Courses to Improve Chess Game?

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chessgm003

Hey everyone,

 

I'm looking to take my game to the next level and considering picking up a couple courses. After digging around and doing some research, I've come across 2 courses that look really impressing.

 

1.) Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess Masterclass

2.) ChessUniversity.com Prodigy Program

 

I've also looked into Chess.com Coaches but they are all very expensive and recurring.

 

I'm looking for something one-time like the masterclass is 90$ for lifetime or the prodigy program is $99 one-time.


Your thoughts?

 

What do you recommend b/w masterclass & prodigy program? 

chessgm003
ChiefBroccoli wrote:

I am not going to call both scams, but they are not the most economical way to improve. Kasparov's masterclass I assume, yes I don't know, will give some ideas but it won't be comprehensive. Think of it like a tour guide showing you the Eiffel Tower or Great Wall, but there is more to the countries France and China than what you will get from his videos. He is using his name like Nike is using its name to sell $300 shoes. In law, you hire an attorney who charges $300/hour but if the case is not serious they hand it down to another lawyer working at the firm for $150/hour. That is what we need, relatively speaking.

 

The Chess University Prodigy Program has some good teachers, and I haven't signed up. I saw them do videos before. However, the target is for children and the pricing is too high.

 

My answer to this is when you are serious, play tournaments, find a coach nearby you can spend more time with. Then, hire a new coach. Then, a third coach. Then a fourth coach. Get as many perspectives as you can and don't gamble all your money on one program.

 

Everyone wants to be injected with a needle to play better, but there is no needle.

 

Another aspect to this is, how much chess do you NOT want to understand in order to get better? Let's say, you pay for a program or hire a coach. Your rating goes from 1500-1800 in a year and you are happy with the results. Do you actually understand why you got 300 points higher? It's like a musician who becomes better at their instrument but can't read music or know music theory.

 

Improve, but improve with some understanding along the way. This is why I love watching GMs talk after a game. They are not worried about "getting better", but they want to discuss the position and understand the chess more.

 

Hey, I've started playing tournaments already. I have to tell you, it was a COMPLETELY different experience playing on a real, 3D-board, with a real human being vs playing behind a computer screen. 

 

I didn't do well cos it was my first rated tournament. I could have done better. 

 

The problem is in my country, there are no good coaches available because chess is not very popular here. The highest rated player from my country is IM rated around 2300, no GM's. 

 

So my options are pretty much limited to learning online/programs etc. I watched the masterclass trailer and it was pretty impressing and at 90$ lifetime looks like a pretty good deal. 

 

Do you know/recommend any other programs other than the 2 I have mentioned? And/or any other ideas for improving my play?

chessgm003
DeirdreSkye wrote:

  2 words that I will repeat a lot so that you will understand them: Personal work

  If you want to improve in chess you must realise that that most of the work must be done from you.The success of any program is based on student's personal work anyway. 

   A coach can give you guidelines , or help you understand some things but at the end of the day , the real improvement comes from your personal work.So both Kasparov's masterclass or chess.com's prodigy program or any other training program will be a dissapointment and eventually a waste of money.

    Before you decide to buy anything be sure that you have what it takes to get better.Can you take a good book , sit on a table with a chessboard and study seriously and focused.If you can't , you better forget it because that is what you will need to improve.95% of your improvennt will be the result of your efforts to make your mind work harder and harder and pushing your self on the limits.No coach and no program can do that for you , not even the best.

    My advise is to invest an amount of money in good books (in the best books if possible) and see if you can study alone.Also play long time control games and analyse them.If that helps you improve then you can think of doing something more either that is buying a program or hiring a coach or maybe buying  more books.If it doesn't help you improve then probably no program can.That's the absolute "crash test" for any chess student.It shows how determined you are and without extreme amounts of determination, even if you are extremely talented , you better forget it.

       

 

Hey, I completely agree that I need to do personal work in order to improve my game. However, I need some direction. I know if I purchased the masterclass and didn't do anything with it, it will be a waste. But if I DO put in the work and watch all the lessons, do my homework etc, then it should be helpful. 

 

There's all kinds of stuff available online including programs, lessons, videos, books, coaching etc.. and it's difficult to decide how to get started. 

 

I've never read any chess books in my life, so I don't know which one's I should Pick. I don;t want to learn the absolute basic stuff like how to move pieces or how to fork with knight. I already know that as I;m an intermediate player and looking for more advanced stuff.

 

Can you recommend some good chess books to read that will help improve my game? 

I'd prefer more advanced stuff such as mastering end games.

 

Thanks,

Usman