This week’s returning guest is the renowned author, Chessable author and trainer, GM Axel Smith. Axel, of course is best known for the groundbreaking tactics manual, The Woodpecker Method, and is finally releasing its much-anticipated sequel, The Woodpecker Method 2: Positional Play. While the first Woodpecker volume focused on tactics, this one helps readers learn critical positional patterns. In our conversation, we discuss the challenges of and logistics behind selecting over 1000 positional puzzles. We also have a wide-ranging discussion about Axel’s latest thoughts about chess improvement, a topic he has covered in excellent books like Pump Up Your Rating and Street Smart Chess. We touch on how Axel’s chess goals have evolved now that he has a family, his advice regarding offering draws, and even the parallels between trying to improve at distance running and at chess. As always links of topics referenced are below.
Book available from Quality Chess and Forward Chess, coming soon to Chessable
https://forwardchess.com/product/the-woodpecker-method2
PDF Sample of the book:
https://forwardchess.com/sample/the-woodpecker-method2
Forward Chess:
https://forwardchess.com/product/the-woodpecker-method2
02:00- GM Axel Smith joins the show. Was it challenging to make a compilation of “positional puzzles”?
Mentioned: GMs Christopher Yoo, Renier Castellanos, Sam Shankland, Nordirbek Abdusattorov
Simple Chess, Winning Chess Strategies, The Power of Pawns
14:00- Patreon mailbag question: When will Woodpecker 2 be available on Chessable?
Mentioned: FM Nate Solon’s post, Woodpecker Revisited
https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/the-woodpecker-method-revisited?utm_source=publication-search
21:00- Check out the app of our new sponsors Chess Universe in your app store.
https://chess-universe.sng.link/Dqw52/kbhh
22:00- We revisit some of the most memorable chess improvement advice from Axel’s classic book Pump Up Your Rating. What advice would he change?
Mentioned: My Chessable course, Identifying Critical Moments in Chess
https://www.chessable.com/identifying-critical-moments-in-chess/course/248353/
31:00- Axel quit his job to focus on distance running training, and runs 20 Kilometers a day. We discuss his training regimen
38:00- Returning to chess, we discuss Axel’s philosophy regarding draw offers.
40:00- Has the success of The Woodpecker Method changed Axel’s life?
43:00- Why does Axel think adults often struggle to improve?
47:00- Has Axel’s overall improvement philosophy changed since Pump Up Your Rating?
48:00- Thanks to Axel for rejoining us, you can keep up with his work via Chessable and Quality Chess.
https://www.chessable.com/author/axelsmith/
https://qualitychess.co.uk/products/improvement/446/_the_woodpecker_method_2_by_axel_smith/
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