I got the book about 3 weeks ago. It was a little tough at first. But it's grown on me. My assessment of a position and vision has gotten so much better. On a big spike rating wise especially in blitz and rapid after this book
Your criticism of the book tells us something about it but also underlines what a great chess teacher you are. Anyway, you persuaded me the book is a must have and I just ordered it. Thanks for the review.
Great review. And the concept of valuing a book by its width across the spine is subtle, but brilliant! I bought, at considerable expense, an even skinnier book: Its Your Move by GM Ward. From his Introduction: " ...I"d get bored constantly explaining why, for example, Dave is being too elaborate. It should be assumed that if I do not mention a nominated plan, then I am not too enthused by it." So, Grandmaster, your student considers 5 alternative plans, and in good faith, selects the one he thinks is best, but gets not even the courtesy of a reply from you? Answers are typically 2-3 sentences on the correct plan, plus a lengthy list of moves concluding the game. An arrogant, skinny book. Contrast with any Silman book. Drop one on your toe and you will know it. Comprehensive explanations, WITH STUDENTS IN MIND, author boredom or no... I propose a corollary to Toth"s Razor: Compare width of Questions to width of Solutions. Silmans Workbook, for example, is about one-quarter Questions versus three-quarters Solutions. Wards is exactly the opposite. Tells ya what ya need to know right there...
Hey Andras, you give us the advice to have key games for learning openings. Could you tell me where I can find annotated games for all sorts of openings? I think it would help me to find the ideas behind the moves.
Hi coach, would you recommend studying the life and games of mikhail tal for a 18-1900 player. Ik you said to study game collections with thorough analysis, but I don’t know if it has that.
I have not bought the book by now, but there is something similar (evaluation and assessing a position) in an old book by Hort and Jansa. Anyway, you showed us that they must be quite different, and as I always do with your recommendations, I will buy it.
I've really been enjoying the book. My only real criticism is that I feel it is heavily biased toward opening and early middlegame positions. I believe all of these exercise types, but especially the comparisons and quartets, must be wonderful teaching tools for "Endgame Strategy" type positions. For example, in N vs B, I could imagine quartets where the evaluation is completely altered according to the color of the bishop, or the exact position of the knight. Or in BB vs NB, maybe the side with NB is much worse statically, but the exact position of the knight determines whether a forced trade of B for N leaves opposite or same colored bishops. Or maybe in rook or double rook endgames, we could compare situations where we have an active rook but are down a pawn, or have to accept some static weakness, versus situations with a passive rook but balanced material. It doesn't change my evaluation of the book, but the more I think about the possibilities, the more I'm disappointed that they didn't go there. Hoping they eventually come out with a part 2! But anyway, since working with this book and doing these exercises, I have noticed that it is much easier to force myself to make an evaluation both while playing and while analyzing my games later, and to make myself try to look deeper when I'm unsure. I knew from your videos of course that I was always supposed to be doing that, but going through these exercises has removed some of the mental barriers or resistance that somehow stopped me from doing it consistently in practice. I'm not sure it has improved the accuracy of my evaluations, but anyway it's hard to talk about the accuracy of evaluations that I wasn't consistently making in the first place! By the way, you (and others here) may be interested in Davorin Kuljasevic's recent chess study Workbook, which has plenty of typical tactics puzzles, but also many other non-standard exercise types (at least, non-standard among books--probably these exercises are meant to approximate what one would do in various coaching sessions). Two weeks in, I would say it's quite challenging and enjoyable.
ALL videos are great. I also have your CPR course. Could you please make proper playlists on your youtube channel, according to topics(amateurs' mind, backseat coaching, playing vs lower rated etc.) and chronology.
I literally just finished the book last night! I'd say that it was fantastic for improving your blitz game, especially if you play the grand prix, London, or KID. Overall, I wish there were more examples from openings that I play, and I think there was a little too much emphasis on positions right out of the opening. Late middlegame and endgame didn't get as much love. Loved the layout of the book. Loved the price ($10 is dirt cheap). Enjoyed the concept tremendously. I felt like it was a good book for someone 1800 lichess or higher. 4/5 overall. 5/5 for that price.
the problem with this book and all of its kind is that they fail to bridge the gap between evaluation and answer. How do we get to the answer. How do we apply the evaluation criteria and take the information gathered and then automatically understand what that information is telling us to do. Answers should show and explain how it was done!!! Lazy!
Thank you Andras, I started playing and studying Chess seriously last Summer. The journey so far has been really fun. You have helped me really much with your free Chess Lessons on TH-cam. So Thank you for that I am very grateful for it .
Coach, I’m subscribed to your You tube channel, I follow AND been subscribed to your Twitch channel for 6 MONTHS - Why am I not able to comment on the stream? @Battlescard27
Another great thing about this book is that it's very affordable. Great for those of us who have to watch our budgets.
Just ordered the book halfway through your review 😄
Same here, the concept caught my attention. I thought it was another generic positional chess book with a hook title. Mine is on the way
Great stuff Andras! You evaluated How to Evaluate Like a Grandmaster like a grandmaster of evaluating chess evaluation books 👍
I got the book about 3 weeks ago. It was a little tough at first. But it's grown on me. My assessment of a position and vision has gotten so much better. On a big spike rating wise especially in blitz and rapid after this book
What was your before and after rating? Also on which platform?
Your criticism of the book tells us something about it but also underlines what a great chess teacher you are. Anyway, you persuaded me the book is a must have and I just ordered it. Thanks for the review.
Great review. And the concept of valuing a book by its width across the spine is subtle, but brilliant! I bought, at considerable expense, an even skinnier book: Its Your Move by GM Ward. From his Introduction: " ...I"d get bored constantly explaining why, for example, Dave is being too elaborate. It should be assumed that if I do not mention a nominated plan, then I am not too enthused by it." So, Grandmaster, your student considers 5 alternative plans, and in good faith, selects the one he thinks is best, but gets not even the courtesy of a reply from you? Answers are typically 2-3 sentences on the correct plan, plus a lengthy list of moves concluding the game. An arrogant, skinny book. Contrast with any Silman book. Drop one on your toe and you will know it. Comprehensive explanations, WITH STUDENTS IN MIND, author boredom or no...
I propose a corollary to Toth"s Razor: Compare width of Questions to width of Solutions. Silmans Workbook, for example, is about one-quarter Questions versus three-quarters Solutions. Wards is exactly the opposite. Tells ya what ya need to know right there...
Hey Andras, you give us the advice to have key games for learning openings. Could you tell me where I can find annotated games for all sorts of openings? I think it would help me to find the ideas behind the moves.
Thanks Coach. This one is going on my future list for whenever I get caught up with reading past purchases.
Excellent!
I love the book reviews
I bought it a few months ago, it's a great practical resource. I will now watch you review. :-)
Coach Andras
PLEASE make a Chessable course on Calculation/Evaluating Positions.
Will you? 😊
What rating range would you say is appropriate for this book? Is this good for players under 1700?
Perfect time to get started with it!
Hi coach, would you recommend studying the life and games of mikhail tal for a 18-1900 player. Ik you said to study game collections with thorough analysis, but I don’t know if it has that.
Excellent review Andras. Great work. Thank you.
Many thanks!😊
I have not bought the book by now, but there is something similar (evaluation and assessing a position) in an old book by Hort and Jansa. Anyway, you showed us that they must be quite different, and as I always do with your recommendations, I will buy it.
Finally some interesting content here.....I just went to a Botez video and need some compensation.
Thank you for that, Sir Andras!
Glad you liked it! 😊
I bought it as well. I've just gotten started, but I would recommend it.
I've really been enjoying the book. My only real criticism is that I feel it is heavily biased toward opening and early middlegame positions. I believe all of these exercise types, but especially the comparisons and quartets, must be wonderful teaching tools for "Endgame Strategy" type positions. For example, in N vs B, I could imagine quartets where the evaluation is completely altered according to the color of the bishop, or the exact position of the knight. Or in BB vs NB, maybe the side with NB is much worse statically, but the exact position of the knight determines whether a forced trade of B for N leaves opposite or same colored bishops. Or maybe in rook or double rook endgames, we could compare situations where we have an active rook but are down a pawn, or have to accept some static weakness, versus situations with a passive rook but balanced material. It doesn't change my evaluation of the book, but the more I think about the possibilities, the more I'm disappointed that they didn't go there. Hoping they eventually come out with a part 2!
But anyway, since working with this book and doing these exercises, I have noticed that it is much easier to force myself to make an evaluation both while playing and while analyzing my games later, and to make myself try to look deeper when I'm unsure. I knew from your videos of course that I was always supposed to be doing that, but going through these exercises has removed some of the mental barriers or resistance that somehow stopped me from doing it consistently in practice. I'm not sure it has improved the accuracy of my evaluations, but anyway it's hard to talk about the accuracy of evaluations that I wasn't consistently making in the first place!
By the way, you (and others here) may be interested in Davorin Kuljasevic's recent chess study Workbook, which has plenty of typical tactics puzzles, but also many other non-standard exercise types (at least, non-standard among books--probably these exercises are meant to approximate what one would do in various coaching sessions). Two weeks in, I would say it's quite challenging and enjoyable.
ALL videos are great. I also have your CPR course. Could you please make proper playlists on your youtube channel, according to topics(amateurs' mind, backseat coaching, playing vs lower rated etc.) and chronology.
Thanks mate, appreciate it !
Damn you are a good salesman. Now I want the book!! Thanks for the review!
Just bought it.
you should make a book review playlist, i did have a hard time finding your videos
Thanks!
I got the book.
Thank you
I literally just finished the book last night! I'd say that it was fantastic for improving your blitz game, especially if you play the grand prix, London, or KID.
Overall, I wish there were more examples from openings that I play, and I think there was a little too much emphasis on positions right out of the opening. Late middlegame and endgame didn't get as much love.
Loved the layout of the book. Loved the price ($10 is dirt cheap). Enjoyed the concept tremendously. I felt like it was a good book for someone 1800 lichess or higher. 4/5 overall. 5/5 for that price.
Sold me at the quartets.
They're great. Too bad there's only 7 quartets total.
the problem with this book and all of its kind is that they fail to bridge the gap between evaluation and answer. How do we get to the answer. How do we apply the evaluation criteria and take the information gathered and then automatically understand what that information is telling us to do. Answers should show and explain how it was done!!! Lazy!
its not available in india
nice book
Thank you Andras, I am atm working with the Woodpecker Method hopefully I will improve to 1800!
Best of luck!💪🔥
Thank you Andras, I started playing and studying Chess seriously last Summer. The journey so far has been really fun. You have helped me really much with your free Chess Lessons on TH-cam. So Thank you for that I am very grateful for it .
Coach, I’m subscribed to your You tube channel, I follow AND been subscribed to your Twitch channel for 6 MONTHS - Why am I not able to comment on the stream?
@Battlescard27
honestly, no idea. Will look into in next stream.