The Woodpecker Method 2
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Swedish GM Axel Smith returns with a sequel to Woodpecker Method, his colossal bestseller on the tactics of the World Champions. This time he has found 1000 foundational positional exercises and prepared them for woodpecking.
This book is aimed at improving the reader’s pattern recognition and intuition in the area of positional chess, in much the same way the first volume did with chess tactics.
Woodpecker Method 2 is also available at a discount in a Woodpecker two book bundle that includes both volumes.
From the introduction to the book: ‘…the Woodpecker concept involves solving a high volume of exercises, then repeating the process multiple times. This book contains a total of 1000 exercises, divided into two main categories, each containing three sub-sections. As with The Woodpecker Method, the exercises largely come from games involving World Champions – with a few exceptions.’
Part 1 – Priyome
Priyome is a Russian noun without a direct English translation. In Russian, when it is used in a chess context, it describes some sort of thematic technique or manoeuvre. In this section of 545 exercises, the overarching theme will be common pawn structures and the positional motifs associated with them.
Let’s approach pawn structures the Woodpecker way. The Priyome exercises show standard positional moves in a variety of common pawn structures. Don’t expect to find any move with two exclamation marks. Such moves need to be not only strong, but also difficult and surprising. That’s not what we are looking for.
The Priyome section also contains some simple tactical combinations that should be part of your positional repertoire. Many such moves should simply seem normal, not deserving of an exclamation mark. They nevertheless need to be ‘woodpecked’.
Part 2 – Positional Rules of Thumb
In this section we will be focusing on positional ‘rules of thumb’ rather than ideas associated with pawn structures. Well, it’s hardly possible to keep these elements completely separate, so in the first section you can expect to find certain positional principles in action which could also be applied in other pawn structures, while in the second section you will find examples where the pawn structure is still of some relevance to the principle on display. So the difference between the two sections lies in the overall emphasis of each, rather than an absolute distinction.
We will end with an Epilogue, featuring some further discussion of positional concepts and decision-making. It’s a little unorthodox to include such a discussion at the end rather than the start of the book, but it’s the Woodpecker way. You will work hard in solving so many exercises for multiple cycles. The Epilogue will give you a break from solving, along with some final food for thought regarding the challenges of making complex decisions at the board, especially when we need to weigh up competing positional principles.
Contents
Foreword by Hans Tikkanen
Preface
Introduction
General Instructions
The Five Steps of Woodpecking
Customizing the Woodpecker Method
Keeping Score
Other Advice & Guidelines
Priyome Exercises
Chapter 1 - Public Education
Chapter 2 - Exam
Chapter 3 - Academic Level
Positional Rules of Thumb Exercises
Chapter 4 - Medium Difficulty
Chapter 5 - Hard Challenge
Chapter 6 - Expert
Epilogue
Those who purchase the e-book can read through the book in reading mode, move through the material in interactive study mode, or drill the material via several methods, including spaced repetition or by looping through the material multiple times until mastered. The spaced repetition and looping sets are available to all members who have purchased the book, and do not require a premium membership.