Focusing on Chess with ADHD

Solve puzzles. Probably won't happen quickly but it could help you learn to focus on a given position and you can go from there.

For me, I lack patience to dive through a book, figure out what square this piece goes to... but videos, I find super helpful, and more recently drills, I find that I'm able to do.  I still don't know anything about endgames or openings lol Maybe a coach would help.

Hi! My name is Lauren Goodkind and I’m a respected  chess coach and chess YouTuber based in California: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP5SPSG_sWSYPjqJYMNwL_Q

I am currently teaching two people who have ADHD.  

-If you are serious about chess, I highly recommend you hiring a chess coach to help you.  

-Also consider all checks and captures on your side and also your opponent’s side. Always as, “If I move here, where is my opponent going to move?”

-Play with a slow time control, such as G/30 so you have plenty of time to think before every move. 

I hope that this helps.  

Hah. Me too.. Slow time control, coffee, eat food ahead of time, create a "noise cocoon" (like a lofi or grunge music playlist without advertisements) to limit distractions. Have a serious outlet, like classical or rapid, and a less serious outlet like blitz and bullet.

Did you know some people say that they have adhd and their reason being is because “I tap”

I actually have adhd and it gets hard to play chess after long periods of time goes by.

Practice calculating. I see you have a diamond membership, spend 2-10 minutes calculating each puzzle, it will help you immensely!

I know a friend with ADHD, he still plays chess. I recommend you try looking at channels such as agadmator, Hikaru, or GothamChess. Those people make chess entertaining. Also, maybe have some reminder to make you re-focus, or make the moves really loud or attention-grabbing to get your attention back on track. 

Hope this helps. 

-Larry

Also, I have a small sense of patience, I just play really fast chess to keep me entertained, but also to keep my senses sharp. 

hey hey hey everyone! This is not an insult but a fact, the best way to concentrate at chess when you have ADHD is with ADHD medication. I am an expert on psychiatric medication. The best way to stop an overactive brain is with medication.

Taking a few deep slow breaths will calm you, repeat as neccessary. 

Coming from the same situation, finding coaching does seem like the best plan. Attempting to increase your level of patience won't work, but a coach can give you lots of ideas, and some of them are bound to stay with you, even if that's all you hear. If you find the videos helpful, lean into that as hard as you can. Always follow where your interests lie. For instance, you might be someone who can be fascinated with a project at first and then never be able to stay with it. The downside is obvious, but the upside is that, for a couple days, perhaps, you'll be absorbing information like a sponge. Just my opinion, but it's how I've managed to get information into my brain. The other way is to write out tutorials. It's stupid, because I have a low rating, but it's also the only way I've picked up any knowledge on openings.

Hey all i also have adhd and i really want to get better and i havent seen results i have been playing for a while and i have watched Gothamchess a lot and nothing really helps. Any tips?