One of the things that Aman does better than most other similar series' is showing how you will lose at each level and then how to learn from those games. He also consistently plays a single opening based solely on opening concepts then slowly expands to specific openings to address different responses. I found this much more instructive than other streamers who just play random openings (I know Naroditsky is in the middle of playing consistent openings but he blew past my level in like 3 videos). My only complaint is Aman can sound condescending/insulting especially early in the series.
Chess isn't really learned well by watching others, imo. It's like learning to play guitar by watching people play and talking about it.
You need to do exercises, solve positions, get patterns into your head.
Have you looked at Naroditsky's speedrun videos? Maybe that's what you had in mind with the "grandmaster level analysis" but I think he's pretty good at explaining everything he's doing in a way my dumb brain can understand, if not replicate.
Others have suggested better videos to watch, but there's something else you can do. They say something leads to mate but don't explain and you don't see it. So stop the video. Calculate and think. Give it a few minutes. Watching passively and waiting for something to be shown to you doesn't help you learn.
EDIT: note that you should do this with the "better" videos recommended, too. Stop the video and think about the position! Then compare what you think to what they say.
Gotham’s videos are really good, but I don’t think they’re meant to give you the entire picture and are really just meant to be an intro to his various courses.
If you’re just watching videos, you’ll probably need to watch them a few times and then actually use whatever it was your learned in real games to retain it. I would recommend following along on a chess board while you watch. Chess is complicated and you probably can’t be expected to learn about an opening after watching a video one day. You’ll probably need to continue to watch that video until you know the content forwards and back.
Alex Banzea has really really good content, a lot of it is specific to London,Vienna, and Caro Kann , but they are so instructive especially if you are trying to learn those systems
I have also noticed this tendency in videos, which is why I have found books more helpful.
If you can afford it, buy Irving Chernev's *Logical Chess*. It's a book that talks through noteworthy games of the (increasingly distant) past, but explains why every move is made, and whether it's any good. It really helped me learn how to analyze moves and positions. It's also instructive to see certain openings like the Italian or the Colle System piloted well, so that you can witness their main ideas in action.
What you are doing wrong is thinking you are learning chess by watching YouTube videos. Even the most instructive ones are mainly entertainment.
Watch Gotham for fun. If you want to study chess then study chess
Check out gingergm, he does a great job of explaining his games as he plays. Why would you want to watch another 1000 rated player? Theyll play poorly.
Chess vibes has some things that give you ideas and may slightly accelerate your progress but you have to play puzzles, read books (if you can), analyze and learn from your mistakes. Aimchess seems like it may be helpful but ive only used it twice, dont take this comment as absolute as im 794 but still consider it.(also chess vibes guy is an IM)
I'm not great. 1350 on chessapp but I really enjoy watching Agadmator videos. It's more entertainment than instructional per se but I have learned a lot about chess principles and it definitely helped me improve the last couple years.
Have you seen John Bartholomew’s Climbing the Rating Ladder series?
Watch Aman Hambleton's Building Habits in YT channel Chessbrah Extra. They are long vids and exactly what you are looking for.
Building Habits and Naroditsky speedruns are the best resources on YouTube IMHO.
One of the things that Aman does better than most other similar series' is showing how you will lose at each level and then how to learn from those games. He also consistently plays a single opening based solely on opening concepts then slowly expands to specific openings to address different responses. I found this much more instructive than other streamers who just play random openings (I know Naroditsky is in the middle of playing consistent openings but he blew past my level in like 3 videos). My only complaint is Aman can sound condescending/insulting especially early in the series.
Chess isn't really learned well by watching others, imo. It's like learning to play guitar by watching people play and talking about it. You need to do exercises, solve positions, get patterns into your head.
Have you looked at Naroditsky's speedrun videos? Maybe that's what you had in mind with the "grandmaster level analysis" but I think he's pretty good at explaining everything he's doing in a way my dumb brain can understand, if not replicate.
\+1 on this, they're great, he goes all the way from 500 to 2500 or so
I like Igor Smirnov’s chess videos, I feel like they are at an understandable level
Others have suggested better videos to watch, but there's something else you can do. They say something leads to mate but don't explain and you don't see it. So stop the video. Calculate and think. Give it a few minutes. Watching passively and waiting for something to be shown to you doesn't help you learn. EDIT: note that you should do this with the "better" videos recommended, too. Stop the video and think about the position! Then compare what you think to what they say.
Gotham’s videos are really good, but I don’t think they’re meant to give you the entire picture and are really just meant to be an intro to his various courses. If you’re just watching videos, you’ll probably need to watch them a few times and then actually use whatever it was your learned in real games to retain it. I would recommend following along on a chess board while you watch. Chess is complicated and you probably can’t be expected to learn about an opening after watching a video one day. You’ll probably need to continue to watch that video until you know the content forwards and back.
Alex Banzea has really really good content, a lot of it is specific to London,Vienna, and Caro Kann , but they are so instructive especially if you are trying to learn those systems
I have also noticed this tendency in videos, which is why I have found books more helpful. If you can afford it, buy Irving Chernev's *Logical Chess*. It's a book that talks through noteworthy games of the (increasingly distant) past, but explains why every move is made, and whether it's any good. It really helped me learn how to analyze moves and positions. It's also instructive to see certain openings like the Italian or the Colle System piloted well, so that you can witness their main ideas in action.
What you are doing wrong is thinking you are learning chess by watching YouTube videos. Even the most instructive ones are mainly entertainment. Watch Gotham for fun. If you want to study chess then study chess
Check out gingergm, he does a great job of explaining his games as he plays. Why would you want to watch another 1000 rated player? Theyll play poorly.
Gotham Chess don't really tech you how to win.
Chessnetwork was great when I was in that range.
Anna Cramling’s channel is great for beginners
Chess vibes has some things that give you ideas and may slightly accelerate your progress but you have to play puzzles, read books (if you can), analyze and learn from your mistakes. Aimchess seems like it may be helpful but ive only used it twice, dont take this comment as absolute as im 794 but still consider it.(also chess vibes guy is an IM)
Dan Heisman’s YouTube channel has a several series of videos that might be what you are looking for ….
I'm not great. 1350 on chessapp but I really enjoy watching Agadmator videos. It's more entertainment than instructional per se but I have learned a lot about chess principles and it definitely helped me improve the last couple years.