How to beat a STRONGER opponent?

In the previous lesson, we analyzed the correct attitude and mental approach when facing WEAKER opponents. Now let’s talk about the flip side of the coin: the right mental approach when facing a STRONGER opponent.

Just like in the previous scenario, there are some typical mistakes (which most players make), and I have some important practical recommendations and antidotes for these mistakes. Without further ado, let’s go!

Top Grandmasters VS Our Students

Most chess learners enjoy watching/reading the games’ analyses made by top Grandmasters. This is exciting indeed!

At the same time, however, these comments are often not very clear to the viewer/reader.

Blitz

Recently I have received a lot of questions about blitz games. Here I will answer them all.

–> Is it useful or harmful to play blitz?

When you play a blitz game, you have no time to think. Therefore you use the things you ALREADY know. Thus you do NOT learn any new skills.

Lasker’s advice

Recently I looked over my chess books and found an interesting article of Emanuel Lasker. It calls “Final Reflections on Education in Chess”. I’ve decided to share it with you, because it contains some useful ideas about chess training.

The article was written almost a century ago, but it’s still 100% actual.

The most powerful ideas in chess (part-2)

In the previous issue we’ve been talking about “the most powerful ideas in chess”.

I’ve told you why many players don’t have chess progress despite their persistent trainings. It happens because they try to learn many abstruse ideas and can’t apply them practically afterwards. That’s why a reading of numerous books often doesn’t help.

Last time I’ve asked you to perform one task (to play against a computer and to use the defensive ideas I gave you). Those who tried to perform this task found that it is almost impossible to do it practically.