Episode 244- GM Andrew Tang

Photo of Magnus and GM Andrew Tang at the 2021 FIDE World Cup, via Andrew’s Instagram

21 year old GM Andrew Tang (aka “PenguinGM”) is a former National High School champion chess player, popular Twitch streamer and Princeton University student. He is best known as one of the strongest “bullet chess” players in the world. Andrew is quite possibly the fastest moving Grandmaster in the world and has had many epic online battles with other elite bullet players like GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Daniel Naroditsky, and GM Alireza Firouzja. In our conversation, Andrew shares some great stories from his bullet battles, and talks about the origins of his chess skills. Other highlights of the interview include the lessons he learned from his childhood coach IM John Bartholomew, the feeling of playing GM Magnus Carlsen in person in the World Blitz championship, and his professional plans when he finishes college. This was a fun conversation with a very talented young man. More details and timestamps below. 

Click here to download the episode

2:00- How is Andrew so fast at chess? When did he realize he was good at bullet? What kind of mouse does he use? 

Mentioned: IM Ali Mortazavi, Azio Exo1 Gaming Mouse 

10:00- Does Andrew play video games? 

Mentioned: Video of Andrew playing 2D Aim, Cloud9 Gaming 

12:00- How did Andrew learn to convert winning endgames so quickly? 

Mentioned: GM Daniel Naroditsky 

13:30- Who, in Andrew’s opinion, are the best bullet players in the world? 

Mentioned: GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Daniel Naroditsky, FM OrangeGhost (not OrangeCrush, as I said) 

16:15- How does GM Andrew Tang describe his exchanges with GM Magnus Carlsen ?

Mentioned: FIDE World Rapid and Blitz, Watch Andrew’s OTB Blitz Match with Magnus here

20:00- What are Andrew’s goals in Classical chess, if any? What are his professional plans for life after college? 

23:30-  Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

24:00- Chessmood offers a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here. 

25:00- How seriously does Andrew take his blitz game? How did he develop his tactical vision? 

Mentioned: Episode 164 with IM John Bartholomew 

29:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Do you have any advice for getting better at time management in blitz?”

33:00- Does Andrew plan on playing in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz if it happens? 

39:30-  Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

40:00- Who is the strongest player Andrew has ever played in classical chess? 

Mentioned: GM Le Quang Liem, GM Wesley So, GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Nikola Mitkov

44:00- What was it like to have IM John Bartholomew as a coach? 

47:30- What are Andrew’s most memorable online bullet escapades? 

51:00- Quick hitter round. Andrew answers Twitter questions relating to browser tabs, playing chess against prisoners, blindfold chess, and his upcoming schedule. 

Mentioned: Video of GM Andrew Tang playing blindfold UltraBullet 

1:10:00- Thanks to Andrew for coming on the show! Here is how to keep up with him:

Twitch-

https://www.twitch.tv/penguingm1

YouTube- 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJxY7NovRrYCsxyl6qaFLA

Twitter-

https://twitter.com/penguingm1

Email- 

Penguingm1 at gmail.com

Episode 243- GM Anna Muzychuk

Photo courtesy of GM Anna Muzychuk

GM Anna Muzychuk is the winner of 3 FIDE World Championship events, and is consistently amongst the highest-rated woman players in the world. In 2012, Anna made history when she became the 4th Woman in history to cross the 2600 FIDE rating. After a lull during the Covid-quarantine, Anna has been actively competing again, and she made a deep run in the FIDE World Cup. Anna came in 4th place in this prestigious event, which earned her a coveted spot in the 2022 Women’s Candidates Tournament. The winner of that Candidates Tournament will challenge GM Ju Wenjun for the Women's World Championship title. As we discuss, Anna’s schedule of competitions is generally packed, but the Covid quarantine gave her a chance to try out commentating,  Twitch streaming and even organizing a tournament, with her sister GM Mariya Muzychuk. We discuss which new hobbies Anna is likely to stick with, as well as her thoughts on many recent and upcoming events, and, of course, Queen’s Gambit. As always, timestamps and the details of all that we covered can be found below. 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- We begin by discussing the recent FIDE Women’s World Cup. Anna finished in 4th place and qualified for the 2022 Candidates Tournament for the Women's World Championship.

Mentioned: GM Ju Wenjun, GM Tatev Abrahamyan

13:00- What sort of training did Anna do during the Covid quarantine, and what does she recommend in general? 

Mentioned: Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual, Theory and Practice of Chess Endings by GM Alexander Panchenko, the books of GM Jacob Aagaard, Chess Calculation Training: Middlegame by GM Romain Eduoard,and  Learn from GM Michal Krasenkow .

19:00- What is it like to repeatedly play her own friends and relatives in the Elite Woman’s events?

Mentioned: GM Mariya Muzychuk, IM Elisabeth Paehtz, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina

23:00- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by Chessmood.com.  Chessmood offers a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel here. 

24:00- Anna discusses the 2022 World Championship Candidates Tournament and her upcoming schedule. 

28:30- Patreon mailbag question: “How have you balanced competing and preparing for top women events with trying to improve your chess level by playing significantly stronger opponents? What do you focus on to improve versus stay in good form?”

Mentioned: 2021 European Club Cup

31:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What has led to her decisions regarding which country to represent?” Anna has played for Slovenia at times, and is now back to representing her native Ukraine. 

Mentioned: Boris Kutin, GM Levon Aronian, GM Alireza Firouzja 

38:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast.  More info here:

https://howtochess.com/

39:00- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out the site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

40:00- Anna and Mariya’s parents are both professional chess trainers, Anna shares a bit about the way she and her sister were taught as they amassed many youth championship titles. 

48:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How should club level players approach game analysis?” 

55:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “What is the key to calculating at an elite level?”

57:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “What did Anna think of Queen’s Gambit? Did Beth Harmon’s life resemble Anna’s in any way?” 

Mentioned: GM Garry Kasparov visits US Chess Girls Club 

1:06:00-Anna famously refused to play in the 2017 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz in Saudi Arabia when she would have been required to wear a hijab and an abaya during the  tournament competition. Patreon mailbag question:  “Does she think that her stance helped change things?” 

Mentioned: Anna’s Facebook Post is here

1:11:00- Anna discusses the details of recently hosting a tournament, The Muzychuk’s Sisters Cup,  in Ukraine.

 Mentioned: Read Anna’s Chessbase article here

1:14:00- What are Anna’s plans for her Twitch channel? 

Mentioned: Challenger’s Chess Cup

1:22:00- Thanks to Anna for joining the show! Here are the best ways to keep up with her. Twitch channel- https://www.twitch.tv/annamuzychuk

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/anna.muzychuk.9, 

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/anna_muzychuk.official/

Episode 242- GM Surya Ganguly

Photo Courtesy of GM Surya Ganguly

GM Surya Ganguly is one of the top players in India, and was the India national champion for 6 consecutive years starting in 2003! He has won countless medals in National team events, and was the Asian champion in 2009. GM Ganguly also works actively as a trainer, and most notably, worked on the preparation team of of GM Viswanthan Anand for the 2008, 2010 and 2012 World Championship Matches. Given this unique experience, I couldn’t wait to hear GM Ganguly’s insightful reflections on the upcoming World Championship match. GM Ganguly is also an active trainer for us non-World Champions, and in fact, has recently released his first Chessable course, Lifetime Repertoires: Nimzo/Semi-Tarrasch. Last but not least, Surya is a founding trainer of ProChessTraining.com. This experience informs Surya’s ability to share some useful tips for young chess talents and adult improvers alike. Please read on for more details and timestamps. 

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- World Championship Match Talk! As a former member of GM Anand’s World Championship team, what would a prep team’s routine look like 100 days before the match? 

Mentioned: The Anand Files, Mind Master, Episode 156 with FM Michiel Abeln, Episode 177 with GM Peter Heine Nielsen, Surya’s YouTube show, In Conversation with GM Viswanathan Anand, GM Peter Leko, Challenger’s Chess Tour with Kramnik and Polgar 

23:00- Patreon mailbag question- Does Surya think that his past work on World Championship Teams makes him more likely to be hired on another team? 

25:30- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

26:00- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by Chessmood.com 

They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here. 

27:00- What does Surya mean when he says, in his new Chessable course, “Memorization without understanding is a sin.” 

Mentioned: Lifetime Repertoires Nimzo and Ragozin

38:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

38:30- What is the vision behind ProChessTraining, which Surya has launched with GM Ramesh R.B. and GM Magesh Panchanathan? 

51:00- How does Surya advice to budget one’s chess study time? 

58:00- When Surya was 9 years old, Surya worked on the demonstration board when GM Anand came to Kolkata for an elite tournament. What does Surya remember about this experience? 

Mentioned: GM Luke McShane, GM Levon Aronian, GM Alexander Grischuk, GM Etienne Bacrot, GM Ruslan Ponomariov, GM Sergei Azarov, GM Mark Paragua, GM Paco Vallejo 

1:01:00- Surya tells a memorable story of playing a 13 year old Magnus Carlsen in 2004. 

Mentioned: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1283190, GM Yevgeniy Vladimirov 

1:05:00- Patreon mailbag questions: How are Surya’s ping pong skills? Who is his favorite player other than Anand?

Mentioned: GM Bobby Fischer 

1:07:00- GM Ganguly did not have a coach until he was already a titled player. What was it like to work with legendary GM Alexei Shirov? 

1:10:00-

Thanks to GM Surya Ganguly for joining us. You can root for him in the following upcoming tournaments Sharjah Masters 2021, Bundesliga, and the FIDE Grand Swiss. 

Here are the other links you might find helpful:

Pro Chess Training:

https://prochesstraining.com/

Surya’s Chessable Course:

https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-nimzosemi-tarrasch-part-1/course/66522/

Surya’s Twitter:

https://twitter.com/suryachess64?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Surya’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/suryasekharchess/?hl=en

Episode 241- FM Peter Giannatos (Adult Improver Series)

This week on Perpetual Chess, we have two interviews in one for you! Return guest, FM Peter Giannatos, who many know as the founder and head of the award-winning Charlotte Chess Center and Scholastic Academy, is also an extremely accomplished adult improver, and in the first half of this interview, Peter shares many inspirational words and his best chess improvement advice.  As we discuss, in the past decade, Peter has made the difficult climb from 2100 to 2390 USCF! Peter has also improved his blitz game, but, as Peter explains, he does not think that requires the same skill set as playing slower tournament games.

 In the second half of the interview we turn our attention to Peter's new book and Chessable course.. It is a great resource for newer chess players and chess teachers. Last, but definitely not least, we discuss the current system for players seeking to earn the Grandmaster title. There has been a fair bit of conversation and controversy on this topic of late, so it was great to have one of the world’s leading organizer’s of “norm tournaments' ' help us separate fact from fiction.

Click here to download the episode

0:00- Peter shares his beginnings in tournament chess and discusses the 2 major rating plateaus he faced (Approximately 1600 and 2100 USCF)

Mentioned: Episode 201 with FM Peter Giannatos, Episode 151 with JJ Lang, Matthew Noble, On the Origin of Good Moves, A First Book of Morphy, NM Dominique Myers, Noel Studer’s Blog

16:45- Peter talks about how his chess evolved in his 20s and the ways that GM Ben Finegold and GM Alexander Shabalov helped Peter improve

Mentioned: Episode 239 with GM Jan Markos, 

26:30- How do adult improvers approach chess improvement differently from kids? 

Mentioned: #chesspunks, Neal Bruce 

33:00- How did Peter change his opening repertoire once he started working with GM Alexander Shabalov? 

37:45- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

38:15- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by Chessmood.com 

They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here. 

40:00- How many hours per week did Peter study while his rating was climbing?

Mentioned: Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual, Perfect Your Chess 

48:00- How does Peter adapt his game for speed chess? 

Mentioned: Simple Chess, How to Reassess Your Chess 

57:00- Recommendations for players rated below 1600

Mentioned: Step 2 Thinking Ahead, Forcing Chess Moves 

1:05:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

1:06:30- Peter’s improvement bullet points

• Play Stronger Players

• Be willing to change things up and exit your comfort zone

• Work hard! Do 10-15 minutes puzzles that push yourself

• (my addition)- find a training partner

1:14:00- We discuss Peter Giannatos’ new book and Chessable course Everyone’s First Chess Workbook,

Mentioned: Laszlo Polgar’s Chess, Al Woolum’s Chess Tactics Workbook, Chess Steps Books 

1:21:00- We discuss a recent, somewhat controversial New York Times article about how title norms are achieved.

Link for the article here

Mentioned: GM Abhimanyu Mishra, GM Sergey Karjakin, GM Bobby Fischer, GM Judit Polgar 

Ian Nepomniatchi’s tweet is here, IM Nikolas Theodorou, GM Nigel Short, IM John Bartholomew . Chess for Charity Jacksonville 

1:55:00- 

Thanks so much to Peter for coming on the show! Here are the links you need to reach Peter or buy his book/course:

See a preview of the book here

Buy the book here:

Buy it in Chessable form here:

Follow Peter on Twitch here: 

Email him here: 

Peter.giannatos at charlottechesscenter.org

Episode 240- "Pawn Book Championship" Special Episode with Neal Bruce

Which “pawn book” should you read?

This week’s Perpetual Chess is the much anticipated “Pawn Book Championship” with popular adult improver Neal Bruce. Neal learned chess from scratch after the age of 40, and has been consistently studying and using flashcards to improve his skills in the last handful of years. In the past year, Neal has turned his attention to better understanding pawn play and positional chess, and he has read 6 (!) different books in order to facilitate better chess understanding. We Perpetual Chess listeners are very fortunate that Neal has offered to do a podcast crowning the “champion” of the pawn books, and has also agreed to give his honest assessment of the other books. When not working on his chess game, Neal is the Chief Product Officer of a software startup and a father of 3, so we greatly appreciate his taking the time for this large project. Please read on for more details and relevant links. 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- 

1. The transcript of episode 237 with GM Vladimir Kramnik is here

2. If you would like to subscribe to the Perpetual Chess Patreon page, you can do so here.

4:00- Other podcasts to hear Neal Bruce:

Book Recap 6- Woodpecker Method and Rapid Chess Improvement  

Book Recap 11- Winning Chess Strategies 

How to Chess with Neal Bruce 

Dojo Talks #24 with Neal Bruce 

5:00- 

Which books are entrants in Neal’s “Pawn Book Championship,” and how and why did he choose them? 

Small Steps to Giant Improvement by GM Sam Shankland (Most appropriate for those 1700-2400 FIDE)

Small Steps 2 Success by GM Sam Shankland (Most appropriate for those 1800-2400 FIDE)

Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andy Soltis (Most appropriate for those 1500-2200 FIDE)

Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios (Most appropriate for those 1500-2200 FIDE)

The Power of Pawns by GM Jorg Hickl’s (Most appropriate for those 1200-2000)

Pawn Power by IM Hans Kmoch (Not recommended for any rating range)

22:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

23:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com 

They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here. 

24:00- Hans Kmoch Pawn Power 

30:30- GM Andy Soltis’s Pawn Structure Chess 

34:00-GM Sam Shankland’s Small Steps 2 Success 

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/345/small_steps_2_success_by_sam_shankland/

Mentioned: New in Chess Magazine 

38:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

39:00- Small Steps to Giant Improvement

Free sample from Quality Chess here:

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/316/small_steps_to_giant_improvement_by_sam_shankland/

43:00- The Power of Pawns by Jorg Hickl. 

Link with free sample from New in Chess Books here:

https://www.newinchess.com/en_US/the-power-of-pawns

47:00- Chess Structures

Free sample from Quality Chess here:

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/235/chess_structures_-_a_grandmaster_guide_by_mauricio_flores_rios/

51:00- In what order would Neal recommend that you read these books? 

Mentioned: 

Interview with Magnus Carlsen on Wolfgang Wee Uncut-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElHa52f_bC8&t=4725s

58:30- What lessons did Neal learn from these readings? What books are next for him? 

Mentioned: Mastering Chess Strategy, Mastering Positional Sacrifices, Silman’s Reassess Your Chess Workbook, Practical Chess Exercises, Zurich 1953, New York 1924, Judit Polgar’s How I Beat Fischer’s Record, Book Recap #7 with Jen Shahade 

1:04:00- Thanks so much to Neal for undertaking this massive project and sharing his findings with the chess community! You can keep up with Neal on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/NealBruceBC

38:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

39:00- We discuss Small Steps to Giant Improvement

Free sample from Quality Chess here:

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/316/small_steps_to_giant_improvement_by_sam_shankland/

43:00- We discuss The Power of Pawns by Jorg Hickl. 

Link with free sample from New in Chess Books here:

https://www.newinchess.com/en_US/the-power-of-pawns

47:00- We discuss Chess Structures

Free sample from Quality Chess here:

https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/235/chess_structures_-_a_grandmaster_guide_by_mauricio_flores_rios/

51:00- In what order would Neal recommend that you read these books? 

Mentioned: 

Interview with Magnus Carlsen on Wolfgang Wee Uncut-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElHa52f_bC8&t=4725s

58:30- What lessons did Neal learn from these readings? What books are next for him? 

Mentioned: Mastering Chess Strategy, Mastering Positional Sacrifices, Silman’s Reassess Your Chess Workbook,  Practical Chess Exercises, Zurich 1953, New York 1924, Judit Polgar’s How I Beat Fischer’s Record, Book Recap #7 with Jen Shahade 

1:04:00- Thanks so much to Neal for undertaking this massive project and sharing his findings with the chess community! You can keep up with Neal on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/NealBruceBC

Book Recap #18- Discussing Aron Nimzowitsch's My System with IM Christof Sielecki

This month on Chess Books Recaptured I am joined by renowned Chessable author, IM Christof Sielecki, to discuss what may be the best known chess book of all time. Aron Nimzowitsch’s My System. There was a time when My System seemed to be universally recommended as an indispensable manual for newer chess players, but in recent years, with so many excellent learning resources, it has often been criticized as well. Christof and I try to contextualize the good and the bad of My System. We discuss everything in the book from Nimzo’s famous quotes to his “dad jokes”, to what does, and does not hold up to the scrutiny of modern chess analysis. Whether you love or hate this book, we hope that this podcast can help you decide if this book is worth (re)visiting. Please read on for timestamps and relevant links. 

Click here to download the episode.

0:00- Why is My System so famous? Why are there so many versions of it? 

Mentioned: Episode 6 with IM Christof Sielecki, Episode 153 with IM Christof Sielecki, Quality Chess’ Edition of My System, also available on Forward Chess, Chess Metrics, Chess24’s Top 50 Player of All Time Series with GM Jan Gustafsson and GM Peter Heine Nielsen 

8:30- For what rating range or audience would this book be most helpful? 

Mentioned: GM Yasser Seirawan, Episode 239 with GM Jan Markos

16:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

16:30- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

17:00- How is the book structured? 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard, GM John Shaw, IM John Watson’s Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy , Johner vs. Nimzowitsch 1926

36:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com 

They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here. 

37:00- How would we describe Nimzowitsch’s writing style? 

Mentioned: John Watson’s Review of My System, Lou Hays’ Edition of My System, Siegbert Tarrasch, Rubinstein-Duras (1908), Winning Pawn Structuresby GM Alexander Baburin,

54:00- What books might we recommend as instructional substitutes for My System? 

Mentioned: THe Neal Bruce Pawn Book Championship is coming August 24!, Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios, Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean, IM Jeremy Silman’s Books, Book Recap Podcast #13, Simple Chess, On the Origin of Good Movesby IM Wily Hendricks 

1:00:00- We will be back next month discussing Jose Raoul Capablanca’s Chess Fundamentals, 

1:02:00- Thanks so Christof for donating his time! We close by discussing what Christof is working on next for Chessable. 

Mentioned: Chess in Slums Go Fund Me:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/chess-education-in-africa

 Check out Christof’s whole Chessable catalog here: 

https://www.chessable.com/author/Chessexplained/

Check out his books here:

Amazon.com: Christof Sielecki: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Follow him on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/ChessExplained

Episode 239- GM Jan Markos

Photo Courtesy of GM Jan Markos

Our guest today is the three-time champion of Slovakia, the highest rated player in his country and an award-winning author! Jan Markos’ 2018 book Under the Surface  has been recommended on this show many times and was the winner of the ECF book of the year this year. He is out with another offering, The Secret Ingredient, also from our friends at Quality Chess. Both of Jan’s works are fantastic books which display an accessible writing style and a breadth of knowledge that extends far beyond the chess board. In our conversation, we discuss many of the ideas presented in these books, as well as a bit about Jan’s own competitive career, his advice for improvers, and his busy life away from the chessboard. Please read on for more details and relevant hyperlinks. 

Click here to download the episode.

3:00- We discuss a question raised in Jan’s 2018 book Under the Surface.  “What do Grandmasters see that club players do not?” 

Mentioned: Thinking Fast and Slow, JJ Lang, GM Jesse Kraai

9:30- Patreon mailbag question- “How did GM Markos come up with so many original metaphors to describe chess thinking in Under the Surface?”

14:30- Listener question- “Why do adult improvers find improvement so challenging?” 

Mentioned: GM John Nunn’s Secrets of Practical Chess, Street Smart Chess by GM Axel Smith 

18:00- Twitter Question: “Who is the intended audience for Jan’s book?” 

20:00- Twitter Question: “Was Jan inspired by Aron Nimzovich’s My System?”

Mentioned: Patzer’s Review Blog Review of Under the Surface  

22:00- Twitter Question: “Are there new chapters Jan would add to Under the Surface today?” 

24:00- Twitter Question: “Why do we tend to notice mistakes just as we make a move, and not before we make a move?” 

Mentioned: Jan’s game where he sadly hung a mate in one is here:

Manage Your Favourite Games (chessbase.com)

26:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com 

They offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here. 

27:00- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

30:00- We discuss Jan’s new book, The Secret Ingredient. How can adult chess players learn to translate chess knowledge into skills? 

39:00- Why is trying to “get your openings down first” before tackling other aspects of the game often a  “Sisyphean task”? 

41:30- What advice can Jan offer on managing one’s time during a chess game?

Mentioned: GM Alexander Grischuk, GM Daniel Fridman, GM Vasyl Ivanchuk, Episode 08 with GM Sam Shankland 

48:30- What should you do when confronted with an unknown idea in the opening? 

50:00- How should chess improvers allocate their chess study time? 

Mentioned: Episode 237 with GM Vladimir Kramnik 

54:00- Can online games be adapted so that they more resemble tournament chess? 

58:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

1:00:00- What was Jan’s journey to the GM tite like? Who are his favorite chess authors?

Mentioned: GM Lubomir Ftacnik, Ludek Pachman’s Chess books, GM Boris Gelfand, GM Jonathan Rowson, GM Jacob Aagaard 

1:04:00- What is Jan’s approach to writing? 

1:05:30- How is the chess culture in Slovakia?

1:08:00- Does Jan miss playing chess professionally? What are his fondest memories? 

Mentioned: GM Jan-Khristof Duda, GM Sergei Karjakin 

1:15:00- BOOK GIVEAWAY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take a screenshot of your subscription to the How to Chess Podcast on any podcast app or on Chessable’s YouTube channel. 

2. Email the screenshot to ben at perpetualchesspod.com 

3. The winners of Jan’s books will be announced on September 3, 2021 via email 

1:17:00- Thanks so much to Jan for joining us. You can email him at jan.markos at gmail.com 

Episode 238- Jerald Times

Jerald in South Africa, circa 2011. Photo courtesy of Jerald Times.

Jerald Times is a USCF Chess Master, and the 2 time Chess champion of Harlem. Jerald is also a chess commentator, and is probably best known as a chess teacher who recently received the 2021 Chess Educator of the Year award from the University of Texas at Dallas. Jerald has been predominantly based in his native New York City, where he twice was the chess champion of Harlem, and where he has served in different capacities at successful chess programs such as The Dalton School, The Harlem Children’s Zone, and The Success Academy. Jerald also spent a few years as a chess trainer in South Africa, and coached the South African National team. These days, Jerald is launching a new organization, called Chess Across Borders, which aims to use digital tools to enable chess players from all backgrounds to compete in national and international chess championships. Jerald shared insightful comments as he on his own chess journey to a peak FIDE rating of 2400, as well as his reflections on how chess, and chess education has changed. Jerald also highlighted some important instances of racial discrimination that he has seen in his career both in the chess world, and as a teacher. All in all, there is lots to learn from this discussion with Jerald, please read on for more details and timestamps. 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- How did Jerald get into chess in his native New York City in the 1980s and 1990s?

Mentioned: Think like a Grandmaster, My System, Alexander Alekhine, GM Vassily Smyslov, GM Jose Raoul Capablanca, IM Levy Rozman, WGM Alexandra Botez, GM Miron Sher, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Robert Hess  

13:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

14:00- Jerald discusses his plans to launch a new organization, called Chess Across Borders 

20:00- How have chess teaching tools changed in recent decades?

Mentioned: Google Classroom, FM Mike Klein, Chesskid.com 

25:00- Jerald’s most recent position was heading the chess program at a New York- based network of charter schools called Success Academy. Jerald discusses both the positive and the negative of his experiences with Success Academy.

Mentioned: Jessica Hyatt

41:45- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

42:30- Patreon mailbag question: How does chess in South Africa (where Jerald lived, and worked as a chess trainer) compare to chess in the United States?

Mentioned: GM Kenny Solomon, Nick Vandernot, IM Henry Steele, IM Watu Kobese , GM Maurice Ashley, IM Kassa Korley, Tani Adewumi, James Black, IM Justus Williams, FM Joshua Colas 

52:00- Where is Chess Across Borders in its launch process? 

53:30- Jerald shares stories about his encounters with GM Garry Kasparov and GM Maurice Ashley.

Mentioned: Rochelle Ballantyne, Maurice Ashley to host recaps of the Upcoming World Championship on NBC Sports:

https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess/status/1417258790169321472?s=20

1:01:00- Thanks to Jerald for joining the show! Here is his contact info:

Find out more about Chess Across Borders here:

https://chessacrossborders.site123.me/

Email Jerald at:

jtimes at gmail.com

Episode 237- GM Vladimir Kramnik

Photo credit unknown, via Sport Express.ru (and Douglas Griffin’s Twitter Feed) GM Kramnik discusses his memorable first encounter with GM Anatoly Karpov (in Linares, 1993) in this interview

Note- one can read a transcript of this interview here.

This week on Perpetual Chess, we are privileged to be joined by the 14th undisputed World Chess Champion, Grandmaster Vladimir Kramnik. GM Kramnik spent decades atop the chess world, and is best known as the man who ended Garry Kasparov’s historic reign as World Champion. GM Kramnik is one of the 10 highest rated players of all time, and left a special imprint in his contribution to opening theory, as many of his favorite lines are now embraced by modern chess engines and frequently seen at the elite level. We had a wide-ranging conversation where GM Kramnik discussed his match with Kasparov, the effect of engines on chess, his recent “no-castling” exhibition match with GM Viswanathan Anand, and, of course, his new Chessable course. Vladimir’s course is called Thinking in Chess: A How to Guide, and it offers a Super GM level framework on how to think about preventing your opponent’s plans. There are many great insights in this interview, so I hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as I did speaking with him. Please read on for more details, timestamps and relevant links.  

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- We begin by discussing Kramnik’s rise in the 1990’s, including his breakout tournament at the 1992 Manila Olimpiad, a tournament for which he was a surprise choice to compete on the stacked Russian team.

08:30- Vladimir recently concluded his match with GM Vishy Anand in a new variant called “no-castling chess.” He discusses the match and the future of chess variants. 

Mentioned: GM Vasyl Ivanchuk

22:45- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

23:45- GM Kramnik answers a question from the Perpetual Chess Patreon mailbag: "How has his game has been influenced by computer chess?"

26:00- A couple more Patreon mailbag questions- “Did computers help Vladimir prepare the Berlin endgame for his match against Kasparov?” “How much did his team help him with it?”

33:00- GM Kramnik discusses the match dynamics of the 2000 Kasparov-Kramnik match. 

Mentioned: GM Viswanthan Anand 

41:30-Are there any modern players who use the engines especially effectively in their preparation? 

45:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

46:30- Patreon mailbag question: “Why did GM Kramnik decide to focus his chess course on “quiet moves” and prophylaxis?”

1:02:00- What does Vladimir think about the upcoming World Championship match?

Mentioned: Norway Chess 2021 

1:08:00- Vladimir answers another Patreon question: “Is it more stressful to be World Champion than to “just” to be a top-echelon player?” 

1:12:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Can a player who has passed her 60th birthday compete in the top echelon?”

1:15:30- Patreon mailbag question: “Did Vladimir enjoy competing in Chess24’s Legends of Chess tournament last year?” 

1:18:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What kind of improvement can amateur players expect to see in their games if they have jobs outside of chess?”

1:22:30- Patreon mailbag question: “What was it like to play his childhood hero, GM Anatoly Karpov, for the first time?” 

Mentioned: GM Garry Kasparov. You can review the game here: 

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067080

1:29:00- Did working on Kasparov’s team give him a competitive advantage in their 2000 World Championship match, and might Nepomniachtchi have a similar advantage from having worked with GM Magnus Carlsen?

1:30:00- Thanks so much to GM Kramnik for joining the show! You can check out a free version of his Chessable course here:

https://www.chessable.com/vladimir-kramnik-free-lesson/course/81696/

Or you can buy the whole course here:

https://www.chessable.com/thinking-in-chess-a-how-to-guide/course/77175/

Episode 236 Dr. Courtney Frey (Adult Improver Series)

Welcome to another “Adult improver” edition of Perpetual Chess. Our guest this time is Dr. Courtney Frey. Courtney is a 35 year old doctor (radiologist) and father of 2 kids. Like a lot of us he played in a chess club during his school years,  but then didn’t play for many yearsuntil he finished medical school. He got more serious during the pandemic, started taking lessons with a coach, and he has seen his LiChess Rapid rating go from the 1500s to 1900 in about a year! As you will hear, Courtney has been successful with a very balanced approach to chess improvement that focuses on studying the aspects of chess that he enjoys most. Courtney had a lot of helpful tips to share- you can find relevant links and timestamps below! 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- Did you know that Chessable now sponsors an adult improvement weekly chess podcast called How to Chess?  Did you know that you can subscribe to it on Spotify and all the other podcast apps? Be sure to subscribe, or go to Howtochess.com for more info. 

https://open.spotify.com/show/5SzyXVaBZtM8CA6dtBQj7o?si=Q5SZzmcXT4i65y219xKTzQ&dl_branch=1

2:00- Courtney briefly delves into his chess background prior to his renaissance that began during Quarantine. 

Mentioned: Episode 87 with Adult Improver Stacia Pugh

6:00- Once Courtney decided to start training what did he do? 

Mentioned:  Episode 194 with Yuriy Krykun, Book Recap #14- Discussing The Seven Deadly Chess Sins with David Franklin,

 The Seven Deadly Chess Sins (Scotland's Youngest Grandmaster Discusses the Most Common Ca): Rowson, Jonathan: 9781901983364: Amazon.com: Books

13:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

13:45- Courtney answers a question from the Patreon mailbag relating to how he selected his opening repertoire. Then he provides more detail on his chess study regimen. 

Mentioned: IM Yuriy Krykun’s Chessable Course- The Dynamic Italian Game 

30:00- What does Courtney do when he faces an opening move he hasn’t seen before? 

Mentioned: Chessable Course- My First White Opening Repertoire 

35:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

36:00- Courtney shares a few more recommendations, he has found many ways to improve beyond tactics training! 

Mentioned: The Checkmate Patterns Manual 

60:00- Thanks so much to Courtney for joining the show! 

Episode 235- Joe Posnanski

This week, Perpetual Chess features a different kind of guest, Joe Posnanski was twice- named the best sportswriter in America by the Associated Press. He is also a popular podcaster and best selling author of 6 books. I have been a huge fan of Joe’s writing for many years, so when he recently wrote about his enthusiasm for chess I couldn’t resist the opportunity to invite him to talk to us on Perpetual Chess. In our interview, Joe discusses the beginnings of his interest in chess (his dad was a USCF expert.)  Joe then dives into topics including: the current state of his own chess game, why he has a "love-hate" relationship with the game, who his favorite chess YouTubers are, and the lessons that he has learned from his coach, FM Mikhail Perelshteyn. Whether in written word or on his Poscast, Joe is always entertaining and insightful, so it was a real thrill for me to talk chess with him! Please read on for more details and relevant links. 

Click here to download the Episode

0:00-   Joe tells us about the evolution of his interest in chess over the years. 

Mentioned: Read Joe’s recent blog post about chess here. Read his article about playing with NFL player Priest Holmes here. Read Joe’s famous, non-chess post about seeing Hamilton with his daughter, here. 

13:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here: 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to our How to Chess podcast ! More info here:

https://howtochess.com/

13:30- Joe is a big fan of chess YouTube. Who are Joe’s favorite chess YouTubers? 

Mentioned: Agadmator’s YouTube Channel, Perpetual Chess Episode 160 with Agadmator, GM Hikaru Nakamura, IM Eric Rosen, IM Levy Rozman, Levy’s Guess the Elo playlist here, GM Simon Williams’ Jobava London Chessable Course here

25:45- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

26:30- We discuss the state of Joe’s own chess game. What are his strengths and weaknesses? 

Mentioned: FM Mikhail Perelshteyn, GM Eugene Perelshteyn, How to Chess Episode with GM Eugene Perelshteyn here, Joe’s game that we are discussing can be found  here

48:00- Joe’s most recent book is an excellent biography, The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini, Did he see any similarities between the magic and chess sub-cultures? 

Mentioned: The Baseball 100

53:00- If Joe were to write a feature about chess, what would he write? 

Episode 234- GM Jonathan Levitt

Photo of GM Levitt and and his old boss, GM Garry Kasparov, courtesy of Jonathan Levitt

GM Jonathan Levitt is a chess journalist, an author and a professional cricket bettor!   Jonathan is retired from competitive chess, but he has written a few great chess books, including co-authoring the classic  Secrets of Spectacular Chess, and Jonathan has recently released his first non-chess book,  Contemplating Comedy, which, as you might guess, is a meditation on the topic of humor. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss Jonathan’s varied chess career, his transition to cricket betting, the upcoming World Chess Championship, and the intersection of chess and humor. There is lots to learn from Jonathan, so I hope you all enjoy this conversation. Please read on for many more details and relevant links. 

Click here to download the episode

London Chess Festival Info here!- 

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/chessfest-in-londons-trafalgar-square/

0:00- We tackle the age old question, “What constitutes chess talent?” This is a question that Jonathan grapples with in his excellent 1997 book, Genius in Chess. 

Mentioned: IM Malcolm Pein, Episode 20 with GM Timur Garyev, Book Recap #10- Talking Blindfold Chess with Jerry Wells, Episode 95 with Dr. Christopher Chabris

 14:00- Jonathan answers a question from the Perpetual Chess Patreon mailbag relating to ways he could potentially tweak his famed “Levitt question.” 

18:00- Jonathan tells the story of what he learned from studying and sharing a house with legendary GM Alexei Shirov. 

Episode 189 with GM Patrick Wolff 

25:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

26:30- What were the key components to Jonathan’s own chess improvement path? 

Mentioned: GM Mikhail Botvinnik, Lasker’s Manual of Chess, Fischer’s 60 Memorable Games 

35:00- Secrets of Spectacular Chess by Jonathan and FM David Friedgood is a great book that shares a lot of brilliant endgame studies. Did endgame studies help Jonathan’s own game? 

41:00- Jonathan talks about the only “real job” when he worked for a few months for the original Kasparov Chess website. 

Mentioned: Mig Greengard, GM Vladimir Kramnik

43:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

44:00- How did Jonathan’s chess background help him become a professional cricket bettor? What does his work entail? 

Mentioned: Episode 57 with GM Pascal Charbonneau 

53:00-Jonathan’s newest book, Contemplating Comedy is a meditation on what makes things funny. Does Jonathan think chess players are funnier than non-chess players? Does he have any good chess jokes? 

Mentioned: GM Tony Miles, GM Nigel Davies, GM Nigel Short, GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Benjamin Finegold, GM Jan Gustafsson 

1:04:00- What were Jonathan’s interactions with Kasparov like? 

Mentioned: Magnus Carlsen, GM Bobby Fischer 

1:09:00- What are Jonathan’s thoughts on the Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi match? 

1:11:00- Thanks so much to Jonathan for joining us! 

Here is how to keep up with him: 

Buy his books here: 

Amazon.com

Follow him on Twitter here: 

https://twitter.com/JonathanLevitt7?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

You can email him directly at jonathanlevitt at btinternet.com 

Book Recap #17- Discussing "Zurich 1953" with FM Nate Solon, featuring GM Andy Soltis

Photo of Zurich 1953 Attendees, via the Zurich Chess Club

It has been a while, but Perpetual Chess is back with a blockbuster bonus book recap podcast. For this episode of Chess Books Recaptured, I am joined by FIDE Master Nate Solon to compare two books about one of the most famous chess tournaments of all time, the 1953 Zurich-Neuhausen Candidates tournament, (more commonly known as just “Zurich 1953.”)

GM David Bronstein’s book, Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 , is one of the most popular chess books of all time, and it is often recommended on this podcast. GM Miguel Najdorf’s tournament book, Zurich 1953: 15 Contenders for the World Chess Championship, is also considered a classic by many. Najdorf’s book may not be as well known as Bronstein’s book, due to the fact that it was only translated into English during the last decade.  So how do we compare the books? Do they live up to their reputation as instructional chess book classics? What made the tournament so special? What are we to make of the “ghost-writing” and “match-fixing” allegations which have come to light in recent decades? So much to discuss! We even feature a guest appearance by renowned author and GM Andy Soltis to help answer these questions! Please read on for lots more details and relevant links. 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- Why did we choose these two books?

Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953 - Kindle edition by Bronstein, David. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Zurich 1953: 15 Contenders for the World Chess Championship - Kindle edition by Najdorf, Miguel. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Mentioned: GM Andy Soltis’ Soviet Chess 1917-1991, Chess24 series: The 50 Greatest Chess Players of all Time, featuring GMs Jan Gustafsson and GM Peter Heine Nielsen, GM Genna Sosonko’s Smylov on the Couch, Boris Samoilovich Vainstein (author, collaborator of David Bronstein)

20:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest offerings here: New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels- Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to Chessable’s new podcast focused on chess improvement How to Chess (hosted by me.) More info here:  

https://howtochess.com/

21:00- GM Andy Soltis joins the show to share his perspective on why he thinks these books are so famous. 

Mentioned: Juan Perón,, Vasily Smyslov, GM Yuriy Averbakh, GM Alexander Kotov, IM Lev Aronin, GM Bobby Fischer, GM Ian Nepomniatchtchi, GM Sergei Karjakin, You can preorder Andy’s upcoming book here:

Smyslov, Bronstein, Geller, Taimanov and Averbakh: A Chess Multibiography with 220 Games: Soltis, Andrew: 9781476677934: Amazon.com: Books

42:00- 

Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

42:30- For what level chess fans are these books most beneficial? How do the books compare?

Mentioned: IM Christof Sielecki video looking at the analysis of Zurich 1953:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHCE68qr5oQ

John Watson’s review of the Zurich 1953 books:

https://theweekinchess.com/john-watson-reviews/john-watson-book-review-106-zurich-1953-by-najdorf   Episode 46 with IM John Watson 

54:00- We share a few choice quotes from both books.

1:03:00- Who wrote Bronstein’s book? Bronstein or his friend Boris Vainstein? Is it important?

Mentioned: GM Genna Sosonko’s The Rise and Fall of David Bronstein

1:07:00- We finally dive deeper into the allegations that the Soviet government ordered match- fixing by the Soviet players

Mentioned: Chesscafe.com, GM Yuri Averbakh, Taylor Kingston, Taimanov vs. Smyslov 

1:21:00- Thanks so much to Nate for donating so much time! Tune in next time for a recap of My System with IM Christof Sielecki. 

Support Chess in Slums  here: 

https://gofund.me/61ae63d6

Hear Tunde on the Perpetual Chess Episode 219 here: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2a57aGslpbGW08KozHQ2ih?si=Yg9RZqpgRMqonYQhGcBbOA&dl_branch=1

You can subscribe to Nate’s free email newsletter here:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/

Follow Nate on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/natesolon

Lichess Study with Selected Games Here:

https://lichess.org/study/pCrnDQxs/o0AoddYo

Photo in middle of the participants courtesy of the Zurich Chess Club

Episode 233- IM Levy Rozman returns

IM Levy Rozman a/k/a “GothamChess” is a chess commentator, Twitch streamer, and, of course, creator of one of the most popular Chess YouTube channels in the World. His channel has seen explosive growth since his prior visit to Perpetual Chess, one year ago. It recently surpassed 1 million subscribers and is still growing quickly! In our conversation, Levy reflects on the success of his channel, and shares lots of advice for other aspiring content creators. We also discuss his recent return to competitive chess. Levy recently competed in the National Open in Las Vegas. He had pretty good results over the board, but perhaps more surprisingly, the videos analyzing his tournament games proved to be amongst his most popular ever! Why does he think that is? Will his comeback and pursuit of the Grandmaster title continue? Will he ever stop speaking out on political issues? We tackle all of these questions and many more in this fun, wide-ranging conversation. Please read on for more details, timestamps, and relevant links.

Click here to download the Episode.

IM Levy Rozman a/k/a “GothamChess” is a chess commentator, Twitch streamer, and, of course, creator of one of the most popular Chess YouTube channels in the World. His channel has seen explosive growth since his prior visit to Perpetual Chess, one year ago. It recently surpassed 1 million subscribers and is still growing quickly! In our conversation, Levy reflects on the success of his channel, and shares lots of advice for other aspiring content creators. We also discuss his recent return to competitive chess. Levy recently competed in the National Open in Las Vegas. He had pretty good results over the board, but perhaps more surprisingly, the videos analyzing his tournament games proved to be amongst his most popular ever! Why does he think that is? Will his comeback and pursuit of the Grandmaster title continue? Will he ever stop speaking out on political issues? We tackle all of these questions and many more in this fun, wide-ranging conversation. Please read on for more details, timestamps, and relevant links. 

0:00- We begin by doing a post-mortem on Levy’s recent return to over-the-board “OTB” chess. How does Levy reflect on his performance in the recently completed National Open in Las Vegas? 

11:00- Levy answers a Patreon mailbag question, relating to whether making videos during a tournament is distracting, and why he thinks his game recap videos were so popular (often with more than 400,000 views per episode)!

The first of Levy’s game recapps from Vegas is here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqNenU-sQZI

His recap of his game with IM Christopher Yoo is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPBLVuVk1zw

Also mentioned: GM Alex Grischuk, Czech Open, GM Wojciech Moranda, FM Kyron Griffith 

25:30- With so much content coming out, what steps has Levy taken to avoid burnout? 

29:30- What aspects of his chess game does Levy think he needs to work on? 

34:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. 

Check out their latest offerings here: 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels- Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to Chessable’s new podcast focused on chess improvement How to Chess (hosted by me), more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

35:00- Levy delves into some of the key decisions behind his YouTube channel’s huge growth in the past year. 

Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, Agadmator, Guess the Elo, Kasparov vs. the World Video- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOrLfEZav14, Hanging Pawns YouTube, Mato Jelic YouTube, Kevin Durant, Dewa Kipas, WGM Irene Sukander 

50:00- Levy answers another question from a Patreon subscriber, relating to explaining his YouTube success. 

53:00 Another Patreon question- “What advice does Levy have for new chess streamers? “

Mentioned: Agadmator, GM Daniel King, IM John Bartholomew, GM Hikaru Nakamura, Mr. Beast, TierZoo, Daily Dose of Chess

1:01:00- What encounters with celebrities has Levy had as a result of his success?

Mentioned: Levy’s lesson with Gordon Hayward, Joe Posnanski’s blog post about chess is here:

https://joeposnanski.substack.com/p/chess

1:03:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

1:04:00- Levy made a few enemies with this tweet, Does he stand by the sentiment? We also discuss Levy’s penchant for tweeting about politics. 

Mentioned: GM Daniel King, GM Ben FInegold 

1:17:00- Levy also has been an outspoken advocate for helping to foster a more supportive atmosphere for women in chess. How did this issue come to his attention? 

1:24:00- How is Levy’s girlfriend’s game progressing? 

1:27:00- Has Levy made any big purchases in the wake of his recent success?

Mentioned: Joe Rogan podcast, Magnus Carlsen 

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here.

Episode 232- James Altucher returns

Photo courtesy of James Altucher

James Altucher is a best-selling author, popular business podcast host, entrepreneur, USCF Master and adult improver! I last interviewed James back in October of 2017. At the time, James had some fun stories to tell about his chess background, but he wasn’t actively working on his chess. As it has for many people, that has changed in the past year. In the wake of the Queen’s Gambit boom, James’ love for chess is back in full bloom. He has been training 3-4 hours a day and hopes to return to competitive chess soon. In addition to his chess expertise, James is a keen student of adult learning who has interviewed experts in the field, such as Anders Ericsson and Angela Duckworth, among others. James gives some great advice on how to approach chess improvement and shares what he has learned from working 1 on 1 with coaches like IM Eric Rosen, and GM Jesse Kraai. James also offers some actionable advice for aspiring content creators, and he asks me a few questions about how Perpetual Chess has been affected by the pandemic. As always, please read on for lots more details, timestamps and relevant links.  

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- I am pleased to announce that Perpetual Chess is joining the Blue Wire Podcast Network! Blue Wire is a fast growing network of sports, comedy and lifestyle podcasts, and Perpetual Chess is the first chess podcast to sign on with them. More information about Blue Wire Podcasts here: 

https://www.bluewirepods.com/

2:00- James rejoins the show, and we dive right into James’ recent chess studies.. 

Mentioned:

Perpetual Chess Episode 42 with James Altucher

 The James Altucher Episode 667 with Jen Shahade

The James Altucher show Episode 716 with Garry Kasparov 

IM Eric Rosen, GM Jesse Kraai 

Perpetual Chess Podcast Episode 182 with IM Willy Hendriks

Perpetual Chess Podcast Episode 213 with IM Greg Shahade 

Perpetual Chess Podcast Episode 11 with GM Alex Lenderman 

The Woodpecker Method by GM Axel Smith 

Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios 

19:45- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

20:30- How does James incorporate spaced repetition of tactics into hi s chess study? 

32:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels- Chessable.com

Also be sure to subscribe to Chessable’s new chess improvement focused podcast, How to Chess (hosted by me), more info here:

https://howtochess.com/

32:30- I ask James, whether it is as intimidating to interview GM Garry Kasparov as it is to play against him. 

Mentioned: GM Michael Wilder, Episode 215 with Vishnu Sreekumar

37:00- We discuss another highly instructive book, GameChanger by GM Mathew Sadler, and WIM Natasha Regan 

46:00- James asks me- What have I learned from interviewing so many adult improvers?

Mentioned: Episode 231 With Braden Laughlin, GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Sam Shankland’s Banter Blitz Videos, Van Perlo’s Endgame Tactics, The Modern Tiger 

1:01:00- James asks me: how were the download numbers for Perpetual Chess affected by the Queen’s Gambit?

Mentioned: Episode 229 with GM Davorin Kuljasevic, Episode 44 with GM Jesse Kraai, GM Ben Finegold, IM Greg Shahade, WGM Jen Shahade, FM Mike Shahade 

1:12:30- How close does James think podcasts are to their growth peak? + some helpful content creation advice

Mentioned: Kevin Kelly- “Don’t Just Be the Best, Be the Only” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vincGfoF8FA

1:15:00- Thanks so much to James for rejoining the show! Here is how to keep up with him:

Buy his latest book here: Amazon.com: Skip the Line: The 10,000 Experiments Rule and Other Surprising Advice for Reaching Your Goals eBook: Altucher, Jamhttps://jamesaltucher.com/es: Books

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaltucher

Website: https://jamesaltucher.com/

The James Altucher show- https://open.sp

Bonus- Introducing The How to Chess Podcast!

While Perpetual Chess catches its breath, I invite you all to check out my new podcast/YouTube show.

How to Chess is an adult improver focused collaboration with Chessable that will be a rapid-fire weekly podcast devoted to chess improvement and study habits.

Here is episode 1, with GM Eugene Perelshteyn teaching us how to Limit Our Blunders. I hope you all find it helpful!

You can make sure you don’t miss and episode by subscribing to Chessable’s YouTube channel.

How to Chess is also available in audio-only on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and should be on all podcast platforms soon.

Click here to download the episode

Episode 231- Braden Laughlin (Adult Improver Series)

 Click here to Download the Episode

My guest on this week’s adult improver edition of Perpetual Chess is Braden Laughlin. Braden is a 22 year old Canadian chess enthusiast who has seen robust gains in the first few years of his chess development. Braden went from 0 to 1750 (Canadian rating) in his first 16 months of chess!  In the subsequent 2.5 years he has continued to get stronger, and now has an online blitz rating peak of over 2100!  Not bad for four years work! How did he do it? As you will hear, Braden has an approach that is wholly different from any other adult improver that has appeared on Perpetual Chess. Braden has taken full advantage of all of the great free chess content on YouTube, and is also a big proponent of playing tons of games, and trying to derive a lesson from each game. For many more tips, as well as some background about Braden as a video editor and recently hired Chessable employee please check out our interview. As always, lots more details, timestamps and relevant links can be found below. 

0:00- How to Chess Podcast info from your host Ben: 

Coming soon to its own feed, How to Chess feeds for Spotify, Apple Podcsts, YouTube, etc. and will be linked here once available. 

Meanwhile the first few episodes will also be made available on this very Perpetual Chess feed for you to check out. 

For any how to chess related questions you’d like answered please email howtochess at chessable.com 

6:00- Braden joins the show and digs into his chess background and his early steps in chess improvement. 

Mentioned: Chess Network’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCDOQrpqLqKVcTCKzqarxLg

Also mentioned: IM John Bartholomew- Climbing the Rating Ladder Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2huVf1l4UE&list=PLl9uuRYQ-6MCBnhtCk_bTZsD8GxeWP6BV

Also mentioned: GM Yasser Seirawan, The St. Louis Chess Club’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM-ONC2bCHytG2mYtKDmIeA

Also mentioned: Jonathan Rowson’s Chess for Zebras

18:00- Braden discusses how chess served as an escape for him when he faced some physical and mental health challenges: 

21:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check it out for free, and then if you subscribe use the promo code Perpetual30

22:00- How did Braden balance actual chess playing with the study he did and chess videos that he consumed? 

27:00- What tips does Braden have for learning positional chess concepts? 

Mentioned: ChessNetwork, IM John Bartholomew, Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean, Simple Chess Podcast, Book Recap #13, Episode 213 with IM Greg Shahade   

33:00- How much time did  Braden spend working on tactics? 

GM Roman Dzindzichashvili 

38:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out their latest offerings here:

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

39:00- Has Braden’s study approach changed as he has reached higher levels? 

45:30- Braden answers a question from the Patreon mailbag relating to how the OTB tournament situation will compare in Spain to North America. (Braden is moving to Spain soon) 

48:00- Patreon question: “Did Braden use any Chessable resources to help his chess improvement?”

Mentioned: 100 Endgames You Must Know, Braden’s video about the longest possible chess game is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5DXJxR3Uig

Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, IM Kostya Kavutskiy 

56:00- Braden discusses how he got into creating Youtube videos. 

Mentioned: Good Blood Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC55OV4HSSKJEthG4ulsKkyw

Zelda video-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyUcwsjyd8Q

1:02:00- Thanks so much to Braden for sharing the details of his unique climb up the rating ranks!

Subscribe to his YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5DXJxR3Uig

Follow him on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/Braden_Laughlin

Episode 230- WGM Irene Sukander

Photo by IM Eric Rosen

WGM and IM Irene Sukander is one of the top players in Indonesia, the two-time Asian Women’s Chess Champion, and she earned a Grandmaster norm at the Asian Continental in 2012 .Although her numerous chess accomplishments required an investment of time, Irene did not shirk her studies. She studied English literature in Indonesia, and Irene earned a Masters Degree in International Relations at chess powerhouse Webster University in St. Louis. Irene was already a well-known and accomplished chess player, but we saw her fame explode when due to an unusual  set of circumstances she participated in a live, high stakes chess match with 1.25 million online viewers!  Irene reflects on that match, and the ways it changed her life both for better and for worse. We also discuss Irene’s current chess goals, the unique chess culture in Indonesia, ways to popularize chess for women, and many more topics. There is much to learn from Irene, so I hope you enjoy this conversation as I did. Please read on for more details, timestamp and related links. 

 Click here to download the Episode

0:00- We begin by discussing the latest on Irene’s chess game. Is she studying? Is she planning on chasing the GM title? This segment also touches on chess in Indonesia. 

Mentioned: Ray Robson, Eric Rosen, Ilya Nyzhnik, Le Quang Liem, Susan Polgar

Ladies Knight Podcast interview with Jen Shahade:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/108CgkISEvilraOmayh887?si=9df44dab494b4bb1

Biel Open, 

Jakarta Post article about Irene:

https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2021/04/09/meet-irene-kharisma-sukandar-the-grandmaster-thrust-into-the-spotlight.html

10:00- Irene was a bit of a prodigy as a child. She delves into the intense study regimen that helped her earn her chess success. 

Mentioned: GM Mikhail Botvinnik, Chess Informant’s, Hort-Karpov 1981

27:00- Irene answers a question from the Perpetual CHess Patreon mailbag relating to ways that more women can be inspired to pursue chess. 

Mentioned: GM Judit Polgar, GM Maia Chiburdanidze, GM Hou Yifan, GM Ju Wenjun, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk

33:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out their latest offerings here:

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

34:00- Irene reflects on the experience of participating in the most viewed chess match of all time, an event which came about under quite unusual circumstances. 

Mentioned: IM Levy Rozman a/k/a Gotham Chess , Dewa Kipas, Here is Peter Doggers’ Chess.com story- Cheating Controversy Results in Most Watched Chess Event of All Time-

https://www.chess.com/news/view/most-watched-chess-stream-in-history-dewa-kipas

43:00- What content advice has Irene been given from her friend IM Eric Rosen? 

Mentioned: Episode 36 with IM Eric Rosen, Episode 130 with IM Eric Rosen

47:00- Patreon question- was the $14,000 Irene received for her match with Dewa Kipas her biggest chess payday? She also reflects a bit more on what she will remember from this landmark chess match. 

58:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check it out for free, and then, if you decide to subscribe, use the PromoCode Chess30 to save 30%.

1:01:00- We talk a bit about Irene’s life and interests away from the board. 

Mentioned: Reykjavik Open Chess Tournament- https://www.reykjavikopen.com/, Kopi Luwak 

1:08:00- Thanks so much to Irene for joining the podcast Here are the best ways to keep up with her:

Instagram-

https://www.instagram.com/irene_sukandar/?hl=en

Twitter- https://twitter.com/irene_sukandar?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Twitch- https://t.co/tIJGJkZzLp?amp=1

Chess.com 

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Episode 229- GM Davorin Kuljasevic

Photo courtesy of GM Davorin Kuljasevic

 Click here to download the Episode

GM Davorin Kuljsevic is an  author, a trainer and, of course, an accomplished chess player. Davorin has won several international tournaments and competed with the Croatian National team. As a trainer, he has coached the Finland Men’s and Women’s National Chess teams,and he has taught many titled players. In recent years, Davorin is becoming best known for his books. His first book, Beyond Material, helps players learn to sacrifice for initiative and to play more dynamically. Davorin’s new book, How to Study Chess On Your Own: Creating a Plan that Works and Sticking to it, is an expansive and instructive book that provides both chess instruction and study plans for the ambitious improver. The book, and our interview, contain useful tips on how to properly use engines, improve tactics, structure study time, and lots more. Please read on for more details and relevant timestamps. 

0:00- We dive right into Davorin’s new book, How to Study Chess On Your Own: Creating a Plan that Works and Sticking to it . What advice can be gleaned from this impressive book? 

Mentioned: GM Efstratios Grivas, IM Lawrence Trent, GM Daniel Fridman, Kuljasevic-Fridman 2013,  GM Richard Rapport, GM Judit Polgar, GM Veselin Topalov

 12:00- Davorin’s book advocates a very ambitious study plan.  Can it be adjusted for those who have less time to devote to chess study?

Mentioned: Pump Up Your Rating by GM Axel Smith, Berlin Wall by GM John Cox  

18:00- Davorin answers a few Patreon mailbag questions, including, “Is there a minimum amount of study one must to do to expect chess improvement?” 

Mentioned: IM Cyrus Lakdawala 

24:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “How should adult improvers measure progress?”

28:00-Patreon mailbag question:  “Can humans use non GM strength engines as playing partners?” 

Mentioned: ChessDojo, Episode 215 with Dr. Vishnu Sreekumar 

31:00- How should one properly use chess engines?

James Altucher Episode 716 with Garry Kasparov 

37:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out their latest offerings here:

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com 

38:00- How can we break the spell of excessive “materialism” in chess, and learn to sacrifice for dynamic compensation? 

Mentioned: Beyond Material by GM Davorin Kuljasevic,  Gamechanger by GM Mathew Sadler and WIM Natasha Regan, Artemiev-Motylev 2015, Mastering Positional Sacrifices by IM Merijn van Delft 

46:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check it out for free, and then, if you decide to subscribe, use the PromoCode Chess30 to save 30%.

49:00- How would Davorin ramp up for a tournament if he were getting ready to compete? 

Mentioned: WGM Iva Videnova,  

51:00- What was it like to do a Chess TV show in Croatia? How is the chess culture there? Mentioned:  Episode 160 with Agadmator, Episode 117 with Stjepian Tomic aka Hanging Pawns, Episode 223 with Dr. Luka Popov, GM Alojzije Janković

54:30- Davorin discusses his experience studying in the US at University of Texas at Dallas, and at Texas Tech University 

Mentioned: IM John Bartholomew, IM Dmitry Schneider, FM Andrei Zaremba 

58:00- Davorin names a few of his favorite chess authors

Mentioned: IM Mark Dvoretsky, GM Jacob Aagaard, GM Boris Gelfand, Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual  

1:02:-- Thanks so much to Davorin for joining the show. Link below for where to reach him and  purchase his books:

Buy from New in Chess Publishing (including ebook):

https://www.newinchess.com/how-to-study-chess-on-your-own

Buy from Amazon:

How to Study Chess on Your Own: Creating a Plan that Works… and Sticking to it! - Kindle edition by Kuljasevic, Davorin. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Reach Davorin here:

https://lichess.org/coach/GrandmasterThinking

Episode 228- GM Ben Finegold returns

GM Ben Finegold with Karen Boyd, his wife, and co-founder of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta. Photo via the CCSCATL Facebook Page

This week we are rejoined by the always entertaining Twitch streamer,YouTube creator and accomplished Grandmaster,  Ben Finegold! Ben was an early guest of Perpetual Chess, back in 2017. In the subsequent years, Ben has seen his online following grow rapidly, and The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta (which he co-founded with his wife Karen Boyd)   continues to find its footing despite the pandemic. In this interview, Ben discusses the latest in “Twitch Chess” including why he thinks he has found an audience, and why successful Twitch streamers will inevitably occasionally find themselves amidst controversies. Ben also shares some great stories from his own journey to the GM title, his early encounters with the Polgar sisters, and some chess history wisdom regarding Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, Mikhail Tal and many others. It is always illuminating and amusing to get to chat with Ben, please read on for all of the details, relevant links and timestamps. 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- We begin by hearing the story of how Ben earned the GM title at the relatively late age of 40. 

Mentioned: Episode 9 with GM Ben Finegold, Episode 52 with GM Ben Finegold, Episode 271 “IM to GM special episode” with IMs Lawrence Trent, Sean Nagle and Attila Turzo, Bill Goichberg, Susan Polgar, Sevan Muradian, FM Peter Giannatos, GM Vishy Anand, GM Garry Kasparov, Albert Pujols, Robert Parish, GM Viktor Korchnoi, Shaquille O’Neal, Mike Tyson

18:00- Since Ben wasn’t a big book reader, to what does he attribute his chess accomplishments? 

Mentioned: GM Bobby Fischer, WGM Jenn Shahade, Episode 223 with Adult Improver Dr. Luka Popov 

24:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check it out for free, and then, if you decide to subscribe, use the PromoCode Chess30 to save 30%.

25:30- A Patreon supporter of the podcast asks:  As someone with a popular chess center, what advice would Ben give for opening a venue in a major city? 

Mentioned: Episode 185 with IM Stuart Rachels, Episode 201 with FM Peter Giannatos 

Mentioned: The Queen’s Gambit, Silver Knights Enrichment 

41:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out their latest offerings here:

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

42:00- Ben answers a Patreon mailbag question relating to the differences in playing style between GMs Magnus Carlsen and GM Garry Kasparov

Mentioned: HBO’s Real Sports featuring GM Fabiano Caruana:

https://www.youtube.om/watch?v=nbvrDspsGNU&feature=emb_imp_woyt

Also mentioned: Paul Morphy, GM Anatoly Karpov 

50:00- Ben had a few memorable games against the Polgar sisters. What were those experiences like?

Mentioned: FM Emory Tate , GM Roman Dzindichashvilli, J. Polgar-Finegold 1989, Finegold, Gelfand 1989, J. Polgar-Finegold 1990, Finegold-Susan Polgar 1990

56:00- Why does Ben think he has found an audience on Chess Twitch? How does he think about some recent controversies involving chess Twitch personalities? 

Mentioned: GM Jon Speelman, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Eric Hansen, The Botez Sisters, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Aman Hambleton, IM John Bartholomew, IM Eric Rosen, IM Anna Rudolf, WFM Anna Cramling, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia 

1:10:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Ben have plans to improve his Twitch clips? 

Mentioned: The Family Guy 

1:16:00- Patreon mailbag question: Which players of the past would have been good Twitch streamers? 

Mentioned: GM Ljubomir Ljubojević FM Emory Tate, GM Mikhail Tal, GM Alonso Zapata 

1:21:00- GM Ben Finegold was featured in Sasha Chapin’s entertaining book All the Wrong Moves. What were Ben’s experiences with Sasha like?

Mentioned: Episode 152 with Sasha Chapin, Howard Stern, George Stephonopoulos, 

1:26:00- Thanks, as always to Ben for joining the show. Here is how to keep up with him:

Twitch-

https://www.twitch.tv/gmbenjaminfinegold

Twitter- https://twitter.com/ben_finegold?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Ben’s Personal Youtube Channel-

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6EnFbK-P5q0zeaqI5yobKg

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Atlanta Youtube Channel- 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLLqbclDQ6IQg39Wsgy-4w