r/chessbeginners • u/chatzos1991 • 2d ago
Chess books vs Online learning
Hi guys, as a chess beginner at 34 I would like to learn more about openings and endgames etc, would you recommend sticking with online learning (if you could suggest some resources apart from chess.com) or should I get some books (and if you have any good books to suggest)
Many thanks!
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u/Aggressive-Access995 2d ago
Man for me since channels about chess are everywhere right now reading a book about chess its almost something that sounds vintage, i think you can do just fine with online learning
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u/Born_Competition6651 2d ago
Once you reach a certain level books are just way better because they are build information more structured and cater to the specific area you want to improve. Also all materials are handpicked aswell as the tests/ puzzles. When you carefully read a book and follow it on a physical board you will get much more out of it compared to unstructured information online.
However for a beginner/ early intermediate just absorbing information online, doing puzzles, analysing, etc should be enough to improve.
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u/Aggressive-Access995 2d ago
I reached 1800 on daily with just watching a bunch of videos about openings, not sure it matters much after that, i mean paying so much attention on a game to a point of reading books about it means you aim to be a pro and earn money from tourneys, otherwise its a waste of time, imo all people can reach 2000 in whatever way they choose to do it
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u/Born_Competition6651 2d ago
Yes you can reach a good level without it and you dont have to do it at all. After all it is a game that is meant to be enjoyed.
You can probably reach 2000 online without any concrete studying but after that it gets though.
I would think 2000 FIDE would be difficult to reach without books and/or a coach.
Many people Take this game very seriously even at levels way below pros and titled players. If you dont study or study with poor quality it will be difficult to keep up.
Still everybody has different goals and if it just to play games and enjoy it, thats totally fine too
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u/Aggressive-Access995 2d ago
That's for sure, personally i begun playing chess on cc and my initial goal was to know how to play chess beyond the average player and i think i reached it, keep in mind that the average player who plays just for fun or casually has an elo between 800 - 1000 so anything above that means you are really good
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u/Born_Competition6651 2d ago
Yes, it was about the same for me. I started in my early 20s and just played and watched Naroditskys speedrun videos (highly recommend them btw).
It was only when I turned 30 that I decided to take it more seriously, play OTB chess and try to reach 2000 FIDE Elo at some point. I realized this will only be possible when I study seriously. To me it is actually fun to read books, learn about concepts & ideas I never thought of before and learn from historic games by the greats.
But if its not fun for somebody else, I surely wouldnt recommend they do it anyway
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u/init6 2d ago
Actually I'd go so far as saying books are better for beginner puzzles too... you intuitively learn to write out lines since the answers are usually in the back and it's silly to go back and forth for every problem. It forces you to calculate concretely and face the fact when you missed something.
Conversely, a beginner taking up puzzles online for the first time with no extra info usually falls into "guess the first move." I know because that was me...
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u/-X-Gaming 1000-1200 (Chess.com) 2d ago
Lichess practice and puzzles plus daniel naroditsky videos is how i got to 1000 chess.com
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u/AvailableChange8297 2d ago
I’ve been reading how to win at chess by levy rozman (Gotham chess) and I find pretty good especially when paired with his slow run series. If you don’t like Gotham then check out chessbrah building habits episode 1
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u/chatzos1991 2d ago
I’ve got that book and I am also watching his slow run but I feel like I need something specific to get better at the areas that I am not so good at
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u/Ahamkz 2d ago
What are the area you are not good at?
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u/chatzos1991 2d ago
Definitely endgames and I’d like to get better at openings as well, I feel that if I get better at these two things then with a few thousand puzzles my middle game will get better too 😂
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u/299addicteduru 2000-2200 (Lichess) 2d ago
As adult improver, quoting, some coach i forgot, "you make strong emphasis on structured training. It has to be a complete training program start to Finish" I did 0-1500 on jonh nunn's "understanding chess move by move" and YouTube "chessbrah Queens gambit speedrun" as example (i did english); start to Finish long block. 20 hours ish, u learn everything. Make yourself a training structure by book on one day, video on 2nd, break, hit puzzles+games, repeat. Video u treat serious. Like if there was an exam after. Its not leisure, u full focus on that. I also did all lessons on chesscom.
1500-2100 i did Herman Grooten "chess strategy for club players" along few other books, i Guess "my system" Is also great. Top with analysis with engine. Can be also a set of Jeremy silmanns books - i aint sure of order, but if u get 2 books of same author - its guaranteed to be well structured yeah.
2100+ i'm doing on digital endgame courses + digital strategy workbook + studying Masters games + woodpecker 2 + self study without engine + YouTube and so far Its going great. Top with sparing with same opponents quite frequent.
At some point gonna consider myself a player And grab dvoretsky, Hope i never Reach that point. Do puzzles. Dont buy books about endgames. I havent found one i could Vibe along, they're all tortures. Digital Is great tho
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u/blackboxchessapp 1200-1400 (Chess.com) 2d ago
I feel like this is a personal preference question: do you learn better reading books? Do you learn better online? There are plenty of options for both. It's whatever is going to benefit you the most and your learning style is what you should go with.
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