How good is the Backyard Professor?

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4xel
Ziryab wrote:

Such a self-assessment is an unhealthy sign. He may need professional help.

[...]

Turns out that my estimate was two classes high.

 

Maybe you could give him names and addresses

 

In all seriousness though, you sound incredibly salty and jealous of the BYP prodigious rise. But that's no miracle, that's pure grit, sweat and love. You gotta pump up the study hours if you want to keep the pace with him.

Ziryab
4xel wrote:
Ziryab wrote:

Such a self-assessment is an unhealthy sign. He may need professional help.

[...]

Turns out that my estimate was two classes high.

 

Maybe you could give him names and addresses

 

In all seriousness though, you sound incredibly salty and jealous of the BYP prodigious rise. But that's no miracle, that's pure grit, sweat and love. You gotta pump up the study hours if you want to keep the pace with him.

 

I get accused of jealousy by people in this forum with some frequency. My sense is that such people have no understanding of genuine criticism.

A few things:

1) BYP's real name is well-known and accessible, but it is not my place to advertise it here. Do your own homework.

2) I do not know him personally, but am friends (in real life) with people who do. He's in southern Idaho; I'm in eastern Washington. Some players have traveled between the two places.

 

3) I've watched several of his videos. I find him personable, and slightly entertaining. They are also well-done from a technical aspect. If I were interested in making YouTube videos, I would consider hiring him as a producer.

 

4) I do not find his videos particularly suitable for players at his level (under 800 USCF), nor any level above that. He overestimates his own capabilities, misses the key elements in the positions he examines (usually tactical), and misrepresents the writings of Jeremy Silman.

5) I make a supplemental income teaching chess. My students do very well. One former student is now offering his own teaching services on this website (and I am supporting his efforts).

 

Why would I be jealous of someone who might make a pittance form advertisers on YouTube? The claim makes no sense.


MY MOTIVATION FOR THE CRITIQUE HERE IS SIMPLE:

WARNING

BYP is not a professor, and he is a very weak chess player. Enjoy his entertaining videos if you have time, but get your chess training somewhere else.


I could play at BYP's level if I drank the handle of Everclear I bought for making hand sanitizer. Maybe. I might also need to play blindfolded while inebriated to reach down that low. 

You are far better that BYP will ever be. 

Sred

@Ziryab Don't worry, the idea that you could by jealous of him is obviously completely insane.

Ashvapathi

@Ziryab,

yes, BYP is tactically weak. Let's say, he might be around 1200 rating (maybe, you will say he is 1000). But, I think that does not matter because he generally shows games from some book & simply relays the info given by the authors. Think of it as chess video book. And he is entertaining!😉

 

And the tactical stuff that he misses, that can easily be spotted by any decent chess player. 

Ziryab
Ashvapathi wrote:

@Ziryab,

yes, BYP is tactically weak. Let's say, he might be around 1200 rating (maybe, you will say he is 1000). But, I think that does not matter because he generally shows games from some book & simply relays the info given by the authors. Think of it as chess video book. And he is entertaining!😉

 

And the tactical stuff that he misses, that can easily be spotted by any decent chess player. 

 

He is rated. I've looked at his rating. His USCF is 747. He has only played nine rated games and that was in 2012.

He has an account here, too, but he hasn't played since 2014. Again, there is a very small number of games. His peak correspondence rating on this site is 1326, but he has played fewer than ten games.


He might be better now, of course. But without playing, he cannot have a rating. 

st0ckfish

He plays on lich**s

varelse1

I enjoy BYP.

Not a great player yet. No. But he really loves chess. 

The way I used to love chess. When I was younger and lower rated.

I enjoy watching his shows.

varelse1

By far my favorite BYP episode.

Verbeena
varelse1 wrote:

By far my favorite BYP episode.

 

Probably the greatest mismatch between presentation skills & chess playing skills ever.

Damonevic-Smithlov

In that video when he got to the part where he said "it went from bad to worse and then complete nightmare. And then I had a paradigm shift" I stopped it right there and translated that comment. I said to myself what he means is he got lucky and his opponent blundered.

Hahaha. Now I'm gonna watch more of it just to see if I'm right.

Damonevic-Smithlov

Yep.

varelse1
Damonevic-Smithlov wrote:

In that video when he got to the part where he said "it went from bad to worse and then complete nightmare. And then I had a paradigm shift" I stopped it right there and translated that comment. I said to myself what he means is he got lucky and his opponent blundered.

Hahaha. Now I'm gonna watch more of it just to see if I'm right.

Yes.

Amazing how when BYP buckled down and got his confidence back, black's playing strength immediately dropped 300 points.

Damonevic-Smithlov

When he said he was playing a stronger opponent, I was wondering if he meant like 800 or 900 or something like that.

pn2206

I remember 1 time the guy was analyzing viewer games and then his viewer's opponent done a fork with a Queen to the King and a bishop, which was protected, and then the guy didn't take the bishop and the BYP was confused why he didn't take it, even though it was protected. Ahh yes, weak GM

pn2206

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs8S8-Veiq8&t=150s This was the thing I was referring to

Damonevic-Smithlov

He seems to have a very likable personality. 

EscherehcsE
Damonevic-Smithlov wrote:

He seems to have a very likable personality. 

Well, his personality is a little too much "over the top" to suit me, but maybe he's just doing that for the camera, idk.

st0ckfish

Has anyone wanted the BYP’s analysis of my game against Anand. (A friend sent it in cuz I don’t have YouTube other than like a school account) The original analysis is on my profile

varelse1
1_a31-0 wrote:

Has anyone wanted the BYP’s analysis of my game against Anand. (A friend sent it in cuz I don’t have YouTube other than like a school account) The original analysis is on my profile

I dont see it.

Got a link?

st0ckfish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBb8-eq4Dms&t=1177s

"Titled Patzer" is my friend's youtube account. He sent the game in