Chess Books vs Chess Videos: There are many ways to learn chess, but I have a preference

As a chess coach, I help both kids and adults improve their games. There is a big difference between how kids and adults want to learn. Kids are from the computer generation and want to learn by watching chess videos, while adults are still willing to learn by opening a book.

What is the difference in learning? Videos are entertaining and easy to access but some of the commentators may be less than skilled teachers and the information they’re giving may not be reliable. I have seen kids watch a video and play the opening variation only to find that they were given some bad moves and quickly lose a game.

The rule should be: the chess information you get online is only as trustworthy as any other information you get online.

On the other hand, books give you opening lines that have been checked and rechecked, most of the time by a Grandmaster who plays the opening. I have a number of books on each of the opening lines that I and my students play, so we can compare them and play the line that we feel is the best.

Game collection books of top plays are also very helpful. When you play through one of the Grandmaster games, it’s like having them give you a lesson. They will tell you what they were thinking, why they made that move and tell you what mistakes they made. I have books where both players review the game, so you get both points of view. I have over 1,600 chess books, so I may lean more toward chess books than videos.

My students sometimes look through my library for information on the openings they play, game collections or about chess players they like. Chess players die but their games live on in books, if only we’ll open them up and study them. I can sit down with Fischer, Tal, Steinitz, Lasker or a hundred other players and be entertained for a few hours. I hope my students will, too.

Larry Ball (Coach Larry) teaches students of all ages at the Steinitz Chess Academy in Beaverton. Questions? Email Larry at larryball48@yahoo.com.