This week we return with another “Chess Improvement Q & A” episode, with another top trainer. Our returning guest is 2-time Swiss National Champion, turned trainer and blogger, GM Noel Studer. Noel is always insightful on everything related to chess improvement. He answers a wide range of questions from the online chess community. Topics discussed include: how to diagnose weaknesses, what to look for in a chess trainer, limiting blunders,and improving tactics, as well as Noel’s helpful advice for dealing with various common psychological pitfalls that chess players face. After 75 minutes of chess improvement talk, we turn our attention to Noel’s new course, Beginner Chess Mastery. It is a comprehensive guide for newer chess players, designed to take you up to about the 1200 level. If this describes you or someone you know, you will want to stay tuned until the end of the pod. Timestamps of all the topics discussed can be found below.
Click here to download the episode
If you or someone you know is below 1200 and looking to improve their games, check out Noel’s course. (on sale for a limited time)
(Using this link helps to support Perpetual Chess)
Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, here:
https://benjohnson.substack.com
Sign up for Noel’s chess improvement blog here:
https://nextlevelchess.blog/newsletter/
0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black
If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod!
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
Prior Noel Studer appearances on episodes 248 and 312
04:30- Chess improvement Q and A! Is it possible that an amateur player would be a better teacher for a beginner than a Grandmaster would?
Mentioned: Nate Solon’s Tweet:
https://x.com/natesolon/status/1765044706885468204?s=20
Also Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard
18:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How does Noel diagnose what a student needs to do to improve? How does he know when a weakness has been sufficiently addressed?”
22:00- Advice for limiting blunders
25:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Noel’s advice for someone who struggles at rapid speed compared to slower time controls?”
31:00- Advice for improving at tactics
Mentioned: 600 Practical Chess Exercises
36;30- Is it more effective to have a coach than to use online training courses?
38:00- Noel’s excellent advice for avoiding making impulsive moves.
45:00- Noel’s advice for a player who struggles to embrace complications when short on time
51;00- Is one better off studying the games of lower level masters compared to those of Super GMs and the all-time greats?
56:00- What does Noel think of solitaire chess/guess the move?
1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Diet and weight loss are known as the keys to losing weight. What are the chess-improvement analogs to diet and weight loss?”
1:03:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What are some ways to evaluate improvement besides rating?”
1:05:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Noel’s favorite chess book on the middlegame?”
Mentioned: Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios
1:07:00- Does Noel think its better to repeat tactical puzzles a la the Woodpecker method, or to solve new ones?
1:09:00- Noel’s tips for avoiding burnout
1:13:00- What is the best time control to practice online?
1:15:30- We discuss Noel’s new course, Beginner Chess Mastery
1:19:50- Who is the target audience for this course?
Thanks to Noel for joining me again!
Sign up for his blog here:
https://nextlevelchess.blog/newsletter/
And get his course here (using this link helps support Perpetual Chess):
https://nextlevelchesscourses.teachable.com/p/beginner-chess-mastery?affcode=1152624_qcx_s87s
If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess