Don't use Public Lichess Openings Studies To Learn Openings • page 4/6 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

i have created a lot of opening studies for myself. However, like @dboing said, they may not be quite as useful for other players.

This study illustrates how to defend against an obscure opening, the Chigorin Defense.

https://lichess.org/study/Rbxf3JxW

It is rather short but useful.

However, there are also many openings that are extremely deep and complicated. The Greco Gambit is a complicated opening requiring precise play to maintain an advantage as black.
This study on the Greco Gambit is almost impossible to understand. I created it quickly and still need to separate the analysis into multiple chapters.

https://lichess.org/study/mE5rQEZT

These are the two extremes of opening studies. Those with minimal analysis and those with too much analysis. Perhaps the best way to learn openings with studies is to create your own studies.

i have created a lot of opening studies for myself. However, like @dboing said, they may not be quite as useful for other players. This study illustrates how to defend against an obscure opening, the Chigorin Defense. https://lichess.org/study/Rbxf3JxW It is rather short but useful. However, there are also many openings that are extremely deep and complicated. The Greco Gambit is a complicated opening requiring precise play to maintain an advantage as black. This study on the Greco Gambit is almost impossible to understand. I created it quickly and still need to separate the analysis into multiple chapters. https://lichess.org/study/mE5rQEZT These are the two extremes of opening studies. Those with minimal analysis and those with too much analysis. Perhaps the best way to learn openings with studies is to create your own studies.

@TartakowerCK yeah studying games is an excellent way to learn openings, it just takes a lot longer than studying theory

dboing

#35

and might be too subtle imbalances for long moves sequences at a time, if balanced master pairing... no? I am thinking for people trying to learn. I think caricatures are more pedagogical than truth, with all its nuances. But that might really be just me.

Also, personally, i think the notion of model is a good one. but it could be fake design. But i get it, as a complement the masters games can be the cherry on top.... Some diversity of discourse within the study also would make them more breathable.

But repeating the existing branches, without cross-branch connection seems only good for rote opening "theory". It has no appeal to me, if no connections at some positions down the variants are not made conceptually with other openings. minimize the number of critters in the bag by making families (meaningful ones, positional families?).

and might be too subtle imbalances for long moves sequences at a time, if balanced master pairing... no? I am thinking for people trying to learn. I think caricatures are more pedagogical than truth, with all its nuances. But that might really be just me. Also, personally, i think the notion of model is a good one. but it could be fake design. But i get it, as a complement the masters games can be the cherry on top.... Some diversity of discourse within the study also would make them more breathable. But repeating the existing branches, without cross-branch connection seems only good for rote opening "theory". It has no appeal to me, if no connections at some positions down the variants are not made conceptually with other openings. minimize the number of critters in the bag by making families (meaningful ones, positional families?).

#36

DaveCromer

#37

As a beginner I've also found the vast majority of 'hot' studies to be practically useless for my own learning purposes.

My suggestion is that Lichess creates a 'Lichess Recommended' section of studies. People can submit studies to Lichess for consideration for this section, who over time would add the really well done, educational, well annotated, easily understandable ones to this section.

Obviously this creates some work for someone at Lichess, but I feel like with this idea the people doing this work could relatively quickly cull the vast majority of studies submitted with a brief look at the lack of any real info in most of them. I would think over a relatively short amount of time someone dedicated to the job for a little while could put together a pretty good group of 'good' studies for others to learn from.

Or maybe to cut down on the work, make it so people can't 'submit' studies for consideration for the Lichess Recommended section. Instead, whoever was doing it would just add the really high quality ones over time as they come across them.

Again, I understand this is creating an actual job that has to be done, but it seems like it could be a worthwhile thing for Lichess to allocate some resources to. As stated by the OP, the current study database is just not working as an educational tool due to the difficulty in finding the quality ones. (I suppose though it probably works great for people to make their own studies for themselves, and that's a great thing). I usually just search out other websites to try to learn, and don't bother trying to search through the studies here as it is currently.

As a beginner I've also found the vast majority of 'hot' studies to be practically useless for my own learning purposes. My suggestion is that Lichess creates a 'Lichess Recommended' section of studies. People can submit studies to Lichess for consideration for this section, who over time would add the really well done, educational, well annotated, easily understandable ones to this section. Obviously this creates some work for someone at Lichess, but I feel like with this idea the people doing this work could relatively quickly cull the vast majority of studies submitted with a brief look at the lack of any real info in most of them. I would think over a relatively short amount of time someone dedicated to the job for a little while could put together a pretty good group of 'good' studies for others to learn from. Or maybe to cut down on the work, make it so people can't 'submit' studies for consideration for the Lichess Recommended section. Instead, whoever was doing it would just add the really high quality ones over time as they come across them. Again, I understand this is creating an actual job that has to be done, but it seems like it could be a worthwhile thing for Lichess to allocate some resources to. As stated by the OP, the current study database is just not working as an educational tool due to the difficulty in finding the quality ones. (I suppose though it probably works great for people to make their own studies for themselves, and that's a great thing). I usually just search out other websites to try to learn, and don't bother trying to search through the studies here as it is currently.

Castle1Bravo

#38

I would like to add that people under 1200 should not be creating opening studies to help other people learn... ever. Be at least 1600-1700 before even attempting to create an opening study to help other people. If you want to create a personal study, fine, but if you are trying to make a very popular study on lichess maybe get better at chess first. Its funny seeing so many opening studies created by 1000 level players

Derrick1Rose

#39

@DaveCromer that would be a great idea, i hope a moderator sees this.

DaveCromer edited

#40

Further to my suggestion above, thinking some more, maybe users who get their study added to the Lichess Recommended section could get given some sort of flair to their username, similar to the Patron flairs. Maybe a star (or multiple stars) like football (soccer) teams get showing how many champions leagues they've won. I don't know haha. Something to give it a bit of prestige and encourage people to try to create really high quality studies.

I've read on these forums there was an old 'Lichess Master' title that you couldn't qualify or apply for exactly, Lichess just gave it to people who had done something special as I understand it. I imagine it working something like that.

Further to my suggestion above, thinking some more, maybe users who get their study added to the Lichess Recommended section could get given some sort of flair to their username, similar to the Patron flairs. Maybe a star (or multiple stars) like football (soccer) teams get showing how many champions leagues they've won. I don't know haha. Something to give it a bit of prestige and encourage people to try to create really high quality studies. I've read on these forums there was an old 'Lichess Master' title that you couldn't qualify or apply for exactly, Lichess just gave it to people who had done something special as I understand it. I imagine it working something like that.