hard time getting the concepts of the Slav into my head and one has to soak up a fair bit of pressure playing the Caro -- at least in the lines I played. There's a lot to study in those two openings!! I'd prefer to have an active defense and not suffer with a slightly worse position for 40 moves in a positional squeeze. Life is too short for that kind of chess. So what are my best options as Black?
As White I avoid 1.e4 because I think it's a lot of work to build a repertoire around that move. If I was to go there I would think Scotch 4 Knights and an Anti-Sicilian to handle the 1...e5 and 1...c5 major replies.
So I play 1.d4 and avoid playing 1.d4 along with 2.c4. I stay in the Colle, Veresov, Nimzo Larsen Attack, Torre territory. I can't say I know any of that stuff really well but I understand it well enough for my level maybe. I wonder about the e3 Poison. It looks like a fair bit of work. I'm somewhat dissatisfied with hopping around in this archipelago of openings. How should I come to a conclusion here?
I should end this section by saying that I've spent a fair amount of time studying middle game and endgame concepts. I used to be a correspondence chess player before the days of computers so openings was something you could look up in books. I have to admit to not know the opening themes as well as I should have. Hindsight is 20 20.
3. I understand that R and B endings are the most common that come out of the QGD Tarrasch. Is having the QGD Tarrasch in your repertoire a good reason to study those types of endings? I'm really asking you to connect the dots between opening and ending study here using the QGD Tarrasch as a launching pad for the discussion. I realize that K and P endings are the basis of all endings and that R endings are the most common. Beyond that, things are fuzzy for me.
4. Beyond the analysis of your own games, do you categorize what you have learned from that analysis or try to establish themes from what you have learned? If you do, how do you do this and what is the reasoning for it? The big question for me is how do I make solid connections between the analysis of my games and chess study/training? I know that tactics training is a given but what about those finer points between game analysis and chess study. Keep in mind that I don't have a coach and I don't intend to make use of one on a frequent basis. I want to largely do this on my own.
Thanks for doing this session and thanks for your time.
CP
Sorry to not have time to motivate everything, but below is a try.
1) You have a good idea of what to do! It's not possible to separate every step, knowing a few lines of theory helps before you enter the first steps. What I would like to add is that it's much easier to learn an opening if you have a good book or course that do many of these steps for you. Instead of having to do the research yourself.
Sadler's book on the Queen's Gambit is splendid, for example.
2) About pawn structures it's also possible to think the other way around: it's rewarding to play several different. In a game you can't fully control what's happening so you might end up in structures you haven't foreseen, and the more you know, the better you handle it.
The e3 Poison seems too broad for you, don't try it.
As you seem to study openings quite carefully, it may be better for you to choose a little easier repertoires not to get too much work, like you have already done. The Scandinavian with 2...Nf6 is a good option I think.
3) I didn't know that R+B endings were common from the Tarrasch. Actually I have never been thinking to study a specific endgame since I play a specific opening.
I don't think you have to "control" your knowledge that much, just find a enjoying way to study endgames, and don't think how it should be useful.
4) I make a list of my mistakes. Sometimes I see that I mostly make tactical mistakes. Sometimes that I struggle with time management. It can also be openings, handling pawn structure, blunders, not considering candidate moves ...
You seem to be a very structured person, so I think that could work well.
Good luck!
that’s a fantastic answer! appreciate it!
Feb 7, 2025
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#346
nolimitation101 wrote:
Hi Axel.
I just recently had an improvement in visualizing and simplifying the board where the threats lie and how to attack which has been really helpful. However, traditionally, one of my biggest problems I haven't been able to crack has been that when I am trying to analyze mistakes or learn openings, the information doesn't really stick. Mainly because there are so many aspects to try and remember it becomes confusing and overwhelming.
From this I have three questions if you don't mind.
1, What resources, strategies or techniques do you think would best suit my learning to create efficient improvement?
2. 99% of my games are played online since it is much more convenient and I don't have very many people in my life that play at all let alone at my level. Gary Kasparov has said OTB is one of the more important factors to improving. Did you personally find this to be true?
3. I have also considered coaching. At what point would you recommend to commit to paying for coaching?
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.
1. Annotate your games and point out your mistake. You can go through the comments later to make you remember.
2. Personally, yes, but I can't speak for everyone. Since I don't' take online games as seriously, I learn less.
3. Depends on your economy, and if you have a club close where you can interact with other members. I did never have a personal chess coach. I am paying for one in running for the moment, mostly because it's an experience, not because I think I am obliged to improve ...
Feb 7, 2025
0
#347
Abtectous wrote:
I have a few questions:
1. Pineapples or pears?
2.chicken on waffles?
3. Laundry day on wensday is the best day?
4. Should I wax my nose?
5. Heads or tails?
1. Pineapples or pears?
2.chicken on waffles?
3. Laundry day on wensday is the best day?
4. Should I wax my nose?
5. Heads or tails?
1. Pineapples are not grown in Sweden, and transportation is not good climate wise, but pears I find for free only a few kilometers away from home.
But the taste of pineapples is much better!
2. Waffles, no meat thanks
3. Monday morning, Friday morning.
This was the question of the day as it reminded me that I have clothes drying in the laundry next to the office! I should have picked them up an hour ago ... but better to collect them now before too many neighbors get angry.
4. No(se)
5. Tails
EmTat wrote:
Hello Mr. Axel Smith. I'm a big fan of you, so I really appreciate you doing this ama.
I have a few questions.
1. So I was thinking to buy ur book "the woodpecker method" but I have a question about it now it's a great time to ask it so the question is: so as I know, u apparently do like 100 puzzles then u do them again but this time u try to do them faster and u keep repeating this process but the thing is if I do 100 pizzles then if I do them again wouldn't I already know the answers? So why would I do them again and like I already know the answers so I can just say them in 1 second. Please clear that up
2. What's ur favorite chess book? (except ur own chess book)
3. Could you please play a chess game with me? (On chess.com)
4. Magnus Carlsen Or Hikaru Nakamura?
5. What's the best piece of chess advice that u got.
6. How can I improve at chess?
7. How can I boost my rating?
Have a great day!
These were the questions I asked, I hope you answer them.
Feb 7, 2025
0
#349
EmTat wrote:
Hello Mr. Axel Smith. I'm a big fan of you, so I really appreciate you doing this ama. I have a few questions. 1. So I was thinking to buy ur book "the woodpecker method" but I have a question about it now it's a great time to ask it so the question is: so as I know, u apparently do like 100 puzzles then u do them again but this time u try to do them faster and u keep repeating this process but the thing is if I do 100 pizzles then if I do them again wouldn't I already know the answers? So why would I do them again and like I already know the answers so I can just say them in 1 second. Please clear that up. 2. What's ur favorite chess book? (except ur own chess book) 3. Could you please play a chess game with me? (On chess.com) 4. Magnus Carlsen Or Hikaru Nakamura? 5. What's the best piece of chess advice that u got? 6. How can I improve at chess? 7. How can I boost my rating? Have a great day!
1. I am not sure you will remember all the hundred solutions! Sometimes you remember what move you picked last time but not if it was correct or not. Even so, you should calculate the lines when you do the puzzle for the second time.
2. I don't have one specific, but I think Marin and Rowson are two good writers, as well as Tiger Hillarp. 3. I don''t play online. 4. I am Scandinavian ... so guess. 5. To use your opponent's time to consider plans. 6. Use a lot of time actively. 7. See previous answer. Good luck!
Feb 7, 2025
0
#350
EnCrossiantIsBrilliant wrote:
Do you still use the woodpecker method now?
No, I have no ambition, even though I enjoy playing chess. But if I by chance would get another chance to play in the top group in the Swedish champs, I would use it again.
Feb 7, 2025
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#351
Nolen_got_hooked wrote:
Hello! My question is what would the lifestyle be for aspiring people to get the Grandmaster norm for both young and old? Could you maybe walk us through your lifestyle during your journey to the GM norm?
The question would need a full book to be answered, please check New in Chess' publications 2026 ... 
For me it differed a lot. Until I was 17 I did not do more than any other half-talented player. Age 17-20 I spent many hours a day working voluntarily with the chess club, so not too much time to study.
I studied a few years in university, then I went to maybe half the seminars, analyzed chess with friends in the afternoon, and read chess books and analyzed in the evening until I was too tired to continue. Slept until mid-day.
Well, I stop here, don't know what to pick and what to omit
Feb 7, 2025
0
#352
Flan wrote:
Hello Axel!
How do you think a chess player’s mentality should be, and how can I improve my psychology? I see players being solely obsessed with rating points and doing anything to get the numbers up.
For example, I am a perfectionist and had and still has a lot of problems accepting defeat in chess. Or maybe in an OTB tournament when you lose your first one or two games which completely derail your mental and makes you play worse.
Just in general, what should it look like? How should a chess player’s mentality be so playing chess remains a healthy hobby?
Hi, I think it's important to handle losses and not get too depressed by them. Don't take mistakes too lightly, try to learn from them, but accept that it's a part of being a chess player.
I also don't think it's good to be a perfectionist at the board, you spend too much time and you nevertheless don't manage perfection! Chess is a practical game.
Is there a mentality called ambitious but pragmatic?
Feb 7, 2025
0
#353
Urgelj_Chamaig_Bodno wrote:
Hi, Axel
I am a big fan of your work, and what you have brought to the world chess of improvement.
In today's top chess psychology and self-confidence play a huge part on making it or breaking it.
My question is on your path to becoming a GM, how did you mentally get ready for tournaments and were there any ups and downs in your path achieving the GM title?
Thanks
Yeah, many downs. I gained 187 elo points during the summer 2007, up to 2458, and during that autumn I did for the first time set a goal to become a GM. It could take a year, I thought, but it took eight years.
Before tournaments, I did stop doing other things to get ready mentally. Rested. Visualized myself playing quickly. Did not check e-mails the day before and during tournaments.
Feb 7, 2025
0
#354
warsoaps wrote:
how often do you promote to a knight
I have done it two times just for fun,
and one time when it made sense (a fork). That is from 2568 over the board games.
Feb 7, 2025
0
#355
GodOfFleas wrote:
Hi Axel! What is your least favorite condiment?
👀
Cloves.
Feb 7, 2025
0
#356
finnisthecoolestfr wrote:
axel can you solve a rubik's cube also whats your favorite toothpaste company
Haha, let's make a claim for TePe, I have used their interdental brushs for fifteen years. But more important is that they sponsor the Tepe Sigeman Chess Tournament in Malmö.
For the Rubik, I could, but never with an impressive speed. Now I have forgotten.
Feb 7, 2025
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#357
kazzidude wrote:
Hi ! How do I make chess feel less like a chore and more fun? Also, are chess plateaus inevitable? I never had one, but every person I've met seems to have one at one point.
If you don't quit it's' inevitable ... What do you enjoy with chess? Travelling to tournaments, learning new openings, winning? Focus on that!
Feb 7, 2025
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#358
Pilot_mm wrote:
Any chance you can autography my copy of "The Woodpecker Method"
On a serious note I have kids that I have been working with and know its only a matter of time before they are much better than me, any advice on how to keep helping young players improving when I am middle of the pack at best?
-M
I will probably never travel to the US ...
I think chess parents that never played themselves are quite poor at helping their children, have seen so many bad examples. But it will be perfect for your kids to have you, that already played before they started (I assume). Guidance, seeing what they do and giving positive feedback is always valuable ... even when you can't give advice on a concrete pawn structure.
Feb 7, 2025
0
#359
MiKesULTRAsauce wrote:
1) Proficiency levels: Wonder if you think chess is most effectively learned by attaining certain minimum/desired proficiency before proceeding to the next level, or do you think such structure is too rigid?
2) Elite Chess960: Do you think opening prep is perhaps over-emphasized and whether Chess960 is the future?
1) Too rigid!
2) Gukesh, Erigajsi etc have clearly shown that there's no need for anything else than normal chess. If some enjoy Chess960, why not, but I just wonder when the first book with theory on all the starting positions will be published.