One of the best chess teaching videos currently on youtube, shame it gets murdered in viewership because it was posted to the "extra" channel with only 8k subs.
Aman, you really should make more opening theory for beginner type videos - those segments are entertaining and incredibly informative and I love the focus on recommending solid, practical moves vs the "well, the sharpest and best computer line is to sacrifice this bishop blah blah" that most other chess content creators tend towards
Aman - I think you are changing the ELO system with this content. So many players getting better and better using these habits. What is so great is that you show a way to get a playable position, not memorizing 25 moves in every variation of each opening, but giving us a way to establish good positions. I have a long way to go, but just positioning the Rooks has landed me in much better positions. I can't thank you enough for this content!
Something that Mr Aman Hambleton understood is that "habits" shape your performances, in every day life and in chess. There isnt much sense of studying 30 moves theory for 6 openings as black and white for a 1000 ELO. But what makes sense, is to understand chess. His approach, teaching the fundamentals and building up on that is a sign of his great understanding of Chess and his intellligence. WE thank you Mr Aman Hambleton
I cannot thank you enough man. I have never heard explaining an opening theory that clearly. I have always hated them as a low elo rated player. But now I am starting to enjoy them thanks to you.
This series is the best chess course ever! Easy to remember fundamentals first and now we get some more theory that we are now able to memorize because we have the contrast to the fundamentals. This is one of the best episodes so far i think
So grateful for this series! And here’s where we part company (for now). I’m about 1000 USCF measuring by playing 3 different chess engines and am writing down how I’m learning to play chess. Here in this video, at about my rating range, we’re memorizing specific responses with simple variations for a few openings. I’ll definitely keep watching but have a pretty good idea about where this road leads & am going my own way, which is likely wrong but more engaging for me personally. 🤞 Thanks so much for the clear & thought-provoking content! 🙏
Me when watching this: brilliant, everything makes so much sense, i get it, its easy. I'm gonna destroy these 1100 ELOs Me when playing a game: lose again
Timestamps from (@bencornelius1620) and me: (6:27) - Game 1 [Black, Ponziani Opening] (respond with two knights) -- (10:03) Instructive tidbit = Don’t capture center pawns with center pawns when they’re protected by flank pawns. You’re basically trading your center pawn for that flank pawn. (13:06) - Game 2 [White, Caro-Kann Defense] + (17:50) *THEORY* for White against the Caro-Kann Defense (1…c6). ----- The Two Knights Attack (32:38) - Game 3 [Black, Four Knights: Italian] --- (42:06) When bringing rooks to middle with a pair of double pawns in the center: ------- REMEMBER which files would open up and which of the two center pawns will be left undefended after your opponent takes. It’s usually the front doubled pawn. ------- NOTICE how you also walk into a pin, so your knight can't move again. --- (45:51) To prevent the bishop pin, knight tactic to open up the kingside. When having the option to castle or play h6 with the bishop’s diagonal open, play h6. (49:06) - Game 4 [ABORTED] (49:50) - Game 5 [White, Sicillian Defense] --- (58:26) REMEMBER to [PREMOVE UNDER 2 SECONDS] ------ (59:44) HOW? + (1:00:47) *THEORY* for White against the Sicillian Defense (1…c5). ----- The Delayed Alapin (Playing c3, to push for d4) (1:11:14) - Game 6 [White, Sicillian Defense] --- (1:16:49) REMEMBER When you have the option between trading something for something else and getting something for free, almost always get the thing that's free. ------ NOTICE how when you trade a Knight (3p) for a Rook (5p) you're only really getting +2 points. But when you get the free Knight, it's +3 points. (1:23:27) - Game 7 [White, Sicillian Defense] (1:26:24) - Game 8 [Black, King’s Gambit] -- (1:35:12) Theory for Black against the King's Gambit (1. e4, e5 2. f4). ----- King’s Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense (Modern, Abbazia Defense) ---------- Play d5 to deflect the pawn and develop your Kingside pieces. ----------------- If they push the e pawn forwards, play a similar setup to the QGD, and develop your Knight to G6 by going to e7. (1:43:14) - Game 9 [Black, Evan’s Gambit] + (1:51:48) *THEORY* for Black against the Evan’s Gambit ----- Giuoco Piano Game: Evans Accepted, Anderssen Variation
Thanks Aman for the basic habits level 1-2! They make chess much easier and more enjoyable. The funny thing is, I don't care much about my rating, so I will ignore much of the level 3, like those longer memorized lines, pre-moves, and the heavy training required to recognize the tactics so readily. Maybe I will still pick up some easier stuff like the rook placement. It would be awesome if you could do a follow-up series like "Chill Chess Habits Level 2.5"
When he said RiverDen was the only one that would fall for that mate he wasn't kidding. Out of 750k Two knights Karo-Khan, only 14 were mated like that.
The series is amazing. I have watched Level one 4 times, level 3 three times and now I have almost hit 1100 (1089). I think Aman's videos are better than a lot of tutoring sessions people would pay for.
Great video! I have been watching every habits special video so far and I have learned so much! Thanks a lot for this free content explaining so many openings 😊👌
The moment Riverden became a legend along with Yoked Nando and this australian mole whose name I've forgotten, Aman made me laugh and learn ! Priceless !
update - july 3rd 2023 - ELO ==> 277 January 3rd 2024 - ELO 1036 ==> Habits with black and switched to stonewall around 800 Stonewall with white is an absolute beast and habits with black is just a saviour without learning theory Forever grateful
1:21:40 i respect you sir. This is the best of all this format of habits you have been doing. Thanks for the lesson and thanks for the content all along. I doubted you, i was not ok but now i understand the whole purpose of all this. Thanks again.
Feel like we're getting to the games I'm playing against, hovering around 1200. Becoming a struggle to progress but then I watch Aman and he makes it look a doddle. Just hope the Habits rubs off & let it happen for all of us, guys. Lets storm those Ratings. IMs beware, Habits is here.
If it makes you feel better I was stuck at 1300 for about a year.. Finally went on a roll and got up to 1530, now I haven't been below 1500 for weeks. I noticed there's not much difference between 1300-1500. Once you get to one of them you tend to stay there
I really appreciate the lessons and the idea that it’s necessary to keep improving but oh my god it’s overwhelming. I’m still on level 2 anyway but damn
If you’re level 2 don’t worry too much about the advanced stuff you’re seeing here. If you do notice say a nice pin you can exploit great use it. But if you miss it, at your level you should be fine.
Does Aman explain the reasoning behind no gambits? I’m wondering whether to abandon certain well loved (and well understood) gambits I play to stay true to habits. I personally believe certain gambits can teach beginners important principles.
When the last vid was uploaded I complained about losing a bunch of rating. Since then I’ve climbed to my highest rating yet! I discovered I played too fast because I was convinced “yeah I know exactly what I want to do now so I can just be quick”. I’m also still not good about using my king in endgames. Focusing more on that has helped a lot
If youve managed to dip low enough to complain, and then peak high enough to praise in 5 days or so between these videos I think you're playing a bit much dude. Chess is a long learning process you will dip and peak a million times over the years
@@jordylont1879 yeah which is great if you enjoy it, just keep in mind how much your elo will fluctuate the more you play, and don't worry too much about it
This is amazing stuff and really helpful for me. Is there a way to get the theory parts in pgn files? Would like to import them in my chessable app and study them.
Love this series! I quickly rose from about 600 to 900 after watching but seem to be plateauing now. Bouncing between 900-920. Any tips for remembering all of these opening moves?
Repetition. What i do is, i just play the same opening and try to remember 1 extra move each time. After a while you know about 5 moves of theory to most lines and 3 to 4 lines of best moves following that. Once your in the middle game its actually playing chess. Strategy and tactics. Keep the basics in the back of your head. (Rooks to the middle and what not). Also, and this is new to me as well. When you dont know the right move to make and an opponents piece is on your side of the board. Instead of "random pawn move" Try to get rid of that piece that is on your side asap. Cause after a while, if left ignored, they get reinforcements
59:05 "If you don't know what a pre-move is, follow that guy that sugested taking at d5 and go to class 101. You are going to be SEAT mates" 🤣 Chess 101 is like calculus 1, super crowded.
1:05:30 The "defense" of the e-pawn was one step too much. Black can still take that pawn and white can't take back because of a fork. This type of fork in the center is typical. In general, at move 5, lower rated players shouldn't play 5.0-0 because the justification for the next d2-d4 is actually too complex for them. (Remember, the rook move is one too much) Play 5.d4 straight away for a more straightforward game. You can short castle a little bit later.
for caro kann 2 knights, what about when the opponent doesn't take or move the pawn and plays c3? e4 c6 f3 d5 c3 ? (computer says to push pawn, is that the end of the trappy line?)
Why is it that when im looking at your videos i can actually see most of the tactics, best moves to play and im thinking to myself "i've got this" then when i play, my mind just goes blank and i fall for stupid traps, discovered checks and what not. 😅
