The Benefits of Accountability
Some takeaways from my first couple of weeks in the Say Chess Training Group
As something new, I asked for contributions from members of the training group. Neil Preece volunteered to write an update on the benefits of accountability. In the coming weeks, I will invite more members to write updates.
Before sharing these, it might help if I tell you about my chess background. It is probably similar to those of many of us in the Say Chess Training Group, but indulge me, as I think it will help shed some light on the conclusions I have reached.
I was a passionately keen player throughout my teens and early twenties and had a small measure of success. In terms of playing strength I guess I was about 2000ish (on a good day with the wind behind me). So not an exceptional prodigious talent, but equally not a novice.
Then life took over as it inevitably does. I moved from London to Lima. Of course, people do play chess in Peru. Julio Granda Zuniga is a wonderful Latin American alternative to Vasyl Ivanchuk. But I didn’t. I simply gave up in 1994 - retired at 27! Later I moved to Brazil, but chess remained a thing of the past.
In 2012, the school I was working in started a chess club and that rekindled my interest. This time I was playing on the internet, but my intention was to take things seriously. Nonetheless, with the best will in the world and countless study programs I made limited progress. I was very much stuck on the dreaded learning plateau (albeit at a lower level than in my youth).
Elements of this story may well strike a chord. We give up chess, start again years later and then quickly resign ourselves to the fact that our best days are behind us. We might as well accept the fact and just enjoy chess for what it is - a game.
The thing is though, I fervently believe that serious improvement is still possible (even at 55!). Surely gains will be made if one sticks to a consistent, well constructed long term training program? And therein my problem - consistency. I believe that finding a solid program to study has never been easier.
If you are not sure where to start, there are a number of excellent books on the market. Perhaps the most comprehensive is Davorin Kuljasevic’s masterful treatise, “How to Study Chess on Your Own”.
Another fantastic book full of very actionable advice is Axel Smith’s, “ Pump up Your Rating”.
If you find these two a little intimidating, Andrew Soltis comes to the rescue, with the very readable, “Studying Chess Made Easy”.
So there is no reason not to formulate a good study plan. But sticking to it……
This is why I was excited to join the Say Chess Training Group. I believed that being part of a group, enjoying a spirit of camaraderie and a sense of community would be enough to help me stick to my plans.
After one week (no time at all, I know) I came to a realization. Membership of this group had already enhanced my chess learning experience. Certainly the threads were far more interesting, relevant and positive than my previous experiences on, for example, chess.com. And there seemed to be likeminded chess amateurs with whom I had much in common. Still, I wasn’t sure that this, in itself, would be enough to actually help me stick to my latest more ambitious study plan.
I don’t want to be a negative voice. Far from it. I think the Training Group fills a massive void in the world of Adult Chess Improvement. The way it is structured and the level of commitment it requires is perfectly pitched to build a community. Thank you Martin!
Really the misgivings I had revolved around my own inability to commit and avoid distraction. Which is why I floated an idea a couple weeks ago.
This was my question: Would anyone be interested in teaming up as an accountability partner? This would entail three short messages a day:
Your study objectives for the day
Whether you met them
An encouraging response to your partner’s message
Obviously, this is not an idea that I came up with all on my own. It has been suggested before in the world of personal development. It is no different to having a training partner in your local gym. And I think that is why it works - it brings an added level of personal commitment. Simply put, you don’t want to let someone else down.
And work it does. I have found myself feeling compelled to stick to what I said I was going to do in a way that I didn’t before. In practical terms my study time has increased from just under ten hours a week to about fifteen. Yes, I know it is early days, but I really do feel that something significant has changed for me. It goes without saying that finding the right training partner is essential. In that regard I think we might be well stocked in the Say Chess Training Group. In my case, getting to know and work with Nigel has been a key part of the initial success.
Look, I know that extolling the virtues of something after only two weeks is perhaps way too soon. But I really do think that this is a useful strategy for other ambitious chess improvers to try. It probably helps if you can find someone on a similar point in their chess journey, both in terms of their life story and chess strength. But perhaps this isn’t strictly necessary.
If you are someone who wants to commit to a daily routine, but perhaps struggles to, then this might just be the way forward.
/Neil Preece
Finally, remember to answer the 3 questions in the accountability channels based on the number of hours you aim to spend each week:
#1-4-hours-weekly-training-team
#5-9-hours-weekly-training-team
#10-hours-or-more-weekly-training-team
1. what went well?
2. what didn't go well?
3. what will you do for the next week?
And as Neil’s accountability partner Nigel, I can say the benefit is mutual!
I enjoyed reading your article Neil. I would be interested in being an accountability partner with you, although I do not follow a very strict study plan myself. The way I like to study is to set short term goals, like objectives for the current month. I can explain more. I'd like to hear more about how you are getting on and the progress you are making.