The True Path to Chess Improvement

GM Kraai outlines the known but difficult path to chess improvement.

Video footage thanks to Chessbase India, ChessVibes, FIDE

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[gregmartin]

I once won a tournament in my rating class, and a prize was either some money or having IM David Pruess (of the Chess Dojo) go over my games. I chose the latter. David asked me to just leave him the scoresheets and we'd meet in the morning. The next morning, David met me without the scoresheets and proceeded to go over each of my games (he memorized the games). He would frequently remove pieces from the board, showing me the skeletal pawn structure, and then quickly reset the pieces. He said some of my moves I thought were weak were actually strong, but my follow-up was weak. I asked him for the most important single piece of advice to improve my game, and he said, "Consider what your opponent is trying to do". He was not wrong. That was about 20 years ago, and was a great lesson!

[Socrates...]

I don't want the GM's specific moves, I want the process and the dedication

[matchesmalone]

high quality video. i really appreciate it. thank you. keep up the good work.

[danielackles]

I want more videos from GM Kraai like this! He has such a wonderful demeanor and voice. I've watched this a dozen times. Thank you for the upload :)

[CristianSGuedes]

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” - Albert Einstein

[jontnoneya]

I love your calm peaceful voice but also your practical help with the mindset and physical parts of this.

[bjbeecher]

Thanks Jesse, another great video on analysis. The entire videw is great and even the music is inspirational. Thanks for feeding into my chess soul.

[Thexaxisacademy]

This is a channel I’ve been looking for 😩
Love this content ❤️

[wmnbl]

Wow this video deserved 1 million views

[highgroundchess]

"Maybe it's not the game who has become dull." Brilliant line. This is unfortunately probably true for so many players. Taking that step back and looking at my games objectively with a pen and paper was the only way I was able to unlock improvement. Finding those exact reasons why I lost my games. Two months ago I did this. Corrected those issues and just gained 150 rating points over the board. It was not really even that difficult to accomplish either. I look forward to continuing this process deeper. Where can it take me?

[andrewbernal]

Thank you so much Mr. Kraai, I just analyzed a painful loss I had several months ago and it was in fact incredibly cathartic.

[wilestrella]

1. I love you voice
2. Thank you for this. It is really a JOY looking over my games. This helps me a lot not only in improving my game, and also finding what kind of player i really am.
3. Please make more of this.

[mariogarciagonzalez]

Thanks to this video, retweeted by GM Simon Williams, I suscribed to this channel and started watching GM Kraai's videos and shows. I hope that by watching them and understanding in depth the positions and games shown here, I will go out the 1700-1750 ELO rut that I'm in since 10 years of making the same mistakes and not being able to recognize them and fix them.

[whatthe_Alex]

This was so simply motivational and empowering!

[joinpsye]

Exactly, I found that now when I older and when it's too late. I have also found that through the analysis of my own I would find my own openings, organically. It's the way more exciting than picking up opening books when I was younger. This is exciting and or exhilarating because what stuck in our minds is our own experiences while playing the game, and not what we read on a book that is far away from our experience.

[ultimateichigo]

Sir, I used to watch your instructional video's, maybe 20 years ago. I learned so much then but after somewhat years I got stuck and hit the "plateau". Now, again, you've set me on the right path to learn once again. This is one of those moments that hit me one the right time and place. Thank you sir. You're such an inspiration.

[Hh-yddj]

This is 100% right on!!! I just started playing again and have a LOT of room for improvement. Ive noticed that im consiously aware i need to think harder and deeper but dont do it. I refuse over and over again to go into deep thought. I must defeat this lazy brain mentality. Got to do better and wake this brain from its slumber. This, to me, is why 60 min classical matches make sense, more time to think deep.. how can I not sign up for the dojo after watching this video. Absolute gold and totaly motivating! Thank you!

[lukastux]

The best chess motivation video I've ever seen

[chessjess]

people always say analyzing your own games helps you improve but thank you so much for explaining why

[JimGrange.]

Great advice, thanks! Are you producing a series on how you analyse your games? It might seem obvious, but I think a video series on this would be helpful to go over your own method.