Yusupov's 9-book series training course - Chess Forums

janniktr

May 14, 2015

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#1

Hi everyone, I am strongly considering picking up Yusupov's series (Build up your chess, Boost your chess, Chess Evolution; 1-3). Can this series be recommended to a 1400+ OTB player? And if so, what other books/training procedure can you recommend to supplement this course?

Thank you :)

baddogno

May 14, 2015

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#2

Dan Heisman has this to say on his site:

Special note: The most advanced training books are the Dvoretsky series, the Yusupov series, and now Aagaard's Grandmaster Preparation series. These are all recommended for players rated 1900 looking for very serious advanced study.

And here's a link to his book list recommendations:

http://danheisman.home.comcast.net/~danheisman/Events_Books/General_Book_Guide.htm#anthologies

Martin_Stahl

May 14, 2015

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#3

janniktr wrote:

Hi everyone, I am strongly considering picking up Yusupov's series (Build up your chess, Boost your chess, Chess Evolution; 1-3). Can this series be recommended to a 1400+ OTB player? And if so, what other books/training procedure can you recommend to supplement this course?

Thank you :)

Yes, the first three books in the series are pretty good for that level, in my opinion. You should note that the first three are the orange ones, with the number 1 on the cover; in Build, Boost, and Chess Evolution order.

Each book is laid out in 24 chapters, with a test at the end of each one followed by a final. The first three books in the series are heavy on tactical sections, though he does go over openings, endgame, strategy and positional elements too.

The original plan of the course is that each book should take a year, though I worked through each one more quickly (the first 3 anway, recently stated the first book in the second series --the blue ones).

As to supplemental material, you can use the information gleaned from the exams to find areas where you are weakest and find materials that will best help you with those areas.

There have been a number of topics here on the series with some pretty good discussion. I'll try and find some links for the ones I know about.

NightKingx

May 14, 2015

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#4

First books are for players rated between 1500-1800, second series 1800-2100 and thrid 2100-2200. Of course you dont need to be rated at that level to study them, and you still can learn a lot, but it is gonna take a good effort for your part ;)

Martin_Stahl

May 14, 2015

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#5

Here is one of the topics I took part in about the books.

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/yusupovs-award-winning-training-course

The first post has a link to another topic that also has some discussion.

janniktr

May 14, 2015

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#6

Thank you for your replies.

I want to obtain a strength of 1800+ OTB by the end of this year. My original plan was to work on a lesson per day and repeat the lesson learned on the day before. And after working through a full book, I want to recapitulate everything shortly.

Am I underestimating the difficulty? Or do I have to get through the lessons more slowly in order to absorb the contents better? Is my desired procedure suitable for me (I think that I am a fast learner)?

VLaurenT

May 14, 2015

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#7

janniktr wrote:

Hi everyone, I am strongly considering picking up Yusupov's series (Build up your chess, Boost your chess, Chess Evolution; 1-3). Can this series be recommended to a 1400+ OTB player? And if so, what other books/training procedure can you recommend to supplement this course?

Thank you :)

You'll probably find the books a bit challenging, but I don't think you need anything to supplement them, except playing and analyzing your OTB games of course

You'll find a lot of information/comments in this older thread :

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/yusupovs-award-winning-training-course?page=1

Martin_Stahl

May 14, 2015

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#8

janniktr wrote:

Thank you for your replies.

I want to obtain a strength of 1800+ OTB by the end of this year. My original plan was to work on a lesson per day and repeat the lesson learned on the day before. And after working through a full book, I want to recapitulate everything shortly.

Am I underestimating the difficulty? Or do I have to get through the lessons more slowly in order to absorb the contents better? Is my desired procedure suitable for me (I think that I am a fast learner)?

I'm not sure if you're underestimating the difficulty but you probably are the time commitment. An hour per chapter and an hour per test is doable most of the time, at least across the first books. Though, if you really want to absorb the material, you should probably spend more time than that.

That said, they are good books. I suggest getting the first one and seeing how you like it and how it flows from time and difficulty standpoint.

janniktr

May 14, 2015

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#9

Thank you both! :)

@Martin_Stahl:

Since I have plenty of free time in the next few months, I planned to invest ~2h every day on chess. I hope that it is sufficient if I just briefly recap the previous chapter on the next day - what are your thoughts?

In the aforementioned thread, it seems that you have experience with that book. I am very interested on your progress and what your approach was :) Thanks!

Martin_Stahl

May 14, 2015

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#10

janniktr wrote:

Thank you both! :)

@Martin_Stahl:

Since I have plenty of free time in the next few months, I planned to invest ~2h every day on chess. I hope that it is sufficient if I just briefly recap the previous chapter on the next day - what are your thoughts?

In the aforementioned thread, it seems that you have experience with that book. I am very interested on your progress and what your approach was :) Thanks!

I have a very laid back approach overall. I have one day set aside a week where I usually do some study (between two and three hours). For a while it was these books and I still take it with me (1st book in the 2nd series) but have been doing other things instead. Nothing wrong with the books, just getting sidetracked with other things.

When I was working on them more consistantly, I would usually get one chapter done on a study night. On some of the more tactical chapters, I might be able to get two done in a night and I would occassionaly do some during other spare moments through the week.

But really, the best you can do is really try it out and see how it goes for you.

janniktr

May 15, 2015

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#11

Thanks for the feedback, I will try it out :)

peje22

Apr 26, 2019

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#12

"this book is the first volume in a series of manuals designed for players who are building the foundations of their chess knowledge." from introduction of Build Up Your Chess (fundamental) - GM A.Yusupov.

so based on the statement above, i think the first book of the series is suitable for you. fyi, my rating is 1400 at chess.com and i find this book very educative for me. i'm going to spend many years to study chess with the methodological approach of these 9 books series.

kindaspongey

Apr 26, 2019

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#13

Has janniktr been here since 2015? Anyway, the Yusupov series now seems to be ten books. It also seems to be pretty demanding, so I suggest that one look carefully at available samples and reviews before buying. If one does decide to go for it, one should probably know that the correct reading order is Build 1, Boost 1, Evolution 1, Exam 1, Build 2, Boost 2, Evolution 2, Build 3, Boost 3, Evolution 3.

Perhaps of interest:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/yusupov-and-the-older-lower-rated-player

Martin_Stahl

Apr 26, 2019

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#14

I worked through the first blue book book after my initial posts here and did very poorly. Probably should revisit them in the near future

kindaspongey

Apr 26, 2019

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#15

If I have got this right, "the first blue book" is Build Up Your Chess 2. (Currently, the 5th book in the series, to be done after Revision & Exam 1.)

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Revision&Exam1-excerpt.pdf

Ammar75

Sep 23, 2023

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#16

Hi guys, there are three series of these books, what are the differences between them....I mean which is for which ratings

Martin_Stahl

Sep 23, 2023

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#17

Ammar75 wrote:

Hi guys, there are three series of these books, what are the differences between them....I mean which is for which ratings

See this post and the one following:

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/yusupovs-award-winning-training-course?page=2#comment-12023820