Why are my chess YouTube Shorts stuck in low views? Looking for advice! • page 1/1 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

Hi everyone!

I recently started a YouTube channel (@AkAy-CHESS) focusing on historical chess brilliance, legendary games, and tactical masterpieces (like Morphy, Alekhine, Lasker, etc.) formatted as vertical Shorts.

While some of my videos manage to get a decent push from the algorithm (crossing 1K+ views with high retention rates around 70-80%), some other videos with similar quality and pacing instantly stall out around 200 views.

For those of you who create chess content or understand how the YouTube Shorts algorithm treats niche content:

What is the main trap or bottleneck for historical chess shorts?

Is it all about the first 1-second hook, or does the repetition/frequency of uploads affect the reach on a small channel?

Any tips on how to stand out in the massive chess shorts space?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or any critique on my channel if you have a minute to check it out. Thanks in advance!

[Link to channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AkAy-CHESS/shorts]

Hi everyone! I recently started a YouTube channel (@AkAy-CHESS) focusing on historical chess brilliance, legendary games, and tactical masterpieces (like Morphy, Alekhine, Lasker, etc.) formatted as vertical Shorts. While some of my videos manage to get a decent push from the algorithm (crossing 1K+ views with high retention rates around 70-80%), some other videos with similar quality and pacing instantly stall out around 200 views. For those of you who create chess content or understand how the YouTube Shorts algorithm treats niche content: What is the main trap or bottleneck for historical chess shorts? Is it all about the first 1-second hook, or does the repetition/frequency of uploads affect the reach on a small channel? Any tips on how to stand out in the massive chess shorts space? I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or any critique on my channel if you have a minute to check it out. Thanks in advance! [Link to channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AkAy-CHESS/shorts]

GeneralChessKing

edited

You could share slightly longer videos, and while your content is quite high-quality, it would get more views if it were a bit more unique. You should be a little patient (aaa Türk olduğunu yeni farkettim)

alarmallama

People like seeing a human on screen and people don't like AI voices. You're probably going to struggle getting significant viewership.

haroldlewis

One short I saw ("terrible opening") should have been titled "terrible youtube short". The audio at the start states that you play "Queen e2", whereas you actually play Ke2, after which the audio says you play "Queen e3" and the move played is Be3. The audio is just rubbish. At some point later in the video the audio refers to the bishop on f5 as "Qf5", exchanging bishops is referred to as "exchanges queens" - you really need your AI to understand that queen is not a generic word for piece. Then there is the fact that the audio syncs badly with the video, so you discuss moves typically several moves before they are played.

Another short ("game 11") the AI voiceover is more generic but states that, after accurate calculation, you go up material. However, in the game itself you are down material right up to the point where your opponent blunders his queen and immediately resigns.

This is what people call AI slop.

One short I saw ("terrible opening") should have been titled "terrible youtube short". The audio at the start states that you play "Queen e2", whereas you actually play Ke2, after which the audio says you play "Queen e3" and the move played is Be3. The audio is just rubbish. At some point later in the video the audio refers to the bishop on f5 as "Qf5", exchanging bishops is referred to as "exchanges queens" - you really need your AI to understand that queen is not a generic word for piece. Then there is the fact that the audio syncs badly with the video, so you discuss moves typically several moves before they are played. Another short ("game 11") the AI voiceover is more generic but states that, after accurate calculation, you go up material. However, in the game itself you are down material right up to the point where your opponent blunders his queen and immediately resigns. This is what people call AI slop.

AkAy-Resolve

edited

@haroldlewis said ^

One short I saw ("terrible opening") should have been titled "terrible youtube short". The audio at the start states that you play "Queen e2", whereas you actually play Ke2, after which the audio says you play "Queen e3" and the move played is Be3. The audio is just rubbish. At some point later in the video the audio refers to the bishop on f5 as "Qf5", exchanging bishops is referred to as "exchan...

that videos are bad. I know that. I was trying to see if something works. I was talking about the shorts not the videos.
I will not use ai voiceover in my future long videos.

@haroldlewis said [^](/forum/redirect/post/Bxrp2aVs) > One short I saw ("terrible opening") should have been titled "terrible youtube short". The audio at the start states that you play "Queen e2", whereas you actually play Ke2, after which the audio says you play "Queen e3" and the move played is Be3. The audio is just rubbish. At some point later in the video the audio refers to the bishop on f5 as "Qf5", exchanging bishops is referred to as "exchan... that videos are bad. I know that. I was trying to see if something works. I was talking about the shorts not the videos. I will not use ai voiceover in my future long videos.

Toscani

edited

Work on the sound effects. It's drowning the chess you are trying to show.

AkAy-Resolve

@Toscani said ^

Work on the sound effects. It's drowning the chess you are trying to show.

HOW can ı add the sounds effects in a phonk chess edit. It is a good idea for long videos in the future.

@Toscani said [^](/forum/redirect/post/uMdUScBq) > Work on the sound effects. It's drowning the chess you are trying to show. HOW can ı add the sounds effects in a phonk chess edit. It is a good idea for long videos in the future.

AkAy-Resolve

@GeneralChessKing said ^

You could share slightly longer videos, and while your content is quite high-quality, it would get more views if it were a bit more unique. You should be a little patient (aaa Türk olduğunu yeni farkettim)

Asıl kısa videolar hiç etkileşim almıyor şu an kanaldaki uzun videolardan memnun olmasamda. Shorts videoları atacağım önümüzdeki süreçte kanal büyüyene kadar.

@GeneralChessKing said [^](/forum/redirect/post/M6Cge2ld) > You could share slightly longer videos, and while your content is quite high-quality, it would get more views if it were a bit more unique. You should be a little patient (aaa Türk olduğunu yeni farkettim) Asıl kısa videolar hiç etkileşim almıyor şu an kanaldaki uzun videolardan memnun olmasamda. Shorts videoları atacağım önümüzdeki süreçte kanal büyüyene kadar.