The Chess Doctor Is In:
Positional Chess, Improvement for Teens, and More

Today’s The Chess Doctor Is In question is an email submission from a GM2B reader named Dan, who writes:

Thanks very much to Dan for the question(s). Though a very short submission, this is one that surely covers a lot of ground. I will try to tackle the questions he raises one by one:

First of all, “How do you start to learn positional aspects of chess?” This is a very difficult question indeed, with a great many variables to consider. It all depends on your level. For U1500 USCF (or most younger players U1800) positional factors are not likely to make a big difference. But, regardless of your level I think that Aron Nimzowitsch’s My System is a good place for anyone to begin. You are certain to learn all of the basic principles of positional/strategic play from this much-respected book. It is a true classic of chess literature, and while it was written almost 100 years ago, the majority of the principles ring true to this day.

For more advanced players (e.g. 1800+), I would also recommend the book duo The Complete Manual of Positional Chess parts 1 and 2 by Konstantin Sakaev and Kostantin Landa. I think this series is a good start to get to the next level for positional play. Also, the subtitle reads “The Russian Chess School.” Certainly anyone would benefit from close study of Russian chess culture.

Next up: “How do you stay motivated to study for long hours?” To begin, I will admit that I haven’t been studying quite as much during the pandemic. There are a few things I would mention:

First of all, consistency is key. The principle here is if you stop working hard it will be much harder to start again. One important note: when I am studying for 2-3 hours at a time, I tend to take a short break every hour. Generally this break is not much longer than the time it would take to pace around the tournament hall, but it really helps. 

As during tournament games I try to take a short stroll and clear my mind, maybe refill my glass of water. I find that after a short break I come back energized and ready to get back at it.

I recently attended a masterclass by World #37 Daniil Dubov. One of the things he said that really struck me: in a typical day he spends about 8 hours on chess. Maybe one hour at the beginning of his day is devoted to solving positions (mainly with a tactical basis). At the end he does around half an hour of endgame work. And in between? He (and most of the other top level GMs) spends time analyzing openings. While I can’t say that I personally enjoy this type of work, it is very necessary to get to the next level.

To motivate yourself for this kind of work I suggest thinking about your goals in chess. For me, I hope to eventually become a Grandmaster. And Grandmasters generally research their openings very well. Knowing that, it becomes somewhat imperative to really dig into opening analysis to be more like that which I want to become.

And one last thing: you have to really enjoy chess. Fundamentally, motivation is an internal drive and to some degree, if you don’t have it, you just can’t force it to happen. If you don’t really like chess, and/or just enjoy playing it I don’t think any amount of studying is going to get you very far. (Note to parents: pressuring kids is almost always demotivating.) 

On to the final question: “… How and what should teenagers (13-17) be studying to improve the quickest at that age?” The answer to this question can really vary. There are some teenagers who I would have no advice to give (e.g. 14 year old GM Praggnanandhaa and other young talents like that). But, assuming you mean the general population I would have a few words to say.

In general, younger players should do tons of tactics training at first. Their (or, should I say, our!) brains are like sponges, and the quicker you get basic patterns down the faster you will progress in chess. I would also consider learning basic positional factors (see above), as that will likely give younger players an edge over many of their peers.

As for how teenagers should study, regular readers know that I much prefer to study with a real book and a real board. But there is no one method that is perfect for everybody. Some learn best through online videos/lessons. So (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again!) do what works for you.

An important note: it is not necessarily imperative to have a coach as soon as possible. I myself didn’t have regular (e.g. weekly) lessons until I was over 1800 USCF. And even later the frequency didn’t increase much further until I was well over 2000.

While I am naturally more of a self learner, the point still stands: I don’t think that “hired help” is necessarily the best way to improve. But none of this is to say that coaches are a bad thing. In fact, a really good coach can not only help pinpoint your weaknesses but also help you work on them and (with all that knowledge) devise an opening repertoire suited just for you.

I knew both of my current coaches (who will probably wish to stay anonymous) through playing together for quite some time before ever embarking upon a teaching relationship. In that respect, we don’t have a one dimensional relationship. Our personalities really click and our lessons are always enjoyable for both parties. This is a long way of saying that while a coach is not absolutely necessary, a really good one can help you improve exponentially. But it’s worth mentioning that finding a teacher who suits your personality and learning style can be very difficult, and it’s not something that can be forced.

Hope these thoughts help address your questions, Dan (and please feel free to follow up with me directly though email). As usual, click the button below to submit a question of your own or email me your questions. I look forward to hearing from you!