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Learn chess from YouTube videos or books?

there's books with diagrams every several moves - just what you can follow without needing a board

there's books with diagrams every several moves - just what you can follow without needing a board

I have a few books and each one offers what I need to improve my game. I have FCO (Fundamental Chess Openings), How to Win at Chess (GothamGuy), and Chess Fundamentals (Capablanca). Which one should I continue studying from since my endgame needs more work than a housewife in Beverly Hills. (insert laughter)

I have a few books and each one offers what I need to improve my game. I have FCO (Fundamental Chess Openings), How to Win at Chess (GothamGuy), and Chess Fundamentals (Capablanca). Which one should I continue studying from since my endgame needs more work than a housewife in Beverly Hills. (insert laughter)

@fallboss007 Why pay for a coach who is going to teach you a certain way to do something. Learn on your through books, YT (but not for how to do something), and just doing. OTJ (On The Job training) is the best to learn anything, in this manner you develop your own style of playing instead of someone's else's, i.e. coaches. In addition, coaches leave, books and videos stay. JHMO

@fallboss007 Why pay for a coach who is going to teach you a certain way to do something. Learn on your through books, YT (but not for how to do something), and just doing. OTJ (On The Job training) is the best to learn anything, in this manner you develop your own style of playing instead of someone's else's, i.e. coaches. In addition, coaches leave, books and videos stay. JHMO

@TheSicilianScholars said ^

@fallboss007 Why pay for a coach who is going to teach you a certain way to do something. Learn on your through books, YT (but not for how to do something), and just doing. OTJ (On The Job training) is the best to learn anything, in this manner you develop your own style of playing instead of someone's else's, i.e. coaches. In addition, coaches leave, books and videos stay. JHMO

I still think it’s the best way to learn fast, books and videos are slow, even if it’s the most expensive

@TheSicilianScholars said [^](/forum/redirect/post/io4GB1Y2) > @fallboss007 Why pay for a coach who is going to teach you a certain way to do something. Learn on your through books, YT (but not for how to do something), and just doing. OTJ (On The Job training) is the best to learn anything, in this manner you develop your own style of playing instead of someone's else's, i.e. coaches. In addition, coaches leave, books and videos stay. JHMO I still think it’s the best way to learn fast, books and videos are slow, even if it’s the most expensive

I believe books are much better than videos. This is because books contain analyzed games with exercises (videos usually offer more content than analysis, and exercises are rarely shown), and you use your brain more to understand, therefore you will improve more easily.

I believe books are much better than videos. This is because books contain analyzed games with exercises (videos usually offer more content than analysis, and exercises are rarely shown), and you use your brain more to understand, therefore you will improve more easily.

@chessedu2025 That's I like collecting useful chess books, either Kindle or physical one because I can refer to them whenever I want. Some of these YT videos might not be there anymore.

@chessedu2025 That's I like collecting useful chess books, either Kindle or physical one because I can refer to them whenever I want. Some of these YT videos might not be there anymore.

I think Good Channels in Chess Category such as Remote Chess Academy, (Which I would highly recommend for Chess Videos) Would be good if you want to learn quick, Useful and Short Topics. For analyzing and "Depth" Chess, I would recommend Chess Books, As they cover to deep analysis and go to minor variations, and also, as @chessedu2025 has said, I do agree that you use your brain to understand which helps you remember longer.

Conclusion:
Chess Videos if: You want quick, Explained Topics. But you must Take notes so that you have your Recap all the time.

Chess Books if: You want to go deep in a/multiple topics and get deep analysis.

I think Good Channels in Chess Category such as Remote Chess Academy, (Which I would highly recommend for Chess Videos) Would be good if you want to learn quick, Useful and Short Topics. For analyzing and "Depth" Chess, I would recommend Chess Books, As they cover to deep analysis and go to minor variations, and also, as @chessedu2025 has said, I do agree that you use your brain to understand which helps you remember longer. Conclusion: Chess Videos if: You want quick, Explained Topics. But you must Take notes so that you have your Recap all the time. Chess Books if: You want to go deep in a/multiple topics and get deep analysis.

@TheSicilianScholars said ^

@fallboss007 Why pay for a coach who is going to teach you a certain way to do something. Learn on your through books, YT (but not for how to do something), and just doing. OTJ (On The Job training) is the best to learn anything, in this manner you develop your own style of playing instead of someone's else's, i.e. coaches. In addition, coaches leave, books and videos stay. JHMO

Well, for one thing, human coaches can do what no AI or engine will never be able to replicate: Analyze games in such a way as to find specific areas of your game for you to work on, and the REALLY good ones will not just teach you how to do your own analysis: They'll go into plain English explanations of why a particular line of play was better than what actually went down. That's why I am 100% against using Stockfish or any AI/engine to analyze a game.

But one of the dangers of looking for a chess coach is that most of them have no concept of doing their end of their homework and interviewing you extensively to determine if you're a fit for each other. The coach has to choose you as much as you're choosing them, and if he/she can't establish that feeling with you before reaching for your wallet, that's a major red flag (personal experience speaking).

@TheSicilianScholars said [^](/forum/redirect/post/io4GB1Y2) > @fallboss007 Why pay for a coach who is going to teach you a certain way to do something. Learn on your through books, YT (but not for how to do something), and just doing. OTJ (On The Job training) is the best to learn anything, in this manner you develop your own style of playing instead of someone's else's, i.e. coaches. In addition, coaches leave, books and videos stay. JHMO Well, for one thing, human coaches can do what no AI or engine will never be able to replicate: Analyze games in such a way as to find specific areas of your game for you to work on, and the REALLY good ones will not just teach you how to do your own analysis: They'll go into plain English explanations of why a particular line of play was better than what actually went down. That's why I am 100% against using Stockfish or any AI/engine to analyze a game. But one of the dangers of looking for a chess coach is that most of them have no concept of doing their end of their homework and interviewing you extensively to determine if you're a fit for each other. The coach has to choose you as much as you're choosing them, and if he/she can't establish that feeling with you before reaching for your wallet, that's a major red flag (personal experience speaking).

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