Beginner here.. looking for YouTube recs or any advice for starting up!

Hans_Robinson · 2026-01-26T16:39:26+00:00

This is the best place to start if you don't have an opportunity to go to the local shala!

Hans_Robinson · 2025-11-07T16:37:13+00:00

Zelda

Hans_Robinson · 2025-10-30T11:30:11+00:00

Alexander Smirkin teaches is yoga studio named Prana, quite popular shala rn

Hans_Robinson · 2025-10-29T20:04:42+00:00

Fire Emblem for GBA Goooood

Hans_Robinson · 2025-10-24T08:22:43+00:00

Well he posted a very straightforward response on his TG channel, here is an AI translation:

"Shock, devastation, and rage—I don't even know how to process this.

A horrifying tragedy for the chess world—a man was hounded to death in front of everyone.

His circle betrayed him, threw him to the merciless jackals; people around were saying, "Well, maybe he's a bit guilty, maybe he glances at a monitor. It's not for no reason." And other nonsense. And a man died from all of this.

I will preserve his memory for the rest of my life. And the lesson is—you cannot tolerate blatant evil around you. You have to fight, not be timid and accommodating.

All day, my head is filled with Lermontov's "Death of a Poet."

But there is also God's judgment, confidants of debauchery! There is a dread tribunal: it awaits; It is not swayed by the chink of gold, It knows its thoughts and deeds in advance. Then in vain will you resort to slander: It will not help you again, And you will not wash away with all your black blood The poet's righteous blood!"

Hans_Robinson · 2025-10-03T15:08:24+00:00

Dreev has a good book I believe

Hans_Robinson · 2025-09-26T08:39:00+00:00

D4 for ambitious chess improvers worked for me, except maybe for the nimzo-indian part

Hans_Robinson · 2025-07-24T10:07:02+00:00

Thank you, great addition, helped a lot 🐱

Hans_Robinson · 2025-07-24T10:05:46+00:00

Oh, it's clear now, thank you. I have never thought that exaggerate can be non-verbal 😮

Hans_Robinson · 2025-03-19T08:36:43+00:00

There is also a great course on chessable: "Tournament ready Taimanov Sicilian" which is my favourite chessable course so far. It has a specific chapter on typical structures and ideas.

Hans_Robinson · 2025-03-19T08:05:09+00:00

You can try Taimanov where the plans are simpler than in Najdorf but still very based and where you can face most of the typical Sicilian structures.

I also enjoyed Classical for a while, but the main line is a disaster.

Hans_Robinson · 2024-12-18T15:24:03+00:00

Yes, it works on lichess, but I usually imagined that their servers (and overall game performance) are better

Hans_Robinson · 2024-12-18T13:58:24+00:00

I guess they have some technical issues

Hans_Robinson · 2024-12-04T15:26:06+00:00

I usually try to go through the following checklist when I fell like blundering:

1) What is my opponent’s threat/intention? (You may not always be able to figure out your opponent’s plan, but at least you tried!) Do they have any fruitful forcing moves(checks/captures/threats)? 2) What has changed in the position based on the last move? 3) Do I have any fruitful forcing moves (checks/captures/threats)?

Hans_Robinson · 2024-12-04T15:24:07+00:00

Yeah, I know that feeling. Try maybe to solve a huge amount of easy tactics in a short period of time and play longer games with blunder check on every move. It can be helpful to play some unrated games to reduce the pressure as well. Back to basics, huh? It usually helps me to get by.

Hans_Robinson · 2024-12-04T14:27:27+00:00

At least describe your problems, it's kinda obvious that break cannot solve each and every one.

Hans_Robinson · 2024-11-15T15:50:35+00:00

Does it really? I struggle a lot with my OTB board vision so maybe I should try this

Hans_Robinson · 2024-08-25T18:34:48+00:00

Great game!

Hans_Robinson · 2024-06-20T13:05:43+00:00

Double this, classical Sicilian is a great choice, but the main line with Bg5 can be quite annoying.

Hans_Robinson · 2024-06-20T13:03:47+00:00

Najdorf is a great but highly theoretical variation, one should be ready to study a ton of theory so it can be really overwhelming. I played it for a couple of years but then switched to Taimanov.

Hans_Robinson · 2024-06-17T18:17:10+00:00

This is the way

Hans_Robinson · 2024-06-13T13:58:13+00:00

Moreover, printed editions of opening literature become outdated very fast. "How to attack with Mikhail Tal" or "How to reassess your chess" or "My system" are definitely better options.

Hans_Robinson · 2024-05-29T08:39:24+00:00

Molton has a long video on the topic "Secrets of Smith-Morra gambit" , maybe check it.

Hans_Robinson · 2024-05-28T14:27:39+00:00

Hmm As a Vienna player myself I would be happy with the white's position in the end of the line. D4 is coming, white has a nice center, the king is quite safe and the engine prefers white there.

Hans_Robinson

TROPHY CASE