You need to be a gold or diamond member to create books. Upgrade to create your own training material.

The Woodpecker Method

You need to be a gold or diamond member to edit or read books that you have created yourself, or had assigned to you by others. Upgrade to read or edit self-authored books.

The Woodpecker Method

Tactics
$31.95
The Woodpecker Method

The quick explanation of the Woodpecker Method is that you need to solve a large number of puzzles in a row; then solve the same puzzles again and again, only faster. It’s not a lazy shortcut to success – hard work is required. But the reward can be re-programming your unconscious mind. Benefits include sharper tactical vision, fewer blunders, better play when in time trouble and improved intuition.

The Woodpecker Method is the name given by Axel Smith to a training system developed by his compatriot and co-author Hans Tikkanen. After training with his method in 2010, Tikkanen achieved three GM norms within a seven-week period.

This book contains everything you need to carry out your own Woodpecker training. Smith and Tikkanen explain how to get the maximum benefit from the method, before presenting over 1100 puzzles and solutions, all of which have been checked and double-checked for accuracy and suitability.

GM Axel Smith has also created a follow up book The Woodpecker Method 2 which targets positional understanding. Both volumes are available for a discount in a Woodpecker two book bundle

GM Axel Smith is the award-winning author of Pump Up Your Rating and e3 Poison, both of which were enthusiastically received by readers and reviewers. Using the Woodpecker as part of his training, as an adult he improved from a rating of 2100 to becoming a Grandmaster.

GM Hans Tikkanen is a four-time Swedish Champion whose live rating peaked over 2600. His interest in chess-improvement methods, and how they work, led him to study for a degree in psychology.

Author: Axel Smith and Hans Tikkanen
Published by Quality Chess
Language: English

Global Stats

Moves in book: 17147
Words in book text: 16207
Words in move annotations: 36500
Number of annotated moves: 4324
Number of illustrative games: 13

Problem Stats

Total problems: 1128
Total problem moves: 7189
Total playable solution moves: 4639
Total playable variations: 1835
Problem annotated moves: 4283
Problem annotation words: 35448