To be fair, the Prodigy program offers a curriculum geared at 900-level people. If the instruction is really tailored to this level, then it would have some value, as real beginner adult material is difficult to find. However, I have no idea what kind of material they use, nor if it has been specially developed for this program ?!
Chess.com University - become an expert/master in 5 years?
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Musikamole wrote:
I have been teaching this age group for 25 years, thousands of them, and one thing always holds true: a few will find learning an instrument to be easy, all the way to the kids who find it impossible, even with my interventions, so I switch them to a different instrument and hope they find some success.
This reminds me of a quote from Stephen King:
“While it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one.”
Which begs the question: what constitutes great in the chess realm? Are we talking 2200 level, or GM?
People forget that thsi website is the reason some people have dinner every night.
So claims can sometimes be... Overstated.
That being said I went from 1050 to mid 1800s in 13 months because I stopped blundering pieces and minimized positional errors.
I still make them but that's what needs to be worked on to get to the master level.
Not in any hurry to get there though... Oh and believing that you are better than you opponent helps a lot.
tucumcari wrote:
$9000.00 to follow this program straight through. Anyone considering this should first invest 20 bucks in one of the Yusupov books and see if they have the wherewithal to work it through to the end on their own; if so then maybe an investment like this would be worthwhile.
I wouldn't pay $9,000 if it made me a master tomorrow.
I_Am_Second wrote:
Musikamole wrote:
I just don't know, as the article states, that it is probable to hit Expert or Master in 5 years. To be fair, the writer does not say that it absolutely will happen, but that it is probable, after 720 hours of instruction, 2600 hours of study, plus 10 hours of homework per week.
Do you think it is probable to hit Expert or Master in five years, taking into account the hours of study and lessons?
Keep in mind, only 5% of USCF members attain Expert (2000-2199), and only 1% hit Master (2200+).
Im 51 and made USCF Class A in 5 years, and that was with a very...lets say..."relaxed" study regimine. And! that also includes not studying openings, or tactics.
If you read Averbakh's Advanced Chess Tactics then maybe you could reach Expert at least. It's a great book, but I'd start with Romanovsky's Soviet Middlegame Technique, though the chapter Battle of the Major Pieces is all endgames. If you don't read the part on planning at least read the part on combinations for a foundational knowledge.
Musikamole wrote:
I_Am_Second wrote:
What chess.com's program offers is structure, and the tools to get better at chess. None of these coaches can or will make any of these students better, all they can do is offer the tools that the student will need to use to improve.
Like i tell my students. I cannot make you a better chess player. All i can do is give you the tools that YOU will need to use. In reality, I dont even teach chess, i teach life lessons. Things that they can use to be better people. Chess improvement is simply a by product of that.
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A good educational philosophy. For me as a music teacher, it is all up to them at the end, but maybe unlike chess, music lessons face to face with a music teacher are absolutely necessary for most instruments. There is just too much weird stuff that a person can't figure out on their own, even with an instruction book. A good example would be the double reed family of instruments, oboe, English horn, bassoon.
I don't know if anyone has become a titled chess player without lessons. Has there been? I've read stories of a few young kids who could already play blind fold chess and beat adults. Did those kids need a lot of lessons, or just a few to learn the basic rules of the game?
I suppose the biggest difference here is you can perform a piece by yourself, but you can't perform chess by yourself. Every time you sit down across from a strong player you have the opportunity to learn something.
TheGreatOogieBoogie wrote:
I_Am_Second wrote:
Musikamole wrote:
I just don't know, as the article states, that it is probable to hit Expert or Master in 5 years. To be fair, the writer does not say that it absolutely will happen, but that it is probable, after 720 hours of instruction, 2600 hours of study, plus 10 hours of homework per week.
Do you think it is probable to hit Expert or Master in five years, taking into account the hours of study and lessons?
Keep in mind, only 5% of USCF members attain Expert (2000-2199), and only 1% hit Master (2200+).
Im 51 and made USCF Class A in 5 years, and that was with a very...lets say..."relaxed" study regimine. And! that also includes not studying openings, or tactics.
If you read Averbakh's Advanced Chess Tactics then maybe you could reach Expert at least. It's a great book, but I'd start with Romanovsky's Soviet Middlegame Technique, though the chapter Battle of the Major Pieces is all endgames. If you don't read the part on planning at least read the part on combinations for a foundational knowledge.
Thanks Oogie...I have that book, just havent gotten to it yet. Im currently studying...
Techniques of Positional Play: 45 Practical Methods to Gain the Upper Hand in Chess
Valeri Bronznik
Mastering Endgame Strategy
Johan Hellsten
Dec 23, 2014
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#29
Sir_IsaacNewton wrote:
I don't really need chess.com's prodigy program to becoming a GM in 5 years. I learnt and started playing chess this year april and I feel I can make it to 2500 elo in 2 years
Iunderstand better why you took Sexy-Sunshine as your coach :-)) You two go well together...
Mar 10, 2015
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#30
wow 5 years? thats a long time. i learned how to move the pieces 2.5 years ago and with no coaching i am already an expert. bringing my uscf rating to 2004 3 days ago.
That's a huge achievement I'd say.
GMeddiewendler wrote:
wow 5 years? thats a long time. i learned how to move the pieces 2.5 years ago and with no coaching i am already an expert. bringing my uscf rating to 2004 3 days ago.
They didn't say you HAD to take that long.
Mar 10, 2015
0
#33
GMeddiewendler wrote:
wow 5 years? thats a long time. i learned how to move the pieces 2.5 years ago and with no coaching i am already an expert. bringing my uscf rating to 2004 3 days ago.
your current rating atm is showing 1818 is this up to date ?
http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?15101122
$9000.00 to follow this program straight through. Anyone considering this should first invest 20 bucks in one of the Yusupov books and see if they have the wherewithal to work it through to the end on their own; if so then maybe an investment like this would be worthwhile.