Digital tools automatically hide the solutions, track your solving times, and calculate your accuracy percentage across cycles. The PDF Format An e-book or PDF version offers clean portability.
Available via New In Chess or through Chessable, which allows for interactive drilling of the puzzles.
Resolve the exact same set of puzzles, aiming to cut the total time in half. Cycle 3: Repeat the process, halving the time again.
The chess world was revolutionized in 2018 by the release of The Woodpecker Method , a book by GM Axel Smith and GM Hans Tikkanen, which proposed a rigorous, systematic approach to tactical training based on spaced repetition. In 2024–2025, Axel Smith returned with the highly anticipated sequel, , designed to apply the same intense training methodology to positional understanding rather than just raw tactics. The Woodpecker Method 2 Axel Smith -PDF PGN...
– The method relies on struggling. Set a minimum time (e.g., 5 minutes for hard puzzles) before giving up.
: Converting conscious calculation into effortless "muscle memory," similar to how a grandmaster sees a move instantly. What's Inside Volume 2?
Time your sessions. If Cycle 1 takes you 20 hours total across two weeks, write that down. Aim for an initial accuracy rate of at least 80%. Step 3: Enforce the Half-Time Rule 20 hours (Goal: Deep calculation) Cycle 2: 10 hours (Goal: Faster recognition) Cycle 3: 5 hours (Goal: Speed and flow) Cycle 4: 2.5 hours (Goal: Flawless execution) Step 4: Rest and Apply Digital tools automatically hide the solutions, track your
If you own the PDF legally, you can type the puzzles into a PGN file yourself. This is time-consuming but great for deep learning. Tools like (online) or ChessBase allow batch entry.
Here are the official sources (no piracy):
GM Axel Smith, with contributions from various GMs during the testing phase. Content: The book contains over 1,000 positional exercises. Resolve the exact same set of puzzles, aiming
Best for reducing screen time and deep focus. PDF: Ideal for training on a tablet or phone.
The "Woodpecker Method" is a high-volume training system based on the idea that repeating the same set of puzzles over decreasing time intervals builds "chess muscle memory".
The Woodpecker Method has been praised by chess players and coaches around the world for its effectiveness in improving chess skills. Some of the benefits of using this method include:
Why it works (mechanisms)