The most important 45 minutes of your chess training
A membership, monthly or yearly. Every Monday you get six positions. You solve them in 45 minutes with no hints, then watch a solution video where I go through each one.
Most chess training is too theoretical. And when doing puzzles you know that there must be a tactical solution. Then in your game, you feel lost, because you have no hints and are under pressure.
That's why I created Real Chess Training: A chess test mimicking real game play without any hints.
Who this is for
Chess improvers rated 1500-2000 Chesscom Rapid or FIDE (roughly 1700-2200 Lichess), who want to improve their skills.
It is only for improvers who accept real improvements come through solving difficult positions, not binge-watching YouTube videos.
Here is how it works
Get your test
Every Monday, you get an Email with 6 positions, hand selected by myself. They contain opponents' ideas, tactical opportunities, traps you need to avoid and simple developing moves.
Solve your test
You set a timer for 45 minutes and write down what you would play in all 6 positions.
Learn from the solution video
Then, you get access to a solution video where I discuss each position in detail. I focus on the right thought process, decision making, how much time you should spend on each position and why some moves don't work.
Try it for yourself
If you are unsure if this is for you, you can get one Real Chess Training Test, including the solution walkthrough video, for free by entering your email below.
You'll get an email containing a 6 position test, and a link to the solution video. Try it out and see if it is for you.
The Difference to Tactics and books
The main difference is that in Real Chess Training, you are fully on your own, just like in a game. No hints, so you have no idea if you have to defend, attack or play a decent move quickly to save some time.
In books, and on tactics trainers, you often just see a solution. No hint of how to find that solution. Or why your decision wasn't good.
In the video, I explain other logical moves, go through traps you might have fallen for and always focus on the right process to get to a better outcome next time.
The difference to most other “tests”, mostly in book form, is the extensive solution video.
You leave every test with a clear idea of what you should have done, and more importantly, how you can improve your decision making next time.
How much time does this require?
In total, Real Chess Training will take 90 minutes per week.
The test will take you 45 minutes of uninterrupted time.
The solution video is between 35-45 minutes long. Watching the solution can happen on a different day and different settings.
Attention: this is hard
Training in this way has one big downside: it is really hard! You likely aren't used to thinking for 45 minutes uninterrupted with positions you don't know what to look for.
Especially early on, it will feel very hard. You might even get 0/6 in some weeks.
The difficulty is the point of this training.
The more you do it, the better it will go. And, more importantly, as you train how a real game really works, you will be more confident, and less stressed during the games that matter.
Price
Real Chess Training is a membership product. You can choose between a monthly and yearly subscription.
Your subscription will auto-renew until you cancel, which you can do anytime using a link you'll get in your sign-up email. You can also write to my team at hello@nextlevelchess.blog and we will cancel the membership for you.
Once you subscribe, you lock in this price for as long as you stay subscribed. You will not be affected by future price raises.
FAQ
Are the positions new?
Yes. Real Chess Training features original positions mostly from my own or my students' games. They are often tested with people of the same skill level and don't appear in other books or videos. Even tactical positions aren't taken from common tactics sources, but carefully selected from recently played games.
What happens once I sign up?
The moment you sign up with either a yearly or monthly membership, you will get a confirmation email containing two Bonus positions. You'll also get an explanation PDF of how exactly you can get the most out of these tests.
While you're subscribed, a new test and solution video arrive every Monday. Everything you receive while being subscribed stays accessible, including after you cancel. The links in those emails keep working.
Can I pause my subscription?
Pausing is not possible, but you don't lose anything if you miss a few weeks. The tests and solution videos you got during your subscription will remain accessible for you. That means you can miss a few weeks and do them when you have more time.
Cancellation Policy
Once you sign up, you get a receipt for your purchase. There will be a link where you can access your subscription and can cancel anytime.
Alternatively, you can always contact my team at hello@nextlevelchess.blog and we help you with the cancellation.
After cancellation, you will keep access until your next payment date.
You keep access to any test that got sent out during your active subscription. So even if you are busy one week, you don't lose that test.
How do I upgrade from monthly to yearly?
You can upgrade anytime by simply purchasing a yearly subscription and cancelling your monthly subscription. Alternatively, reach out to hello@nextlevelchess.blog and we help you with a seamless upgrade.
Can I get a refund?
No, refunds are not possible. That's what the free Test is for. You can understand if this is for you. Obviously, you can cancel your subscription at any time.
What if I'm lower rated?
The tests will be too hard and require skills you haven't learned yet. I'm working on a version for players between 1000-1500 chesscom Rapid. You can click here to subscribe to my newsletter to stay tuned.
What if I'm higher rated?
The positions will likely be a little bit too simple for you. The best way to know is to try the free Test. If it is too easy, you can check out the work by Jacob Aagaard or RB Ramesh. Both their books and online coaching are exceptional for strong players with an OTB focus and in the 2100+ FIDE range.