Training Program for the Untalented

Can you design a training program that will cure defects in the play of perpetual beginners. We all know of people who love chess, play often, perhaps even study, and are reasonably intelligent adults, and yet their play remains rubbish. Although they may have been playing for years, or even decades, the level of their play remains what you would expect from an eight year old who recently learned how to play. In fact, they are maybe a little worse than that because these eight year old children beat them at tournaments.

For example, we all know that popular YouTuber KS, whose hubris leads him to call himself the backyard professor, is a terrible chess player. He reads book after book, and then promotes those books on his channel. But, his USCF rating is still well below 800. He spends many hours studying chess, but fails to rise into the ranks of average.

What are the defects of such players? What is the cure?

Can you design a training program that would be guaranteed to cure BYP’s (or another similarly untalented adult’s) deficiencies and bring his rating into line with his enthusiasm and effort? Say, something over 1400 USCF.

What is necessary for the unskilled adult who takes time to study chess, but never seems to develop even rudimentary chess skill?

Defect imo is poor board vision. Not sure about the cure. Probably something similar to the Chess Steps program + playing slow games (don't even try blitz).

And focus on simple threats to reduce blunders. Forget about strategic niceties and al. The lead in thought process should be similar to : what is the threat ? What is undert attack ? What is undefended ?

These two games show the sort of rubbish play that inspired this thread. One is between two kindergarten students playing game 30. The other is two adults who should not be playing bullet. Can you tell the difference.

So I'm someone probably around 1400-1500 USCF. I don't play tournaments, so I don't know for sure, but my chess. com 10-minute blitz rating is around 1500 and correlates well with a USCF around that rating, and I have a few friends who do play in tournament and are around that rating, and we play very evenly. 

But to say I have 0 chess knowledge, would not be an understatement. My opening theory consists of the first 2-3 moves and that's about it. I do play E5, so I've been forced to learn some E4 theory, but against D4, I'm winging it, and as white I try to play a Pseudo- "Catalan" system. Where I don't know the theory, but I have a general understanding where I want my pieces to go and the plans are usually pretty simple. There's usually a pretty obvious 2-3 move plan. 

Basically chess at my level and below is not about theory or strategy, it's about quick development, king safety, defending pieces, improving pieces, and then finding basic tactics. My end game theory is basic at best. Puzzle rush survival and practicing low-rated puzzles are far more productive than studying high rated puzzles. 

If you want to create a training program for "BYPs". I would focus on simplifying the game and visualization. 

For instance the other day, I saw a streamer who was analyzing his game. He played the English, and his opponent played a wonky Owen's defense, and he sat there analyzing every possible move trying to find a way to attack the queen side, where his opponent overextended himself. And I tried explaining he lost because he blundered a piece on move 8 and it had nothing to do with the opening. Also that if someone pushes pawns on the side you should push in the center. And he just refused to listen. 

I left and saw he was still streaming 2 hours later, and he was still analyzing that game's opening. That's why he's a 7-800 player. 

btw I couldn't find the KS YouTuber. The backyard professor. Could you link me to some videos? I love watching these ridiculous hubris players. 

lol nevermind I found the BYP. It's even better (worse) than I expected. 

No. I am not interested in promoting his channel with a link. He is but an example. Now that you found it, though, you can find his real name and USCF rating. IIRC, it is about 750, but provisional. He played in two tournaments. One of his videos, the only one that I think is any good, is about a tournament that he played in. I like it because I know some of the people who were there. In that event, he lost to a child (maybe 10 years old) who is not very good.

Wow, I never knew that BYP's rating is only 800 or so, even provisionally.

I actually watched a video of his, and I enjoyed it, even though I'm rated 100's of points higher than him.

"Perpetual beginner" is a synonym of "lazy".

"Talent" is the excuse of these lazy people for not getting better over time. The existence of "talent" is debated, but anyway- it has little to do with one's improvement in chess.

In some of his videos the BYP talks about an “anti-knight steinitz maneuver”. He is an excellent teacher and I love his videos, so I was wondering if anyone could clarify what this means for me. Thanks!

EDIT: for example, in his video titled, Crushing Your Opponent SLOWLY Because the Board Says to. (At moment 3:10) I am a new user, so I cannot post links, unfortunately, although a simple Youtube search should lead you there.

In all likelihood, it means nothing. BYP does not understand chess.

He does understand chess, and he works hard to improve. His videos helped teach me to play, and they're fun to watch

But okay. I tried googling it, and there weren't any results - its probably a term he came up with himself.

As I said, it means nothing.

His USCF rating is under 800.

He does not understand chess. His videos are not so much a waste of time as actually harmful. From time-to-time, someone joins this site and tries to defend him, claiming that he taught them to play. Generally, they are either horrid at chess, or they get banned within a few weeks.

A few are lying.

There may be one or two exceptions. BYP's enthusiasm for the game is infectious. But worthless instruction and inappropriate training programs do take their toll. 

He desperately needs proper instruction. He should not be teaching.

afaik he doesnt really play rated uscf games, although i could be wrong. he is rated around 1600-1700 online, though, for what its worth (daily ratings on another site)

his videos aren't harmful - it's basically a video summarizing games from books I don't own. he didn't strictly teach me to play - i started watching videos after i joined my school chess club. of course, i have my own coach now, but time to time i watch some of his videos. i have been playing chess for two years.

i dont think im "horrid" at chess, probably around average (im overrated - only played 3 games, one of which was against a cheater, so i got refunded), and i don't see any reason for me to get banned. im not lying.

ofc, one of the main reasons i watched/watch his channel is because the videos are fun to watch.

When I started playing chess on a frequent basis (there was no internet then), I played 1 game per day for about 2 years against someone rated around 1800 USCF.

I didn't improve much during that time. It was later that I Iearned the reasons that prevented my improvement.

First, I wasn't a student. I was just playing, trying to "figure out" the game as there was a "trick". I rarely asked questions about moves as it was always a competition.

Second, my opponent was very intelligent, but wasn't a good teacher. We had disciplines in our work which provided examples. In the case of chess, it was never agreed that teaching me was an objective to be reached.

Third, speaking of objectives, it wasn't until several years later that I decided to learn what the objectives of the game were. Then I set out on a quest to find them on the internet...the information overload.

Lastly, my goals for chess became identified and I realized that I didn't value it as much as those that were very committed to the game. It wasn't about me being lazy (imo) or not having the "natural talent". I just didn't prioritize it highly enough to dedicate the required time it takes to learn what's needed to excell any further.

You can develop a training program. You can't guarantee someone else's desire to make it a success.

I also see has has taught you a lot about tic-tac-toe, it is apparent in your profile.

However, the only way you could ever have any faint chance learning something from him about chess, is asking him for an advice and then doing the exact opposite.

um, what?

he shows instructive games, which i learn a lot from, and the explanations are sometimes quite informative. the selection of games is also very interesting - ranging from attacking games to positional masterpieces (usually played by world champions).

He played in two USCF events and got clobbered by children who are pretty weak. He made a video about one of them.

It’s been awile since I’ve played anyone rated about 1700 in correspondence, bur my recollection is that it correlates well with sub-1100 USCF.

He usually reads from books.

When I followed him reading from Silman with the book in front of me, I noticed that he skipped the important part, while also adding his own comments that were utter nonsense.

i dont have silman's book, so i wouldnt know. he's made some instructive points in his videos though. 

its also just a fun way to do some chess, after a long tournament or something. also helps me untilt for what its worth.

that was what, 6, 7 years ago?

i dont know where you get your statistics, but that feels very very off to me