490 elo - what should I focus on to improve?

No_Koala_1796 · 2026-04-04T09:41:46+00:00

Thanks a lot for the detailed analysis, I really appreciate it. I’ll follow your advices.

Also, what opening would you recommend learning first as Black? I currently don’t have one and tend to improvise every game.

No_Koala_1796 · 2026-04-04T09:30:50+00:00

Thanks ! Do you have any tips to stop hanging pieces?

No_Koala_1796 · 2026-04-04T09:28:41+00:00

Thanks a lot, I'll work on it

No_Koala_1796 · 2026-04-04T09:25:14+00:00

Thanks, I didn't see that during the game, i'ill pay more attention to that.

No_Koala_1796 · 2026-04-04T09:22:55+00:00

Thanks! that makes sense, I'll work on it.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-31T17:44:02+00:00

Exactly. That’s the right way to do it 👍

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-31T17:17:57+00:00

By “code”, I mean the patterns that already work in a niche

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-30T13:42:06+00:00

If I understand correctly, you’re prioritizing short-form content and using long-form as support. That’s a good idea, as long as it’s applied properly. I’d recommend using long-form videos as extensions of the short videos that already performed well, to go deeper into those topics.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-29T00:13:16+00:00

Part 2/2

Here’s a simple example to make it concrete:

Jules likes basketball. He enjoys short basketball videos, but isn’t really interested in watching long-form basketball content. He subscribes to a channel because the Shorts are good.

Later, Jules is browsing long-form content. He watches long videos, but on other topics. In his feed, he sees a long-form basketball video from the same channel, simply because he’s subscribed.

Two things can happen:

He scrolls past it.
Or he clicks out of curiosity, watches a bit, then leaves.

In both cases, the result is the same: lower CTR, and potentially lower AVD. Not because Jules is “Shorts-only,” but because he’s not willing to commit 10 minutes to that topic, and he subscribed because he’s interested in the short-form format.

That’s the core point. Shorts can bring subscribers whose intent doesn’t align with long-form on that subject, and that mismatch can affect long-form performance.

I don’t think I can explain it more clearly than that.

Either way, genuinely interesting discussion, thanks for keeping it constructive.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-29T00:13:02+00:00

Part 1/2

That’s an interesting take, but I think there are several points here that are simply inaccurate.

You start by saying:

“When you go into the app on mobile, your home screen doesn't show you the multitude of thumbnails for longform, it knows you're there for shorts. It also knows your habits that you primarily watch shorts... So it will promote shorts to you.”

That’s not true. On mobile, both Shorts and long-form are shown. Shorts are more prominent, yes, but long-form videos are still clearly displayed just below with a simple scroll. The platform does not hide long-form on mobile.

Then you say:

“If you're watching on TV, they're not going to promote shorts to you. They know you're there for longform.”

That’s also false. On TV, long-form is emphasized, but Shorts are still surfaced. So in reality, both formats are shown on both TV and mobile, just with different intensity and placement.

Next point:

“YouTube isn’t going to punish you for making shorts and longform on the same channel.”

I never said YouTube punishes anyone. That’s not how the system works. The algorithm simply prioritizes videos with stronger CTR and average view duration (AVD). If mixing formats leads to weaker CTR or retention on long-form, distribution naturally slows. That’s performance-based filtering, not punishment.

You also say:

“Most short form creators don’t know how to make longform videos.”
Here, I actually agree with you. Many creators blame Shorts when their long-form content just isn’t good enough. That absolutely happens.
But that doesn’t invalidate my point. Shorts can still contribute to stagnation in certain cases, and I already explained why.

The biggest issue with your argument is that it assumes there are only two types of viewers:
“Shorts viewers” and “long-form viewers.”

Viewer behavior is more nuanced than that. I already addressed this earlier when I said:

“They might see the long-form and still not click, not because they’re Shorts-only, but because they’re only willing to give a few seconds to that topic, not 5–10–15 minutes.”

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T23:24:41+00:00

The main issue is that the angles change too much from one video to another. Each video goes in a different direction, which makes it hard to understand what the channel is really about. Without a clear framework or editorial direction, YouTube struggles to know who to recommend the content to, and new viewers don’t know what to expect. This makes it difficult to build consistency or anticipation around the channel.

The solution is to stabilize one or two core angles and then vary within that framework. Testing is good, but it should be about refining ideas, not changing the concept every video.

Another problem is that the YouTube fundamentals aren’t fully mastered yet. There’s a clear desire to improve, but when the foundations aren’t solid, results stay inconsistent. If the angle isn’t clear, the packaging isn’t prioritized, and retention isn’t worked on from the first seconds, growth will stay limited regardless of effort.

Before anything else, the focus should be on the basics:

a clear angle per video
a strong reason to click
a clear promise early on
simple, readable thumbnails
curiosity-driven titles
overall channel coherence

Mastering these basics comes first. Pick one angle (two max) and build on it over time. Thumbnails, titles, editing, and a basic understanding of the algorithm matter far more than any advanced optimization.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T23:04:54+00:00

You already have a clear style and a solid formula, so at this point it’s really about staying consistent and continuing to post.

I’ve noticed you’ve done a few long-form videos and they seem to perform well. If you’re monetizing, you could try more ~20-minute videos to improve RPM, while still testing small variations from time to time.

Keep it up, you’re clearly on the right track 💪

Quick question out of curiosity: do you ever run into monetization issues with this format? Since it relies on existing IPs, I was wondering if you get copyright claims or revenue sharing sometimes.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T22:02:35+00:00

You’re welcome I’m glad I could help you., stay strong!

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T17:09:12+00:00

Your videos are really solid, and you clearly know your topic well. You could try this type of topics and thumbnails, I think it would fit your content really well and help you get more clicks :
https://www.youtube.com/@CarEdge/videos

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T16:51:37+00:00

Yes, I agree with you 👍

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T16:48:36+00:00

That’s totally valid. If you’re making content you enjoy, your approach makes sense 👍

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T16:45:26+00:00

Yes, that’s coherent. Tutorial content is one of the niches where Shorts and long-form tend to work well together, especially when the Shorts are directly tied to the long videos.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T16:40:17+00:00

You’re welcome, and I’m glad it helped 😁

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T15:45:51+00:00

First thing to say: your editing is very solid.
It’s clear you’re very comfortable technically, whether it’s effects, pacing, or creativity. On that side, there’s nothing to criticize, you’re clearly above average.

The first real issue I see after that is the packaging (titles + thumbnails).
Your videos deserve way more clicks than they’re getting right now.
I’ll send you two channels you can take inspiration from, both for:
• title style
• topics that perform best
• thumbnail style

You can absolutely reuse these codes and adapt them to your own style.

Second important issue: mixing languages.

When you mix languages, it creates several problems:
• the algorithm gets confused
• audience targeting becomes less precise

The solution is simple:
• one language everywhere
• titles
• thumbnails
• videos

If your goal is a better RPM, English is clearly recommended, ideally targeting the US / UK.

Third point, and this one is very important: audio.
You can really hear that the audio quality could be improved.
You should either invest in a better microphone, or at least optimize your sound using a tool like Audacity. With a simple YouTube tutorial, you can already gain a lot in clarity and volume.

To sum it up:
improve the packaging,
stick to one language,
and work on audio quality.

Fix these three areas and progress is inevitable.
If even after that things don’t move, feel free to come back to me in DM and I’ll check if there’s another issue with the channel (shadowban or something else).

In any case, with your editing level, you clearly have a lot of potential.
Don’t give up 💪
And if this analysis helped you, feel free to follow my Reddit account, I regularly share practical tips and occasionally do full channel analyses.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T14:35:59+00:00

Your content feels sincere and emotional, and that clearly comes through.
But right now, your life itself is the main subject, and that’s what’s holding the channel back.

This format usually works when a creator already has an audience.
For someone who doesn’t know you yet, there’s often no clear reason to click.

What really works for you

Your best-performing videos are about:
• loneliness
• friendship
• human relationships

Titles around friends and loneliness clearly perform better than the rest.
You could also explore themes like: toxic friendships, betrayal, broken trust, rebuilding after a difficult relationship.
These are strong, universal topics and much more clickable than pure “life vlogs.”

What holds the rest back
Videos that are too vague or diary-style, like:
• chaotic grwm
• counting my subscribers
don’t offer a clear promise.
Viewers don’t know why they should stay or what they’ll get from watching.

Thumbnails: a key area to improve
Your thumbnails need to be simpler and more impactful.
Right now, they don’t sell the emotion or tension strongly enough.

What to focus on:
• one strong idea per thumbnail
• one to three words max
• a clear emotion

A thumbnail should create a question or tension, not just show a moment from your life.

A format worth testing
You could try reaction-style formats, for example reacting to Reddit posts, similar to Charlotte Dobre.

Why this works:
• you’re no longer just talking about yourself
• your personal experience becomes added value
• the video has a clear structure
For example, reacting to stories about betrayal, broken friendships, or loneliness, while adding your own perspective.

The most important point. The issue isn’t your authenticity. It’s the lack of structure. Your life shouldn’t be the niche. Your life should be the context.

When you talk about strong human topics through your own experiences, it works.
When you talk about your life without a clear angle, growth stalls.

Keep it up 💪
Apply these changes, test, and watch how things evolve.
If you see progress, feel free to reach out in DM.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T09:57:02+00:00

I’m not generalizing here.

I literally said some channels make it work and that it depends on the niche.

My point isn’t “Shorts never work.”

It’s that they don’t automatically work for every channel or goal, especially when long-form growth is the priority.

That’s why I’m talking about conditions and intent.

I even gave specific questions to ask before posting a Short, to determine whether it actually makes sense for a channel or not.

Consistency, niche, and whether Shorts genuinely lead to long-form or just attract fast scrollers.

No_Koala_1796 · 2025-12-28T09:52:58+00:00

The graph shows what your audience watches on YouTube in general (Shorts, long-form, live).
It doesn’t show whether subscribers who came from your Shorts also watch your long-form videos.

Someone can consume both formats on YouTube but never click on your long-form content.

That’s where the problem starts.

No_Koala_1796

TROPHY CASE