Tired of seeing the same big chess YouTube channels in your feed? 10 gems

You've probably seen all the big names in chess YouTube content, but there’s a treasure trove of underrated YouTube channels out there that fly under the radar. You might like these:

Silicon Road

Silicon Road feels like a game-changer. GM Matthew Sadler uses engines like Leela Chess Zero and Stockfish to break down positions in a way that makes high-level tactics and strategies more accessible. What’s great is how he shows us club players how these tools can sharpen our opening repertoire, help spot tactical opportunities, and improve our endgame play. He combines the precision of engines with practical advice, making it easier for us to apply those advanced concepts in our own games

BBC - The Master Game

BBC - The Master Game is a YouTube channel that revives episodes from a groundbreaking BBC chess show that aired between 1976 and 1983. The show featured top grandmasters competing in a televised tournament, where viewers could watch their games and hear the players’ thoughts via voice-overs—a format that was innovative for its time. The series included players like Anatoly Karpov, Bent Larsen, and Nigel Short, among others.

VideoChessTraining

VideoChessTraining is a great resource for catching reruns of IM William Paschall’s Twitch streams. Paschall’s content (not super "flashy" presented), which includes live commentary and in-depth analysis, is rebroadcast on YouTube, allowing viewers to dive into detailed game breakdowns and practical chess advice.One of his latest videos was titled: "Serious Analysis to counter the rise of Chess Disinformation and Trash content !"

Chess Thinking! with NM Dan Heisman

Chess Thinking! with NM Dan Heisman is a YouTube channel designed to help players improve their chess by focusing on key thought processes and decision-making techniques. National Master (NM) Dan Heisman is an award-winning chess coach who has authored multiple books and columns on chess improvement. One unique feature of Heisman's content is his focus on "verbalized games," where he talks through his thoughts in real-time while playing, giving viewers an inside look at how a master thinks during a game.

Chess Thugs

Chess Thugs is a fun and engaging YouTube channel that focuses on making chess entertaining and accessible for a wide audience. The content is a mix of casual game analysis, chess challenges, and friendly banter, appealing to both beginners and intermediate players who want to enjoy the game without the pressure of overly formal instruction. The channel brings a laid-back vibe to chess, making it a great option for those who love the competitive and strategic aspects of the game but appreciate a light-hearted approach.

As a club player, you’ll appreciate how Chess Thugs combines entertainment with chess improvement, offering a fresh take on what can often be a serious and intense game. It’s a perfect place to enjoy chess while picking up useful strategies along the way!

GM Felix Blohberger

GM Felix Blohberger's YouTube channel is a valuable resource for chess enthusiasts, especially for those interested in learning from a young grandmaster actively competing at a high level. Blohberger, a 22-year-old GM from Austria, shares his journey, offering expert insights, strategies, and game analyses. The content focuses on helping viewers improve their chess skills through detailed commentary on important games, opening theory, and tournament performances.

His channel includes coverage of his own matches, often explaining key moments and tactical decisions, making it great for players who want to learn directly from a professional's experience. Blohberger also streams games, giving a real-time view of his thinking process during competitive play

Chess Lifestyle

The Chess Lifestyle YouTube channel is run by Michael and Dylan, two chess enthusiasts on a mission to share their passion for the game while aiming to grow in the chess world. Their channel offers a mix of chess-related content that includes worldwide tourney coverage, game analyses, daily training, all presented in a fun and relatable manner.

Chess In Slums Africa

Chess in Slums Africa is a powerful initiative founded by Tunde Onakoya that uses chess to empower and educate children living in impoverished communities in Nigeria. The YouTube channel shares the inspiring stories of these children, highlighting how learning chess has helped them develop critical thinking, discipline, and new opportunities for education and growth.
The channel documents real-life transformations, featuring the impact of chess on the lives of kids who often lack access to formal education. It also showcases tournaments, events, and initiatives where these children get to compete and shine on a larger platform. The content is both heartwarming and motivational, showing chess as a tool not just for intellectual growth, but for social and personal development as well

Dr. Can's Chess Clinic

Dr. Can's Chess Clinic is a unique YouTube channel run by Candidate Master (CM) Can Kabadayi, who also holds a PhD in Cognitive Science. The channel blends chess instruction with insights into cognitive science, making it ideal for players who want to improve both their chess skills and their thinking processes.

One of the channel's highlights is its focus on understanding chess thought processes—helping viewers move beyond memorization to truly grasp the reasoning behind moves. This makes it especially helpful for players looking to improve their decision-making on the board. Dr. Can’s background in cognitive science adds a unique layer to his teaching, making the channel a great resource for chess improvement at all levels.

Sam Asaka

Sam Asaka's Chess Channel offers a blend of chess lessons and personal insights from an experienced player. Sam is an Australian chess player with a peak FIDE rating of 2262. His channel focuses on practical chess education, featuring in-depth analyses of games, including openings like the Catalan, as well as tips for improvement aimed at both club players and those looking to refine their competitive play. Sam's content is accessible and educational, designed to help players of various levels improve their understanding of the game.

I'm super interested what your hidden gems are. Please let me know in a comment :-)

Yours Jan
I subscribed to 60 chess YouTubers on my channel ChessUnderFire: A Learning Journey