Nick Visel, an adult club player on a quest to become a Class A player and National Master, shares his insights on chess improvement. He discusses innovative learning techniques for openings and the importance of balancing chess with life to avoid burnout. Visel also speculates about a hypothetical match between Karpov and Fischer in 1975. Additionally, he emphasizes the value of maintaining a poker face during OTB games, revealing the emotional nuances that come with competitive play.
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Nick's Chess Origin Story
Nick discovered chess around 2016 by randomly watching fast-paced bullet chess videos on YouTube.
His fascination with the rhythm and speed of play motivated him to start playing blitz on Chess.com.
insights INSIGHT
Queen's Gambit Changed Chess Image
The Queen's Gambit TV show helped make chess socially acceptable and stylish, dispelling stereotypes.
It broadened chess's appeal beyond the stereotypical "nerd" image and sparked wider interest.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Chessable for Effective Study
Use Chessable's move trainer and structured courses to reinforce repetition and memorize openings effectively.
Chessable facilitates easy, portable study and has transformed chess learning for club players like Nick.
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This book, now in its fourth edition, is a modern classic in chess instruction. It focuses on the concept of imbalances, which are differences in the position that players should plan their play around. Silman provides a systematic thought process to identify and exploit these imbalances, covering aspects such as minor piece advantage, pawn structure, spatial control, material, control of open files, development, initiative, and king safety. The book includes practical examples, exercises, and psychological insights to help players improve their game. It is highly recommended for serious chess players looking to enhance their strategic and positional skills.
How to Beat Your Dad at Chess
Sarah-Ann Pon
Ezra Pon
How to Win at Chess
The Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Beyond
IM Levy Rozman
107 Few adult club players are as committed to the game as Nick Visel. For years, he’s been racking up countless OTB classical games, poring through books and courses, and sharing his wisdom on Chess Twitter. Currently, Nick stands at 1600 USCF with ambitions of becoming a Class A player and reaching National Master.
Nick shares great tips from his earned wisdom, plus how he’s willing to scale back his chess when other areas of his life take priority.
In this episode, we discuss:
A better way to learn openings beyond just tedious memorization.
Why he’s reduced his chess study workload and how it helps him avoid burnout.
Why he thinks Karpov would have beaten Fischer had they played in 1975.
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The Chess Experience 
