Perpetual Chess Podcast

The Adult Improver series returns to spotlight another guest who has benefited from chess and improved significantly at the game. Chess was recommended to Leah Brown as a healthier outlet for a mind that, in Leah’s words, tends to “torture itself.” Leah began playing tournaments less than two years ago and already has a peak rating of over 1600 USCF. In our conversation, Leah shares the training approach that has helped propel these gains, including: A lot of OTB chess with comprehensive review A heavy reliance on books, particularly those by IM Jeremy Silman A painful adjustment to 1. e4 openings that will hopefully provide long-term benefits Leah also highlights the importance of finding a friendly chess community in Massachusetts and shares the story of beating a GM in a simul. Tune in to hear the rest of this inspiring story. 0:00- Intro Links Mentioned:  Perpetual Chess Patreon Spotify Adult Improver Playlist Website Form to be considered as an adult improver guest 1:45 Meet Leah Brown 2:39 How chess became a healthy outlet Mentioned: BIllerica Chess Club https://billericachess.42web.io/?i=3 FM Sandro Safar https://lichess.org/coach/Sandro970 The Real Paul Morphy by FM Charles Hertan 5:08 Finding a welcoming OTB chess community 7:11 Getting serious about improvement 10:28 Jeremy Silman and learning through chess books 15:28 What fueled Leah’s rapid rating gains? 20:42 Lessons learned the hard way and switching to 1. e4 31:38 Rating goals and the ambition to earn a title 35:34 Advice for adult improvers 37:09 The role chess plays in Leah’s life 40:31 Beating a GM in a six-hour simul game  Mentioned: GM Nadia Kosintseva 45:25 Closing Advice for Navigating the Chess Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan Henric Buettner is a German entrepreneur, co-founder of Freestyle Chess alongside Magnus Carlsen, and a candidate for FIDE President. In his business career he has worked in technology, venture capital and hospitality.  In our interview, we discuss: The logistical problems some participants encountered at the Olympiad and Jan’s own experience in Samarkand Why Jan believes chess still has vast untapped potential Whether Freestyle Chess can appeal to a wide audience Whether an outsider can defeat FIDE’s establishment candidate What Jan considers chess’s most undervalued commercial asset We also touch on lessons Jan has learned from his varied business career, the potential threats posed by AI, and why he believes chess is a great game to introduce to the next generation. 🕒 Timestamps 0:00 Intro and Episode 500 housekeeping This podcast is brought to you in part by Claude AI. You can try it out via the link below:  claude.ai/chess3:53 Jan Henric Buettner joins the show4:40 Early logistical problems at the Chess Olympiad9:00 Jan’s business background and what drew him to chess13:40 Building Freestyle Chess and attracting sponsors16:34 Is Freestyle Chess accessible to traditional chess fans?20:25 Jan’s own chess experience22:01 FIDE elections, corruption allegations, and Jan’s chances24:06 Jan’s platform and plans for making FIDE financially independent28:55 Women in chess, cheating, and rating reform34:00 Chess.com’s dominance and the possibility of new competitors35:30 Turning chess players into chess spectators38:00 Why Jan believes the FIDE brand is undervalued39:47 Wadim Rosenstein, Timur Turlov, and the possibility of a split vote40:41 What Jan would do if he loses the election42:09 Could FIDE postpone the election?43:53 Jan’s concerns about AI, venture capital, and the future49:42 Why chess offers an antidote to technology overload Thanks to Jan for joining me! You can learn more about his campaign here: https://janhenricbuettner.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Thomas Willemze is a popular author, Chessable creator, and trainer who has worked with the Dutch National Youth Team, among countless other students. A data analyst by day, Thomas brings an analytical approach to thinking about the core components of chess improvement. In our conversation, we draw on Thomas's experiences as both a player and coach to tease out practical lessons for improving players. We discuss everything from game review and opening preparation to how to improve your focus while studying and playing. Thomas also shares some book recommendations, reflects on learning chess from the creators of the Steps Method while they were still developing it, and recounts what happened when, at age 40, he gave himself a year to seriously pursue his GM ambitions. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. Free perpetual Chess Discord: https://discord.gg/UpRTQfjQB Free Newsletter: https://benjohnson.substack.com/ 00:00 Introduction to the Interview with Thomas Willems Thanks to our sponsors, Claude AI, check them out at: Claude.AI/chess 02:01 Introduction to IM Thomas Willemze 04:07 The Intersection of Data Science and Chess 07:09 Thomas’ Training and Coaching Philosophy 09:55 The Chess Steps Method and Early Chess Education mentioned : Rob Brunia and IM Cor van Wijgerden 15:36 Addressing Weaknesses and Improving Skills Mentioned: Fundamental Chess Endings, Dvoretsky’s books, GM Yury Averbakh’s books 18:08 Common Pitfalls for Adult Players 20:51 Patreon mailbag question: How can we improve our focus when playing games and studying?  23:55 Defensive Awareness and Identifying Threats 27:00 Patreon mailbag question: Does Thomas see parallels between chess and football/soccer strategy? 28:48 The Balance of Attack and Defense in Chess 30:28 Effective Study Strategies for Ambitious Players 32:07 Reviewing Games: Learning from Mistakes 33:34 The Competitive Landscape of Modern Chess 38:26 Preparing for Upcoming Tournaments 40:05 Choosing an Opening Repertoire 42:01 Current Projects and Future Endeavors 44:08 Chess Content Recommendations and Personal Interests Mentioned: 100 Endgames You Must Know  50:00- Thanks to IM Willemze for joining me. You can reach him via his Chessable author’s page: https://www.chessable.com/author/Willemze/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM David Vigorito is a three-time state champion, renowned opening theoretician and trainer, and the author of many highly regarded books and Chessable courses. His latest course, 1. e4: The Gold Standard, offers an ambitious, principled repertoire against all of Black’s major responses. In our conversation, we discuss: How David’s process for researching openings has changed as engines have grown increasingly powerful. What adult improvers can learn from David’s own unusual chess journey and the huge rating gains he made in his late teens, 20s, and 30s. Why players should sometimes deliberately play openings and positions that make them uncomfortable. The challenges of finding opportunities to compete while balancing chess with work and family obligations. David also shares a funny story about the unexpected chain of events that followed our first interview in 2019, explains some of the ambitious choices in his new 1. e4 repertoire, and shares his strong opinions on Chess960 and some recent trends in professional chess. It’s always fun to catch up with David, and there is lots of practical chess advice in this one. 0:00 Intro Thanks to our sponsor Claude.ai Check them out at Claude.ai/chess 2:30 David’s new 1. e4 course and how engine-era opening research has changed 6:55 Why David recommends ambitious, principled opening lines 15:15 How much opening theory do amateur players actually need? 20:40 Adult improvement: what helped David make huge rating gains 26:00 The New England chess scene and David’s tournament schedule 31:55 A funny story stemming from David’s first Perpetual Chess interview 38:20 Improving by working on your weaknesses 44:00 Following professional chess and David’s dislike of alternative scoring formats 45:40 Why David has no interest in Chess960 Vigorito-Aagaard 2025 https://www.chesshere.com/master-games/1822045?fen=r1bqk2r%2Fpppp1ppp%2F2n2n2%2F1B2p3%2F1b2P3%2F2N2N2%2FPPPP1PPP%2FR1BQK2R+w+KQkq+-+6+5 50:30 What’s next for David https://www.chessable.com/author/dvigorito/  52:00- Thanks to David for joining me! Be sure to check out his courses on Chessable: https://www.chessable.com/author/dvigorito/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Valentin Dragnev is a two-time Austrian national champion and former chess Olympian who has had memorable OTB encounters with GM Magnus Carlsen, Vasyl Ivanchuk, and many other top players. After achieving so much over the board, he has increasingly focused his attention on chess training and a community-focused website he co-founded, Chessivity.com. We discuss: The story behind Valentin’s fast rise up the ranks after a relatively late start to tournament chess. The struggles he has observed that adult students have in developing consistent thought processes. The vision behind Chessivity, a website that aims to connect chess players and help them track and share their chess training. Stories from Valentin’s chess career, including nearly beating Magnus Carlsen and cycling from Austria to Budapest to compete in the Chess Olympiad. This was a very insightful conversation with lots of good stories and practical chess advice. 0:00- Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — Claude.ai/CHESS.  03:05 GM Dragnev’s rise up the ranks Mentioned: The Art of Planning in Chess by GM Neal McDonald https://www.amazon.com/Art-Planning-Chess-Move/dp/071349025X 12:14 Transitioning to Chess as a Career 15:31 Advice for Parents and Young Players 18:29 Coaching Adults vs. Kids 21:52 The Importance of Thought Process in Chess 26:53 The Birth of Chessivity 30:32 Integrating Chessivity with User Accounts Follow Ben here: https://chessivity.com/profile/bennyficial1 31:05 Future Features and User Feedback 33:11 Valentin's Chess Career Highlights 35:05 Playing Against Magnus Carlsen Check out the Sicilian game here: https://lichess.org/broadcast/european-team-championship-open/round-2/kLFgyBxS/QCqXtaGu 38:39 Training and Preparation Strategies 42:10 Working with Top Players 44:46 Balancing Coaching and Competitive Play 47:07 Misconceptions in Chess Improvement 52:22 Valentin tells the story of cycling from Austria to Budapest before competing in the Olympiad 56:03 Thanks to Valentin for joining! Find him on Chessivity: https://chessivity.com/profile/valentin Lichess coaches: https://lichess.org/coach/DrAgnevstein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Adult Improver Series returns to welcome back an accomplished guest. Kyle Boddy is the founder of Driveline Baseball, an influential company that provides training and performance guidance for professional and aspiring baseball players. Despite the demands of running a company and raising a family, Kyle values chess as a hobby and makes plenty of time for it. When I first interviewed Kyle in 2022, he was rated below 1000 USCF, but was working diligently and had a long-term hope of reaching USCF 2000. Four years later, he has stuck with it and made considerable progress, recently reaching a new peak of nearly 1550 USCF. In this follow-up, we discuss: Why he still loves openings, and how studying them deeply has given him a competitive advantage against many higher-rated opponents. How he combines old-school, analog training methods with sophisticated uses of AI and chess technology. The parallels he sees between improving at physical pursuits like baseball and improving at chess. The immense value he gains from being part of a vibrant chess community in the Pacific Northwest. It is inspiring to see Kyle’s continued dedication to chess, and I look forward to following his continued progress in the coming years. 0:00- Intro Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Join the free discord:  https://discord.gg/hN3CJsbGn More on the Adult Improver Series: Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=8fda103624514126 Website: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Check out our sponsor,  Claude Co-work at Claude.ai/chess 04:22 Kyle Boddy joins 06:05 What keeps Kyle playing and improving? 07:36 Switching to 1.e4 and open games Mentioned: Anand-Nunn 1990 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018185 08:43 Why Kyle still loves studying openings 10:45 How Kyle actually studies openings 12:12 Studying games blindfolded 16:00 How Kyle uses AI for chess 18:19 Engines, Maia Chess and practical preparation 20:34 Kyle’s tournament routine 24:19 How he trains tactics 26:48 Building a new opening repertoire 29:42 Daily chess habits 30:49 The importance of a chess community 34:17 Tournament chess in Seattle and beyond 35:20 Aging and adult chess improvement 37:45 Kyle’s path toward 1800-2000 40:11 Improving at endgames 42:50 Understanding vs. memorizing openings 44:35 The Joey Votto chess bet 45:33 Chess’s popularity among pro athletes 47:05 How much Kyle studies chess Can Adults Improve at Chess by NM Todd Bryant https://www.chess.com/article/view/can-adults-improve-at-chess 50:22 Blogging, AI and hiding your prep 52:53 Baseball vs. chess improvement 55:46 Will Kyle still be playing at 50?  56:00- Thanks to Kyle for joining and sharing his inspiring progress- follow his blog here: https://www.kyleboddy.com/blog/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the recent news of his passing, this week we look at the remarkable and wide-ranging chess legacy of FM Bill Goichberg. Among many other distinctions, Bill was the founder of the Continental Chess Association and the creator of the U.S. National Scholastic Championships, and he left an indelible mark on the U.S. chess scene. My guest is chess journalist FM Jon Jacobs, who is working on an independent biography of Bill. Jon grew up in New York and got to know Bill personally as a top young scholastic player, with a young Bill Goichberg directing some of his formative tournaments in Brooklyn. Decades later, Bill sat down for 15 hours’ worth of interviews with Jon, which Jon has been crafting into a book. In our interview, we discuss Bill’s business legacy, chess accomplishments, family life, and much more. Bill changed the course of American chess, and I am grateful to Jon for joining me and fleshing out his life story. 00:00 - Intro and remembering FM Bill Goichberg 0:02- Maurice Ashley tweet regarding Goichberg- https://x.com/MauriceAshley?lang=en06:13 - Jon’s first memories of Bill08:14 - How Bill got started organizing tournaments14:16 - Growing chess in the pre-Fischer era18:21 - Bill’s proudest contributions to US chess22:54 - Continental Chess and its competitors24:39 - How big a business did CCA become?29:50 - Bill’s wife Brenda and their life together35:35 - Bill’s beginnings as a chess player39:48 - How strong was Bill as a player?44:07 - Did Bill ever work outside of chess? Mentioned: CCA and Domainvision.com https://www.chesstour.com/aboutcca.htm47:38 - The Continental Chess business model51:54 - Why Jon is writing Bill’s biography57:01 - Where to follow Jon’s work 1:00:00- Thanks to Jon for coming on, you can follow his Facebook page here-  https://www.facebook.com/p/A-Pawn-Made-Flesh-61568668591626/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Jacob Aagaard is an award-winning author, a renowned trainer who has worked with GMs Sam Shankland, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and many others, and the co-founder of Quality Chess. Despite all of his accomplishments and the many demands on his time, Jacob retains his passion for chess books and chess improvement. He returns to the podcast to discuss: How to actually improve at calculation, including why many club players should spend more time solving simple tactics rather than difficult calculation exercises Some of the key concepts from his excellent new book, A Killer Guide to Attacking Chess How to categorize the mistakes in your games without overcomplicating the process Some of the forthcoming chess books he is most excited about Jacob also teases an exciting new project with GM Garry Kasparov and shares his thoughts on the Olympiad, the FIDE election, and the health of the chess publishing business, among many other topics. There is always so much to learn from Jacob, and I greatly appreciate his generosity with his time. This week’s podcast is brought to you by Chessiverse.com. Be sure to check out their many features, and use code “Perpetual30” to receive a 30% discount on premium offerings and IM John Bartholomew’s Scandinavian Course.  00:00 Introduction  0:02- GM Jacob Aagaard joins 0:08- The Upcoming  Chess books Jacob is most excited about Naroditsky Memorial Box Set Quality Chess Chess Metamorphoss by GM Nikita Vitiugov Grandmaster Training Camp with GM Sam Shankland Unlock Your Chess Creativity by IM Richard Palliser  Winning Chess Tactics by GM Yasser Seirawan The Evans Gambit by IM Andrew Martin 17:00 Jacob’s Writing Workflow and Challenges 21:30 The Role of AI in Chess Writing 30:00 Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob’s new book compare to his Excelling at Chess Series?  33:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob recommend one improve at calculation? 41:00 Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s advice for how to categorize the mistakes you make when reviewing and trying to learn from your games? 43:33 Categorizing Mistakes in Chess 45:00 Recommended Chess Books for Improvement Mentioned: Attack with Mikhail Tal Alekhine’s Best Games Books by GM Larry Christiansen Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 48:00 Working with GM Garry Kasparov on an updated The Great Predecessors Series  57:00  Patreon mailbag question: How is the chess publishing business doing? Does Jacob have any plans of streamlining the digital availability of the New in Chess Magazine archive?  01:10:00 Patreon mailbag question: Jacob’s thoughts on the Chess Olympiad, the FIDE election and Gukesh-Sindarov 1:16:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s motivation for continuing to compete occasionally  01:17:00- What Jacob learns from being an adult improver at guitar  Mentioned: Jake Workman is Jacob’s guitar teacher  01:24:00- Thanks to Jacob for joining the show again! Here is how to keep up his work: Killer Chess Training https://killerchesstraining.com/ Books https://www.newinchess.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?authors=Jacob+Aagaard+Madsen&q=%2A If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Vasif Durarbayli is a former World Youth Champion and two-time champion of his native Azerbaijan. Now based in St. Louis after graduating from Webster University, Vasif has turned much of his attention to ChessEver, an app designed to make following live chess easier. In our conversation we discuss: •• Why he believes every serious chess player needs a coach, and how not hiring one nearly derailed his own career. • Vasif's outstanding performance at the Naroditsky Memorial blitz, including a near-upset of Hikaru Nakamura. • An unforgettable over-the-board encounter with legendary GM Viktor Korchnoi. • How chess broadcasting can be improved, and his ambitious long-term vision for ChessEver. This was a really enjoyable conversation, and I recommend ChessEver to anyone who enjoys following top-level tournaments. 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - Insights from a top 10 finish at the Naroditsky Memorial blitz tournament Check out Vasif’s Naroditsky Memorial games here: The Nakamura game is game 13, 35. Rxa7! Was mate in 12.  https://lichess.org/study/UoNAiYdm/TehrviPk 03:52 - Playing Korchnoi 05:02 - Playing style: aggressive opening choices and psychological play 06:45 - The influence of legendary players and their aura on Vasif 09:16 - Off-the-board aspects of chess improvement and coaching advice 12:37 - Strategies for handling lost positions and psychological tactics 15:08 - The significance of coaching and Vasif’s past mistakes in self-improvement Vasif’s thoughts on Gukesh’s slump here: https://x.com/durarbayli/status/2079565216413556923 24:52 - The power of strategic preparation stories from chess books Mentioned: The Random Book that Made me a Grandmaster https://durarbayli.com/a-random-book-made-me-a-grandmaster/ The Method in Chess by Josif Dorfman https://www.amazon.com/Method-Chess-Iossif-Dorfman/dp/2957289024 30:00- Why we should not emulate Sindarov’s study approach Mentioned: Fooled by Randomness 39:06 - The journey from competitive chess to creating Chess Ever 44:50 - The vision for Chess Ever: following games, broadcasting, and innovation 53:41 - Monetization plans and future features of Chess Ever 58:51 - How Chess Ever differs from other streaming and follow platforms 61:47 - The future of chess broadcasting, AI commentary, and competition 63:48 - Final thoughts and encouraging feedback from listenersResources: Chess Ever App Road to Mastery by Golovka Static and Dynamic by Dorfman Nasim Taleb - Fooled by Randomness Connect with Vasif Durabayi: LinkedIn Twitter Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

⁠Michael Duke (better known as Mr. Dodgy, or @chessproblem on X) is a Chessable author, the co-founder of Chessfam, and co-host of the Chicken Chess Club podcast. He has built a large online following through his passion for chess and his sharp sense of humor. But aside from the jokes, Michael has become more serious about improving his own game. With a FIDE rating just shy of 2100, Michael was frustrated that he consistently performed much better in rapid than in classical chess. In order to change that, he sought out GM Alex Colovic for coaching after trying several instructors. He worked to address the biggest weaknesses in his game, including lazy calculation and overly ambitious opening choices. The work paid off as he defeated a grandmaster for the first time at age 38 and later held GM David Howell to a draw in a rapid game. In our conversation, Michael shares what he learned about improving as an adult, why his rapid results have always been better than his OTB results, and the practical changes that helped close the gap. We also discuss Chessfam, the ambitious new platform he co-founded to make finding and entering chess tournaments easier, as well as his observations from the recent European Chess Union Congress and the upcoming FIDE presidential election. (Please note this interview was recorded before Arkady Dvorkovich withdrew from the race.) As always, timestamps for all topics discussed are below. 00:04 Introduction to Mr. Dodgy  02:51 Chess Improvement Deep Dive and Dodgy’s recent achievements  Mentioned: GM Alex Colovic’s Substack 05:42 Lessons from Grandmaster Alex Colovic GM Alex Colovic- How to Become a Grandmaster https://www.quora.com/How-did-you-become-a-grandmaster/answer/Alex-Colovic?share=55b455d3&srid=hY2IT 08:49 Strengths and Weaknesses in Rapid vs Classical Chess 11:52 Opening Strategies and Learning Approaches GM Alex Colovic’s Suggestions for the Alapin- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6K0YFRN20U 14:38 Daily Practice and Calculation Work 17:49 Patreon Mailbag Question: Can We Expect another Mr. Dodgy Chessable course?  20:33 Recommended Resources for Improvement Mentioned: Improve Your Chess Calculation by GM RB Ramesh, Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams and Philip Hurtado, Perfect Your Chess by GM Volokitin and IM Grabinsky  25:20 Exploring Diverse Thinking in Chess 26:15 Influential Players and Their Styles 27:21 Dodgy's Grandmaster Victory Story 30:19 Chess Party: A Unique Event Experience 35:45 Introducing Chess Fam: A New Chess Platform Mentioned: Sligo International, Maia Chess Festival, Sitges International  39:55 The Business Model Behind Chess Fam 43:54 Navigating New Skills in Chess Fam 48:01 Getting Involved with Chess Fam 48:26 The Need for Chess Tournament Reviews 50:43 Creating a Welcoming Environment for New Players 52:39 The Rise of Casual Chess Events 54:07 Insights from the ECU Congress 55:40 Understanding the Role of the ECU 59:00 The Future of European Chess Mentioned: GM Peter Arnaudov from ModernChess.com, Business Meets Chess & Kids & GM Pontuss Carlsson 01:05:07 FIDE Elections and the Importance of Term Limits Thanks to Mr. Dodgy for joining! Here are links to his stuff: X: https://x.com/ChessProblem Chessable- https://www.chessable.com/courses/s/dodgy/ Chessfam- https://chessfam.com/ Photo in thumbnail by David Llada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By all accounts, the Naroditsky Memorial was a touching tribute to the legendary streamer, educator and grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. This week I welcome three guests to share their stories from the memorable event in Charlotte. Popular Chessable author and coach FM Dalton Perrine reflects on the lessons and memorable experiences of the tournament. Dalton also shares chess improvement insights from his excellent Chess Chatter newsletter and discusses Chessalyz, the AI-powered chess improvement platform he co-founded. Following Dalton, GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney return to the podcast for an update on the "Chess Rocky" story. They discuss Mike's results after months of training for the event, along with unforgettable stories from the tournament, including their encounter with legendary GM Vasyl Ivanchuk. As always, I enjoyed hearing the stories and lessons from Dalton, Eugene and Mike, and I think listeners will find plenty to learn from their experiences. 00:04 Introduction and Background 01:01 The Narodzki Memorial Tournament Experience 04:01 Learning from Danya's Speedruns Mentioned: Chessbase India- Naroditsky Memorial Coverage https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2unSfeOdoM Chessbase India Interview with Danya’s Mother: Daniel Naroditsky's mother shares heartfelt message to the chess community 06:53 Atmosphere and Community at the Tournament 10:04 Performance and Reflections on Games 13:01 Simplicity in Chess Improvement 16:02 Chessalyze: The AI-Assisted Coaching Platform 22:12 Future of Chessalyze and User Feedback 27:57 Advice for Ambitious Club Players Mentioned: Survive and Thrive: How to Blunder Less and Defend Better https://www.chessable.com/survive-thrive-how-to-blunder-less-and-defend-better/course/80629/ 34:00- Upcoming Tournaments and Projects Thanks to Dalton for joining! Here is how to keep up with him: Chess Chatter Blog Chessalyz.ai DaltonPerrine.com 38:00 GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney join me Mentioned: Ivanchuk is here, GM Steven Zierk Sindarov-Woodward 2026 https://www.chess.com/events/2026-naroditsky-memorial-masters-rapid/03/Sindarov_Javokhir-Woodward_Andy IM Sagar Shah-Mahoney 2026- https://lichess.org/study/IgNM0rNc/ZiaxROGi 48:32 The Pressure of Competition: In-Person Challenges 54:37 Reflections and Future Aspirations 55:00- Thanks to Eugene and Mike for joining! You can keep up with Eugene via his Substack, https://eugeneperel.substack.com/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bruce Pandolfini is an American chess legend who has written many popular books, consulted on The Queen's Gambit and numerous other films and television projects featuring chess, and worked with countless future masters, including GM Fabiano Caruana and IM Josh Waitzkin. Bruce rejoined me to reflect on what he has learned from an incredibly varied career in chess, from helping cover the 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Championship for PBS to nearly fifty years as one of America's most influential chess teachers. In our conversation, Bruce discusses the nature of chess talent, what separates students who improve from those who don't, how technology has changed the way chess is taught, and shares memorable stories from his decades as a teacher, author, and film consultant. 00:00 Introduction and Bruce's background 00:23 Bruce's career highlights and teaching philosophy 06:06 Traits of successful chess players 09:10 Adults vs. kids in chess learning Mentioned:  Dream Moves by GM Miron Sher  19:28 Talent and hard work in chess Mentioned: Reveal Your Chess Style by GM Andy Soltis ,  Deadline Grandmaster  24:00- Working on the movies Searching For Bobby Fischer, and Fresh  31:58 The health and future of chess 40:15 Chess legends and historical stories 45:00- Patreon mailbag question: Would Bruce consider revising and updating any of  his books? 48:28 Bruce's involvement in media and films 56:16 Reflections on chess evolution and technology Mentioned: Thinking Sideways, Dark Squares, Bobby Fischer’s Chess Queen, Rebel Queen, The Seventh Seal, From Russia with Love, Casablanca  01:03:14 Advice for chess enthusiasts and closing thoughts If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17-year-old IM-elect Rose Atwell is one of the brightest young stars in American chess. She recently earned her International Master title, tied for first at the National High School Championship, and qualified for the U.S. Women's Olympiad team for the first time. Rose has also built a loyal following on social media by candidly chronicling her tournament experiences. She shares instructive positions and the lessons she learns from both her successes and setbacks. In our conversation we discuss: Her approach to reviewing games and systematically addressing weaknesses How she uses digital flashcards and "mixed tactics" to accelerate improvement Why she believes homeschooling has benefited both her chess and her education The chess advice she would give to her younger self  Rose is an impressive player and a great ambassador for the game. I appreciate her taking the time to join me during a very busy tournament schedule. 00:00 Introduction to Rose Atwell 03:23 Lessons Learned From a Disappointing Recent Tournament 06:24 Reviewing Games and Learning from Mistakes 09:29 Training Routines and Adjustments 12:33 Coaching Dynamics and Study Habits Mentioned:  Rose Atwell interview with GM Mauricio Flores Rios https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w-JQbZUIRs “Class in Session” with WGM Sabina Foisor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6YiEvust3k 15:24 Digital Tools and Flashcards for Improvement 18:23 Balancing Study and Physical Health 21:23 Family Background and Support 24:31 Competitive Mindset and Gender Dynamics in Chess Mentioned: Judit Polgar book trilogy  https://forwardchess.com/product/judit-polgar-how-i-beat-fischers-record 31:32 Upcoming Tournaments and Travel Plans 33:58 Meeting Chess Heroes and Inspirations 36:00 Balancing Chess and Education 39:01 The Future of College and Chess 39:52 Attributing Success and Overcoming Challenges 42:04 Social Media and Sharing Chess Experiences 43:57 Advice to Younger Self and Emotional Resilience 46:05 The Importance of Identity Beyond Chess 49:02 Reading and Maintaining Focus 51:22 Chess Training and Future Goals 57:00 Thanks to Rose for joining me! Here is how to keep up with her: X: https://x.com/atwell_rose?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseatwellchess/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renowned author and trainer GM R.B. Ramesh is one of the rare coaches who has worked extensively with the world's elite players while still providing practical advice for ambitious amateurs. Long respected as one of chess's leading trainers and authors, Ramesh has helped guide the development of stars such as GMs Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, and Aravindh Chithambaram. As his students continue to reach new heights, Ramesh remains committed to sharing lessons that can benefit players at every level. For that reason, it was exciting news when he recently announced the relaunch of his YouTube channel, where he plans to regularly share free instructional content. In our conversation, we discussed: • What he has learned from coaching elite players• When to focus on calculation versus pattern recognition• The risks of burnout for top young players We also discussed Ramesh's plans for future content, whether he has any new chess book recommendations, and how aspiring players can make the most of their limited study time. There is always so much to learn from GM R.B. Ramesh. Thanks to this week’s sponsors, Chessiverse.com. Use code “Perpetual30” to save 30% on premium offerings, and IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.  0:00 Introduction 2:10 GM Ramesh joins. Why is he relaunching his YouTube channel? 4:50 What Ramesh has learned from coaching elite players like Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram 7:45 Why young players focus too much on openings 10:00 How strong players think: candidate moves, objectivity, and avoiding analytical bias 13:30 Visualization, calculation, and why club players struggle to analyze deeply 16:15 Common problems even elite players face: time trouble, concentration, and handling losses Check out Ramesh’s interview with Praggnandhaa here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU0J3ftM8BQ 21:00 How coaches can help players overcome psychological obstacles 27:00 Patreon mailbag question: Might players like Praggnandhaa and Gukesh be dealing with issues like burnout, and a lack of balance in their lives? Mentioned: https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/right-now-it-s-a-challenge-to-enjoy-chess-gukesh-101781022470045.html 31:30 The dangers of playing too many tournaments 35:15 Long-term burnout concerns for today's generation of prodigies 37:20 Patreon mailbag question: What does Gukesh need to do to regain his best form? 44:45 Does being World Champion create unique psychological pressure? 48:45 Listener question: Pattern recognition vs. calculation 51:00 Analysis vs. calculation: an important distinction 54:10 How adults with only a few hours per week should spend their chess study time 55:30 Future books, Chessable courses, and long-term projects 57:30 What viewers can expect from Ramesh's YouTube channel 1:00:30 Training camps, teaching philosophy, and adapting to students 1:02:30 Why Ramesh stopped reading most chess books 1:04:00 The psychological side of coaching and improvement 1:06:30 Final advice for amateurs and aspiring professionals 1:07:40 Outro Thanks to GM Ramesh for joining me again! Be sure to SUB to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@RameshRB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can a background as a professional jazz musician help you improve at chess? Matt Rathkey says “yes.”. Matt is this week's guest on The Adult Improver Series. Like many players, he fell back in love with chess during the COVID pandemic and soon found himself playing regularly, watching top-level broadcasts, and solving puzzles. Along the way, he drew upon lessons from years of studying music, particularly the role of pattern recognition, deliberate practice, and improvisation. After years of dedication,  Matt has raised his Chess.com blitz rating from roughly 1200 to over 1900.  Matt also has a fascinating day job. He is a learning designer on Duolingo's chess team, helping build what has quickly become one of the largest entry points into chess in the world. Launched last year, Duolingo Chess now has more than 7 million daily active users, most of whom are new to the game. Matt shares his improvement advice, discusses the parallels between jazz and chess, and reflects on what he has learned about the science of skill acquisition.  This was a fun conversation, and it is encouraging to see so many new players discovering chess through Duolingo. 00:00 Introduction  Join the free Perpetual Chess Discord here: https://discord.gg/7KxjmaTW Sub to my free newsletter here:  https://benjohnson.substack.com/ Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess 02:00 Matt Rathkey joins 04:10 The Return to Chess: A Pandemic Story 07:04 Rediscovering Chess: The Queen's Gambit Effect 10:08 Setting Goals: The Journey to 1500 Matt’s USCF rating page: https://ratings.uschess.org/player/13412385 13:09 Learning Through Observation: Active Engagement 16:04 The Importance of Tactics in Chess 18:48 Understanding Openings: Beyond Memorization 21:41 Chess Culture and Personal Growth 24:42 The Future of Chess: Duolingo's Chess Course 34:56 Overcoming Chess Intimidation 36:48 Duolingo Chess: Making Chess Accessible 39:44 Engaging with Oscar: The Duolingo Chess Bot 42:53 Learning Pathways in Duolingo Chess 46:41 Designing Effective Chess Lessons 51:08 Personalized Learning in Chess 53:14 The Intersection of Music and Chess 01:02:06 Advice for Chess Improvement 01:08:24 The Journey of Continuous Improvement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a scholastic player, James Black Jr. was an All-American who won numerous national titles and trophies, both as an individual competitor and as part of the famed IS 318 chess program in Brooklyn, New York, as featured in the documentary Brooklyn Castle. Alongside FM Joshua Colas and IM Justus Williams, James became one of the youngest African-American National Masters in U.S. history. After stepping away from competitive chess for several years, James has recently returned to the game, both as a player and as a coach and mentor. In a full-circle moment, he is now teaching at the same school where he first made his name while also building his own organization, KnightShift. James joins me to discuss: • Why he came back to competitive chess, and his goals for the future • The "four pillars" he emphasizes when teaching young players • How chess training has changed since his rise in the early 2010s, and what he needs to do to catch up Plus, we discuss a unique chess book recommendation, his memories of Webster University, and his reaction to the news that its chess program is coming to an end. This was a fun conversation, and I am excited to see James's comeback unfold. 00:00 Intro+ What brought James back to chess after an OTB hiatus Mentioned: Brooklyn Castle https://www.rescuedmedia.com/brooklyn-castle GM Alex Lenderman, GM-elect Liam Putnam Background info we mentioned: https://grokipedia.com/page/james_black_jr 10:59 Teaching and Learning: Evolving Chess Education Watch James vs. Magnus in 2012 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfbpC3dQWw 17:16 Opening Strategies: Adapting to Modern Chess 23:25 Inspiration from Legends: Shaping a Chess Career 29:28 Beyond the Board: Life Lessons Through Chess 34:36 Reflections on Growth: Embracing the Journey 36:12 Impact of Mentorship in Chess 38:48 Teaching Chess to Young Minds 43:00- Favorite chess book!  Mentioned: WNYC video featuring James as a kid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOVyiR5jUU Knight Moves by Charles Alexander- https://www.ebay.com/itm/126711532470?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOopTKnSuidd7Eg5M3-xYtoYzP97-jcvhVtZSPv1S1T25hE9dzgcXGsU 48:58 Experiences at Webster University Webster terminates chess program: https://www.chess.com/news/view/spice-chess-program-terminated 53:49 Advice for Aspiring Chess Players Thanks to James for sharing his story! You can email him at  JamesBlackChess at gmail dot com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knightshiftofficial_/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Simon Williams returns to Perpetual Chess for the first time in several years. Simon is one of chess's most recognizable personalities, known as the Ginger GM through his work as a streamer, commentator, author and Chessable creator. He is also an accomplished tournament player, having shared first in the 2010 London Chess Classic and finished second in the 2004 British Championship. Simon joined me for a wide-ranging conversation covering both chess and life. We discussed: • His candid reflections on becoming involved with a pension company that later collapsed, the mistakes he made, and how he has worked to move forward • His new role helping revitalize Chesspublishing.com, and why he believes its archive of opening analysis remains an underappreciated resource • How modern opening preparation has changed, and why Simon increasingly relies on offbeat ideas to avoid preparation battles • His love of creative, attacking chess and the memorable games he has played at the Reykjavik Open We also discussed the Stonewall Dutch, rising British star Bodhana Sivanandan, the losses of IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins, and even Simon's thoughts on Las Vegas. As always, it was great catching up with Simon, and I am glad to see him creating chess content again.   00:00 The 2026 Reykjavik Open and Simon’s flair for the dramatic chess game  Check out Simon’s epic queen sacrifice in this article by NM Anthony Levin: https://www.chess.com/news/view/2023-reykjavik-open-williams-sacrifices-queen#:~:text=Williams%27%20Brilliancy,he%20played%20the%20interesting%205. 04:45 How Simon has adapted his approach to openings in the engine age  Mentioned: Simon’s game vs. Bodhana Sivanadan https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=3124933 07:35 Playing Against Younger Opponents 10:38 The State of British Chess 13:32 Exploring the Stonewall Dutch Mentioned: Bronstein’s famous blunder-  https://www.chess.com/blog/ThummimS/the-1951-world-chess-championship 16:32 The Impact of Computer Analysis 19:39 Experiences playing against legends at the 2025 European Club Cup 22:26 Simon’s Involvement with Chess Publishing More background info here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/simon-williams-ordered-to-pay-back-900-000-to-pension-scheme 26:30 Innovative Chess Solutions 28:11 Lessons learned from working for a pension firm that went bankrupt.  35:42 Navigating Financial Mistakes 40:17 The Importance of Chess in Life 44:48 Content Creation and Future Projects Keep an eye out for The Ginger and The Bear podcast! 48:54 Remembering IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins  50:00- How to keep up with GM Simon Williams Suggestions for Chesspublishing.com  https://www.chesspublishing.com/contact X: https://x.com/ginger_gm?lang=en YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/gingergm Disclosure: Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Perpetual Chess may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Himelfarb is an award-winning editor for the Toronto Star and an avid games player who became fascinated by elite chess during the pandemic. That fascination eventually led to his excellent new book,  Interregnum : Inside the Grueling and Glamourous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess, a detailed and highly readable chronicle of the 2024 FIDE Candidates cycle. Jordan traveled to events including the World Cup, Grand Swiss, Candidates Tournament and World Championship match, gathering revealing first-hand reflections from many of the game’s top players along the way. We discuss: Why the Candidates cycle makes for such compelling sports drama The emotional and physical toll of professional chess Which players and personal stories resonated with him most Ding Liren, Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh and the shifting generational landscape in chess The controversies, chaos and unforgettable moments of the 2024 cycle I recommend Jordan’s book to anyone looking for “bedtime chess reading”, and this was a really fun conversation. 00:00 Project Origins, Jordan’s Chess and Games Background 03:48 The Structure and Narrative of the Book 07:01 Experiences at Major Chess Events 09:54 Challenges and Insights in Reporting 12:46 The Physical and Mental Toll of Chess 15:58 Gender Dynamics in Chess 19:00- Patreon mailbag question: Which Candidates’ story resonated with Jordan the most?  22:16 The Weight of the Crown: Mental Health in Chess 23:40 Compelling Stories of Chess Players 25:30 The Agony and Ecstasy of Chess 30:07 The Relentless Grind of Chess Tournaments 31:09 Drama and Controversy in the Chess World 36:20 Expectations and Surprises in the Candidates Cycle 38:13 The Future of Young Chess Players 39:54 Personal Reflections on Chess 40:00- Thanks to Jordan for joining me, here is where to get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/1639369910 Audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/B0GCPR89VZ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paulo SantAnna is living the dream of many adult chess improvers. The retired software engineer has spent the past several years devoting serious time and energy to improving his game, and the results have been impressive. When Paulo rekindled his interest in tournament chess, his FIDE rating had fallen to a recent low of 1850. Through years of hard study, travel, disciplined training, and resilience, he recently reached a new high over 2100 FIDE in his mid-50s! We discuss: The moment Paulo decided to get serious about improvement The mistakes he made early in his comeback How he structures his training Study recommendations and practical advice for adult improvers Physical fitness, tournament selection, and maintaining motivation I found Paulo’s story inspiring, and it offers hope for the rest of us,  if we only could get rid of these pesky jobs. 0:00 Intro  More on the Adult Improver series here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Thanks to those who keep the show running! Patreon  Check out Chessiverse.com (discount code- ‘Perpetual30’) 4:00 Paulo’s chess comeback story begins Check out Paulo’s FIDE history here: https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2027402 6:00 Why his rating rebounded after moving to Europe 8:00 Retirement, Spain trips, and dedicating serious time to chess 11:00 Studying 35 hours a week 13:00 The dangers of doing too much More about the Chessdojo  here (use code “Ben” at checkout to save 10%) : https://www.chessdojo.club/signup 17:00 Calculation training and daily routines 20:00 Openings, Chessable streaks, and training structure 23:00 Online blitz, model games, and coaching 25:00 How much he studies versus other adult improvers 27:00 Avoiding burnout and keeping motivation 29:00 Brazilian chess streamers and coaches Paulo has worked with: GM Rafael Leitao, GM Andres Rodriguez,GM Diego Flores, GM Lenderman, GM Izoria, GM Eugene Perelshteyn,GM Raven Sturt,  IM Jorge Bobadilla 31:00 Working with top trainers like Eugene Perelshteyn and Axel Bachmann 33:00 Blindfold training with GM Roven Vogel 36:00 What mattered most for improvement 38:00 Hiding online repertoires and preparation 40:00 Sparring games and training partners 41:00 His breakthrough tournaments 42:00 Tournament prep philosophy 46:00 Fitness, stamina, and nutrition for chess 49:00 Chess scenes in New York and California 52:00 Senior tournaments and future plans 54:00 Favorite chess books and resources Mentioned: Postional Play by GM Jacob Aagaard, Endgame Strategy by Shereshevsky  57:00 Advice for busy adult improvers 58:00 Rating goals and pursuit of FM 1:00:00 Why adults struggle to improve 1:03:00 Final thoughts 1:04:00- Thanks to Paulo for sharing his story! You can reach him at: psantann at gmail.dot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Ivan Sokolov is a former top-15 player who won major tournaments across multiple decades and became national champion of both Yugoslavia and the Netherlands. In classical chess, he scored memorable wins against Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand. In recent years, Ivan has become equally respected as a trainer and author. Most notably, he worked with the gold medal-winning Uzbek team at the 2022 Chess Olympiad, including GMs Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Given Sindarov’s recent success, Ivan reflects on how his game has evolved and why it was clear to him that Sindarov was both supremely talented and, at the time, somewhat unprofessional in his approach. Ivan recently released a new Chessable course, Self-Improvement for Advanced Players. We discuss chess improvement for professionals and amateurs alike, the proper role of a trainer in a player’s development, preparation in the Kasparov era versus today, and memories from his legendary career. This  includes reflections on his close friendship with the late GM Jan Timman. It is always an honor to hear GM Sokolov’s stories and perspectives. 00:00 Introduction to Ivan Sokolov Prior interview with GM Ivan Sokolov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2slrqqW7s&t=209s 02:21 Insights on the Uzbek National Team Interview with Chessbase India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnN00uNrBEQ&t=588s 09:10 Assessing Grandmaster Sinderov's Potential 12:57 The Importance of Chess History 15:56 The Role of a Trainer 19:28 Experiences Against Chess Legends 22:09 Preparing for Kasparov vs. Modern Players 28:18 The Future of Chess: Classical vs. Chess 960 32:10 Insights from Ivan’s course.  36:22 Memories of the 2012 World Open and other tournaments in the US Mentioned: Sokolov vs. Shirov 1999 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1010044 40:05 Talent vs. Hard Work in Chess 42:06 Remembering Grandmaster Yantum 46:40 Current Projects and Future Plans 50:00- Thanks to GM Sokolov for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: X: https://x.com/GMSokolovIvan Chessable Courses:  https://www.chessable.com/author/IvanSokolov/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Greg Shahade has long been well known in the chess world as a three-time national scholastic champion and the founder of the Pro Chess League and the US Chess School. Recently, however, he reached a much broader audience with an impressive run on the syndicated trivia show Jeopardy!. Greg amassed over $75,000 in winnings, dethroning 31-time champion Jamie Ding along the way. He joined me after what he described as “the craziest week of his life” to discuss: The approach to adult learning that helped him go from trivia novice to Jeopardy! champion in just a few years Behind-the-scenes insights from the recording process, plus his reflections on his controversial on-stage mannerisms How his background in chess (and poker) shaped his strategy and decision-making under pressure There isn’t a ton of chess discussion in this episode, but Greg’s approach to learning and performance has clear applications across many domains. 00:00 Introduction  Check out our sponsors, Chessiverse.com , and you can use code Perpetual30 to save 30% on premium feature and/or IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.  Chessiverse.com 03:00- Greg Shahade joins the show, we begin by discussing adult learning and Greg’s late start to trivia.  Mentioned: Learned League  Thinking Sideways by Jennifer Shahade  Ducksters  07:43 Building Knowledge Structures 10:03 The Role of Intense Study 12:54 Flashcards and Review Techniques 15:43 Betting Strategies on Jeopardy 18:45 Reflections on the Jeopardy Experience You can review questions Greg faced here: https://www.j-archive.com/showseason.php?season=42 25:00-  Patreon mailbag question- Why does Greg know so little about current events? What is his approach to daily double hunting? 30:44 Daily Double Strategies and Insights 36:57 Patreon mailbag question- Why is Greg so expressive when playing Jeopardy? 42:16 Physicality and Focus in Jeopardy 49:25 Behind the Scenes of Jeopardy 52:40 Facing the Champion: Mental Strategies 55:11 The Weight of Anticipation: Media and Public Perception 57:02 Navigating Fame: Love, Hate, and Public Reaction 59:50 Preparing for the Tournament of Champions 01:03:51 Chess and Jeopardy: Cross-Disciplinary Insights 01:07:20 Reflections on Study Techniques and Memory 01:11:20 Final Thoughts: The Game and Its Emotional Toll Thanks to Greg for joining me at a busy time. Follow him here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregshahade/?hl=en X:  https://x.com/GregShahade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When I read on GM Eugene Perelshteyn’s blog that his amateur friend had signed up to compete against players like Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann in the Naroditsky Memorial, I knew I had to hear this story. That friend is NM Mike Mahoney. Mike is a pharmacist by day and a devoted online blitz player by night. For Mike, chess is usually a way to unwind, not something he takes too seriously. But he couldn’t pass up the chance to test himself in one of the strongest blitz tournaments the U.S. has ever seen.  Eugene will be mentoring Mike and traveling with him to Charlotte, and they both joined me to discuss: Why Mike decided to jump into such a stacked field How Eugene is preparing him for the challenge How Mike defines “success” in a tournament like this We also talk about Mike’s unconventional path to becoming a National Master, starting relatively late, as well as some great stories from the Boston blitz scene. I’m excited to follow how this unfolds, and Eugene and Mike will be back after the tournament for a trip report. In the meantime, you can follow Mike’s journey on Eugene’s blog.  Be sure to check out the Perpetual Chess YouTube channel where Eugene goes over one of Mike’s model games against the Caro-Kann. (The video will be out later this week)  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtcudElmRsQYTwULtd_gnFw 00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Journey 02:50 Mike's Decision to Compete in the Naroditsky Memorial 05:41 Eugene's Support and Coaching Role 08:41 Mike's Past Experiences with Top Players 11:35 Analyzing Mike's Strengths and Weaknesses 14:37 Training and Preparation for the Tournament 17:31 Opening Strategies and Game Analysis Mentioned: The Hungarian Dragon  The Dragodorf 20:32 Eugene’s Philosophy on Gimmicky Openings 23:21 Defining Success in the Tournament Mentioned: IM Marc Esserman 27:04 Excitement in Facing Strong Opponents 31:35 Setting Performance Goals as a Coach 34:02 The Importance of Blitz Clock Management 35:33 The Origin Story of a Late Chess Starter Mentioned: Ilya Koyfman  36:39 Factors Contributing to Success in Chess 39:16 The Value of Community in Chess 40:56 The Evolution of Chess Accessibility 43:25 The Importance of a Fun and Relaxed Approach 43:37 Learning from Losses and Honest Reflection 46:02 Stories about legendary  GM Roman Dzindziashvilli and Bobby Fischer  Mentioned: Dzindzi-Jansa move 25 https://lichess.org/study/Th7i9fr2/kxMPOEjA 49:00 Upcoming Projects and Future Endeavors 50:00- Thanks to Eugene and Mike for joining me! You can follow Mike’s training and progress on GM Eugene Perelshteyn’s blog.  https://eugeneperel.substack.com/ If you would like to help support Mike’s dream trip you can do so via this Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/send-chess-rocky-to-fight-supergms-in-charlotte?lid=nlkk8jxujhda&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TXN_User_Messaging_Thank_You_Option_A&utm_content=internal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the FIDE Candidates now in the rearview mirror, 7-time Brazilian Champion and Chess.com “Game of the Day” columnist GM Rafael Leitão joins me to help break it all down. We discuss: Sindarov’s incredible performance and the training methods that helped him ascend to the top Vaishali’s strong finish and her chances against Ju Wenjun Rafael’s take on opening trends, and which players might be most disappointed with their performance GM Leitão also shares his thoughts on the Judit Polgar documentary on Netflix, along with his story of getting to play Judit. Thanks to Rafael for sharing his insights. I’m excited to see the two new World Championship challengers fight for the title later this year. 00:00 Introduction to the Candidates Tournament 02:04 Training Methods and Classical Chess Education Mentioned: IM Roman Vidonyik interview with Charlize van Zyl  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5TJMiHqiwc 04:50 Expectations and Surprises in the Candidates 07:43 Analysis of Player Performances 10:56 Sindarov's Unique Play Style 13:51 Reflections on Historical Performances 16:54 Opening Trends in High-Level Chess 19:52 The Future of Chess Openings 30:09 Concurrent Tournaments: A New Perspective 31:41 Vaishali's Resilience and Performance 35:00 Sindarov vs. Gukesh: The Rising Stars Mentioned: Chess.com article touching on Sindarov’s trainer IM Roman Vidonyak https://www.chess.com/news/view/2026-fide-candidates-tournament-round-14 Interviews with IM Roman Vidonyok: Chessbase India- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6VDTVVXMZU&t=442s FIDE-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5TJMiHqiwc&t=1s Chessbase article about the support Erdogmus receives: https://en.chessbase.com/post/a-billionaire-supports-chess-talents 38:40 Ambitious Goals: The Future of Sindarov 42:04 Support Systems in Chess: A Double-Edged Sword 44:20 The Candidates Tournament: Format and Future 48:01 Memorable Encounters: Rafael's Game with Judit Polgar Mentioned: Rafael’s YouTube video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKvQuSfNd6A 50:20 Analyzing Chess.com’s “Game of the Day”: Rafael's Approach Mentioned: Praggnandhaa vs. Rapport 2025- https://www.chess.com/events/2025-uzchess-cup-masters/06/Praggnanandhaa_R-Rapport_Richard 54:15 The Future of Chess: New Generations and Trends 56:00- Thanks to GM Leitao for rejoining me! You can reach him via his website, and follow him via the following methods: Website: https://rafaelleitao.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCistQmaDouEpKROBZBkQQ9A Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/gmrafaelleitao/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It has been a busy time in the chess world, as dramas new and old bubble to the surface. GM Javokhir Sindarov is on the verge of winning the FIDE Candidates. A highly anticipated Netflix documentary has just been released about the Hans–Magnus controversy, and there is even some business intrigue, as an app co-founded by GM Magnus Carlsen is set to compete directly with Chess.com. Joining me to discuss it all is the popular and entertaining YouTuber and commentator, GM Ben Finegold. Questions answered include: Is the early Kalshi market correct to make Sindarov a 66% favorite over Gukesh in a World Championship match? Will the Netflix documentary change anyone’s mind about Chess.com, Magnus Carlsen, or Hans Niemann? Is Magnus likely to be directly involved in Take Take Take’s new direction? We also discuss Ben’s recent health struggles, the state of his OTB game, and his upcoming plans. It’s always worthwhile to hear Ben’s unvarnished opinions! 0:00 – Intro + GM Ben Finegold returns 0:40 – FIDE Candidates Discussion (Sindarov’s dominance, Gukesh, Women’s section, format talk) 7:30 – Netflix “Chessmates” Documentary (Niemann–Carlsen) (Impressions, cheating debate, Magnus/Chess.com dynamics, Hans’ future) Mentioned: Untold: Chess Mates  31:00 – TakeTakeTake vs Chess.com + Chess Business Drama (Magnus, Lichess partnership, Hikaru’s reaction) Mentioned: Hikaru discusses the TakeTakeTake/LiChess partnership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFdWHX8oHuE&t=1534s Theo Wait of Lichess interview with Chessbase India: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8nm-RPZzsM Poker scandal-  https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/104pwwx/poker_the_infamous_j4_hand_that_nearly_tore_the/ 42:30 – Ben Finegold on His Chess + Future Plans (Retirement from OTB, health, streaming, poker, travel) Find Ben at the 2026 National Open: https://new.uschess.org/2026-national-open 50:00- Thanks as always to Ben for coming on the podcast. Here is how to keep up with him: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/itsbenandkaren/videos?filter=highlights&sort=time YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6EnFbK-P5q0zeaqI5yobKg X: https://x.com/ben_finegold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Shahade is a two-time U.S. Women’s Champion, poker professional, commentator, and acclaimed author. This week, she returns to the pod to discuss her new book Thinking Sideways: How to Think Like a Chess Player and Win at Life. Drawing on chess, poker, and psychology, Jen shares practical tips and memorable stories about decision-making, creativity, and improvement. We discuss: Why she interviewed reformed chess cheaters and what their stories reveal about ambition Helpful advice for remembering opening lines The “Einstellung Effect” and how to avoid missing better ideas How AI is changing the way we learn and think We also catch up on Jen’s recent travels and upcoming events. There is a lot to learn and plenty of great stories along the way. 0:00- Intro- Jen Shahade and US Chess announce a settlement: https://x.com/KenneyBaden/status/2039375140534767852?s=20 0:02- Jen Shahade joins me. How did she find reformed chess cheaters to interview? What did she learn from talking with them for her book? Mentioned: Netflix Untold Documentary about the Niemann-Carlsen story  https://www.netflix.com/title/81582391 0:10- What is “MTR”?  0:14- Working with legendary trainer IM Mark Dvoretsky  0:18- Lessons learned from interviewing a memory champion  Mentioned: Yanjaa Wintersoul, GM Sam Shankland  0:28- Jen’s experiences coding with Claude  Check out the links to the app she built here: https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/spin-the-wheel-vibe-a-move 0:36- What is “the Einstellung effect”?  0:40- Jen’s chess-related conversation with legendary psychologist and author Daniel Kahneman  0:42- How chess master and Alpha Zero creator Demis Hassabas “thought sideways” to secure funding for his start up.  0:48- Observations from the recent Sloan sports analytic conference 0:50- What is “the sandwich method”? 0:51- Upcoming book events for Jen 0:52- If you will be in NYC on May 12 and want to support a good cause, come see Jen and I at this event. You can buy tickets to the Chess in the Schools Poker/Chess Fundraiser here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-3rd-annual-charity-poker-tournament  0:54- Thanks to Jen for joining me again, here is where to order her book. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinking-Sideways/Jennifer-Shahade/9798897100729 https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Sideways-Think-Chess-Player/dp/B0FCDDB8XV  Photo in thumbnail by Maria Emelianova Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FM Mike Klein of Chess.com  joins the show from Cyprus to give an on-the-ground look at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. We discuss the incredible start by GM Javokhir Sindarov, and what Mike has observed from his interactions with the rising star. Mike also describes the tournament atmosphere,shares  behind-the-scenes stories from the venue, and provides insights on the Women’s Candidates race. We also discuss what to expect in the critical rounds ahead including a huge round 8 battle.  0:00 – Intro + Mike Klein joins (Candidates update)0:45 – Javokhir Sindarov’s historic start (6/7) + Anna Muzychuk leading women’s field 1:20 – Sindarov’s personality: “infectious,” approachable, media-friendly3:35 – Candidates trivia + chess culture vs performance debate 4:45 – Comparing Sindarov’s start to past Candidates performances6:18 – Mindset: why Sindarov isn’t satisfied (even after a draw) 7:50 – Will Sindarov keep pushing or coast to victory?9:27 – Tournament suspense vs runaway leader (Nepo comparison) 10:25 – Life in Cyprus: smaller scene vs Madrid/Toronto11:00 – Hotel stories + luxury setting + “White Lotus vibes”12:48 – Safety, isolation, and player accommodations 13:51 – Venue setup: viewing area, fan zones, and logistics15:30 – Rest day activities + paddle tournament 16:30 – Paddle tournament results + Caruana appearance17:50 – Chess + tennis crossover (Pavel Tregubov trivia)19:05 – What is paddle? (sport explanation + Magnus tie-in) 20:30 – Women’s Candidates overview: Muzychuk vs Vaishali + contenders22:48 – Seconds and prep teams (Caruana, Hikaru, etc.) 25:00 – Key matchup: Nakamura vs Caruana26:00 – What would Sindarov be like as World Champion? 28:30 – Mike’s YouTube channel + future content plans29:20 – “Weightless chess” goal (fun viral idea)30:40 – Wrap-up + sign-off 31:00- Thanks to Mike Klein for joining me! Be sure to sub to his YouTube channel here for additional on-site Candidates coverage: https://www.youtube.com/@FunMasterMike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It has been over two years since FIDE implemented major changes to its rating system aimed at combating rating deflation. But are those changes actually working? My guest, Vlad Ghita, joins me to dig into the data. Vlad is a Romanian arbiter, instructor, and chess enthusiast with a master’s degree in physics. In his new e-book, The Rating Revolution, he takes a rigorous, data-driven look at how the global rating system is functioning—and where it may still be falling short. We discuss: What Vlad calls the “participation paradox” Which countries may be the most underrated How age impacts rating expectations Why some players feel stuck despite improving Is the US rating system functioning more effectively than FIDE? As discussed in the episode, many of these issues stem from structural imbalances in the rating pool—something Vlad illustrates through extensive analysis of nearly one million games . In our conversation (and in his book), Vlad not only identifies problems but also proposes thoughtful solutions. As a dedicated coach and adult improver himself, he also shares practical advice for chess improvement. ; 0:00- Intro Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out their FIDE Candidates Sale here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/ Sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- Vlad’s joins the show, we being by diving into his chess  background Mentioned: Michael Franco/NoseKnowsAll’s free Lichess materials- https://lichess.org/study/by/NoseKnowsAll 0:10- How Vlad’s curiosity about ratings was piqued around the pandemic, what he learned about ratings 0:11- What is the cause of FIDE rating deflation? Mentioned: Jeff Sonas, Dr. Mark Glickman 0:16-What is “the participation paradox?”  0:21- Is the US rating system working better than FIDE’s? 29:00- Should FIDE institute adjustable rating floors?  31:00- What solutions does Vlad propose to improve the rating system?  42:00- Chess improvement lessons from Vlad’s playing and training experience  Mentioned: Chess Structures, How to Study Chess on Your Own, Chessbook 50:00- The pros and cons of working full time in chess 52:00- Thanks to Vlad for coming on the pod and writing an insightful book. Vlad has offered a discount to Perpetual Chess Listeners if you use the code “perpetual” at checkout. https://vladchess.com/rating-revolution If you are interested in getting coaching from Vlad, you can reach him via his website: https://vladchess.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Perpetual Chess book discussion series Chess Books Recaptured returns with a personal, funny, and heartfelt episode. Gaurav Datta, a longtime student and close friend of IM Jeremy Silman, joins me to discuss Silman’s Chess Odyssey: Cracked Grandmaster Tales, Legendary Players, & Instructions and Musings. This memoir and collection of writing was Silman’s final work, and it beautifully captures his deep and enduring love for chess. As Gaurav shares, he was an ordinary club player who repeatedly emailed Silman until Jeremy reluctantly agreed to take him on as a student in the late 1990s. What began as lessons soon turned into a decades-long friendship. Jeremy did not care much about Gaurav’s rating, but he appreciated his sense of humor and his ability to tell interesting stories. Throughout the conversation, Gaurav interweaves touching and often hilarious personal memories with insights from the book, offering a glimpse  into Silman’s life and teaching philosophy.  I greatly enjoyed reading Silman’s Chess Odyssey, and hearing Gaurav’s stories added a whole new dimension to understanding one of chess’s most beloved teachers. 0:00 Intro + overview of Silman’s Chess Odyssey Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com. Check out IM Jeremy SIlman’s vast catalog of courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/Jeremy_Silman/5:48 Guest intro: Gaurav Datta (long-time student & friend of Jeremy Silman) 7:00 How Gaurav discovered Silman, early struggles, and first meeting12:30 What lessons with Silman were really like (stories, life, chess) 18:20 Chess as art: Silman’s core philosophy22:40 Training methods: studying master games & subtle ideas Mentioned: IM Erik Kislik, NM Steve Brandwein 28:00 Gambling struggles, life setbacks, and returning to chess 33:00 Silman’s personality: stories, Japan, boxing & unique interests 38:40 Final years, illness, and completing his last book Mentioned: Autobiography of a Goat  51:30 Key lessons: play for beauty, not rating + lasting impact 1:15:00- Thanks so much to Gaurav for sharing his amazing stories! Here is how you can reach him: Email- gdatta at gmail.com Chess.com-  https://www.chess.com/member/olddirtypatzer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament is almost here, and GM Jan Gustafsson joins the podcast to break down the entire field. As a leading opening theoretician who has worked on GM Magnus Carlsen’s World Championship team, Jan brings unique insight into this high-stakes event. Jan will be on site in Cyprus providing commentary alongside his longtime friend GM Peter Svidler. In this episode we go player by player discussing the contenders’ chances, from rising stars like Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov to established veterans like Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura. Jan shares insights on preparation, momentum, and who is most likely to win the Candidates and earn the right to challenge for the World Championship. We also discuss the Women’s Candidates Tournament, pop culture, and Jan’s latest projects. Episode Recorded on March 11, 2016 0:00 Intro – Candidates preview with GM Jan Gustafsson You can buy tickets to the Chess in the Schools Poker/Chess Fundraiser here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-3rd-annual-charity-poker-tournament Check out Jan’s Chessable courses here: Be sure to check out Chessiverse.com, and use code “Perpetual30” for a discount on premium features and IM John Bartholomew’s course.  5:16 Jan Gustafsson joins the show 6:36 Patreon mailbag question: Strategy for the Candidates tournament 12:55 Matthias Bluebaum preview Mentioned: Kalshi FIDE Candidate’s Odds: https://kalshi.com/markets/kxchesscandidates/chess-candidates-champion/kxchesscandidates-26 17:18 Andrey Esipenko preview 22:39 Praggnanandhaa preview 26:35 Javokhir Sindarov preview 31:20 Anish Giri preview 33:52 Wei Yi preview 39:00 Fabiano Caruana preview 44:42 Hikaru Nakamura preview 49:57 Predictions for the winner 52:40 Women’s Candidates preview 57:00- Patreon mailbag question: What would Jan like to keep as is in the chess world, and what would he like to see changed? 1:00:05 Closing thoughts, tv shows, nonsense.  Mentioned: Jeselnik book club: https://anthonyjeselnik.com/the-jeselnik-book-club 1:06:00- Thanks to Jan for joining! Be sure to tune in to the FIDE YouTube channel for his Candidates coverage, sub to Janistan TV on Twitch, and check out his Chessable courses here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s guest on the Adult Improver Series is Matt Biancuzzo. Matt is a 31-year-old New York City consultant who is very active in both the local chess scene and on social media. He has taken full advantage of New York’s many chess opportunities, regularly attending chess gatherings and pub nights while also competing in tournaments locally. Over the past few years he has improved from below 1400 USCF to a peak of over 1800! Matt has worked with multiple coaches, grinded tactics, and consumed countless chess videos, but he credits the majority of his improvement to building a social network that made chess fun for him. Speaking of fun, Matt has also built a large online following thanks to his hilarious short-form videos. Posting as “byredofantome” on Instagram and “fantomechess” on TikTok, Matt creates impressions and humorous shorts that lightly satirize chess culture. In the second half of our interview, we shift our focus from chess improvement to the story behind Matt’s videos. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out the bonus video breaking down some of Matt’s best clips here. Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here: Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon Join the Perpetual Chess Discord here:  https://discord.gg/gUPSsHMK Check out Chessable’s Women’s Day sale here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/f/ Check out Chessiverse.com, use code “Perpetual30” to save 30% on premium offerings.  00:00 Introduction to Chess Improvement and Content Creation 04:45- Matt Biancuzzo joins the show! We begin by discussing how he got into chess in college.  13:29 The Role of Community in Chess Improvement Mentioned: GM Robert Hungaski, IM Denys Shmelov, Alex Pickett,  IM Jan van der Mortaal, Jonathan Williams, Pobo Efikoro 18:03 Coaching and Learning Strategies 23:04 The Impact of Online Chess and Content Creation Mentioned: MaddiePlaysChess, GambitMan 25:00- Getting a chess coach Mentioned: IM Sam Khanin, IM VIktor Matviishen 28:00 Personal Growth Through Chess 33:14 Final Thoughts on Chess and Community 40:16 The language and habits of chess players  48:55 Content Creation in Chess Mentioned: Matt’s article about Where to Play Chess in NYC https://www.chess.com/blog/byredofantome/where-to-play-chess-in-nyc-and-how-to-gauge-a-good-club POV When you are Prepping for the 2002 World Under 12 Championship: https://www.instagram.com/byredofantome/reel/DT6A_OHDqTi/ What I learned Playing 130 Chess Tournaments in 2 Years https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-fgbeDmHY/ POV You are Spassky in 1971 https://www.instagram.com/p/DTOntmlDlEM/ 49:54 The Art of Subversive Commentary 52:06 Impressions and Mannerisms in Chess Matt’s Yasser/magnus video is here: https://www.tiktok.com/@byredofantome/video/7240979768525573418?_r=1&_t=ZP-94OfoAItpk7 53:50 Translating Chess for the Average Person 55:15 Inspiration from Online Trends Mentioned: POV Chess Players Training at the Gym https://www.instagram.com/p/DRqJ2x_jvKs/ 01:03:19 Monetization and Content Creation Challenges 01:05:26 Entrepreneurial Ventures in Chess 01:09:05 Colliding Worlds: Chess and Consulting 01:12:26 The Nature of Content Creation and Recognition Matt’s linktree is here: https://linktr.ee/byredofantome?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnKZHTvXc3y6vDxPUApYvPDxbUFpbNtVLXr58nVATFdTyrdu7mR6xgzob8An4_aem_SjGs6svkY3aTt1lbEPnWOg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s returning guest is NM Han Schut. Han is a former corporate executive turned Chessable author and trainer, known for his expertise in the Chess Steps Method and chess technology. Han joins me to reflect on the legacy of his fellow Dutchman, GM Jan Timman, who recently passed away. He shares personal anecdotes and discusses Timman’s impact as a world-class competitor, prolific author, and cultural icon in the Netherlands. We also explore a fascinating recent project: Han built a custom chess database with the help of the LLM Claude, which handled all of the coding. He explains how players can use LLMs effectively for chess study and recommends other powerful digital tools. Finally, Han offers evergreen advice on rest, mindset, and accurately assessing your own chess performance. As always, I came away inspired by Han’s wide-ranging knowledge and practical approach to chess. Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com! Check out Han Schut's courses here: ⁠https://www.chessable.com/author/HanSchut/⁠ 00:00 Remembering Grandmaster Jan Timman Mentioned: Read Peter Doggers’ obituary here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/jan-timman-obituary Timman-Ribli 1978- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1142478 12:03 Exploring LLMs in Chess Coding Check out Han’s video about coding with Claude here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSj69yLmwMg&t=3s Download the Lichess Puzzle Database Here: https://database.lichess.org/#puzzles Link to download Han and Claude’s creation within this article: https://lichess.org/@/HanSchut/blog/the-lichess-opening-puzzles-with-games-makes-them-searchable-from-any-position/BUHE9eQ3 Matt Shumer article “Something Big is Happening”- https://x.com/mattshumer_/status/2021256989876109403 21:45 Creating Chess Tools with AI 27:56 The Rise of AI and Its Implications 34: 00 Han’s Chess Study Tool Recommendations: Mentioned:  Forward Chess https://forwardchess.com/ Chessvision AI https://chessvision.ai/ 36:55 Patreon mailbag question: What is Han’s advice for how to approach chess puzzles?  Mentioned:  CT Art Puzzles- (Chessking App) https://chesskingtraining.com/ct-art/ Chessbase Puzzles https://tactics.chessbase.com/nl/Solve 45:40 Mindset and Mental Strength in Chess Mentioned: Think Like a Super GM by Michael Adams How to Chess Podcast with Han Schut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPN60QMA2oA 53:12 Managing Anxiety and Performance Pressure 58:46 Patreon mailbag question: What does Han think of Chessalyz AI and other AI Chess Tutors?  Mentioned:  Chessalyz AI: https://chessalyz.ai/ FM Dalton Perrine’s blog: https://chesschatter.substack.com/ Novachess AI https://www.chessagine.com/ 1:05:00- Thanks to Han for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: YouTube (including Saturday morning streams):  https://www.youtube.com/c/hanschut Lichess coaches: https://lichess.org/coach/HanSchut Chessable courses:  https://www.chessable.com/author/HanSchut/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Aman Hambleton has been busy lately. In addition to his usual role as a popular Twitch streamer and Youtuber for the Chessbrah channel, he recently returned from London, where he was one of the lead commentators for Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship. He also has recently released his highly anticipated Chessable course, Aman Hambleton’s London System. In our conversation we discuss:  What made the latest Speed Chess Championship “special” according to Magnus Carlsen, and Aman’s thoughts on rapid, classical and freestyle chess.  What Aman says to haters of the London Opening.  Aman’s thoughts on the FIDE Candidates.  We also discuss whether Aman is an adult improver at blitz chess (having recently crossed 3000 on Chess.com , Aman’s thoughts on The Queen of Chess, and the all important question of what Aman thinks of Magnus Carlsen’s new mustache. Its always fun chatting with Aman!  0:01- Aman’s reflections on Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship in London  0:14- Looking ahead to the Esports World Cup  0:19- Aman’s thoughts on the FIDE Candidates  0:23- Highlights of Aman’s London course.  More on Aman’s chessboxing match with IM Lawrence Trent here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/mogul-chessboxing-championship-hambleton-trent 35:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Aman have plans of doing a formal course on the Taimanov?  Mentioned: Aman’s Taimanov Speedrun: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUjxDD7HNNTjZAD99gBAKVm_ZipXTtNYn Mentioned: The Taimanov Bibl 41:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Aman’s advice for how to improve your middlegame play?  46:00- Where did Aman come up with the term “snorkel”?  49:00- Aman recently went over a 3000 blitz rating. Is he an adult improver? 52:00- Does Aman have any new impersonations?  53:00- Aman’s thoughts on The Queen of Chess  54:00- Did the Chessbrahs go out in London? 55:00- Favorite chessbrah videos  56:00- Does Aman approve of Magnus’ new mustache? 59:00- Thanks to Aman for joining me again! Here is how to keep up with he and the Chessbrahs: Chessable course: https://www.chessable.com/aman-hambletons-london-system/course/353577/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/chessbrah Kick: https://kick.com/chessbrah/videos YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chessbrah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What role does chess play in our lives? That’s a recurring question on Perpetual Chess, and one that author Katie Kormanik explores in her new, personal memoir, Adventures of a Chess Girl. A former top scholastic player, Katie looks back at the competitive years of her early 20s and reflects on how chess became a refuge during a stressful and uncertain time. The game allowed her to travel widely and immerse herself in an eclectic social circle of strong players from around the world. Although Katie ultimately stepped away from competition, she still loves chess, and now fondly revisits those formative memories. We also discuss her experience self-publishing the book, as well as our thoughts on the new Queen of Chess documentary on Netflix.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out GM Simon Williams' new course here: https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-stonewall-dutch/course/378958/ 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:49 Exploring the Memoir: Adventures of a Chess Girl Mentioned: All the Wrong Moves by Sasha Chapin 03:28 Chess as a Refuge and a place to build identity 08:14 The Role of Peer Influence in Chess 12:00- Does Katie have a love-hate relationship with chess? 16:09 Romantic Relationships and Chess Improvement 19:00- Gender dynamics in the chess world  22:05 Advice for Young Women in Chess 23:15 Introducing Chess to Children 25:59 The Journey of Self-Publishing a Book You can find Katie’s self-publishing checklist within this article: https://booksbywomen.org/the-case-for-self-publishing-and-why-its-easier-now-than-ever-before/ 34:13 Reflections on Life Lessons and Risks 39:47 Our thoughts on the new Netflix Queen of Chess documentary  43:32 Parenting Styles and Nurturing Passions 45:00- Thanks so much to Katie for joining me! You can find out more about her and her book at: https://www.chessgirlbook.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it possible to continue to get better at chess once you hit your 50s?  The Adult Improver Series returns, and that’s one of the central questions I explore with today’s guest, long-time friend of the pod and fellow chess podcaster Dr. Kevin Scull. Kevin is the host of the popular Chess Journeys podcast, where he interviews adult chess improvers on a weekly basis. In our conversation, he shares insights drawn from hundreds of interviews, as well as from his own dedicated pursuit of tournament chess. We discuss: How Kevin managed to reach a new all-time rating high of over 1800 USCF in his early 50s The social and competitive benefits of adult-only tournaments Whether struggling to remember your games afterward means you’re hopeless at chess As you’d expect, Kevin also shares a wealth of chess resource recommendations and practical improvement tips, and reflects on nearly five years of producing Chess Journeys. Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series Website: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series Spotify Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=ab7ba68225fb43dc 0:00- Thanks to Chessable, check out Kevin’s course here: https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/ 0:01- Kevin joins the pod. How did he achieve a new rating high of 1800+ USCF in his early 50s?  0:08- Why Kevin particularly enjoys adult and senior-only tournaments  18:00- Kevin’s recent chess improvement realizations  Mentioned: Karpov’s Strategic Wins by IM Tibor Karolyi  23:00- The benefits of having a coach Mentioned: NM Gopal Menon https://lichess.org/streamer/vitamixbrand 28:00- More chess improvement secrets! Mentioned: 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know The Carlsbad Pawn Structure Revisited  Chess Structures  32:00- Is Kevin hopeless at chess because he can’t remember his games? Post- Am I bad at chess or our brains really that different? https://drscull.substack.com/p/am-i-bad-at-chess-or-are-brains-really Playing a Chess Tournament without Calculating https://substack.com/@drscull/p-185151203 43:00- What is new with the Chess Journeys Podcast and Kevin’s Streaming? Check at Chess Inception at Chesspuzzle.net  https://chesspuzzle.net/Inception 47:00- Patterns that Kevin sees in successful improvers 50:00- What has Kevin learned from watching his daughter pursue chess?  53:00- Kevin’s review of IM Danny Rensch’s Dark Squares 54:00- How to recalibrate expectations as you get older  56:00- The value of studying random positions  Thanks to Kevin for joining me! Blog/substack here: https://substack.com/@drscull/posts Chess Journeys Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kNbZLQE6JvbAyfOlv7ZNY?si=4b82e81608c24743&nd=1&dlsi=1afd66a98e904dc7 Chessable course: https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the  9 years of  Perpetual Chess’ existence, GM Yasser Seirawan is the most requested guest by listeners. It took some time to make it happen, but today the renowned commentator, author, and 4-time US Champion delivers. We chat about:  Yasser is renowned as a storyteller- what does he think the origins are of this skill?  Stories about Bobby Fischer, Bent Larsen, GM Miguel Najdorf, and many others.  The role that IM Jeremy Silman played in helping Yasser craft his popular Winning Chess Series.  Current exhibits at the World Chess Hall of Fame (including “Seirawan Chess”) and exciting renovations at the St. Louis Chess Club  This episode features plenty of laughter and a number of entertaining stories that I hadn’t heard Yasser tell before. 0:00- Here is the link to join the Perpetual Chess Discord:  https://discord.gg/aVWPk6P3 0:00- Thanks to our sponsors,  Chessiverse.com. Be sure to check out the Bots and courses, and use the code “Perpetual30” to receive a 30% discount on courses and premium offerings.  0:00- And you can check out Yasser’s Chessable courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/Yasser_Seirawan/ 0:02- Yasser joins me! He begins by discussing his storytelling roots, and some of the best raconteur GMs- Bent Larsen and Miguel Najdorf.  29:00- Yasser on his love for books and how he managed to write his Play Winning Chess series in such an accessible style.  47:00- Where do the point values for the pieces come from?  Mentioned: NFL player John Urschel, GM Fabiano Caruana 48- ADD BOARD GRAPHICS LATER IF YOU UP FOR IT 56:00- Yasser’s friendship with IM Jeremy Silman, and his favorite authors Mentioned: Mikhail Tal, Larry Christiansen, John Nunn, Fred Reinfeld 1:12:00- Yasser describes the renovations at the St. Louis Chess Club and the displays at the World Chess Hall of Fame, including one on chess variants.  https://worldchesshof.org/exhibits-programs/current-exhibitions/ Play “S Chess” or Seirawan Chess here: https://www.chess.com/variants/seirawan-chess 1:23:00- Playing blitz hustlers in NYC Mentioned: Vincent Livermore, FM Asa Hoffman 1:35:00- The St. Louis Chess Club’s community outreach and work with first responders Watch Anita Aronian singing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUEsLaf3R9w World Chess Hall of Fame Music Performances: https://www.youtube.com/worldchesshof 1:41:00- One last Botvinnik story!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Best-selling author Brad Stulberg has devoted a large part of his professional life to studying what it means to be excellent. He has interviewed peak performers in fields ranging from athletics and music to, of course, chess. His new book, The Way of Excellence distills all he learned.  In our conversation, Brad shares tons of helpful advice for anyone looking to improve at something. We tackle topics such as: – What “pursuing excellence” means for an amateur chess player hoping to get a little bit better – Why Brad admires chess, and what he learned from interviewing GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave for his new book, – Brad’s advice for striking a balance between digital and analog life and learning As a long-time fan of Brad’s writing and podcast, I was honored to speak with him about improving at chess and other domains. 0:00- Be sure to check out the bots and courses at  Chessiverse.com. Use the code “Perpetual30” to receive a 30% discount on courses and premium offerings.  2:00- Brad joins the show. What is “arrival fallacy” and is it the same thing as what hikers call "summit fever?”  08:00- Why did Brad want to include chess in a book about excellence? 12:00- How would Brad define excellence for someone engaged in a hobby, such as a chess player who just wants to go up in rating class?  15:00- Brad’s advice for people working hard on chess who are not seeing any rating gains Mentioned: The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com, you can sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 22:00- What did Brad learn from an exchange with Kasparov about the value of early-life specialization?  Mentioned: Kasparov’s reply here: https://x.com/Kasparov63/status/2002428459688341793 25:00- Brad’s experiences as a chess player and parent  28:00- Digital vs. Analog life and the biophilia hypothesis  37:00- The value of consistency over intensity  40:00- What Brad learned from interviewing 70+ elite performers across domains  45:00- Brad’s parting advice  Thanks to Brad for joining me, here is how to keep up with him: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/ Substack: https://bradstulberg.substack.com/ Webpage: https://www.bradstulberg.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prolific author and book reviewer FM Carsten Hansen returns to Perpetual Chess to talk chess improvement, chess publishing, and to provide a rundown of standout recent chess books. We start with a listener question about plateauing in tactics training. How do we know if we’re just hitting a speed bump, or if we’ve reached our ceiling? From there, we dive deep into chess books, sharing recommendations with both a biographical and improvement focus. Lastly, we discuss Chess Openings for Dummies and Carsten’s many other book projects. I still don’t know how Carsten puts out so much chess material, but it’s always fun to hear about it. EP 468- FM Carsten Hansen on Tactics Plateaus & The Best Recent Chess Books  Prolific author and book reviewer FM Carsten Hansen returns to Perpetual Chess to talk chess improvement, chess publishing, and to provide a rundown of standout recent chess books. We start with a listener question about plateauing in tactics training. How do we know if we’re just hitting a speed bump, or if we’ve reached our ceiling? From there, we dive deep into chess books, sharing recommendations with both a biographical and improvement focus. Lastly, we discuss Chess Openings for Dummies and Carsten’s many other book projects. I still don’t know how Carsten puts out so much chess material, but it’s always fun to hear about it. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com, you can sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 2:00 – Welcome  Prior FM Carsten Hansen interviews: Episodes 84, 206, Book Recap #30 4:00 –Carsten joins:  Patreon mailbag question: tactics plateaus and adult improvement Mentioned:  The Chess Wizardy of Wotowa  Invisible Chess moves Forcing Chess Moves  12:00 – Carsten’s own chess goals and IM aspirations 19:00 – Carsten’s favorite chess books of the past few years Mentioned:  Tiger’s Chaos Theory The Stories, Games and Intrigue of Capablanca and Alekhine  Gideon Stahlberg: An Epoch in Swedish Chess Korchnoi Year by Year Hubner Year by Year Alexander Alekhine: The Russian Sphinx IM Cyrus Lakdawala: Becoming an IM Converting an Extra Pawn in Chess Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual: 6th Edition Endgame study books by GM Jan Timman and IM Yochanan Afek 29:00 – Carsten discusses his newest project with FM James Eade, Chess Openings for Dummies Download the Chess for Dummies bonus content here: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Chess+Openings+For+Dummies%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781394345014#downloadstab-section 41:00- Carsten’s other projects: Mentioned: Mazukevich’s Madness Carsten’s Newly Edited Capablanca books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carsten+hansen+capablanca&crid=E42JM4JTS3CX&sprefix=carsten+hansen+capablanc%2Caps%2C114&ref=nb_sb_noss Coming soon: The Canal and Prins Gambits Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer  53:00 – Closing thoughts and wrap-up  Thanks to Carsten for rejoining me! Here is how to keep up with him: Website:  https://www.winningquicklyatchess.com/ Email- carstenchess at gmail dot com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grandmaster Surya Ganguly is a six-time champion of India, a popular Chessable author, and a former member of Viswanathan Anand’s World Championship preparation team. He is also a co-founder and coach at ProChessTraining.com, where he works with students ranging from adult amateurs to elite grandmasters. Surya joined me shortly after returning from the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships, where his own results fell short of expectations. This experience led to a thoughtful and honest discussion about perspective, gratitude, and what truly constitutes a challenge in life. We also talk about the impact of Indian government support for chess, Surya’s love of 1. E4 and (non-chess) board games, and how recent health scares in his family have helped keep chess in its proper place. I always find Surya to be wise and introspective, and it was an honor to speak with him again. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com, you can sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:01- Surya Ganguly joins me! He discusses the importance of understanding rather than memorizing, both in chess and in life.  03:30- Observations and lessons learned from competing the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz You can see Surya’s bishop ending game, as well as Magnus’ in games 33 and 34 of this Lichess study: https://lichess.org/study/PbwMAIXZ/y7DRWHu1 14:00- What is it like to teach Pragganandhaa, Aravindh and other top GMs in ProChessTraining.com classes? 16:45- Surya’s favorite (non-chess) board games  18:00- Why Surya never shows openings in his classes 23:00- Surya’s approach to teaching lower rated players  26:00- The importance of Surya’s government-supported job at Indian Oil.  32:00- How should students utilize Surya’s course if they don’t have time to consume the 36 hours of video content it offers? Mentioned: The idea in the Keres attack is #35 in this study (And can be found in full detail in Surya’s Chessable course!)  https://lichess.org/study/PbwMAIXZ/rRDeHWmk 41:00- Surya’s FIDE Candidates thoughts and plans  42:30- What was it like having an Indian movie made about Surya’s life? Learn more about Daburu here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6eprCvDPDc 49:00- Can chess be a means of upward mobilization for underprivileged kids in India?  51:00- What Surya learned from spending days with a fishbone stuck in his throat.  Mentioned: Surya’s interview with Chessbase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0PQmDTtMsI&t=1041s Must watch interview with Surya about his daughter here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PKWPZJVMyQ 1:01:00- How working with Anand taught Surya to develop an "eternal student” mindset.  GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly's childhood friends share with us the secrets of what makes Surya great Photo in thumbnail- By Diptansusengupta - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89961412 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Twelve years ago, the Hammersmith Chess Club in London was down to fewer than 20 members and facing an uncertain future. Today, thanks to committed volunteers, a welcoming culture, and the broader boom in chess, it’s the largest chess club in London, and was recently named ECF Chess Club of the Year. I’m joined by Hammersmith Club Captain Gaston Franco to discuss the club’s remarkable turnaround and what other communities can learn from it. We cover topics like financial sustainability, league play, and gender dynamics, as well as the importance of creating an inclusive, welcoming environment. We also explore Gaston’s own chess journey, which highlights one of the game’s great strengths: its ability to provide instant community, especially when moving alone to a new country. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com, you can sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Check out GM Ganguly’s new course here: https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-suryas-1e4-part-1/course/353840/ 2:00- Gaston Franco, the club captain of the Hammersmith Chess Club, joins me Mentioned: Watch Charlyze van Zyl’s tour of the Hammersmith Chess Club here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxR6mFl9d4E&t=1s John White, club chairman 6:00 The Transformation of Hammersmith Chess Club 12:00- Common Club Activities and Structure, How they Appeal to Women and Junior Players  17:00- League Participation and Competitive Play 20:44 Membership Fees and Financial Sustainability 29:47 Sponsorship and Community Support 31:00- How the Club Fielded a team in the FIDE World Team Championship 33:13 Role of Grandmasters in the Club Mentioned: GM Daniel King  34:28 League Matches and Club Activities 36:55 Chess Outreach and Community Engagement 39:10 Post-Pandemic Chess Boom 41:04 Challenges and Sustainability of Chess Clubs 43:18 Advice for Fledgling Chess Clubs 45:55 Guest Visits and Club Membership 47:24 Gaston’s Chess Journey from Buenos Aires to London  49:29 Comparing Chess Scenes: Argentina vs. London 51:52 The Future of Chess in Argentina 52:43 Community Events and Upcoming Tournaments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Japanese-Australian chess player, trainer, and content creator Junta Ikeda is the 2013 Japanese National Chess Champion and a runner-up in the 2020 Australian Championship. These days, with a full-time job outside of chess, Junta devotes most of his chess energy to helping others improve. He has shared countless insights on his excellent blog, Infinite Chess, which I’ve been reading religiously since its launch. There, Junta offers thoughtful advice on topics such as improving your tactics, managing the clock, and budgeting your study time. For this interview, I compiled questions based on some of his most insightful observations as we explored chess improvement from a wide range of angles. Toward the end of the conversation, we also touched on Junta’s background, chess in Japan, and even picked up a few non-chess book recommendations.   Check out Chessiverse and take out of their end of year sale here: http://chessiverse.com/ Check out IM John Bartholomew’s Comprehensive Scandinavian Course here:  https://chessiverse.com/courses/scandi Find out more about Chessdojo’s classes here: https://www.chessdojo.club/blog/live-classes Use Code NY26 to get a free month of the tier program Use Code Ben to save 10% off anything  0:04- Junta joins me! Does Junta’s fellow Canberra, Australia resident, IM Andras Toth exist in real life? 0:06- How does Junta respond to FM Nate Solon’s inflammatory tweet about chess books? https://x.com/natesolon/status/1988955760965963898?s=20 0:11- Junta’s coaching and content creation background  0:12- What are the most common mistakes Junta sees amateurs make?  0:19- What did Junta learn from the book How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician? 22:00- Junta shares some advice from his lifelong battles with time trouble  What I needed to cure my time trouble: https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/how-i-escaped-time-trouble-hell In search of lost time: 20 Time Trouble Tips https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/1-in-search-of-lost-time-20-time EP 383 with Dan Bock 24:00- How to learn to face your fears Mentioned: The Uncool by Cameron Crowe 39:00- The Impact of Talent in Chess Mentioned: GM Moulthan Ly, GM Max Illingworth  47:00- How did “the worst openings player in Australia” learn to tolerate them? Mentioned: GM David Smerdon’s The Complete Chess Swindler  51:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Checkout their holiday sale here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/ 52:00- What type of challenging exercises does Junta recommend in order to improve calculation? Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s Endgame Studies 101, IM Tatev Abrahamyan’s Endgame Studies: Solve to Evolve, Domination by Kasparyan, Studies for Practical Players  Sign up for Chessable Pro here: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 1:01:00- Junta’s recommended chess books and resources Mentioned: Lichess, The Mammoth Book of the World’s Greatest Chess Games , My Great Predecessors   My 10 Memorable Chess Books https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/my-10-memorable-chess-books 1:02:00- Is chess growing in Japan despite Shogi’s popularity? 1:08:00-  Balancing Chess and Content Creation 1:10:00- Why Junta wishes he had committed more to chess than university  1:13:00- Will Junta pursue the GM title? Mentioned: Dojo Talks with IM-elect Gauri Shankar  1:15:00- Non chess book recs! Mentioned: Murakami, Infinite Jest, The Book of Disquiet, Finite & Infinite Games  1:19:00- Thanks to Junta for sharing his advice and perspective!  Here is how to keep up with his work: Infinite Chess Blog: https://juntaikeda.substack.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@juntaikeda Website: https://juntaikeda.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can Bobby Fischer still teach us about chess improvement? In this episode, renowned trainer, author, and historian IM John Donaldson returns to discuss Fischer’s writing, advice, and training methods, as featured in his new book Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer. We explore Fischer’s views on openings, what he said about his own IQ, and what modern players can realistically take from his approach. I was particularly interested to hear John break down how Fischer went from roughly 2100 strength to an elite player in less than two years. After our Fischer deep dive, John shares his memories of a young Daniel Naroditsky and discusses the outlook for the next  U.S. Olympiad team, which he has captained 15 times. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/  Check out special offers from Chessdojo, Chessmood and more here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners Sign up for my free chess newsletter here:  https://benjohnson.substack.com/ 0:02- Why was Bobby Fischer writing a chess column for Boys Life magazine? 0:07- Are world class talents like Fischer good people to give chess improvement advice?  0:14- Bobby Fischer’s 4 Chess Improvement Tips  0:17- Why was Fischer confident about his match vs. Spassky despite a losing record?  0:20- How did Fischer respond when he was asked about reportedly having a genius-level IQ?  0:24- The impact of Fischer growing up in New York City 0:43- Patreon mailbag question- Why, after all these years, is there still such a cult-like obsession with Fischer?  1:02:00- John’s memories of GM Daniel Naroditsky, who John knew since Danya’s childhood,  Mentioned: GM Gregory Kaidanov, GM Lev Psakhis  1:13:00- Status of the US Olympiad team 1:19:00- Will John pursue the GM title at age 67? Thanks, as always, to IM John Donaldson for joining me! Here is where to get Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Mind-Bobby-Fischer-Annotations/dp/1890085286/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QKKXI2SDOLYS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._2M3HsSJt-U7Bdai-uPvhA.AJtX-b-nDihPzKRJb_BUo7jCkpq_R2sPMhsked9R8GU&dib_tag=se&keywords=inside+the+mind+of+bobby+fischer&qid=1765826270&s=books&sprefix=inside+the+mind+of+bobby+fischer%2Cstripbooks%2C55&sr=1-1 Chess4Less:  https://chess4less.com/products/pre-order-inside-the-mind-of-bobby-fischer-john-donaldson Also available in Europe: https://gazellebookservices.co.uk/products/9781890085285?_pos=1&_sid=e49e3c6fa&_ss=r Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Adult Improver Series returns with the remarkable story of FM Nick Matta, a five-time Louisiana State Champion who made one of the most unusual rating climbs in recent memory. Nick returned to tournament chess as a college freshman and went from roughly 1400 to 2400 USCF over the next decade. In our conversation, he breaks down the habits and mindset shifts that fueled that rise, including: How complete immersion in chess during his college years accelerated his progress Why the mental game became increasingly important as he climbed the rating ladder The books, videos, and tools that helped him at each stage Nick’s improvement in his 20s may be rare, but his insights are applicable to players of a wide range of levels. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/  00:00 – Intro & AnnouncementsFInd out more about the teaching job opportunity at IS 318 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796878173716685/posts/32637324772578611/ Join the Perpetual Chess discord here!              https://discord.gg/27AXnaUr 03:00 – Intro & Announcements Find out more about the teaching job opportunity at IS 318 here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796878173716685/posts/32637324772578611/ Join the Perpetual Chess discord here!              https://discord.gg/27AXnaUr 06:00 – Who Is FM Nick Matta? Mentioned Nick was also interviewed in episode 450- Hikaru in Louisiana https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/9/9/ep-450-hikaru-in-louisiana-stories-from-his-surprise-appearance-in-the-louisiana-state-championshipnbsp  Check out Nick’s USCF Rating History here: https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12845401 His rapid rise from 1480 → 2390 and return to chess after Katrina. Also Mentioned: Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andy Soltis, IM Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess, Pawn Power in Chess  11:30 – How the Improvement Started Immersion, study habits, book recommendations, and developing a love for feedback. Mentioned: Kasparov’s My Story with GM James Plaskett https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeEY66T0q80 GM Melih Khachiyan’s Evaluation and Planning Series on Chess.com https://www.chess.com/video/player/evaluation-and-planning---part-1 26:00 – Openings, Training, and Evolution Why he constantly changed openings, how his training shifted as he reached master level, and learning from top coaches. Mentioned: GM Gregory Kaidanov, IM John Bartholomew, GM Jacob Aagaard’s Thinking Inside the Box  35:00 – Time Trouble & Mental Game Breakthroughs Aagaard’s tough feedback, decision-making, cold-plunge training, meditation, and building emotional resilience. Mentioned: Karpov in a cold plunge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAhtMKhvG1A 59:00 – Coaching, Pursuing the IM Title & Final Advice Balancing coaching with personal ambition, whether he’ll chase the IM title, and his distilled guidance for adult improvers. 1:15:00- Thanks to Nick for joining me! Here is how to reach him:  Lichess coaches page: https://lichess.org/coach/nickmatta Chess.com coaches page: https://www.chess.com/member/nickmatta Email-  Nickmatta13 at gmail.com Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a fascinating and upset-laden FIDE World Cup comes to an end, 2022 Austrian National Champion GM Felix Blohberger joins me to break down the key moments, share stories from his own World Cup experience, and reflect on his chess career.  GM Blohberger has been offering insightful commentary on his YouTube channel where he has been sharing his thoughts on the FIDE World Cup, and was able to elaborate on many themes from his channel in our interview.  In our conversation we discuss:  The new Candidates qualifiers:  GM Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko plus who Felix now sees as the favorite to  win the Candidates. The pressure of tiebreaks including Felix’s take on GM Esipenko’s heartbreaking blunder against Wei Yi, plus what it’s actually like inside the venue between games. Felix’s chess career:  including his favorite books, his rating goals, and reflections on the viral video that helped grow his channel. .  This was another entertaining and surprising World Cup, and I am already excited for the FIDE Candidates next year. Timestamps  are below.  0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 01:30 Introduction  05:00- GM Felix Blohberger joins me Sub to his YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@febloh Felix’s video about the challenges of life as a chess pro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8DW6XShofQ&t=0 Esipenko’s blunder- https://x.com/GMJuditPolgar/status/1992651679108616301?s=20 07:00 The FIDE World Cup Experience-  10:00 Tiebreaker Tensions and Player Dynamics 14:00 Youth vs. Experience in Chess 15:30- Patreon mailbag question: Why does Felix think so many players were content to go to tiebreaks?  18:00- Felix’s thought on GM Sindarov  Sindarov’s 2700chess.com rating graph- https://2700chess.com/players/sindarov_javokhir 22:00 Wei Yi's Comeback Story 24:00  Felix’s big picture conclusions from the World Cup  29:00 Tournament Conditions and Player Experiences 31:00 The Pros and Cons of Making Predictions  33:00 Experiences in the Croatian Chess League 35:00 Confidence Boost from Recent Performances 36:30 Balancing Chess and Content Creation Felix Rook Endgame Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEESoSw164w 39:00 Resources and Training Techniques Mentioned: Yusopov’s Build Up Your Chess Series  42:00 Working as a Second for GM Harikrishna  Mentioned: The Anand Files by FM Michael Abeln 49:00 Career Highlights and Favorite Games Mentioned: Blohberger-Svane 2023 https://www.chess.com/events/2023-2024-austrian-chess-bundesliga/04/Blohberger_Felix-Svane_Frederik 52:00 Future Plans and Interests Outside Chess 55:00- An update on how he is enjoying  life as a chess professional  56:00- Thanks to GM Blohberger for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@febloh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felixblohberger/?hl=en Website: https://www.felixblohberger.com/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM John Barthomew is a former scholastic national champion turned popular and longtime chess Youtuber and serial entrepreneur. His clear and friendly teaching style has garnered him over 200,000 subs and many devotees of the Scandinavian defense, the opening for which he is best known. In our conversation we discuss:  Five chess improvement conclusions that John drew from playing in (and documenting) The LiChess LoneWolf League  The challenges and rewards of helping to build Chessiverse.  Chessiverse offers over 600 “human-like” bots to play against, and is also the site where you can find John’s new, Comprehensive Scandinavian course.  Lastly, John told a few memorable stories about his good friend GM Daniel Naroditsky that reflect Daniel’s unusual talents.  It is always enjoyable talking chess with John, and there are many nuggets to be gleaned from this conversation.  0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 00:00 Intro  and Guest Introduction 03:00 IM John Bartholomew joins. We start with John’s chess improvement lessons learned from the LiChess Lone Wolf League https://lichess.org/@/Fins/blog/what-i-learned-from-playing-lonewolf-league-season-37/19yaMKfW Here is John’s Lone Wolf game recap playlist- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9uuRYQ-6MCYu9m5ji2tJgIoU7JMHkD9&si=Lg1RvP2PhmX2M68Q 06:00- Self-Talk and Thought Process in Chess 09:00- The Importance of Time Management John’s Using the Clock as a Weapon Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9uuRYQ-6MD7go55KaMPOGKSHxXhWED_&si=e34rgZ05auwzOauQ 12:00 The Importance of Opening Variety 14:30 The Value of Longer Time Controls 17:30 Introduction to John’s new venture-  Chessiverse 21:30 Patreon mailbag questions:  How does Chessiverse compare to other online products? What ratings is it best suited for? 23:30 Comparing Chessiverse to Other Platforms 25:45 Chessiverse's Business Model and Future Plans 29:00 John’s Scandinavian course  33:00 The Evolution of Scandinavian Theory Mentioned: Ponomariov-Papaioannou 2003 https://lichess.org/q55Y75PQ#15 39:00 Navigating Course Design Challenges 45:00- The Vision for Chessiverse and Bot Experience 48:30 John’s memories of GM Daniel Naroditsky Mentioned: John’s tribute-  https://youtu.be/kclevjiPK5I?si=7CO6ydPqkyFNKBjy Fundraiser for Danya-  https://givebutter.com/naroditsky 52:00-  Thanks to John for rejoining! Here are links to keep up with him: Newsletter: https://johnbartholomewchess.com/the-chess-mindset-newsletter-im-john-bartholomew/ Course-  https://chessiverse.com/courses/scandi?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=scandi_search_tier1_purchase&utm_term=chess%20courses&utm_content=185814884617_782203235972_c&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=23214933240&utm_term=chess%20courses&utm_content=782203235972&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23214933240&gbraid=0AAAAABc5PsgmfRvqVuvKClF-9oZLSp0mn&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoZDJBhC0ARIsAERP-F_lAVpIoPksVCsZ5LG7GydpV4Wi8KIL4HMSbf_V_ZGei2837lHT57gaAu9fEALw_wcB Twitter/X: https://x.com/fins0905?lang=en 55:00- If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FM Peter Giannatos, founder of the Charlotte Chess Center, was a close friend of GM Daniel Naroditsky and played a pivotal role in encouraging Daniel to build his post-collegiate life in Charlotte. Peter and the tight-knit Charlotte community spent significant time with Danya, including in the days leading up to his tragic passing. In this conversation, Peter reflects on their friendship, shares what he feels is appropriate about Danya’s final days, and highlights a new fundraiser created to honor Daniel’s legacy. I’m grateful for the clarity and courage Peter brought to this deeply emotional discussion as the chess world begins to process and heal from this immense loss. 0:00- Intro-  Support the fundraiser here: https://givebutter.com/naroditsky 0:02- FM PeterGiannatos joins the podcast and begins with the story of how he met Danya.  Read Peter’s Eulogy here: https://x.com/PeterGiannatos/status/1981875015030079553?s=20 IM John Bartholomew’s tribute to Danya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kclevjiPK5I&t=2s 0:09- Getting Danya to move to Charlotte 19:00- Clarifying the timeline around Daniel’s death  32:00- The weight of the allegations on Daniel Mentioned: Daniel explains a Bc8 move that some found suspicious https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1g7la27/daniel_narodistky_full_analysis_of_the_move_bc8/ 43:00- How to honor Daniel’s legacy 57:00- One last Danya story - check out the games from "The Meatball Match" here: https://www.chess.com/c/2PprrfhA6 1:02:00- Thanks to Peter for sharing so many personal stories during a difficult time. Here is how to support Danya's legacy if you are so inclined: ⁠https://givebutter.com/naroditsky⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s guest is U.S. Chess Hall of Famer GM Maurice Ashley. Maurice will forever be known as the first African American to earn the Grandmaster title, yet he has gone on to build a varied and distinguished career across all facets of the game. He is a popular author and highly regarded Chessable creator, a teacher, an organizer, and a frequent commentator for major chess events, often from the St. Louis Chess Club. Maurice and I discussed: His perspective on chess improvement, as a rare late-starter who began tournament play at fourteen and still reached the Grandmaster level What we can learn from the ascent of GM Brewington Hardaway, who recently became the second African American GM at age fifteen The difference between being competitive and striving for excellence We also touched on the lessons Maurice learned from organizing the “Millionaire Chess” tournaments, his passion for salsa dancing and puzzle composition, and whether he has experienced any “pinch me” moments on his journey from “walking barefoot to school in Jamaica” to giving TED Talks and teaching chess to Will Smith. I have long looked forward to interviewing Maurice, and the conversation did not disappoint. 0:00- Check out Maurice’s popular and highly reviewed courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/ 0:03- Maurice’s chess improvement advice- why people shouldn’t focus on doing things “quickly.”  Mentioned: New York Times article about the Raging Rooks https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/26/nyregion/harlem-teen-agers-checkmate-a-stereotype.html Maurice’s Chessable Q & A- https://www.chessable.com/discussion/thread/1187730/ask-maurice-ashley-anything-special-qa-/ Cover Stories with Chess Life Interview: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-sskej-f237dc?download=1 10:30- Maurice’s observations about young GM Brewington Hardaway, who recently became the 2nd ever African American GM, at age 15.  Mentioned: You can read Maurice’s article about GM Hardaway here: https://new.uschess.org/news/inside-story-long-time-coming 17:00- Patreon mailbag question: Maurice’s siblings are kickboxing and boxing champions. What did they do to cultivate such achievement?  20:00- Which chess player got GM Maurice Ashley into salsa dancing?  23:00- Patreon mailbag question: ‘What are Maurice’s reflections on the Millionare Chess tournaments that he founded?”  28:30- What is the vision for Maurice’s “Clutch Chess,”  which took place recently  at the St. Louis Chess Club?  32:00- Is commentating still Maurice’s favorite professional activity? 36:00- Maurice’s passion for designing chess puzzles and courses  Mentioned: The puzzle that (temporarily) stumped MVL is here: https://x.com/MauriceAshley/status/1609261621247086592?s=20 42:00- Has Maurice ever had a “pinch me” moment?  45:00- Maurice’s struggles after earning the GM title 49:00- The origins of Maurice’s communication skills  52:00- What does Maurice want his chess legacy to be?  54:00- Maurice’s next projects 59:00- Thanks to Maurice for joining me! Here is how to keep up with his many activities: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mauriceashleychess/?hl=en Chessable: https://www.chessable.com/author/GMAshley/ X/Twitter:  https://x.com/MauriceAshley?lang=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Polish programmer and chess enthusiast Pawel Kacprzak joins me to share the story behind Chessvision.ai. Chessvision.ai is a helpful app and browser extension that can scan chess diagrams and connect them to related YouTube videos and chess books, and allows you to easily turn these positions into digital flashcards. We talk about how Pawel’s side project grew into a full-time business, what it takes to build tech tools for chess players, and what Pawel has planned next for his growing platform.Pawel also discusses his enthusiasm for following professional chess, and his own approach to chess improvement. I have become a big fan of Pawel’s product, and I enjoyed chatting with him.  Thanks to our sponsor ⁠Chessable.com⁠, check out their Black Friday sale here: ⁠https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/?utm_source=chessable&utm_medium=shop_hero_banner&utm_campaign=enblackfriday2_2025⁠ 0:02- Pawel Kacprzak joins me! Mentioned: NM Han Schut’s video overviews of Chessvision.ai ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqwK8Q1NEjg⁠ 03:00 The Impact of Daniel Naroditsky 06:00  Pawel's Journey into Chess and Programming 10:30 Evolution of Chessvision.ai 17:00 ⁠Patreon mailbag question⁠: Can one use Chessvision.ai to scan diagrams from physical chess boards?  19:00 ⁠Patreon mailbag question⁠: What features will Pawel work on developing next? 23:00 Subscription Models and Accessibility 28:00 Community Engagement and Support 29:30- ⁠Patreon mailbag question⁠: Does Pawel consider himself an adult improver? 33:30 Chess Resources and Learning 35:30 Closing Thoughts and Advice Thanks to Pawel for joining me! Here is how to reach him, as well as how to find out more about Chessvision.ai: Email- Pawel at ⁠Chessvision.ai⁠ Twitter/X-  ⁠https://twitter.com/ChessvisionAI⁠ Discord-  ⁠https://discord.gg/zkcBPhWhme⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2025 FIDE World Cup has been as dramatic as ever. Top seeds like GM Gukesh D, Ian Nepomniatchtchi, and Anish Giri have been eliminated, but we still have some top 10 stalwarts remaining, as well as many surprise advancers to the Round of 32. Joining from Goa, FIDE Press Officer IM Michael Rahal helps break it all down. We discuss: Should we be surprised by the number of upsets? The performances of veterans like GM Peter Leko (still in) and GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (eliminated) Whether the reports of poor playing conditions in Goa are well-founded Key matchups to watch when play resumes tomorrow,  and who might clinch a FIDE Candidates spot Timestamps for topics discussed are below. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the World Cup 04:00-  IM Michael Rahal joins  06:32 Patreon mailbag question- Does the number of upsets suggest that the top players are protected?  Mentioned: Chessnumbers-data https://x.com/ChessNumbers/status/1986634183415111831?s=20 Peter Leko interview with Chessbase India- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Fh1lQBmGI&t=3s 09:00  Notable Matches 11:30 The Impact of Player Preparation and Conditions 15:30 Match Predictions and Player Insights 18:00 Reflections on Chess Legends and Their Influence 23:00 Reflections on Ivanchuk’s Press Conference  25:00 Reflections on Daniel Naroditsky 28:00 Tournament Conditions and Player Experiences Tweet from GM Neiksans: https://x.com/GMNeiksans/status/1986117054911684978?s=20 37:00 Upcoming FIDE Candidates in Cyprus 39:00- Breaking down the brackets https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1osncpq/world_cup_2025_pairings_for_final_32/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button 46:00 Rest Day Activities and Team Spirit 48:00- Thanks to IM Michael Rahal for joining me!  Here is how to keep up with him: X: https://x.com/Rahal_Michael Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelanthony.rahal/ FIDE YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh off her third consecutive (and fourth overall) U.S. Women’s Championship title, I was honored to catch up with 22-year-old IM Carissa Yip. Carissa has taken a gap year from Stanford University and is immersed in a demanding schedule of training and competition. She’s had some excellent results this year and is now ranked #21 among women in the world. Despite her success, Carissa has also experienced the emotional ups and downs that every serious chess player can relate to. In our conversation, she discusses: Her personal recollections of GM Daniel Naroditsky, including how he once went out of his way to help her prepare during a major tournament. The helpful opening advice recently shared with her by her friend and coach, GM Awonder Liang. How she overcame sluggish starts to win both the 2025 U.S. Women’s Championship and the Cairns Cup. Carissa shared a mix of funny stories and thoughtful reflections on her training regimen, the gender gap in chess, and her advice for improvement. She even recommended a novel to read and touched on her passion for writing. I really enjoyed catching up with Carissa and am excited to see her bright future continue to unfold.  0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:02- Carissa joins the pod. She begins by sharing her recollections of GM Daniel Naroditsky  Mentioned: Zatonskih-Yip 2020 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2011266 0:05- Carissa had slow starts at both Cairns Cup and this US Champs- Why?  0:07- Carissa’s training regimen Mentioned: Killer Chess Training 0:09- Carissa’s Opening Approach Mentioned: GM Awonder Liang Check out Carissa’s US Championship Games here: https://lichess.org/study/etqoyX0E/QRi8cCdw 17:00- How to approach a new opening 19:00- Carissa’s approach to training games 22:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Would Carissa prefer a corporate career or to pursue chess professionally?”  24:30- Carissa retells the story of a funny bet between GM Awonder Liang and GM Sam Shankland Mentioned: February 2025 Chess Life Magazine https://new.uschess.org/magazine/feb-25-chess-life 28:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How can I overcome a slow start, as Carissa has done repeatedly?”  36:00- Carissa’s fiction recommendation: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan 38:00- Carissa’ passion for writing  40:00- How does Carissa describe the  e-sports experience of the recent USA vs. India match? l  48:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Why does Carissa think no female player subsequent to Judit has reached her level of dominance?”  54:00- Patreon mailbag question: “If Carissa could ask men in chess to do one thing differently, what would it be?”  57:00- Carissa discusses her friendship with rising American star, IM Alice Lee 59:00- Carissa’s upcoming tournaments 1:01- Carissa’ chess improvement advice! Thanks to Carissa for joining me again! Be sure to follow her on X and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carissayip/ https://x.com/carissayipchess?lang=en Image in thumbnail by Lennart Ootes for the St. Louis Chess Club https://www.flickr.com/photos/stlchessclub/54876804247/in/album-72177720329882462 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Andy Soltis is a U.S. Chess Hall of Famer, prolific author, and longtime Chess Life columnist who has left a lasting mark on American chess while balancing a decades-long career as an editor at the New York Post. His recent memoir, Deadline Grandmaster, retraces those parallel paths and shares remarkable stories such as playing a 16-year-old Vishy Anand, meeting Mikhail Tal, corresponding with Irving Chernev, and unknowingly crossing paths with Bobby Fischer. In our conversation, Andy revisits several of these moments and reflects on the challenges of chess improvement. We explore why players plateau, how to identify their own chess styles, and what today’s players can learn from history’s greats. Toward the end, Andy mulls his next project and discusses how chess publishing has evolved through the decades. It’s always a privilege to hear Andy’s stories, and I highly recommend Deadline Grandmaster for many more of them.  This episode was recorded on October 16, 2025  and thus does not discuss the tragic news of GM Daniel Naroditsky’s passing.  0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:00-  Perpetual Chess Improvement is finally available on Audible! https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Chess-Improvement-Practical-World-Class/dp/B0FHWWC2ZX/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 0:02- GM Andy Soltis joins! He begins by sharing his thought on rating plateaus.  Mentioned: Note on FM Nate Solon’s unusual rating gains: https://substack.com/@zwischenzug/note/c-166416052?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1juy4 11:00- We discuss Andy’s excellent memoir Deadline Grandmaster- did Andy ever seriously consider becoming a chess professional? Mentioned:  14:00- How did Andy earn the Grandmaster title?  Mentioned: IM Norman Weinstein, IM Sal Matera, IM Jack Peters 16:00- Vishy Anand stories  Mentioned: More on Andy’s early encounter with Vishy in Calcutta here: https://en.chessbase.com/post/vishy-anand-a-passionate-portrait-part-three 20:00- Mikhail Tal stories 22:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is a good first book about Soviet Chess history?  Mentioned:  Soviet Chess: 1917-1991  by GM Andy Soltis  24:00- Andy’s recollections of the famed Lone Pine tournament 30:00- GM Walter Browne stories 35:00- Patreon mailbag questions: a) Why didn’t Alekhine play a rematch with Capablanca? b) Can Andy recommend an Alekhine biography? Mentioned: Alexander Alekhine- THe Russian Sphinx: Volume 1 The Real Paul Morphy  38:00- Patreon mailbag question: Are there any plans to do an updated edition on Andy’s  US Championship?  https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Chess-Championship-1845-1996/dp/0786402482/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DC5Q7FF5MKY6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IYZoPqWvJ0bdS3_2d3Qewg.tinoi7uw9EjPATAcLC1Pqdxp0hjkvFqcFvkoPdUzENc&dib_tag=se&keywords=soltis+us+championship&qid=1760732231&s=books&sprefix=soltis+us+championship%2Cstripbooks%2C87&sr=1-1 40:00- Bobby Fischer stories  Mentioned: GM Peter Biayasis, IM Anthony Saidy  42:00- Andy’s interactions with legendary author Irving Chernev, also mentioned Fred Reinfeld  50:00- What can we learn from figuring out our chess styles? Mentioned: Reveal Your Chess Style Reveal Your Chess Style: Soltis, Andrew: 9781849949965: Amazon.com: Books 57:00- The state of chess book publishing Mentioned: GM James Tarjan If you are interested in joining the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can find out more information here: Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the chess world digests the devastating news of the passing of Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, I found myself thinking back to our first interview in August of 2020 (Episode 191).  At the time, as chess boomed during the pandemic, Danya was ascending from promising young American player to chess commentating superstar. In the interview  Danya’s eloquence, empathy, and hilarious impersonations  were on full display. It is among the most listened-to Perpetual Chess episodes in the podcast's 9 year history. Danya's loss is immense and I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and many fans. - Ben 00:00 – 03:15 Ben’s tribute and introduction following Danya’s passing (2025)  03:16 – 04:00 2020 Interview with Danya begins- Introduction to Danya’s chess background and early achievements 04:00 – 06:00 Danya on listening to Perpetual Chess and favorite episodes 06:00 – 10:00 Discussion of the Hikaru–Magnus finale and Armageddon tiebreaks 10:12 – 13:10 Early fascination with blitz and bullet chess; childhood training habits 13:10 – 16:00 Blitz addiction story and lessons from IM John Donaldson 16:00 – 21:40 Practical tips on blitz improvement — tactics, intuition, and time management 21:40 – 26:30 Deep dive into time management and “15-second rule” from Hikaru analysis 26:30 – 33:00 Stories of playing Magnus and Alireza online; Rebecca Harris account origin 33:00 – 36:15 Etiquette and psychology of elite bullet matches 36:15 – 38:10 What Danya works on to improve; paradox of bullet skill vs. classical weakness 38:10 – 40:10 Balancing streaming, teaching, and training during COVID 40:10 – 43:00 Untapped potential and thoughts on improvement as a 2600+ GM 43:00 – 45:30 The continuing value of classical chess in a fast-paced world 45:30 – 49:10 Teaching and streaming as dual passions; insights on Twitch culture 49:10 – 54:30 Streaming schedule, viewer expectations, and sustainability 54:30 – 56:30 The pressures and pitfalls of Twitch streaming; handling trolls 56:30 – 1:00:00 Patreon questions: notebooks, writing process, and early books 1:00:00 – 1:03:00 How Mastering Positional Chess came to be; influence of Russian literature 1:03:00 – 1:06:00 Formative chess books and lessons from Kasparov and Soviet literature 1:06:00 – 1:09:30 Advice for adult improvers: training priorities and tactical habits 1:09:30 – End Reflections on commentary, pedagogy, and love of teaching Photo in thumbnail via Charlotte Chess Center: https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/staff/gm-daniel-naroditsky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Adult Improver Series returns with a fascinating story that highlights the broad appeal of chess. Marcos Patricio Macedo is a Brasília-based forensic detective, dad, and chess enthusiast who rediscovered the game in 2018 and hasn’t stopped since. Chess has become a welcome escape from the pressures of his homicide-investigation work, and he’s helped build community both locally and among fellow officers. Marcos believes in the game’s value so deeply that he helped restore chess as an event in the World Police & Fire Games, an international gathering for first responders. In our conversation, he shares: What it took to bring chess back to the games How it was received and what might come next His mixed feelings about balancing chess with family, work, and improvement Lessons from coaches, online study, and his first major OTB tournament Marcos’ relatable story reveals both the rewards and the potential pitfalls of dedicating a lot of time to chess as a hobby.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ Try Chess.com (try for free): http://go.chess.com/Perpetual If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check out Silver Knights Chess Academy..  chessacademy.com/online  Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month.  0:00- You can join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess⁠ 02:00- What got Marcos back into chess in 2018?  07:00- Similarities and differences between chess analysis and forensic analysis 10:00- Marcos’ approach to improving at chess Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitão, Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, GM Daniel Naroditsky  15:00- Chess as a stress reliever for a first responder  20:00- Marcos tells the story of his successful advocacy to get chess included in the recent World Police & Fire Games  30:00- Why does Marcos think his interest in chess waned when he returned from the World Police & Fire Games ? Mentioned: Silman’s The Amateur’s Mind, Coach FM Juan Cruz Arias  40:00- Marcos’ previous OTB experiences 43:00- The chess scene in Brazil 44:00- Marcos’ next move  49:00- Closing thoughts Mentioned: EP 429 with Omar Mills https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/4/8/ep-429-omar-mills-chess-and-life-lessons-learned-from-not-improving-as-much-as-he-expected Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stjepan Tomić has built a sizable following through his beloved Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, but good old-fashioned chess books remain his true passion. That passion has led to his ambitious new project, ChessReads.com, a free platform designed to help players of all levels find the right book for their needs through crowdsourced reviews. The project already features its own YouTube channel, Discord server, and a growing website filled with helpful writeups. To celebrate the site’s launch, Stjepan joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about the enduring value of chess literature. We answered listener questions about whether books are still as vital as ever, how Stjepan chooses what to read next, and we shared recommendations across nearly every rating band. Stjepan also updated us on his own chess improvement goals and upcoming tournaments. As a fellow chess bibliophile, I’m excited about the ChessReads project and enjoyed catching up with Stjepan. Timestamps for all topics and rating ranges are below, along with Amazon affiliate links to the books mentioned. If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check out Silver Knights Chess Academy..  chessacademy.com/online  Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month.  Below are shortened show notes, for more complete show notes with links for all of the book recs, click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Io2RMjGWDpncNDRcUMOlNmYHKMvdxUP1TGmGJFtdB4/edit?tab=t.0 0:03- Stjepan joins the pod! What is the chessreads.com origin story?  Mentioned: Chessreads Discord- https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4 0:07- Patreon mailbag question: 1) Are chessbooks useful/optimal as chess improvement tools in the modern digital era? 2) Are modern books and older classics equally useful? 19:00- Patreon mailbag question: Could Stjepan recommend a few books that can be read without a chessboard?  Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Improvement, Thinking Inside the Box  23:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Stjepan select which chess book to read next?  25:00-  Patreon mailbag question: What recommendations does Stjepan have for books about thinking processes? 30:00- Book Recommendations by rating range, starting with under 1000 36:00- Recommendations for the 1000-1200 level 37:00- - Recommendations for the 1200-1400 level 41:00- Recommendations for the 1400-1600 level 45:00- Recommendations for the 1600-1800 level 49:00- Recommendations for the 1800-2000 level 52:00- Recommendations for the above 2000 level 1:01:00- Chess improvement update from Stjepan 1:06:00- Impromptu discussion- what makes some countries better at chess (and other competitive endeavors)  than others?  1:11:00-  Check out Stjepan’s interview with me about my book on the Chessreads channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMpTaO3Z2Y Perpetual Chess Improvement is finally available on Audible! https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Chess-Improvement-Practical-World-Class/dp/B0FHWWC2ZX/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 1:17:00- Thanks to Stjepan for joining me again, here is how to keep up with him and the ChessReads project.  Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingPawns Chessreads YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessReadsCom Chessreads Discord- https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4 Chessreads chessreads.com X x.com/chessreads Instagram instagram.com/chessreads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite an impressive chess résumé as one of the U.S.’s top women players, Tatev Abrahamyan has had moments when she questioned whether it was all worth it. After a prolonged slump, she not only considered giving up on ever earning the International Master title, but she nearly quit competitive chess altogether. Fortunately, Tatev persevered. Earlier this year, she unexpectedly finished second in the Woman’s American Cup, and then in August, she delivered a standout result that earned her the International Master title at age 37 — more than 10 years after achieving her final required norm!  Remarkably, Tatev’s performance was so strong that she also secured her first GM norm. In our conversation, Tatev reflects on: Why a timely vote of confidence from a mentor propelled her toward a $30,000 prize Opening advice and the enduring value of endgame studies What she has learned from this roller-coaster journey — and what she advises others facing slumps Tatev’s story is both candid and inspiring, and I look forward to following her next chapter at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Championship and beyond. 0:00- Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com: Check out Tatev’s courses here-  and if you sign up for Chessable Pro, be sure to use this link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- Late last year, after a slump, Tatev was “despondent” with her chess? Did she seriously consider quitting?  0:05- Once she didn’t quit, how did she prepare for the American Cup?  0:08- Tatev’s tournament routine and mindset Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy, GM Josh Friedel, Endgame Labaratory by GM Jacob Aagaard 0:11- Why does Tatev think her results turned around at the American Cup? Mentioned: GM Yasser Quesada Perez 0:15- Tatev’s next tournaments in Spain and Budapest  0:18- Tatev’s approach to openings 0:20- When did Tatev start to think that earning the IM title was becoming realistic?  0:24- Patreon mailbag question: Was there any change to Tatev’s mindset leading up to this breakthrough? Mentioned: You can check out Tatev’s games from the tournament here: https://www.chess.com/events/budapest-one-week-budapest-one-week-gm FM Mike Klein’s article about Tatev’s title: https://www.chess.com/news/view/abrahamyan-plays-best-tournament-of-career-earns-im-title-gm-norm 26:00- Meeting up with Judit after the tournament!  34:00- More reflections on Tatev’s tournament Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s blog post about analyzing with Ivanchuk https://hellokostya.substack.com/p/2025-spring-eurotrip 40:00- The US Women’s Championship  41:00- Tatev discusses her Chessable course and her fondness for endgame studies. Mentioned: Chess Studies: Solve to Evolve  https://www.chessable.com/chess-studies-solve-to-evolve/course/300770/ 49:00 Tatev’s next projects 51:00- Will Tatev pursue the GM title? Mentioned: Jeanne Sinquefeld prize for a woman earning the GM title  https://www.chess.com/news/view/jeanne-cairns-sinquefield-award-us-female-grandmasters Also mentioned: GM Felix Blohberger https://www.chess.com/news/view/being-a-chess-professional-in-europe-sucks-blohberger 55:00- Thanks to Tatev for joining us!  You can reach her via the Lichess coaches page: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FIDE Grand Swiss always seems to deliver drama, and this year’s edition was no exception. To help break it all down, I am joined by popular commentator, Chessable author, and host of the Power Play Chess YouTube channel, GM Daniel King. In our conversation, Daniel shares his takeaways on: • The common thread that fueled the successes of GMs Anish Giri and Matthias Blübaum • Standout performances from young stars like GMs Erdogmus, Mishra, and Woodward • Why the Women’s Grand Swiss produced fewer surprise qualifiers • A look ahead to the FIDE World Cup and the fight for the remaining Candidates spots We also touch on tournament formats, opening preparation, and Daniel’s current projects. This was a fascinating event to follow and an equally fun one to recap with GM King. Thanks to our sponsors, Silver Knights Chess Academy. If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check them out.  chessacademy.com/online  Use coupon code- "pod"  to save 50% on the first month.  0:00- Intro 0:03- Whose play impressed Daniel? Mentioned: Pragganandhaa-Mishra 2025 https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/04/Praggnanandhaa_R-Mishra_Abhimanyu Keymer-Bluebahm 2025 https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/10/Keymer_Vincent-Bluebaum_Matthias IM Greg Shahade’s tweet- https://x.com/GregShahade/status/1967742931122724924  10:00- How will Bluebahm fare in the Candidates? 13:00-  Mentioned: Colin McGourty’s great tournament recap is here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-fide-grand-swiss-13-conclusions#giri-1 15:00- Does the FIDE Grand Swiss format  make it too likely that non-elite players will qualify for the Candidates?  Mentioned: Peter Heine Nielsen’s Tweet https://x.com/PHChess/status/1967494651566588023 Leonard Barden’s column for The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/12/chess-erdogmus-14-wins-immortal-game-on-silk-road-as-grand-swiss-nears-climax 17:00- Daniel’’s thoughts on the new FIDE Women’s Candidates 20:00- Who would Daniel like to see earn one of the last Candidate spots?  Mentioned:  Chess Reddit post on players not yet in the Candidates: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1nig9bx/10_strong_players_but_only_3_available_slots/ Giri-Niemann 2025 https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/11/Giri_Anish-Niemann_Hans_Moke 25:00- Should there be a tiebreak playoff at the Grand Swiss?  Browne-Petrosian 1982 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1035512 29:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Should FIDE use a different pairing algorithm in order to limit color imbalances?” The two papers (via Dr. Benjamin Portheault) that describe the pairing system are here: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2112.10522  https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.19333 32:00- Patreon mailbag question: “At what stage are players leaving their opening prep at the professional level?” 37:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Where can a player find good model games in the Kalashnikov Sicilian?”  Mentioned: Cuenca, Moisenko, SL Narayanyan, Maghsoodloo, Bulmaga  39:00- What is Daniel’s process for following tournaments and picking games to show on his channel? Mentioned: Mittai-Erdogmus 2025 https://www.chess.com/events/2025-fide-grand-swiss-open/04/Aditya_Mittal-Erdogmus_Yagiz_Kaan 42:00- Daniel’s current projects: Join his Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/powerplaychess/posts 50:00- Check out Daniel’s book reviews on his channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhyM8toCZs_oHwQr_PTveXDkbnbq2Z4HO 53:00- Before we go, we make incorrect predictions of who will win the FIDE World Cup!!  56:00- Thanks as always to Daniel for joining me. Here is how to keep up with him: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBATpFb--uLNAODOVWvCTA His Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/powerplaychess/ His Chessable Courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/DanielKing/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

North Carolina–based trainer and author Elshan Moradiabadi has won over 25 tournaments and was the 2001 National Champion of his native Iran. Despite his many accomplishments, Elshan is deeply reflective about the proper role chess should play in one’s life. While he has no regrets about the sacrifices he made, his experiences have given him valuable lessons to share, including: Why you should keep chess enjoyment as your North Star The importance of intuition, and the nine cues for evaluating a position  The tradeoffs that come with pursuing excellence How chess parenting has changed since his own youth We also touch on the professional chess landscape, and make a few predictions about the FIDE Grand Swiss (a tournament which is now over, but hadn’t started when we recorded on September 1). Whether you’re a chess hobbyist, parent, or coach, you’ll find plenty of wisdom and inspiration in this wide-ranging conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:02- Welcome Elshan to the pod- we begin by discussing a poignant post Elshan wrote about what chess has given him, and what is has taken away: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EExhz3qbC/ Prior interview with Elshan, Episode 58-  https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/2/6/episode-58-gm-elshan-moradiabadi 0:09- Why Elshan has grown to love the English language as a non-native speaker  Mentioned: Cover Stories with Chess Life Episodes #44 and #48 https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-44-gm-elshan-moradiabadi https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-48-gm-elshan-moradiabadi 0:11- Elshan’s typical day of coaching 0:13- The challenge of improving chess intuition  Read more about Elshan’s 9 cues for evaluating a position here: https://gmelshan.com/how-to-master-chess-the-9-imbalances/ 19:00- Elshan’s approach to helping new students 27:00- Elshan’s reflections on his OTB chess game  30:00- Reflections on a poor performance in the 2022 US Championship  Mentioned: So-Moradiabadi 2022 https://www.chess.com/events/2022-us-chess-championship/11/So_Wesley-Moradiabadi_Elshan 33:00- Does Elshan follow top chess tournaments? Mentioned: Quantbox Chennai Invitational https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-quantbox-chennai-grand-masters 37:00- Patreon mailbag question: What did Elshan like about the Chicken Chess Club Podcast (may it rest in peace)  Mentioned: GM Jan Gustafsson 39:00- Elshan’s plans for the rest of 2025 Mentioned: USA vs. India match in Dallas, Texas, October 2025 https://www.texaschesscenter.com/usa-vs-india?srsltid=AfmBOooUe_kOJfuugQMW1JtCezBWX7DPRYRK05I6w2LQ4Bzb6H9Pc9Lq 41:00- Elshan’s favorite players Mentioned: GM Mikhail Tal, Capablanca, Fischer, Positional Decision Making in Chess by GM Boris Gelfand  45:00- Elshan’s big picture chess advice Mentioned: Searching for Bobby Fischer  51:00- Last minute FIDE Grand Swiss predictions (this was recorded before it started)  55:00- Thanks so much to Elshan for joining me again! You can reach him via his website: https://gmelshan.com/contact/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As you may have heard, ⁠GM Hikaru Nakamura made a surprise appearance ⁠at the Louisiana State Championship, as part of fulfilling FIDE’s World Championship qualification criteria. In return, the players he encountered gained memories and stories they’ll never forget. In this multi-guest special episode, I speak with several of Hikaru’s opponents, as well as the tournament’s organizer, to hear their firsthand accounts: Senior Tournament Director Richard Campbell (13:00) – on why he and his team initially thought Hikaru’s registration was a prank, and how they realized it was real. 20-year-old college student Harry James (32:00) – on how being paired with Hikaru in Round 1 unexpectedly cured his hangover. Tulane graduate student Nahum Villamil Garces (47:30) – on the lifetime memories he made after facing Hikaru in Round 3. Five-time Louisiana State Champion FM Nick Matta (1:06:00) – on how he forced himself to play Hikaru with no fear, and how the opportunity to play him re-energized his passion for chess.  Baton Rouge-based NM Charles Campbell (1:34:00) – on the mixed feelings he had before his last-round showdown with Hikaru, as he vied for the state champion title. It was so much fun hearing the stories of our guests, and I was touched by the galvanizing effect Hikaru’s visit had on the Louisiana chess community Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:00-Introduction 8:00-  If you know a scholastic player looking for high-level interactive online instruction, check out the Silver Knights Chess Academy:  chessacademy.com/online Use code “pod” to save 50% on the first month  13:00- The first guest is Richard Campbell, the tournament organizer. How did he find out Hikaru was registered, did he think it was real? What did they do about security and cheat detection? Mentioned: NM Jude Acers  32:00- Harry James joins me, he is a 20 year old Tulane University student who was Hikaru’s first round opponent. It is not often a 1563 USCF player gets to play a super GM!  Mentioned: Watch Hikaru’s recaps of his games vs. Harry and Nahum here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJCsHU4NVh8 47:30- Nahum Villamil Garces, Hikaru’s 3rd round opponent, joins me. Nahum is graduate student at Tulane University who was playing his first tournament in the U.S. Mentioned: Gelfand-Nakamura 2010 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1567841 1:06:00- 5-time Louisiana State Champion FM Nick Matta joined me to reflect on an instructive loss, and to compare the experience of playing Hikaru to his clashes against IM Levy Rozman and GM Hans Niemann.  Mentioned: You can see Hikaru’s recaps of his games against FM Nick Matta and NM Charles Campbell here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWuOczem3I&list=PL4KCWZ5Ti2H48YIUpaiTp6jTlwflBLFjI&index=4 You can see Nick’s game with Hikaru in this chess.com article  https://www.chess.com/news/view/nakamura-wins-louisiana-state-championship-candidates Also Mentioned:Thinking Inside the Box by GM Jacob Aagaard  You can reach FM Nick Matta via his Lichess coaches page: https://lichess.org/@/Candychessmaster 1:34:00- NM Charles Campbell joins the podcast to discuss lessons from his 7th round showdown with Hikaru, and the chess scenes in Nigeria (his native country) and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (where he lives).  You can also see his game in the chess.com recap, or on Hikaru’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWuOczem3I&list=PL4KCWZ5Ti2H48YIUpaiTp6jTlwflBLFjI&index=4 You can reach Charles Campbell via Chess.com or Lichess https://www.chess.com/member/charlescandycampbell https://lichess.org/@/Candychessmaster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ChessDojo’s GM Jesse Kraai is always one of my favorite people to talk chess with, yet somehow it had been five years since his last visit to the pod. Jesse returned at a great time, having been both studying and competing actively, and recently achieving his goal of qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Closed Championship. His recent over-the-board activity provided a springboard for us to discuss a wide range of topics, including: How he has learned to confront his fears in tough, “meat-grinder” weekend tournaments Why he believes weight training—and even certain health supplements—are important for older players, and may be the next frontier for professionals as well How the ChessDojo curriculum and philosophy have evolved in recent years I am also a big fan of Jesse’s book reviews on the ChessDojo YouTube channel, so I couldn’t let him go without sharing a few recommendations. We even closed the conversation by discussing Intermezzo, a recent novel by award-winning Irish writer Sally Rooney. I always admire Jesse’s dedication to improvement, and it’s a pleasure to hear his thoughtful perspectives on chess and beyond. Approximate timestamps of topics discussed are below. 0:02- Does Jesse ever find it hard to stay motivated to keep studying and reading chess books?  0:03- Reflections on Jesse’s recent tournaments 0:05- What are the keys to GM Alex Fishbein’s recent success?  0:09- What does Jesse do to work on his own chess? Mentioned: Jesse’s review of the book TurboCharge Your Tactics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLBMmqk8an0 Also Mentioned:  Perfect Your Chess https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Your-Chess-Ukrainian-Authors/dp/1915328063/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KXGHHH199SMQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XJTzNVQ4N6jtqAJlUh5KzvNBpaX4Cs6DkIe2E-15eIhEw6YsZYPA5HdNzRFsEzgzHHBYkJjSSdBddTS1PPcTP6iRXtOUrqULwf5Sc2JQUMHafGmhNIGcuYGQ8MyXxIkQhoxaHmbKuO0u94ls6vl8vhiehM-UnVvrZ17ce4FPjsd3ho3b08KJh-vPw89-SF0ccgo36HEXf7zwi__wKMmX8iO1_7DXOTHH5Pk9OgLrBUA.kPo0CC2fg8nMzpfrIKoCIvkTyNUwFvqAT7-k0iXzEmI&dib_tag=se&keywords=perfect+your+chess&qid=1756510333&sprefix=Perfect+Your+Chess%2Caps%2C267&sr=8-1 12:00- ChessDojo and Jesse’s fitness regimen Jesse’s IG post here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DMqT1jOuxcK/ Check out Dr. Nick Vasquez’s blog here: https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/clearing-the-fog 17:00- Are elite chess players likely taking cognitive supplements or other drugs to help their performances?  20:00- What have been the biggest lessons from co-founding the ChessDojo? 25:00- What has Jesse learned from reading the works of IM Willy Hendriks? 28:00- Patreon mailbag question: What non-chess books influenced Jesse’s philosophy of chess improvement? Mentioned: Mindset by Carol Dweck Deep Work by Cal Newport  30:00- Patreon mailbag question: Are books as effective as modern digital tools for chess improvement?  32:00- Does Jesse have set hours for studying chess? 36:00- The strengths and weaknesses of Jesse’s competitors in next year’s US Senior Closed Championship.  Mentioned: GM Larry Christiansen, GM Gregory Kaidanov, FM Doug Eckert  38:00- New developments in the dojo 42:00- Jesse’s rest of 2026 tournaments  44:00- We share our thoughts on the chess-adjacent novel Intermezzo by popular author Sally Rooney https://www.amazon.com/Intermezzo-Novel-Sally-Rooney/dp/0374602638 54:00- Parting book recs Mentioned: Polgar Chess Logical Chess Move by Move  58:00- Thanks to Jesse, for rejoining me! You can find him at the ChessDojo. (use code "ben" at checkout to save 10% https://www.chessdojo.club/signup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NM Max Farberov is a 27-year-old chess instructor, Chessable author, and online speed-chess specialist with a Chess.com blitz rating north of 2600. He joined me after a busy chess summer that included his first European open and one of his best OTB results to date: winning clear first in the Under-2300 section of the Washington International. As Max explains, this breakthrough came only after months of frustration and feeling that he had reached a plateau, making the success all the sweeter. In our conversation, Max and I discussed: Why he stays motivated to pursue tournament chess at an age when many slow down How he built an opening repertoire around the offbeat 1…d6 What he gains from following lesser-known professional tournaments Why speed chess is underrated as a tool for improvement Max’s passion for chess is infectious, and our conversation is full of helpful chess improvement advice. Timestamps are below. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com, via the link below: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:02- What led to Max’s recent tournament outcome, where he attained the best result of his life?  10:00- What keeps Max going when many players in their 20s stop playing tournaments?  12:00- The College Chess League 13:00- Congrats to IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan  14:00- Was Max tempted to quit after earning the NM title?  20:00- What was it like for Max to play in his first international tournament?  Mentioned: More on the Vila de Sitges here: https://open.penyaescacscp.com/ 22:00- The dangers of overpreparing for an opponent  24:00- Max’s approach to openings  26:00- GMs and top engines don’t like openings like the Philidor and the Pirc due to the concession of space. Has this been an issue for Max in his games? 28:00- Does Max consider himself a speed chess specialist? How can one get better at speed chess? 33:00- How to combat the London 35:00- Back to speed chess advice- Max’s advice for clock management  38:00 Opening prep war stories  40:00- The benefits of following and playing through the games from  professional (non-elite) circuit tournaments.  43:00- Max’s friendship with GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez  Mentioned: EP 409 with GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/11/19/ep-409-gm-fidel-corrales-jimenez-a-tireless-tournament-circuit-grinder-on-overcoming-setbacks-managing-energy-the-risks-of-otb-cheating-amp-his-love-for-the-scotch-openingnbsp 46:00- How Max became a chess teacher and  advice for getting into chess teaching  49:00- Max’s next chess goals 50:00- Is Max a regimented chess-studier? 52:00- Max’s chess improvement hot takes and book recs  Mentioned:  Practical Chess Exercises Evaluate like a Grandmaster  Attack with Mikhail Tal  56:00- Thanks to Max for joining me!  Here is how to reach him: X: https://x.com/chessgainz?lang=en Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/member/chess_gainz If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Going Pro at 57: `GM Alex Fishbein on How New and Challenging Training Methods Fueled an Upset win at the US Senior Invitational  At 57 years old, Tennessee-based Grandmaster and Author, Alex Fishbein, has built an impressive chess résumé, with 12 state-championship titles across four states and multiple appearances in U.S. Championship events. But until recently, his chess had always been balanced with a demanding finance career. Last year, for the first time since age 24, Alex stepped away from Wall Street to devote himself fully to chess—an experiment that paid off quickly.  Through a rigorous and unconventional study routine—including his unique “post-postmortem” method—Alex pulled off a surprise victory at the 2025 U.S. Senior Invitational, despite entering as the second-lowest rated player. In our conversation, he reflects on: The training methods that fueled his breakthrough His advice for caring less about ratings The outsized role of age and stamina in senior chess Lessons learned from legends like Korchnoi and Keres Alex’s story shows the power of playing actively against all comers, staying curious, and embracing new challenges, and he provides inspiration for chess players of all levels. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 02:30- GM Fishbein joins the podcast! We begin by discussing his recent tournaments  Mentioned: Episode 291 with GM Alex Fishbein: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2022/8/9/ep-291-gm-alex-fishbein-on-maintaining-a-passion-for-chess-into-ones-50s-plus-great-korchnoi-and-tal-stories My System Fast Track Book Recap #37 with GM Alex Fishbein https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/6/21/book-recap-37-my-system-fast-track-edition-with-gm-alex-fishbeinnbsp Also mentioned: Dan Joelson, IM Stuart Rachels  08:00- What changes did Alex recently make to his training regimen? Mentioned: Interview with Nazi Paikidze and GM Yasser Seirawan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG156yEThSQ 15:00- Patreon mailbag question: How are Alex’s preparation methods different as a professional vs.as an amateur?  Mentioned: Solitaire Chess  More on Solitaire Chess from FM Nate Solon here: https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/solitaire-chess 25:00- How and why did Alex begin to study the games and annotations of GM Paul Keres? 35:00- What was Alex’s approach to openings in the US Senior Closed? Did he try to surprise his opponents?  Mentioned: You can play through the games and openings mentioned from the tournament here: https://www.chess.com/events/2025-us-national=championships-seniors/01/Fishbein_Alexander-Novikov_Igor 38:00- What separates the strength of GM Vladimir Akopian from the rest of the field?  39:00- Why does GM Alex Fishbein think that the three youngest players were the ones to make the playoffs?  Mentioned: Chess is My Life by GM Viktor Korchnoi 40:00- Why ratings are a mirage for the Senior Closed 45:00- Alex’s advice for caring less about one’s rating Mentioned: Claud Bloodgood: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Bloodgood 53:00- Recent chess books Alex has read Mentioned: Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams and Phillip Hurtado  55:00- Alex’s training tips for lower-rated players 1:00- Thanks to Alex for joining me again! You can reach him via email at: Afish at panix.com  If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Greg Shahade was the very first guest of Perpetual Chess and has remained a frequent and insightful contributor  ever since. A former youth national champion, Greg has subsequently  been involved in the chess world in an array of capacities —founder of the US Chess School (which provides free training to top American juniors), creator of the now-defunct Pro Chess League, and a near-2800-rated blitz player on Chess.com who has maintained his level well into his 40s. A former poker pro, Greg has more recently become a trivia whiz to boot. But which is harder to improve at—trivia or chess? In this wide-ranging conversation, we catch up on Greg’s many interests, get his take on events like the E-Sports World Cup and Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas, and hear his thoughts on the  continued ascension of the next chess generation. It’s always a treat to hear Greg’s takes on the ever-evolving chess landscape. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 0:00- Will Greg learn GM Jan Gustafsson’s Chessable course? 0:05- Patreon mailbag question: Greg followed the E-sports World Cup (EWC) closely- what were his impressions of it?  0:09- Why Greg loves classical chess!  0:12- Back to the EWC 0:16- What did Greg think of the recent Freestyle tournament in Las Vegas?  21:00- The US Chess School- are kids good at chess? 30:00- The benefits of the daily chess format  36:00- Why did Greg decide to become good at trivia? Is it harder to improve at then chess? https://gregshahade.wordpress.com/2023/01/31/1-5-years-of-trivia-total-n00b-to-learnedleague-group-a/ 44:00- Patreon mailbag question: Greg seems like a happy and positive person- has that come easy to him or has he had to work at it? 47:00- Patreon mailbag question: Greg sings a song!(briefly)  48:00- As another friend of FM Donny Ariel’s, does Greg think he can make GM? Could Greg make GM?  53:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Carlsen’s retirement from the World Championship title hurt his legacy as compared to Kasparov?  Mentioned: Kasparov-Polgar touch-move controversy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT9UhaUIBCY 1:01- Greg discusses his enthusiasm for the Chess.com daily chess league  https://www.chess.com/article/view/join-chess-league Thanks to Greg for joining me again! You can reach/keep up with him via Chess.com or via X: https://www.chess.com/member/gregshahade https://x.com/GregShahade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicholas Sloan is a Wisconsin-based Network Engineer, a dad of 4, and an extremely motivated chess improver. Usually. But after an incredible run of gaining 500+ rating points in two years, fueled by consistent hard work and a unique study approach, Nick hit a wall. He gave back 150 rating points, and lost his motivation to work hard on chess. That can happen when you are a family man who is working full-time,  studying for multiple hours a day, and creating chess content on top of that. Nick took time away to read some quality chess books, and to recalibrate his chess improvement plans. In our conversation Nick tells me:  Why, after reflection,  he has decided that the lofty goal of earning the National Master title is still worth pursuing.  How a few chess books opened his eyes to the work he still had to do  What he intends to do next As a longtime reader of Nick’s blog, I was excited to finally chat with him, and I look forward to following his continued success.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 02:00- Nicholas joins the show- check out his rating graph here: https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12772484 05:00- What does Nick think contributed to his recent slump? 14:00- What effect did reading GM Jonathan Rowson’s books have on Nick? Mentioned: Book Recap #14: Seven Deadly Chess Sins https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2021/1/29/book-recap-the-seven-deadly-chess-sins Book Recap #32: Chess for Zebras  https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2021/1/29/book-recap-the-seven-deadly-chess-sins 20:00- More book recs! Mentioned: Road to Chess Improvement Chess Improvement: It’s All in the Mindset 22:00- How did Nick adjust to being an emotional player? 24:00- How has Nick changed his approach? Mentioned: Pump Up Your Rating  27:00- What thought process is Nick using over the board? Mentioned: GM Alexander Goldin  28:00- What did Nick learn from the book Rapid Chess Improvement ? Mentioned: CT-Art , Chessking App 32:00- How Nick avoids burnout Mentioned: Episode 173 with NM Philemon Thomas, GM Johan Hellsten’s Mastering Chess Strategy 35:00- Why does Nick focus on local club tournaments rather than big weekend ones? Mentioned: Episode 346 with NM Todd Bryant  40:00- Does Nick play a narrow or wide repertoire?  44:00- How many tournament games does Nick aim to play per year?  46:00- Nick’s approach to game analysis  50:00- Thanks to Nick for joining! Here is his linktree that provides many ways to keep up with him: https://linktr.ee/HighgroundChess If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Benjamin (Ben) Balas is an MIT-educated professor of psychology at North Dakota State University, where his research focuses on visual recognition. He’s also a passionate chess player who blogs frequently about the intersection of science and chess. On his popular LiChess blog, Ben (aka NDPatzer) has explored topics like whether streakiness exists in chess, the science of blunders, and how confirmation bias influences decision-making over the board. In our conversation, we touch on all of these topics and also delve into Ben’s personal chess journey. He shares the scientific studies he believes every chess player should know about — and, as with his writing, I learned alot from chatting with Ben.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:02- What got Ben back into chess during the pandemic after decades away? Mentioned: Ben’s interview with Dr. Can Kabadayi on the Chess Cognition podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzblptGNjw 0:07- What experience got Ben thinking about whether momentum exists in chess? Mentioned:  https://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog/science-of-chess-winning-streaks-losing-streaks-and-skill/K4NmnE6b Also mentioned, FM Nate Solon’s post: https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/yes-theres-luck-in-chess The Hot Hand by Benjamin Cohen: https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Hand-Mystery-Science-Streaks/dp/0062820729 17:00- What is Dr. Balas' approach to chess improvement?  Mentioned:  100 Endgames You Must Know, The Woodpecker Method, Dr. Katie Wissman  19:00- What does Dr. Balas think of the Woodpecker Method as a study program? 21:00- 3 Scientific Studies Chess Players Should Know About, starting with “Chunking”  Mentioned: IM Fernand Gobet  24:00- Study #2- Stronger players are much better at avoiding confirmation bias  29:00- Dr. Balas has played two OTB tournaments since regaining an interest in chess a few years ago. How were these experiences?  31:00- Study #3- The importance of moving your eyes during a chess game!  Mentioned: Preventing Blunders in Chess by Dr. Can Kabadayi  https://www.chessable.com/preventing-blunders-in-chess/course/258968/ 35:00- Why are chess professionals scientifically studied so much more often than amateurs?  39:00- What is next for Ben’s chess? 42:00- If Dr. Balas received funding to do a  scientific study on chess, what would he research?  44:00- Dr. Balas’ closing chess improvement advice. Mentioned: Blindfold Chess https://www.amazon.com/Blindfold-Chess-Psychology-Techniques-Champions/dp/0786475269/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1FSJ92B6Q46H0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Rrt6OpihMGjYaHTqvOcHzb6-vZpowdj6xWtFMGFyA6gRhFRzSVmJdBCFgP7UkFD4FUNk4TmKhse2uqjgQ7ZXcuEf5znf67nC8ENj73IDNspElRzfCfxGNYTtHoUUnJTzb_2oecXU8NIk7B4ZJj1mIw.uelpnrMJtCfCmpe6iIa0qWyDhlE32PRwGmXsv5_MeBw&dib_tag=se&keywords=blindfold+chess&qid=1753302264&s=books&sprefix=blindfold+ches%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-4 Book Recap Podcast discussing Blindfold Chess: History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World Records, and Important Games https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2020/8/29/book-recap-talking-blindfold-chess-with-guest-co-host-jerry-wells 47:00- Thanks to Ben for joining, here is how to keep up with his work:  Lichess: https://lichess.org/@/NDpatzer/blog Substack: https://benbalas.substack.com/ And don’t forget to sub the Perpetual Chess Linkfest: https://benjohnson.substack.com/ Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Opening expert, Twitch streamer, former Team Magnus member, and longtime friend of the pod, GM Jan Gustafsson is back for another fun and far-reaching interview! We talk about the origins of his new Chessable course on the Austrian Defense, how his approach to repertoire building has evolved, and get his take on the recent Freestyle Chess drama in Vegas. Jan also reflects on the legacy of GM Boris Spassky, laments his struggles with memory and motivation, and mourns the end (for now) of FM Donny Ariel’s quest for online stardom. Per tradition, we also touch on non-chess subjects such as parenting, basketball, and TV shows and Jan’s appearance is as entertaining as ever.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:02- Brief parenting discussion 0:04- How does Jan go about learning an opening? How did he choose the lines for a course on The Austrian attack? 0:11- The time Jan had to join the Chess.com anti-cheating Zoom call during Titled Tuesday 0:15- How was Jan’s most recent tournament, the Thailand Open?  0:18- What did Jan think of the first day of the Las Vegas Freestyle tournament?  0:19- What will Jan be doing at the E-Sports World Cup? (plus a little chess Bundesliga talk) Mentioned: GM Peter Heine Nielsen-Gustafsson 2025- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2833767 22:00- Back to discussion of the freestyle tournament Mentioned: Clip of GM Hans Niemann celebrating Aronian’s upset of Carlsen https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1m1xeex/hans_claps_and_bows_down_to_levon_aronian/ 25:00- Should spectators at major chess events be allowed to bring phones? 28:00- Brief basketball talk- When will The Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast have GM Jan Gustafsson on their podcast? 31:00- FIDE Women’s World Cup- Who is Jan rooting for? 32:00- Did Jan ever meet recently deceased Former World Champion Boris Spassky?  35:00- What happened to FM Donny Ariel’s quest for the grandmaster title? Mentioned: EP 421 with GM Jan Gustafsson and FM Donny Ariel https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/2/11/ep-421-gm-jan-gustafsson-and-fm-donny-ariel-discussion-can-a-mid-40s-working-dad-make-grandmaster-without-doing-any-worknbsp 43:00- I asked Chat GPT to come up with 20 questions for Jan Gustafsson. Jan answers about 18 of them! We discuss the nature of chess talent, what makes Magnus special, Jan’s favorite chess job, and more.  Mentioned: Jan and GM Peter Heine Nielsen’s Top 50 Players Series: https://www.chess.com/lessons/hall-of-fame-the-50-greatest-chess-players-of-all-time 1:07:00- Thanks as always to GM Jan Gustafsson for joining! Here is how to keep up with him: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/janistantv Chessable courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/JanGustafsson/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP 442- GM Johan Hellsten: Why Defending Is So Difficult — And How to Improve At It  GM Johan Hellsten returns to Perpetual Chess for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential chess skills: defense. Johan is the 2006 Swedish National Champion, and a renowned author and coach, best known for his Mastering Chess series. In this interview, he shares insights from his latest book and Chessable course, Mastering Chess Defense (also available in print,) reflecting on why defending is often harder than attacking, which players are best to study to improve your defensive play, and key concepts like “the lifeline.” Johan is a true professional, and always a pleasure to talk chess with. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:00- We begin with an impromptu discussion of obscure chess opening names including the Austrian Defense, the Tartakower Caro Kann, The Fegatello Italian, and the Polerio Italian Defense 10:00- Why is it harder for people to spot defensive resources than tactics?  15:00- How did Johan find so many good defensive examples?  Check out Johan’s separate course on defense for Chessmood members: https://chessmood.com/course/chess-defense  21:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How should amateur players incorporate chess defense into their thinking processes?” 29:00- What is the definition of defense?  31:00- Did Johan ever meet legendary GM Miguel Najdorf?  Mentioned: El Viejo by GM Zenon Franco Najdorf X Najdorf by Liliana Najdorf  Kasparov vs. Najdorf Bugojno 1982 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069983 36:00- If choosing between Kasparov, Karpov, Korchnoi, Spassky, whose games were the most instructive?  Mentioned: GM Emmanuel Berg Check out Johan’s Youtube videos about Petrosian and Ulf Andersson here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAkeoP9TTs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDo--EPHnfc 42:00- More book recs from Johan! Mentioned: Timman’s Triumphs: https://www.amazon.com/Timmans-Triumphs-100-Best-Games/dp/9056919172 Speed Demon: https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Demon-Fascinating-Tragic-Vyzhmanavin/dp/9493257819 GM Judit Polgar’s Quality Chess Trilogy 46:00- What is the chess defensive resource that is sometimes referred to as “the lifeline?” Mentioned: GM Hellsten’s Chessmood article about it: https://chessmood.com/blog/lifeline-chess-tactic Or move 32 of this Korchnoi-Fisher 1962 Curaco game: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044560 49:00- What do the concepts of “Evolution and revolution” have to do with chess defense? Mentioned: GM Josif Dorfman’s “The Method” https://www.abebooks.com/Method-Chess-Dorfman-Iossif-Sarl-Game/31453994460/bd 52:00- More chess book talk! Mentioned: Boris Spassky’s Best Games  https://www.amazon.com/Boris-Spasskys-Best-Games-Rising/dp/1784832006 53:00- Check out the two defensive puzzles we discuss in this Lichess study: https://lichess.org/study/1AlpJ6gn/3b3ZdebD Spassky-Geller move 35- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1049395 Carlsen-Duda 2025 is included and annotated by NM Anthony Levin for Chess.com here (as well as in the LiChess study): https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-cct-chesscom-classic-playoffs-day-1 Thanks to Johan for joining me again, you can reach him via his Chess.com page: https://www.chess.com/member/jhellsten And check out his Chessable courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/JohanHellsten/ And his books here If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community for access to ad-free episodes and other perks,  you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In just a few years, 24-year-old Australian Twitch streamer Hannah Sayce went from playing casual online games during lockdown to earning the Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title and competing in international tournaments. Her post-lockdown rise has taken her from below 1000 to a 2300 Chess.com blitz rating. In this conversation, Hannah shares the highs and lows of her chess journey and the strategies behind her rapid improvement. Key turning points included learning to slow down at the board and forcing herself to embrace endgame study despite her resistance. Hannah’s rapid progress is inspiring to young girls and adult improvers alike—and it was fun to hear her story. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:02- What is Hannah’s approach to streaming and prepping for Titled Tuesdays.  Mentioned:  7:00- Overcoming the Nerves of OTB chess  12:00- We discuss Hannah’s chess improvement philosophy as originally laid out in her popular YouTube video, How I Went from 700 to 2200 in 2 Years.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCBGNjddiTE Specifically she touched these 7 themes: Play longer time controls  Developing calculating skills  Decision journal  Analyze your games  Practice your tactics Calculate before you move  Study master games 18:00- How Hannah will work on her endgames  Mentioned: Notjowol on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/notjowol 20:00- Why does Hannah stream the lessons that she gets?  21:00- Hannah’s current chess goals 22:00- How did Hannah get into chess?  24:00- Hannah’s advice for girls getting into chess 28:00- Hannah’s favorites chess books and authors Mentioned: Modern Chess Openings, IM Jeremy Silman, GM Yasser Seirawan  30:00- Hannah’s favorite Chess Youtubers: Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Ben Finegold, Hanging Pawns  32:00- What is the chess scene like in Melbourne? 33:00- Hannah’s favorite OTB tournament  Mentioned: The Rilton Cup  35:00- Hannah’s post-university plans and non-chess hobbies  39:00- Thanks to Hannah for joining the show! Here is how to follow her continued progress:  Hannah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anichessgame/?hl=en Hannah’s Twitch:  https://www.twitch.tv/hannahsayce Hannah’s Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/member/hannahsaycestreams YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hannahsayce1 If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community for access to ad-free episodes and other perks,  you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Check out special offers for free trials and/or discounts from our partner websites including Chessmood, ChessDojo, and Chess.com via the link below: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Alexandr Fier is a 5 time champion of Brazil and 9 time chess Olympian. He also recently qualified for the FIDE World Cup for the 8th time by finishing tied for first at the American Continental tournament. But aside from all of his impressive accomplishments, what interests me most about GM Fier is how frequently he competes.  Last year alone, he played nearly 200 classical games,, and he has now travelled to over 50 countries. In our conversation we discussed:  How he maintains his energy and positive outlook through a busy tournament calendar Why he thinks playing quickly gives him a competitive advantage. (Hence the nickname “No Fear”)  How he reacted to getting some harsh feedback from legendary trainer IM Mark Dvoretsky at age 18.  We also talked about GM Fier’s recent qualification for the 2025 FIDE World Cup, his plans for the rest of 2025, and of course, chess books. It was a pleasure to chat with one of Brazil’s top players, and I look forward to following his nonstop tournament adventures in the years to come. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:02- Alexandr is one of the most active Grandmasters in the world- how does he stay motivated? 0:06- How does Alexandr prepare for opponents?  0:11- How did Alexandr begin to collaborate with Imperial sports?  0:13- How Alexandr qualified for the World Cup?  Mentioned: Fier-Shankland 2025 https://www.chess.com/events/2025-american-continental-chess-championship/05/Fier_Alexandrandr-Shankland_Sam 0:16- Why Alexandr plays quickly Mentioned: GM Giga Quparadze  18:00- What makes the World Cup special to Alexandr?  22:00- Alexandr’s early Chess Development and Influences Mentioned:  Blokh’s Combination Art, Domination by Kasparian, Laszlo Polgar’s Chess: 5334 Combinations and Games  Navara-Fier 2015 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1787858 GM Navara’s Blog Post: https://lichess.org/@/RealDavidNavara/blog/because-we-care/fauAwr9r 26:00- Was it challenging to get chess books as a kid in Brazil?  28:00- Is chess gaining popularity in Brazil?  Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitao, GM Henrique Mecking  31:00- When did Alexandr decide to pursue chess professionally?  33:00- What languages does GM Fier speak?  35:00- Alex’s approach to following top games  37:28- How he Studies Openings and Uses Engines 39:00- Alexandr’s favorite opening authors Mentioned: GM Ivan Cheparinov, Nikolaos Ntirlis, GM Alexei Kornev  Memories of Training with Dvoretsky 42:00- Alex’s favorite chess books Mentioned: GM David Navara’s Best Games, Tal-Botvinnik 1960, The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal  44:00- Memories of a training camp with legendary trainer Mark Dvoretsky Influences and Inspirations in Chess 48:00- Why GM Fier loves endgame studies  50:00- GM Fier’s fondest memories Fier-Ryan 2009, Ireland https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1601053 Fier-Akopian 2017- https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1870136 54:00- Alex’s passion for music  55:00- Upcoming tournaments and advice for Aspiring Chess Players 1:00:00- Thanks to Alex for joining! Be sure to follow him on Instagram and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alexandr.fier/ https://www.instagram.com/pontocego/?hl=en If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s guest is Samuel Sonning, a Swedish computer scientist, former Google engineer, and founder of NoctieAI—a user-friendly chess platform featuring rating tests and bots designed to play like humans. In our conversation, Samuel discusses his unique improvement philosophy as an adult learner, including how memorizing famous games helped him build intuition and visualization skills. A passionate player himself, many of Sam’s ideas have directly shaped NoctieAI, which offers immediate move feedback and personalized flashcards based on individual mistakes. We also explore the broader state of machine learning as it relates to chess. Samuel has been fascinated by this intersection since the days of Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, but while he still sees great potential in AI-assisted chess learning, he no longer views chess as the leading edge of AI development. This was a fascinating conversation, and I’m excited to follow NoctieAI’s continued evolution. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ You can also check out special offers from Chessmood, Chessdojo and Chess.com at the following page: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/partners 0:00- What has been Sam’s approach to chess improvement? Mentioned: EP 383 with Dan Bock 08:00- Why did Sam decide to develop Noctie such that it gives immediate feedback on your moves, rather than after your games?   12:00- When did Sam start playing tournament chess?  15:00- Why did Sam choose memorizing master games as a favorit-  approach to chess improvement? 19:00- How to overcome rating anxiety  Mentioned: Sam’s Blog post-  https://noctie.ai/chess/how-not-to-get-better-at-chess/ 24:00- Why does NoctieAI offer both rating level tests and non-numeric titles such as “Knight 3?”  27:00- What does Sam do to make NoctieAI play in a more human-like fashion?  31:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What new paradigms could still be coming from chess engines?”  34:00- What sparked Samuel’s interest in computers and chess?  37:00- Should chess still be considered an effective testing ground for AI development writ large, or has broader AI development caught up with the chess world?  40:00- Why is ChatGPT terrible at games like poker and chess? Mentioned:  Nate Silver’s blog post: https://www.natesilver.net/p/chatgpt-is-shockingly-bad-at-poker Jen Shahade’s blog post: https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/chatgpt-is-weirdly-bad-at-chess 47:00- How is the business of NoctieAI doing?  52:00- Sam’s favorite chess books and content creators Mentioned: Jeremy Silman, Shereshevsky’s Endgame Strategy, ChessNetwork  Thanks to Samuel for joining us! The best way to reach him is via NoctieAI. https://noctie.ai/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this memorable episode of Perpetual Chess, we welcome back Tony Ballard, who spent 26 years incarcerated and credits chess with helping him change the course of his life. When we last spoke in Episode 289 (2022), Tony was still in a minimum-security facility. Now fully free, he’s making the most of his second chance. He’s working full-time at the Paul Mitchell Barber School, has founded a nonprofit—Masters and Mentors—to teach chess to at-risk youth, and has released a powerful memoir, Time Alone: From Isolation to Transformation. The book doesn’t shy away from the trauma and darkness of his past, but ultimately it’s an inspiring story of growth and resilience. In our conversation, we discussed: – How chess fits into his daily routine – His chess improvement philosophy – The best things about life after prison – Tony’s advice for anyone who feels stuck or overwhelmed Chatting with Tony is always uplifting—and this conversation is no exception. Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 02:00- Has Tony been playing any chess since getting out of prison?  Mentioned: Episode 390 with Russell Makofsky of The Gift of Chess  https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/7/9/ep-390-russ-makofsky-how-chess-can-change-lives-from-nyc-to-africanbsp Watch Tony’s interview with Devaughn Croxton of US Chess here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c6OH3NvF6M 06:00- What is Tony’s online chess routine?  Mentioned: Chess Psychology: The Will to Win 15:00- What is Tony’s chess improvement philosophy?  20:00- We discuss chess notation and Tony’s approach to game analysis  22:00- What are Tony’s favorite non-chess books?  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Man’s Search for Meaning The 48 Laws of Power  29:00- How is chess perceived in prison? What is the chess scene like there? Mentioned: Agadmator  34:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “How can prisoners be encouraged to invest time and effort into activities like chess?” 39:00- What is the mission of Tony’s new non-profit, Masters and Mentors?  https://mastersandmentors.org/ You can support Masters and Mentors here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-masters-and-mentors-youth-enrichment-strategies 45:00- How did Perpetual Chess help Tony win over his girlfriend? 46:00- How did Tony get interested in golf?  50:00- What is the best part of being free?  53:00- Is Tony ever tempted to return to his younger lifestyle?  58:00 Tony’s closing advice for those who feel like they are struggling. 1:00- THanks to Tony for sharing his inspiring story! Here is how to keep up with him Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/tony.ballard.900918 Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/tonyballard1977/ Masters and Mentors- https://mastersandmentors.org/ His Book-  https://www.amazon.com/Time-Alone-Transformation-Tony-Ballard/dp/B0F252YM48 His LiChess: https://lichess.org/@/TonyBallard77 And Chess.com https://www.chess.com/member/tony_1b If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/notifications Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This two-part episode of Perpetual Chess features two of the most impactful figures in American chess education: Coach Jay Stallings and Adam Weissbarth. First up, Coach Jay shares insights from his decades of experience teaching over 30,000 students,and also discusses his recent work consulting on the chess scenes in the new Hollywood blockbuster The Accountant 2. Additionally, Jay reviews some of the teaching tools he currently relies on—including a fun new one that he recently created himself. Following Jay is Adam Weissbarth, founder of Silver Knights Chess Academy, one of the largest after-school chess programs in the country. Adam recounts the immense challenges his company faced during the pandemic, when it lost all of its revenue sources overnight. He explains how he rebuilt the organization and expanded into elite coaching with grandmasters. Together, these conversations offer a fascinating look at the state of chess instruction—from classrooms to Zoom screens to movie scenes. Timestamps of guests and topics are below.  Check out the special offers mentioned at the beginning of the show below:  Chessdojo- https://www.chessdojo.club/signup Chessmood- Free one Week Trial- Chessmood.com/Ben Chess.com-Free Premum One Week Trial- http://go.chess.com/Perpetual 0:02:00- Coach Jay joins the show! We begin by discussing chess and movies, Jay recently consulted on the chess scenes for The Accountant 2. Mentioned:  Check out my recommended books here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book-recommendations Order Coach Jay’s Books for Kids here: https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/coach-jay-starter-packs Coach Jay’s prior interviews: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2017/9/12/episode-39-coach-jay-stallings https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/5/14/episode-72-coach-jay-stallings-returns Also mentioned: Searching for Bobby Fischer  14:30- Why did Jay wind down his chess non-profit after the pandemic?  16:00- Jay’s report on Supernationals, the giant scholastic tournament where he coached?  25:00- Jay discusses his new chess educational kit for kids, “Triple Check” Get it here: https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/triple-check-the-chess-puzzle-game-that-needs-no-wifi 37:00- Jay shares a few new teaching tools he has been using. Mentioned: Lichess studies, Chess.com Arena tournaments  40:00- Thanks to Coach Jay for joining, you can reach him via his website: https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/ 44:00- NM Adam Weissbarth joins the podcast! What was the biggest challenge his organization has faced?  Adam’s prior Perpetual Chess Interview: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/4/9/silver-knights-chess-founder-adam-weissbarth 58:00- What has Adam learned from working with GM coaches like GM Johan Hellsten and GM Lazaro Bruzon? Mentioned: Mastering Chess Strategy 1:02::00- Why has Silver Knights expanded its offering to stronger scholastic players?  1:06:00- Did Adam meet people from the US Chess Federation at the Nationals?  1:10:00- What resources does Silver Knights use for intermediate students?  1:14:00- Adam’s advice for growing a chess teaching business Thanks to Adam for joining, you can reach the Silver Knights academy via the following page: https://chessacademy.com/pages/contact-us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP 436- Adult Improver Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde on How Workplace Trash Talk Sparked a Lifelong Passion for Chess  In this inspiring and relatable installment of the Adult Improver Series, we meet  Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde, a 39-year-old father of two, from Norway who discovered competitive chess after a bit of playful banter with a workplace rival. That exchange sparked a fascination with the game—and when the pandemic hit shortly after, Torkil suddenly had the time to dive in. Five years later, he's a regular tournament competitor and recently completed an impressive FIDE rating jump from 1400 to 1800 in just one year. In our conversation, Torkil shares his favorite resources and offers thoughtful advice on how to make the most of limited chess time. He also reflects on how chess has influenced his off-the-board habits—from health and mindfulness to goal-setting—and why he hopes his chess journey is still just beginning. Spotify Adult Improver Playlist You can volunteer or suggest an adult improver guest here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adult Links to special offers and new courses: Chessdojo use- the code “Ben40” at checkout.  https://www.chessdojo.club/signup Chessmood Free one Week Trial- Chessmood.com/Ben Check out FM Nate Solon’s new Chessable course here:  0:00- Torkil’s unique chess origin story 12:00- What resources helped Torkil early in his pursuit of chess improvement? Mentioned: Hanging Pawns, Gotham Chess, Daniel Naroditsky, Anna Cramling, Anna-Maja Kazarian, Chessable Starter Pack 27:00- When did Torkil transition to tournament chess? What were the biggest adjustments? 40:00- What led to Torkil’s big rating jump? 49:00- Patreon mailbag question- “Where might the limit be for Torkil’s potential improvement?” Mentioned: Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, Sherevsky’s Endgame Strategy  59:00- More recommendations from Torkil ADD IMAGES Mentioned: The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Move First Think Later, Chess Principles Reloaded, The Art of Attack in Chess  1:02:00- Torkil’s final reflections and advice  1:05:00- Thanks to Torkil for sharing his story! Here is his new, non-secret Lichess account where you can message him: https://lichess.org/@/TorkilJaraBard If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Alex Ostrovskiy is a former Scholastic National Champion, New York State Champion, and accomplished coach who has earned one GM norm, and reached a peak USCF rating of 2560. In addition to his coaching work, Alex is a regular commentator on GM Hikaru Nakamura's Twitch channel, and a tournament organizer who runs frequent invitational tournaments in New York City (where he has lived since the age of 5.) Alex and I discussed the following:  Alex’s three main tenets of chess improvement- tactics, opening prep, and playing consistently  Lessons from a couple recent tournaments, and why Alex has scaled back his GM-title ambitions The origins of Alex’s longtime friendship with Gotham Chess, and whether he is surprised by Levy's success.  This was a fun conversation with a lot of good advice. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  00:00- ChessDojo special offer! If you try out Chessdojo 4.0 you can get a 40% discount by using the code “Ben40” at checkout.  https://www.chessdojo.club/signup 0:01- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 02:00-  Alex joins the show!  Mentioned: Alex’s Interview with Dylan Quercia-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIK2jjnpwcM&list=PLXZjuvMCiLW0Ae7nNr5dvJk80neTe4Jvz&index=1&t=1975s&pp=iAQB Also mentioned: GM Arjun Kalyan, Elizabeth Spiegel, Brooklyn Castle  0:08- Alex’s students are known for deep opening prep- what is his approach as a coach? Mentioned: NM Matan Prilleltensky  13:00- How important are openings below the 2000 level?  16:00- Alex’s report on two recent tournaments in Spain.  Mentioned: GM Andy Woodward  21:00- How do the logistics work of going to youth championships to coach students?  22:00- What is the origin of the Norm invitational tournaments that Alex helps run in NYC?  Mentioned: Keith Espinosa  More info at: https://nycchessnorms.com/ 24:00- Will Alex be able to convince the famous Chess YouTuber FM Donny Ariel to play in a norm invitational? Mentioned: EP 421 with FM Donny Ariel and GM Jan Gustasaffson Donny Ariel: The Road to Chess Grandmaster: https://www.youtube.com/@DonnyArielChess 30:00- Alex is longtime friends with IM Levy Rozman- what is his first memory of him?  36:00- What was it like to do training sessions with Kasparov as a kid?  37:00- Who were Alex’s main rivals as one of the top US players for his age?  Mentioned: GM Darwin Yang, GM Daniel Naroditsky 40:30 -Did Alex study chess a lot as a kid or primarily learn by playing?  45:00- Has Alex worked with adult students?  48:00- Alex’s training advice  54:00- How did Alex get started commentating on Hikaru’s channel?  56:00- Alex’s closing advice  Thanks to Alex for joining me, you can reach him via his website.  https://www.alexchess.com/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon,(and unlock benefits like ad-free listening and joining Zoom hangouts), you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Mauricio Flores Rios' first book, Chess Structures, is a modern classic which is seemingly recommended on a weekly basis on Perpetual Chess. After nine years of work, Mauricio has recently released its follow-up, Chess Imbalances: A GM Guide. Like Chess Structures, it is a highly instructive book with a beautiful selection of games and useful guidelines to aid one's chess decision-making. We discussed the following:  His opinion on the value of the bishop pair, as well as bishop vs. knight  The surprising reason that his book often featured the games of Magnus Carlsen When to switch from “objective mode” to “survival mode” in a game  We also discussed freestyle chess, and the impact of machine learning on chess. Mauricio is a statistician by trade, who recently launched a chess instruction site called ChessMind A.I., so he was particularly insightful on this topic. There is always lots to learn from chatting with (and reading) GM Rios, and this conversation was quite informative. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Prior interview with Mauricio- Episode 109: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2019/1/15/episode-109-gm-mauricio-flores Here is the video companion to this interview, be sure to sub to the Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel! https://youtu.be/rmjcbwv7BtQ 0:00- You can sign up for a free one-week membership to Chessmood using this link: Chessmood.com/Ben Check out the YouTube video with Mauricio showing me games from Chess Imbalances here: 4:30- Mauricio joins the show! We dive right into discussing the vision behind GM Flores Rios’ much anticipated book, Chess Imbalances.   Mentioned :  Free preview of the book from Quality Chess here: https://qualitychess.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chess-Imbalances-070x-Excerpt.pdf 13:00- Mauricio explains the guideline  “Quantity is more important than quality.”  16:00- Why did Mauricio select a lot of games from Magnus Carlsen?  17:00- Will Chess Imbalances be on Chessable?  21:00- What made the bishop vs. knight chapter especially challenging to write?  25:00- Mauricio’s advice for evaluating trading bishop’s vs. knights  28:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 31:00- What does it mean to switch from “from objective mode to survival mode” in a game? Mentioned: The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Learn from the Legends  40:00- What is Maurice’s next chess project?  Mentioned: Chessmind AI  44:00- How close are we to having an A.I. model that can clearly explain chess games? 45:00- Are humans near the peak of how good they can be at chess? What about engines? 48:00- Does Mauricio like Chess960? Mentioned: GM Kenneth Rogoff interview with NM Tyler Cowen: https://conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/kenneth-rogoff/ 52:00- Will Mauricio’s kid(s) play chess?  Thanks to Mauricio for joining me! You can reach him via email at: Mauricio.a.flores.math at gmail dot com Here is the link for Chess Imbalances: A GM Guide, including a free sample: https://www.newinchess.com/chess-imbalances If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Kenneth Rogoff has undoubtedly had one of the highest-profile and most interesting careers of any Grandmaster working outside of chess. He is an author and Harvard professor who was once singled-out by none other than Bobby Fischer, as a player who had shown remarkable chess improvement. As a young chess star, Dr. Rogoff actually dropped out of high school to move to Europe and pursue chess professionally, but by age 18 he had returned to the U.S. and enrolled at Yale. He would remain active in chess for many more years, but his top priority gradually switched from chess to academics, and he eventually quit chess entirely (save for an exhibition game against Magnus Carlsen in 2012) Dr. Rogoff still loves chess and thinks about it all the time, but economics turned out to be the right decision for him, as he has become a distinguished professor who has worked as the Chief Economist at the World Bank, and has met 8 different U.S. Presidents in his life. His new book, Our Dollar, Your Problem,intersperses occasional lessons from his chess career while providing a modern history of the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency. This interview focuses primarily on Dr. Rogoff’s chess career, but those interested in his reflections on the global economy should stay tuned until the end of the interview, and should definitely check out his new book. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Recorded on April 3, 2025.  0:02- We dive into GM Rogoff’s chess upbringing, and his interactions with Bobby Fischer  Mentioned: NM Eric Marchand, IM Sal Matera , GM Rogoff’s chess biography: https://rogoff.scholars.harvard.edu//pages/biography Bobby Fischer article mentioning GM Rogoff: https://rogoff.scholars.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum5901/files/rogoff/files/fischer69.pdf Karpov-Ulf Andersson 1969 ADD IMAGE  https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1019420 11:00- How did Dr. Rogoff gain hundreds of rating points in his early teens? 21:00- Was it hard to switch from the meritocratic chess world to academia?  25:00- What led to Dr. Rogoff dropping out of high school at age 16 to pursue chess? What was life like as an American teenager living alone in Europe in 1969?  Mentioned: Muppets in Moscow by Natasha Rogoff  26:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 32:30- Why did Dr. Rogoff make a U-turn and go to Yale University after dropping out of high school? 34:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Dr. Rogoff ever daydream about what a professional chess life might have looked like? 37:00- Why did Dr. Rogoff quit chess “Cold turkey”?  Mentioned: Carlsen-Rogoff 2012 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1690691 40:00- Does Dr. Rogoff have a favorite chess memory? Who were his favorite players?  Mentioned: Kasparov, Peter Thiel, Arkady Dvorkovich ,Reshevsky-Rogoff 1978, IM Kim Commons, Lev Aronian   Larsen-Rogoff 1968 Fischer-Spassky 1975 53:00- What is the origin of the phrase “Our Dollar, Your Problem”? (The title of Dr. Rogoff’s new book 58:00- What can regular people do to prepare for volatile markets? 1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: Is the US debt load sustainable? What does Dr. Rogoff think of Ray Dalio’s writing?  1:05:00- Dr. Rogoff has met 8 presidents and many more world leaders- do any experiences stand out?  1:08:00- What does Dr. Rogoff think of the future of crypto-currencies?  Mentioned: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Thanks to Dr. Rogoff for joining me! You can get his new book here.  Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NM Dana Mackenzie is a former math professor turned science writer who has maintained a passion for chess throughout his life and career changes.He is a USCF Life Master and was the 2 time state champion of North Carolina.  Dana had a long running and popular chess blog which has now been turned into a book Did You Come Here to Play Chess or Have Fun? The book features plenty of chess improvement advice, with a particular emphasis on what Dana thinks is required to become a master level player. Dana is very familiar with the ups and downs of an active player, as he achieved a peak rating of USCF 2257, eventually fell below 2100, and then had to revamp his game in his 50s in order to get back to 2200!.  Dana also shares some fun stories from his chess career. These include amusing or noteworthy anecdotes about GM Jesse Kraai, a young GM Hans Niemann and a funny story involving a prominent grandmaster offering a “psychological draw offer.” . All in all, there is a lot to learn, and to enjoy from Dana’s book and from our conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro And you can check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 00:00- Introduction to Dana McKenzie Read about Dana’s history of pursuing tenure here: https://danamackenzie.com/about/the-tenure-chase-papers/tenure-chase-part-1-prehistory/ 04:00- Becoming a Chess Master: Core Beliefs and Steps Mentioned: IM Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess  07:00- Developing Strengths and Eliminating Weaknesses 11:00- The Importance of Community in Chess 14:00- Navigating Age and Chess Performance 16:00- Strategic Thinking and Questions for Improvement 19:00- Are chess tactics necessary to make it to the master level? 22:00- Can going to chess parties help your chess?  24:00- After losing over 100 points in his 40s, Dana managed to gain them back and get back over 2200. What changes did he make to his game? Mentioned:  Dana’s USCF Rating History:https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=10277604 Episode 346 with NM Todd Bryant  Can Adults Improve at Chess? By NM Todd Bryant https://www.chess.com/article/view/can-adults-improve-at-chess 30:00- Dana shares a few examples of his suggested “10 questions for schematic thinking.”  Mentioned: GM Robert Hess, GM Jonathan Rowson, GM Jesse Kraai  36:00- Dana’s advice for finding a chess community, and the underrated value of chess parties!  Mentioned: NM Mike Splane,  FM Craig Mar  43:00- Dana tells a funny story involving Grandmasters and a “psychological draw offer.”  Mentioned: GM Walter Browne, GM Sergey Kudrin https://danamackenzie.com/blog/?p=3209 52:00- Dana’s encounter with a young Hans Niemann Mentioned: Read more about “The Troitsky Line” here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_knights_endgame 58:00- What Dana learned from GM Jesse Kraai Mentioned: Read more about Nezhmetdinov’s famous queen sacrifice in this article by NM Sam Copeland: https://www.chess.com/blog/SamCopeland/nezhmetdinovs-immortal-queen-sacrifice-best-of-the-60s-nezhmetdinov-vs-chernikov-1962 Thanks to Dana for joining me! You can check out his blog and webiste here: https://danamackenzie.com/ And get his book here: https://www.newinchess.com/did-you-come-here-to-play-chess-or-to-have-fun If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess?redirect=true Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Mihail Marin is a prolific and popular author, trainer, and 3-time Romanian national champion. He has made numerous contributions to the chess canon but is probably best known for the book Learn from the Legends, published in 2005, which received high praise from GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Jeremy Silman, and many others. In 2025, its much-anticipated sequel, Learn from the Legends 2: Chess Heroes at Their Best has finally been released. GM Marin joined me to discuss: The different format chosen for this sequel compared to the original Things to know about each of the players featured in Mihail's new book: GMs Stein, Keres, Bronstein, Portisch, and Polugaevsky His own rise up the chess ranks Why chess was a uniquely appealing profession in Communist Romania  GM Marin has accumulated a litany of stories from a life among the world's top players, and it is always a pleasure to speak with him! Timestamps of topics discussed are below." Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/   If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Prior Interview- Episode 316 https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2023/2/7/ep-316-gm-mihail-marin-the-renowned-author-and-trainer-on-learning-from-larsen-tal-polgar-and-other-legends 0:00- What was Mihail Marin’s approach to chess improvement as an up and coming player? Mentioned: Karpov-Unzicker 1975 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067846 Also mentioned: GM Florin Gheorghiu, GM Mihai Suba . Psakhis-Marin 2000 17:00- Mihail shares a little bit about each player covered in Learn from the Legends 2, including Stein, Polugaevsky, Bronstein, Keres and Portisch  Mentioned: Korchnoi-Portisch Candidates Match 1983 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=93347 Also mentioned: Bronstein’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice  Keres-Benko 1962 (adjourned on move 41) https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1072970 GM Jan Timman’s Curacao 1962: The Battle That Shook the Chess World https://www.amazon.com/Curacao-1962-Battle-Minds-Shook/dp/9056911392 34:00- In the modern chess age is it still possible to have a distinct chess style? Mentioned: Spassky Fischer, game 8, move 15: https://lichess.org/study/FeAwvrlI/nNPKlIqp Spassky-Polgar 1993- https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=1762744 45:00- Is Mihail following the Freestyle Chess Tour? 53:00- Is Mihail following the Women’s World Championship? 54:00- How is Mihail preparing for his imminent tournament?  Mentioned: Dorfman’s The Method in Chess Petr Izmailov: From Chess Champion of Russia to Enemy of the People https://chess.co.uk/products/petr-izmailov-from-chess-champion-of-russia-to-enemy-of-the-people-nikolai-izmailov 58:00- GM Marin discusses his next projects: a Chessable course, and a forthcoming book about his chess hero,  GM VIktor Korchnoi Mentioned:  1:08:00- Mihail’s recommended European chess tournaments Alicante chess tournament 2025: https://chessnews.info/ix-international-chess-open-easter-2025/ Seville: https://www.modern-chess.com/tournaments?id=1450 1:10:00- Thanks to Mihail for joining me again!  Here is how to keep up with him: Learn From the Legends 2: https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Legends-2-Mihail-Marin/dp/1784832162 Forward Chess: https://forwardchess.com/product/learn-from-the-legends2-chess-heroes-at-their-best Watch here for his forthcoming Chessable course: https://www.chessable.com/author/MihailMarin/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Susan Polgar is a World Chess Hall of Famer and former Women’s World Champion. She is also the holder of numerous records, including being the first female  “triple crown winner” and the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title by norms and rating. She is also an author, and Chessable author. Her latest book,  Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny and the Making of Grandmaster is a candid and fascinating memoir which looks back at her unusual upbringing, her extraordinary playing career, her life as a wife and mom, and her accomplishments as a groundbreaking university coach. As you might expect, this is a fascinating conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/  If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:00- Information about the Chess in the Schools chess/poker fundraiser, hosted by GM Robert Hess on May 1, is here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-2nd-annual-charity-poker-tournament 0:02- What are some of the primary lessons of Susan’s new memoir, Rebel Queen?  15:00- GM Polgar tells the story of her famous win over GM Ljuboimir Ljubojevic in 1987.  See the game here: https://susanpolgar.com/portfolio-item/susan-polgar-vs-ljubomir-ljubojevic-1987/ 18:00- What informed the Polgar philosophy of playing the strongest competition, regardless of gender? 21:00- Patreon mailbag question- Did Susan ever consider raising her own children in the way that her parents raised her and her sisters?  26:00- Susan’s memories of young Levy Rozman and Fabiano Caruana playing at her chess center.  Mentioned: photo of Susan with young Levy: https://www.facebook.com/susanpolgarchess/photos/this-was-from-a-million-years-ago-who-is-this-young-chess-superstar-who-used-to-/1202844537877913/?_rdr 30:00- Patreon mailbag question: What still needs to be done to continue to grow women’s chess? Mentioned: Chess Tactics for Champions by Susan Polgar  33:00- Patreon mailbag question: “To what extent does Susan think socialization plays a role in the smaller percentage of women playing chess?”  36:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “Have the barriers that women in chess face changed over the years?” 39:00- Patreon mailbag question: “ What is Susan’s advice for raising the level of play among the girls at a chess club?” Mentioned: GM Susan Polgar’s interview with the Botez sisters  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EctpBjnCU-8 40:00-  Patreon mailbag question: “Does Susan have a favorite Mikhail Tal story?” Photos of Susan’s first encounter with GM Mikhail Tal here: https://x.com/SusanPolgar/status/1855363562073620780 48:00- Was Susan Polgar in touch with GM Bobby Fischer in his final years?  51:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What made Susan decide to begin coaching university chess at Texas Tech?” 54:00- What else is Susan working on now that she is retired from coaching university chess?  58:00- Which factor was the biggest contributor to the success of Susan and her sisters? Here is how to keep up with GM Polgar: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanpolgarchess/?hl=en X: https://x.com/susanpolgar?lang=en Order her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Queen-Misogyny-Making-Grandmaster/dp/153875729X For newer players, you can check out her “Learn Chess the Right Way” Series on Chessable here: https://www.chessable.com/learn-chess-the-right-way-book-1-must-know-checkmates/course/12192/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess?redirect=true Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Adult Improver series returns to Perpetual Chess to welcome Omar Mills (aka ChessvonDoom) to the podcast. Omar fell in love with chess during the pandemic and has learned some unexpected lessons through the thousands of games he has played in subsequent years. He learned that chess improvement and maintaining a disciplined study routine  is much harder than he ever could have guessed, but that you can learn a lot about yourself through the game nonetheless. In a new Chessable course, Chess Destiny: Lessons from an Adult Improver and his Coach, Omar collaborates with popular YouTuber NM Robert Ramirez to share some of these unexpected chess and life lessons. These lessons include: What does Omar call “the rule of three?”  What has playing the bass taught Omar about chess improvement? What one piece of advice would he give his “new to chess” self of 5 years ago?  Plus lots  more, its always insightful and entertaining to hear from Omar!  Adult Improver Series webpage: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=2a3f9cee77b948f1 Adult Improver Series Spotify playlist: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover 0:00- Information about the Chess in the Schools chess/poker fundraiser, hosted by GM Robert Hess on May 1, is here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-2nd-annual-charity-poker-tournament Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- What is the story behind Omar, an average club player,  making a Chessable course?  Mentioned: NM Robert Ramirez, Bruna Tuzi, NM Ian Harris, IM Miodrag Peruvunic (Milo the Butcher)  You can hear Omar on How to Chess, Season 2, Episode 4- https://open.spotify.com/episode/4x3gO38SDRut2lJZdCLPeh?si=53a28262690c4297 0:15- What is “the rule of three”?  0:21- What has playing the bass taught Omar about playing chess/ Mentioned: Victor Wooten  43:00- What is Omar’s daily chess routine?  Mentioned: Kamryn Hellman, Nick Visel  48:00- NM Robert Ramirez’s recommended study plan  YouTube series with Omar, Roberto and NM Robert Ramirez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soFjWrTVYKU 52:00- What would Omar tell his new to chess self, from a few years ago?  53:00- Does Omar have any tournaments on this horizon? 55:00- Thanks to Omar of joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: Twitter/X: https://x.com/ChessVonDoom?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/member/chessvondoom His Chessable Course: https://www.chessable.com/chess-destiny-lessons-from-an-adult-improver-and-his-coach/course/266890/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Danny Rensch is a former child prodigy turned Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, the largest chess website in the world. Danny rejoined me 8 years after his first visit to the podcast (Episode 18) to discuss all that is new with Chess.com. Inevitably, this means a detailed discussion of online cheat detection, and whether Chess.com thinks that their increased deterrence methods are working. But there is a lot more to discuss including: What goes into decisions of choosing commentators for an event? Lessons learned from some P.R. missteps related to the closing of Chess24, and changes to the Chessable product offerings.  Upcoming TV shows and documentaries related to chess. Why are so many of these shows related to cheating? Danny’s forthcoming memoir about growing up in a cult It is always fun to get a glimpse behind the curtain at the world’s biggest chess company, and you are sure to learn something about “chess business” in this conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:00- We discuss cheat detection. Is publicly disclosing cheaters deterring other from potential cheaters? What about their new proprietary browser, Proctor?  The two interviews/videos we reference are here: Greg Mustreader: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4fGt3MbF0I State of Chess.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lQ47SuBLU8&t=8428s 15:00- Is OTB cheating as common as online cheating?  21:00- What was the story behind future GM Alireza Firouzja’s account being erroneously closed due to fair play some years ago? Mentioned: GM Lenier Dominguez  28:00- We briefly discuss Danny’s forthcoming memoir, Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Squares-Chess-Saved-Life/dp/1541703286 31:00- How can the chess world move away from predominantly cheating-based mainstream coverage? Mentioned:  Netflix documentary: https://www.chess.com/news/view/netflix-unveils-carlsen-niemann-documentary-for-2025 Forthcoming Movie: https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64565309/ BBC’s Chess Masters: The Endgame: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028x4d 37:00- Are there too many professional chess tournaments with too little differentiation between events?  Mentioned: Coachchamps Improver Challenge: https://www.chess.com/news/view/announcing-coachchamps-2025 Also mentioned: Caitlin Clark, Judit Polgar 48:00- How does Chess.com decide which commentators to feature in which events? Mentioned: GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Robert Hess 51:00- What lessons were learned from backlash against the Chess24 closure and recent changes to access to Short and Sweet courses on Chessable? Mentioned: Info on Chessable’s 2025 changes to Chessable Short and Sweet Access: https://www.chessable.com/blog/new-year-big-changes-to-chessable-pro/ 1:00:00- What 2025 events is Danny excited for? Mentioned: Pogchamps https://www.chess.com/news/view/announcing-pogchamps-6-field Speed Chess Championships, ESports World Cup  1:03:00- Is Chess.com still thinking of becoming publicly traded at some point? Would Danny retire in the near future?  If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Noël Studer is a two time Swiss National Champion turned blogger, course creator and chess trainer. Noël is also a regular guest on the podcast, and as an avid reader of his blog, I always have plenty of questions for him. This particular interview tackles questions like the following: What has training for a marathon taught Noël about chess? Do Grandmasters like Noël make it sound easier than it is to “fix blunders?”  What are the traits of Noël’s most successful students?  We also discuss an update to one of Noël’s courses, his next projects, and why we both are a bit disillusioned with professional chess. There is always a lot to learn from GM Studer!  Check out Noël’s updated course on studying chess the right way here (https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0) Use the code perpetual20 to receive a 20% discount. By using that link, you'll also support Perpetual Chess. https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0 Noël’s prior appearances were on the podcast were Episodes 248, 312 and 374  https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Dtd4jQXwwJkfwOegqrGad?si=11a29a76268249b8 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0asMZuJZhbp6EnNUyUvzo4?si=9cc4a0c08d7b48e8 https://open.spotify.com/episode/39O0qNPy5mCDxSf96byIES?si=7a1e8a1e12bc4102 Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 01:00- Chess Lessons from training for a marathon (From article From Thinking to Doing) Dr. Nick Vasquez’s post, Too Many Choices: https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/what-do-we-mean-improvement 13:00- Why does Noël call blundering “the leaking roof issue”? The leaking roof issue Steps method playlist from Chess Steps trainer NM Han Schut: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHJ-t45Y-c5SN7u7YSd-gj0vpyCgXv7lM 21:00- Do people overemphasize the importance of accuracy scores? https://nextlevelchess.com/accuracy-score/ 25:00- In his professional days, what was Noël’s approach to checking engines immediately after games?  28:00- Why do CEO’s have a hard time improving at chess?  https://nextlevelchess.com/study-chess-in-a-smarter-way/ 35:00- Which posts of Noël’ got the most feedback?  37:00- What is “the chess improvement equation?”  https://nextlevelchess.com/improvement-score/ 40:00- What other recent interests and daily practices has Noël implemented?  42:00-  Noël’ discusses his relaunched course, The Simplified Chess Improvement System https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0 49::00- Noël’s next projects 52:00- Does Noël still follow professional chess closely?  Thanks to Noël for coming on! You can email him at Noël at nextlevelchess.blog Check out his courses. Remember to use perpetual20 for 20% off on either course. All in one beginner course (up to 1200 chesscom): https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/beginner-chess-mastery?ref=bc4be0 His re-launched improvement system (previously Next Level Training): https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0 Subscribe to his newsletter here: https://nextlevelchess.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Perpetual Chess Book Review series, Chess Books Recaptured is back, to discuss a new tactics primer that has been getting a lot of buzz, 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know by FM Frank Erwich. My guest co-host is Kevin Scull, the host of the Chess Journeys podcast, and a dedicated student of the game. Kevin wanted to discuss this book because he felt it filled a glaring void in the marketplace and that it helped his game a lot. Nonetheless, Kevin also had a few quibbles with the book, so he joined me to discuss the pros and cons of this book, which overall is quite a worthwhile addition to the libraries of intermediate players and chess trainers alike. Because this book is so visual by nature, we kept this conversation short, and also made a companion video showing a few positions. The link to that, as well as timestamps and topics mentioned are below.  Part 2 of this review, which looks at positions from the book, can be seen on The Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/vaQuEx2CBgQ Check out the archive of book review podcasts here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/recaptured And the Spotify Playlist here:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/33uvcg7rb09ETWIgeAUCIR?si=0c11cd72fba548fa Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- Why did we choose this book?  Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard, Elizabeth Spiegel, Brooklyn Castle  0:06- Our quibbles with the book.  0:10- The structure of the book Mentioned:  IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC-Up1teylU 0:17:00-  Kevin’s Chessable course https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/ Thanks to Kevin for helping out! Be sure to check out the Chess Journeys podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kNbZLQE6JvbAyfOlv7ZNY?si=2c3d57c5c70349aa If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oleksandr Prokhorov is a Lviv, Ukraine-based chess organizer, trainer, FIDE arbiter and Twitch streamer. Ukraine has a rich chess history and has a vibrant grass roots scene in addition to famous natives such as Vasyl Ivanchuk, the Muzychuk sisters, and GM Ruslan Ponomariov. In recent years, I have marvelled at the persistent passion for chess in Ukraine  as I follow Facebook groups like the Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group. Oleksandr and I discussed:  Is interest in Ukrainian chess as strong as ever despite the war? Is there still state funding for chess-related activities?  What challenges are presented by the fact that many of its top Ukrainian players are moving abroad in order to be able to compete internationally?  We also discussed a few notable Ukrainians who have been on the front lines, Oleksandr's favorite books and content creators, and what Oleksandr and his colleagues are doing to help the next generation of Ukrainian players. Hearing about the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and their continued passion for chess inspires admiration and respect. Thanks to Oleksandr for sharing a few of their stories!  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- What is the amateur chess scene like in Ukraine? Mentioned:  Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group 0:09- Is there still state support for chess during the war? 0:13- Does Oleksandr work full time in chess? How did he learn chess? 0:19- How has Ukrainian chess handled the exodus of many of its top players?  0:26- Why does Oleksandr think Ukraine has produced so many top female players? 0:33- Okelsandr discusses the many chess players who are currently in combat, including GM Igor Kovalenko.  Mentioned: GM Igor Kovalenko, GM Martin Kravtsiv https://www.chess.com/news/view/ukrainian-grandmaster-given-courage-award-by-zelenskyy 0:39- - Okelsandr discusses Artem Sachuk, a former vice-president of chess in Ukraine who was killed in combat in 2023.  https://www.chess.com/news/view/artem-sachuk-vp-ukrainian-chess-federation-killed-action 44:00- Oleksandr’s favorite chess book Mentioned: My System 46:00- Oleksandr’s favorite YouTubers Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, Dina Belenkaya, Anna Cramling  50:00- Thanks to Oleksandr for joining me. Here is how to reach him: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/OleksanderProkhorov Coaching- https://lichess.org/coach/Prohorov_Olexandr123 Email-  Prohorov at chessclub.lviv.ua Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2031039970525130 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Willy Hendriks is an award-winning chess author, historian and chess trainer. He has just released his fourth book, The Philosopher and the Housewife:Tarrasch, Nimzowitsch and the Evolution of Chess. This book is the completion of a trilogy which casts a new light on chess history and looks at the evolution of chess ideas. Willy’s newest book focuses on the early 20th century, with a particular emphasis on Aron Nimzowitsch and Siegbert Tarrasch. We tackle questions such as: Was Aron Nimzowitsch the most pretentious chess player of them all?  What does Willy think of My System?  Have the stylistic differences between Tarrasch and Nimzowitsch been exaggerated? What can we learn about engines and modern chess through reading about these players?  Our conversation is filled with fun stories and reflections about these players, along with the contributions of the third “main character,” Semion Alapin.   We also discuss Willy’s own competitive career and his potential next projects. It is always a pleasure to read Willy's work and to speak with him.   Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Perpetual Chess Improvement Audiobook information- The links for where to order the Perpetual Chess Improvement audiobook are on this page. It is now available on all platform except for Audible/Amazon (hopefully coming soon): https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- Where did the title The Philosopher and the Housewife come from? 0:06- Willy tells a few stories to illustrate why he considers Aron Nimzowitsch to be “the most self-aggrandizing chess player of all-time.” 10:00- What were the chess stylistic differences of Nimzowitsch and Tarrasch? Mentioned: Modern Ideas in Chess by Richard Reti  18:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What does Willy think of the book My System?”  Mentioned:  Book Recap #18- My System with IM Christof Sielecki  Book Recap #37- My System (fast track edition) with GM Alex Fishbein  Aron Nimzowitch: A Reappraisal by GM Raymond Keene https://www.amazon.com/Aron-Nimzowitsch-Reappraisal-Raymond-Keene/dp/0713484381 23:00- Where does the third character in the book, Semyon Alapin fit in? 31:00- How are engines connected to the themes of Willy’s writing? 34:00- What is the “Trainer’s fallacy?”  42:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What ideas does Willy have for upcoming books?”  Mentioned: Kasparov’s My Great Predecessors, Mihail Marin’s Learn from the Legends 1 and 2 45:00- Does Willy follow modern chess and chess drama? Does he like freestyle chess? 48:00- What has Willy been reading? Mentioned: Daniel Dennett Tarrasch’s 300 Chess Games, the Works of Edward Lasker and Milan Vidmar, The Essential Sosonko, In Black and White  52:00- Has Willy been competing OTB lately?  54:00- Thanks as always to Willy for visiting the pod and for advancing our knowledge of chess history!  You can get his books here: https://www.newinchess.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Willy+Hendriks You can also get a physical copy in the US from Chess4Less: https://chess4less.com/products/the-philosopher-and-the-housewife-willy-hendriks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Wojciech Moranda is a high-level trainer, author and 2600+ rated player  who has worked with the Polish youth national team and IM Levy Rozman among many other students. I often recommend his books for ambitious advanced players, so I was excited to welcome him back to discuss his new Chessable Course, The Moranda Method: How to Calculate Like a Beast. In the course, and in our discussion, Wojciech lays out his core beliefs and fundamental framework for how to calculate in chess. His course is best-suited for 1800+ players, but Wojciech’s insights can help players at any level. In our conversation, we discuss common misconceptions about calculation, when one should stop calculating a variation, and then Wojciech lays out what he calls “the 5 elements of calculation.” Wojciech is extremely knowledgeable about chess, and its always a pleasure to speak with him.  Check out our bonus video going through a calculation exercise on the Perpetual Chess YouTube page: https://youtu.be/0gSdFDkeeWQ Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:00- What is the definition of calculation?  0:03- What are some common misconceptions about calculation? 0:12- When should we stop calculating a sequence?What visualization advice can Wojciech give?  Mentioned: Step 2 Thinking Ahead 23:00- We discuss Wojciech’s “5 Elements of Calculation,” starting with what he calls “vision and perceptivity.”  49:00- Patreon mailbag question: Was Wojciech influenced by the work of legendary trainer Josef Dorfman? 56:00- What is a typical day like for Wojciech? Is he still playing actively?  1:00:00- Thanks to Wojciech for joining me again, here are the links to keep up with his work or reach him: Wojciech’s Books: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Wojciech-Moranda/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AWojciech%2BMoranda His Course: https://www.chessable.com/calculate-like-a-beast-the-moranda-method/course/279827/ His coaches page: https://lichess.org/coach/gmmoranda If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FM Nate Solon is a data scientist, Chessable author, New in Chess Magazine columnist and the creator of the popular and insightful newsletter, Zwischenzug. Nate joined me shortly after we played in a tournament together to share his latest chess-improvement related thoughts and to reflect on recent lessons he has absorbed. We focused on a few themes in particular:  Why Nate thinks the challenge of learning new openings is often overstated, and the way in which he thinks chess openings “resemble poems.” How to avoid the trap of overemphasizing solving tactics in one’s training plan  Nate and I both discuss our experiences in the recent World Amateur Team tournament, and the ways in which the weekend tournament experience might be improved.  There is always a lot to learn from Nate, and I am confident your chess can benefit from this conversation. Timestamps of discussion are below.  Sub to Nate’s newsletter here: https://zwischenzug.substack.com/ Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- Nate’s comprehensive advice for learning openings, which focuses on learning by playing and utilizing spaced repetition  17:00- Nate’s advice for using model games 22:00- Do people overemphasize tactical puzzles? How can we avoid this trap?  Mentioned: New in Chess Magazine, My Chessable Course  26:00- What is “gritty calculation”?  The position Nate references can be seen here: https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/calculation-is-never-just-calculation GM Josh Friedel’s calculation advice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvh7HsYMn-Q 36:00- Is the rating system finally reaching a stable state? 37:00- Nate and I discuss the World Amateur Team, a tournament in which we both recently played .  45:00- Nate’s next tournaments and projects 55:00- Thanks to Nate for joining! Here are the links to keep up with him: Newsletter: https://zwischenzug.substack.com/ Chessable courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/CheckRaiseMate/ His Book: https://www.amazon.com/Evaluate-Like-Grandmaster-Eugene-Perelshteyn/dp/B0BHNF5CWB Photo in thumbnail via the Charlotte Chess Center: https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/photos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WGM Dina Belenkaya is a Russian-born and schooled chess champion who is now based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In recent years,  Dina has built a massive Twitch, YouTube and Instagram following, while maintaining a busy competitive schedule. In this interview, we caught up with Dina's recent OTB results, including her impressions of the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz in New York City. Dina discusses the challenges she is currently encountering in her game as well as her current chess goals. Dina and I also talked extensively about her newest chess project, Chess with Dina. It is a chess academy that emphasizes the social side of chess improvement, and it has seen a fast growth since it launched last year. Dina discussed the building blocks that newer players should focus on, based on her experience as a product of Russia’s legendary chess education infrastructure. Lastly, we touched a bit on Freestyle chess, as Dina discussed why she thinks it might be challenging for the chess variant to catch on with newer chess players. As always, timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Photo in thumbnail from Dina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEdUEivv8QT/?hl=en&img_index=1 Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- What has changed for Dina in the past two years since I last interviewed her?  Mentioned: Episode 326 with Dina Belenkaya 0:05- Dina has been playing OTB quite actively.  How is her game progressing?  0:11- Dina’s impressions of the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz  Mentioned: You can review Dina’s game against WGM Atousa Pourkashyan here: https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-rapid--blitz-championships-2024--blitz-women/round-11/JvQWXSPT/ugyly8Xl You can watch Magnus’ recent interview here: https://x.com/taketaketakeapp/status/1887126217091874871?s=46&t=7an2GBXWXIlgRTjDfRwIGw 25:00- Is Dina still working with a coach?  27:00- Dina’s discusses the value of face-to-face moments and a recent training camp she hosted for her chess school.  Mentioned: More info about her school here: https://www.skool.com/russianchessschool/about 42:00- What does Dina think of Freestyle chess? Do her students like it? Mentioned: Dina’s blog: https://www.dinabelenkaya.com/post/let-s-talk-fischer-random-   0:55:00- Thanks to Dina for coming back on the pod! Here is how to to keep up with her: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinabelenkaya/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DinaBelenkaya/videos Twitter/X: https://x.com/messages/60494861-1366144904590671876 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/dinabelenkaya Blog: https://www.dinabelenkaya.com/post/let-s-talk-fischer-random-chess Chess School: https://www.skool.com/russianchessschool/about Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s podcast is a discussion among friends. FM Donny Ariel is an NYC based former scholastic champion who has attained 3 IM Norms. These days he is  a working dad, who has recently decided to pursue not only the IM title, but the Grandmaster title as well. (Donny is chronicling this journey on his YouTube channel, The Road to Chess Grandmaster).   GM Jan Gustafsson,  as many of you know, is a renowned commentator, Chessable author, trainer, and frequent guest on Perpetual Chess. Jan and I are skeptical that Donny can attain the grandmaster title given his other obligations, but Donny is adamant that we overstate the difficulty of chess improvement. In discussing Donny’s quest, we tackle such questions as:  Is a coach necessary in the digital age?  How important are openings at Donny’s level? How much improvement can one attain through changing your psychological approach rather than training?  What is Donny’s “wall of haters”?  What trait do those who have earned the GM title have in common, according to Jan?  If not earning the GM title, what might Donny’s true goal be?  This was an entertaining conversation in which Jan actually gave more earnest chess improvement advice than he has in prior episodes. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:00-  Subscribe to my chess newsletter! https://benjohnson.substack.com/ Subscribe to FM Donny Ariel’s YouTube Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@DonnyArielChess 0:02- What is Donny’s “Why?” Why is he pursuing the GM title?  15:00- Does Jan think that Donny needs a coach?  17:00- What is the “Wall of Haters?”  22:00- Patreon mailbag question- “How is Donny approaching studying?”  25:00- Jan’s opening advice to Donny Mentioned: Reimagining 1. E4  https://www.newinchess.com/reimagining-1-e4 42:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Donny wish that he started chess later in life?” 50:00- What would my advice be for Donny? What would Jan’s advice be?  Mentioned: Ep 415 with GM-elect Mark Heimann  1:00- Thanks to Donny and Jan for joining! Jan will probably ignore any messages you try to send him on social media, but you should buy his excellent Chessable courses. Below  is how you can reach Donny: Chessable Jan Gustafsson Donny X/Twitter- https://x.com/RealDonnyAriel Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/donny.ariel YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@DonnyArielChess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nikolaos Ntirlis is a Correspondence chess champion, and computer engineer who has become well known in the chess world for his vast opening expertise. Nikolaos is quite skilled at finding original opening ideas, and has grown popular through his books, and by highlighting new opening ideas on his Twitter/X account. The ideas Nikos suggests have often seen quick adoption by Grandmasters, and he has even seen moves he highlighted subsequently appear in the games of Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Girl. In fact, GM Giri wrote the Foreword to Nicolaos’ newest book, the excellent  Reimagining 1. E4. The book offers new ideas for White across many defenses to 1. E4, and explains opening concepts clearly without bombarding you with opening theory. In our conversation, we discussed the origins of Nikolaos’ opening enthusiasm, how best to use engines, as well as which defenses to 1.e4 were most challenging to combat theoretically. Nikolaos is also an accomplished chess trainer who hasworked with the national team of Denmark. In our conversation, he offered some helpful chess improvement advice with a philosophical bent. Lastly, we discussed some of  Nicolaos’ other interests including correspondence chess, chess books, and martial arts. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- What is the origin of Nikos’ popular Twitter threads, in which he suggests lines that have been used by GMs like Nakamura, Carlsen, and others? Mentioned: Nikolaos’ X account here: https://x.com/NikolaosNtirlis/status/1852645135487558104 10:00- Was there any defense against 1. E4 where it was particularly challenging to find fresh ideas? 14:30- What rating range is this book best suited for?  16:00- Does Nikos agree that one should learn opening ideas, rather than openings?  Mentioned: Nikos’ interview with Charlyze van Zyl for Forward Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyanVxu48lk 18:30- Patreon mailbag question: What did Nikos discover about an original line that Niemann played against Kramnik?  Mentioned Han Schut’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/hanschut Read the Twitter thread in question: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1841408942737420435.html 19:00- Who are Nikos’ favorite opening theoreticians?  25:00- What is Nikos’ advice for how amateurs should use engines?  32:00- Are there any underappreciated openings?  33:00- Nikos’ overall chess improvement advice 34:00- Where did Nikos’ love for openings start? Mentioned: GM Efim Geller  41:00-  Patreon mailbag question: How can one still win a game in correspondence chess?  48:00- What is Nikos’ advice for remembering openings?  52:00- Does Nikos play any OTB?  56:00- What are Nikos’ favorite books?  Mentioned: Mentioned: IM Willy Hendriks, IM Tibor Karolyi’s Fischer Books  1:00- Thanks to Nikos for joining me! You can check out his Quality Chess Books here:  https://qualitychess.co.uk/products/coming_soon/24060/reimagining_1e4_by_nikolaos_ntirlis/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchessQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Joel Sneed is a professor, a practicing clinical psychologist and a highly-regarded chess author. And despite a busy professional and family life, Joel has achieved the rare feat of reaching a  2000+ USCF after starting tournament chess in his 30s. But, like many of us, Joel struggles to moderate his relationship with chess. He has long held a goal of reaching USCF Master, and puts a lot of pressure on himself to make it happen quickly. This has led to a repetitive cycle of despondency and quitting, followed by resuming chess, with renewed hopes of tackling his goals. In our conversation, we speak candidly about how Joel can derive more enjoyment from chess, and about what he would advise himself if he were his own patient. Joel also touches on how to manage anxiety around tournament chess, our thoughts on IM Levy Rozman’s GM-title pursuit,  and the lessons Joel learned from working with legendary Grandmaster (and co-author, GM Boris Gulko.). This was a fascinating conversation that I think will resonate with many of you. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- What has been driving Joel’s repeated decisions to quit (then unquit) chess?  Check out his USCF history here:: https://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?13103922 0:13- Joel tells a story of a frustrating recent experience where he struggled to remember an opening line.  Mentioned: Episode 400  with NM Matt Gross, Episode 169 with Terry Chapman, Chess for Life by WIM Natash Regan and GM Matthew Sadler  26:00 What is “acceptance commitment therapy?”  Mentioned: Online value sorting tool: https://meetingpointcounseling.com/tools/ACT-card-sort/ 4 Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman  35:00- How can Joel realign his goals to make chess more enjoyable?  44:00- We discuss IM Levy Rozman’s GM title pursuit. Mentioned: GM Arturs Nieksans, Erik Erikson’s 8 Stages of Life  50:00- What did Joel learn from working with legendary GM Boris Gulko? Mentioned: Lessons with a Grandmaster, GM Hans Niemann’s video for IM Levy Rozman https://youtu.be/1p7rbQ723mQ?si=tok_0IZEBpsrLvtI 1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Joel’s advice for dealing with pre-tournament anxiety?  Mentioned: Episode 309 with Dr. Joel Sneed 1:09:00- Thanks to Dr. Sneed for joining me, you can check out his books with GM Boris Gulko here: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Joel-Sneed/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJoel%2BSneed If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series returns to welcome back a guest who has continued to make steady rating progress. When I last chatted with Michael Franco, in 2021 (Episode 247), he was 7 years into his chess journey. Michael had reached a LiChess rating of 2000, but he was struggling as he tried to translate his online skill into OTB skill. He found learning to play on a 3D set challenging, and encountered the same logistical and financial hurdles that tournament chess presents for many of us. Three years later, Michael has managed to transition successfully to tournament chess, and has gained chess strength as well. His USCF rating is now 1981. In my opinion, the primary reason for Michael’s continued success is likely his consistent daily dedication to the game. Michael manages to play online games or read chess books every day, and he is also active as a teacher and community member in the Chess Dojo discord. In our interview, Michael shares plenty of new recommendations and reflections on what skills were needed to gain the last couple hundred points of rating strength. He continues to exemplify the improvement that is possible for someone who takes a consistent, incremental approach. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  You can check out the Spotify Adult Improver Series Playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=18917f0e0a634bc6 Or the website here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- Thanks to Patreon subs for helping to support Perpetual Chess.  You can join the community here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess 0:04- We review Michael’s chess history from his prior interview, then discuss what a chess day is like for him now.  Mentioned: Episode 247 with Michael Franco  Check out Michael’s USCF rating history here: https://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?16928844 Check out FM Donny Ariel’s YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@DonnyArielChess 0:15- How long did it take Michael to get used to OTB chess? What did he do to help acclimate? 0:17- What is Michael’s advice for players who feel like they don’t know what to do in the middlegame? Mentioned: How to Reassess Your Chess  0:23- How did Michael move up from 1800 to 2000 USCF in the last few years? Mentioned: Pump Up Your Rating  0:32- How many hours does Michael spend on chess? 0:37- More chess book recs! Mentioned: Seven Deadly Chess Sins,  My 60 Memorable Games, TurboCharge Your Tactics, Mastering Chess Strategy, Techniques of Positional Play, Woodpecker Method 2 0:46- Michael’s favorite online resources Mentioned: Daniel King’s Powerplay Chess, GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Andras Toth, ChessNetwork, Dr. Can’s Chess Clinic  0:49- Why will Michael be taking a break from OTB chess? Why doesn’t he like the “one game per week” format offered in Austin, Texas?  55:00- Michael’s closing advice 57:00- Thanks to Michael for joining again! You can find him on Lichess or in the ChessDojo: https://lichess.org/@/NoseKnowsAll https://www.chessdojo.club/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

35-year old GM Alex Lenderman was a World Youth Champion and has won the World Open among many other chess accomplishments, but he had never previously had the chance to play in the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz. Since it took place in his hometown this year, Alex looked at the opportunity to compete in it as “a once in a lifetime opportunity.”  But since Alex is no longer a professional player and has been losing rating points in recent years he worried about how he would perform. In this interview, Alex takes us behind the scenes of his preparation (or lack thereof), how he adjusted his mindset as an amateur player, what he thought of the venue, and how he dealt with the inevitable ups and downs of two exhausting tournaments. This particular story has a happy ending, as after a decent showing in the World Rapid, Alex performed even better in the World Blitz, beating GMs Sam Shankland, Le Quang Liem and others en route to shared 14th place! Not bad for “an adult decliner,” as Alex called himself. Of course, Alex also touched on some of the recent controversies in the chess world, and discussed how much players knew about sagas like “jeans gate,” as they unfolded. It was a real treat to hear a top player's perspective on this drama-filled tournament. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro Mentioned: A LiChess study containing Alex’s games is here: https://lichess.org/study/dcY6zUKo/5k02uMvC And as always,  you can download all of the tournament’s games from Mark Crowther’s The Week in Chess: https://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/world-rapid-blitz-championship-2024 0:02- GM Alex Lenderman joins! When did he know he would play these events? How did he prepare?  0:06- Patreon mailbag questions: “What mindset did Alex take when playing higher-rated opponents like Nakamura and Abdusattorov? Is there any lesson amateur players might be able to take from this?” Mentioned: Alex also shares his take on the key to a previous guest, GM-elect Mark Heimann’s, recent breakthrough. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-415-gm-elect-mark-heimann-on-his-unexpected-road/id1185023674?i=1000682215973 21:00- What were the conditions like for players? What was the atmosphere like in the waiting room in between rounds?  24:00- We transition to discussing the World Blitz.  41:00- How aware was Alex of controversies like “jeansgate” while playing in the tournament? Mentioned: More information about Ivanchuk’s heartbreaking reaction to a tough loss vs. Naroditsky here: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1hq2dfz/ivanchuk_crying_out_loud_after_he_lost_his_game/?rdt=54420 55:00- Why does Alex think accuracy scores aren’t a great benchmark for identifying possible cheaters?  1:10:00- We return to the topic of the recent controversies around Magnus.  Mentioned: Dojo Talks with GM Jon Ludwig Hammer: https://youtu.be/XDhXhCqVQzM?si=lBvuieUlsOJ9WAdx 1:15:00- Thanks to Alex for joining me! You can reach him via email at: AlexLenderman33 at hotmail dot com  If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Malcolm Pein is an institution in British chess who has played nearly every role imaginable in helping to grow the game. He is a former professional player who was the British Junior  Champion in 1977 , but these days is extremely busy as an organizer, journalist, author, store-owner,  and Captain of the England Olympiad team. After an eventful FIDE World Rapid & Blitz, I thought Malcolm would be a great person to chat with about the controversies, and about the general health of chess in 2025, both in Great Britain, and in the world generally. As the Founder and Organizer of the London Chess Classic, Malcolm regularly interacts with corporate sponsors and was able to contextualize the positive trajectory of chess despite recent negative headlines. We also touch on the business of selling chess books, Malcolm’s work at the grassroots level, and his thoughts on the passing of legendary GM Robert Hubner. I found this to be an informative and encouraging conversation, and think that you will as well.  You can read my article about the 2024 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz here, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter as well! https://benjohnson.substack.com/p/10-observations-about-the-world-rapid Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:03- Malcolm shares his thoughts on the 2024 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Hans Niemann interview with IM Levy Rozman- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2fGrnTZNP4 33:00- Malcolm discusses the origins of The London Chess Classic, and the most recent edition  - Mentioned: Malcolm’s 2022 Chessbase India interview with Chessbase India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDjh-CVEu5Y 40:00- How did GM Nikita Vitugiov end up transferring and moving to the U.K.  44:00- Patreon mailbag question: Is English chess in decline?  47:00- What were the origins of Malcolm’s Chess in Schools and Communities program in London?  53:00- Patreon mailbag question: What are some unexpected lessons Malcolm has learned through his organization’s community impact?  56:00- What is the most common question Malcolm hears from potential chess sponsors?  59:00- Patreon mailbag question: What changes does Malcolm foresee to chess in the next 10 years?  1:01:00- We discuss the business of selling books in person, both at Malcolm’s shop in London, and at OTB tournaments. Mentioned: Chess4Less.com  1:05:00- We discuss the work Malcolm has done consulting for television show’s, including Apple TV’s great show, Slow Horses.  Mentioned: You can watch the scene Malcolm consulted on here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8h17xz 1:09:00- Patreon mailbag question: Is it possible for an independent candidate to become FIDE President?  1:13:00- Did Malcolm know the recently deceased GM Robert Hübner ?   Thanks so Malcolm for an incredibly insightful interview, you can follow him on X here, or visit him at the next London Chess Classic! https://x.com/telegraphchess?lang=en If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

31-year-old GM-elect Mark Heimann is an accomplished research scientist by day, and avid powerlifter, who has recently been making headlines in the U.S. chess scene during his work vacation time. In late 2024, Mark went on a stunning run where he earned GM norms in back-to-back tournaments in order to clinch the GM-title, less than 3 years removed from being an inactive FM. These experiences were highlighted by playing on the top boards in Charlotte and St. Louis, playing GM Fabiano Caruana twice, and even hearing his game dissected by GM Caruana on the C-Squared podcast. Mark joined me to explain what he thinks has led to this incredible chess breakthrough, and to answer a question that GM Anish Giri recently tweeted- “Who is Mark A. Heimann?”  Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com! Their entire catalog is on sale through the end of the year! https://www.chessable.com/courses/ Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02: GM-elect Mark Heimann joins the show! What spurred his chess comeback in 2022?  Mentioned: Chess Reddit posts by Mark: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1h92nh4/mark_heimann_becomes_gm_after_earning_3rd_gm_norm/ https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1bzcmgf/my_first_grandmaster_norm_age_31/ 0:08- Does Mark think there are any similarities between his recent surge, and Hikaru’s continued success in recent years?  0:17- Mark on navigating the nerves, and the chess, of clashes with top players like Ivanchuk and Caruana.  Mentioned: Heimann-Caruana, Charlotte 2024 https://www.chess.com/events/2024-us-masters/09/Heimann_Mark-Caruana_Fabiano 0:24- Mark recalls an early game with Caruana from when they were both top scholastic players.  26:00- Why did Mark put chess on the backburner at age 18?  34:00- What is Mark’s study routine like?  45:00- Mark discusses his passion for musical instruments and weight-lifting.  52:00- What is next for Mark, chess-wise? 56:00- Mark discusses his A.I. research, including some discussion of chess ratings.  1:05- Mark’s favorite chess books. Mentioned: Chess for Zebras, Excelling at Technical Chess, Small Steps to Giant Improvement  1:11:00- Thanks to Mark for sharing his inspiring story, you can follow him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/lastgoodcaesar/ If you like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David MacEnulty is an award-winning author and chess teacher who coached for many years at CES 70 school in the Bronx. In this  public school in a disadvantaged school district, the chess program began with modest expectations, but went on to win many national championships. David’s new book, Sunrise in the Bronx: Chess and Life Lessons from the South Bronx to the White House, tells the story of the many kids whose lives were changed through chess. In our interview, David shares a few of his favorite stories, with plenty of lessons to impart for both parents and anyone else who wishes to introduce the younger generation to chess. After CES-70, David went on to head the chess program at the Dalton School, an elite private school. In the book, and in our conversation, David also reflects on the similarities and differences in coaching at such different schools. As a longtime friend of David’s, I was excited to read this book, and it did not disappoint me. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Be sure to check out their new offerings here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ And if you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:02- How did David accidentally become a chess teacher in his 40s? What lessons did he learn? 22:00- Will there be an audiobook, will the book be on KIndle?  24:00- What surprising skills did chess help kids develop?  28:30- Patreon mailbag question- “Does David have any advice for motivating students to study chess at home?”  Mentioned: Matthew Looks, Bruce Alberston  35:40- Patreon mailbag question: “What is David’s advice for encouraging your kid to pursue tournament chess without ‘bulldozing them’?” 45:00- How did David and CES 70’s National Championship team get to meet President Bill Clinton?  46:00- What are the crucial components of chess improvement?  47:00- How does David spend his time in retirement?  48:00- We discuss the value of extra-curriculars at school 50:00- Should kids get trophies  for just participating in tournaments?  52:00- Thanks to David for joining me! Sunrise in the Bronx is available from Amazon, New in Chess, and many major booksellers. https://www.amazon.com/Sunrise-Bronx-Chess-Lessons-South/dp/9083434907 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the chess world, the holiday season means its almost time for one of the most entertaining tournaments of the year- The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championship. This year’s championship events are star-studded affairs featuring GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk and a litany of big-name challengers. For the first time, these events will be taking place in New York CIty, and I will be attending the event and subsequently covering them here on Perpetual Chess. Joining me to discuss the tournament are two wildcard participants. First up (9:00)  is the ever-popular Youtuber and Twitch streamer, IM Eric Rosen. Among other topics, IM Eric Rosen shares how he got the opportunity to play in the tournament, discusses whether he feels any apprehension about potentially tangling with so many world-class players, and discusses how he prepares for such an event. Eric joined me just after returning from the World Championship in Singapire, so he also reflects on that experience as well. Following Eric, I am joined by FM Alisa Melekhina (35:00) . Alisa was one of the top players her age as a scholastic player, and is now a litigation partner at an NYC-based law firm. Alisa explains why she couldn’t resist the opportunity to participate in the Women’s Rapid Championship despite a busy professional life. Alisa co-founded the New York City Corporate Chess League and she also shares the background on that thriving endeavor.  As always, I enjoyed chatting with Eric and Alisa, and look forward to watching them compete in this marquee event.  If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just one day after the match's unforgettable conclusion, I am honored to be joined by lead Chess.com Commentator and popular YouTuber, GM Daniel Naroditsky. Danya takes us straight to the deciding moment of the match and then looks back to contextualize broader lessons from a battle that was closer than many expected. We tackle questions such as: Is it possible that Ding subconsciously was ok with losing this match? How uncharacteristic was Ding's blunder for a GM?  Did this match display more raw emotion than other recent World Championships? Is Magnus Carlsen's commentary impacting the chess discourse too much during a match? Following a detailed World Championship discussion, we touch on a few other topics, including the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz, Danya's upcoming Chessable course, and his recent coaching reflections. It was quite a treat to hear Danya process this match in real-time just one day after its conclusion. Approximate timestamps of topics discussed are below. Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com.Be sure to check out the free course by IM Andras Toth on the World Championship match, the new Woodpecker Method 2 course, among their many offerings. If you sign up for Chessable Pro, please use the following link to help support Perpetual Chess: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 3:00 -Review game 14 of World Championship 13:00 -Danya’s commentary influences 15:00 -Behind the scenes of Danya’s commentary 18:00 -Overview of World Championship match 22:00 -Ding’s struggles 29:00 -Looking ahead to the next World Championship 31:30 -Emotions during the match 34:00 -Thoughts on Gukesh 36:30 -Takes on Magnus’ Take Take Take Recaps 45:00 -Potential changes to WC format 51:00 -Openings in the WC 57:00 -What the audience can learn from the match 1:01:30 -Final thoughts on WC/Danya’s embarrassing moment in commentary career 1:10:00 -Listener questions, Danya’s future chessable course 1:14:00 -Danya's 2025 tournament plans 1:17:00 -Kramnik accusations/thoughts on upcoming World Rapid and Blitz 1:22:00 -Favorite memories being a part of Charlotte Chess Center 1:26:00 -What happened to Danya's NY Times chess column? Thanks to Danya for joining me! Be sure to sub to his YouTube and Twitch channels: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHP9CdeguNUI-_nBv_UXBhw https://www.twitch.tv/gmnaroditsky If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Jon Ludvig Hammer is 3-time Norwegian Champion, popular commentator and highly-reviewed Chessable author. Most recently, GM Hammer has been broadcasting the World Championship for the YouTube channel of Magnus Carlsen’s TakeTakeTake app. In our conversation, Jon Ludvig discussed the origins of the Taketaketake company, and of his relationship with it. He also discussed the challenges of announcing without an engine, and shared his opinions on the best ways to present chess. Jon Ludvig has done a lot of coaching of amateurs around Chess.com’s Pogchamps, and also shares some chess improvement advice based on that experience, and tells the story of how it helped him shape an opening repertoire which he currently shares in his new Chessable course, Hammer’s My First Opening Repertoire for Black. We also touched on cheating in chess, Chess960, and GM Hammer’s 2025 plans. I always enjoy hearing GM Hammer’s takes, and I think that you will as well. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  This episode was recorded on December 3, and does not discuss the current state of the FIDE World Championship. For updated coverage of the Ding-Gukesh match check out the bonus pods.  Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com.In addition to GM Hammer’s course, be sure to check out the free course by IM Andras Toth on the World Championship match. If you sign up for Chessable Pro, please use the following link to help support Perpetual Chess: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 0:00- What is the origins of GM Hammer’s collaboration with Magnus’ new app, which is called TakeTakeTake Mentioned: Kaja Snare, WFM Dronning Maud, Sjakksnak Podcast with GM Hammer, the Magnus and Levy post-mortems we referenced are on the TakeTakeTake YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TakeTakeTakeApp 12:00- What are the chess broadcasts on TV like in Norway now that Magnus is semi-retired? 19:00- Why does Hammer think that chess is so much more popular as a spectator rather than participatory activity?  26:00- What frustrates GM Hammer about recent chess discourse? Mentioned: Chess in Slums, Brooklyn Castle, GM Ian Nepomniatchtchi cheated as an experiment against Hans Niemann:  https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1gvwoc1/nepo_admits_to_using_stockfish_against_hans_in/   38:00- Does GM Hammer do any coaching?  44:00- Is classical chess too slow? How is it presented on Norway television broadcasts?  52:00- How did Hammer discover his own Black setup for his Chessable course, Hammer’s My First Opening Repertoire for Black?  Mentioned: Mr. Savage, BenjyFishy  1:02:00- GM Hammer’s upcoming plans and projects If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An utterly unpredictable and entertaining World Championship match continues, and I am joined by popular YouTuber, Streamer, and Chessable Author, IM Andras Toth to discuss it. Andras has been regularly updating a free course on the program, and also had recently returned from visiting the match in Singapore. Andras provides a fun trip report, we discuss the many surprising aspects of the match, and we try to ascertain a few improvement takeaways for amateur players from this clash. Perpetual Chess will be back with one more look at this match after is conclusion.  Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com, you can check out Andras’ free course here: https://www.chessable.com/world-chess-championship-2024-ding-vs-gukesh/course/281790/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tension continues to escalate at the 2024 FIDE World Championship, as the match is now tied after 9 rounds. In recent rounds, both players have missed opportunities at times and also defended well in an entertaining match. In a Perpetual Chess World Championship tradition, I am joined by Chess.com’s FM Mike Klein. With so much insightful match analysis available online, Mike and I focused on what it is like behind the scenes at the venue, what he observes about he moods of the competitors, and how this match compares with others that Mike has covered. As always, Mike shared some funny anecdotes drawn from his ringside seat. We will back with more coverage as the match continues to unfold.  Watch Mike Klein’s (pre-match) interview with GM Ding Liren here: https://youtu.be/NkoWqaHpmGM?si=uS-Or_kAyb_FiO6R Watch his (pre-match) interview with Gukesh here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBYpdWX7m_Q If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices