EP 299- Chess Blogger and Trainer FM Dennis Monokroussos on Lessons from Tal and Petrosian, how 'Toiletgate' compared to the Current Chess Scandal, and the Importance of Playing with Different Styles

This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is FM Dennis Monokroussos. Dennis is a chess trainer who is a frequent presenter for Chesslecture.com and has been the state champion of both Nevada (where he grew up)  and Indiana. Dennis has been blogging about chess on his excellent blog, The Chess Mind, since 2005. In our conversation, we discuss how the chess world, and the blogging platforms have changed since 2005. Dennis also shares plenty of useful chess improvement advice and tells some funny stories about his most memorable games and his chess travels. It was fun and informative to finally chat with someone whose writing I have enjoyed for many years. More details and timestamps are below.   

Click here to Download the Episode

2:00- Dennis started chess blogging in 2005. What was the chess world like then? 

10:00- How does the current Carlsen/Niemann scandal compare to Kramnik/Topalov “toiletgate”?

13:00- Why does Dennis often annotate top games in addition to recapping them on his blog? 

17:00- Why did Dennis move his blog to a platform called Substack? 

20:00- Dennis discusses hisopen letter to Dr. Kenneth Regan, and Dr. Regan’s response.

24:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

26:00- Dennis discusses his climb up the chess rating ladder and shares improvement advice 

Mentioned:Chess Book Collectors Facebook Group 

42:00- What do GM Mikhail Tal and GM Tigran Petrosian have in common? What was it like to play Tal in a simul? 

48:00- Does Dennis agree that one should do lots of tactics? 

49:00- What can we expect in the2022 US Championship, which is essentially an invitational super-tournament these days? 

56:00- Patreon mailbag question- What is the story behind the amazing sacrificial game Dennis played in 1999 (link below) ?

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1531040

1:03:00- Dennis discusses another memorable sacrificial game, his win over top US GM, Leonid Yudasin.

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1531057

1:06:00- Dennis attended 2 World Championships, the1995 and the2007 World Championship tournament in Mexico City, What was it like? 

1:15:00- 

Thanks to Dennis for sharing his chess experiences! You can subscribe to his blog and reach him about lessons or Ashland University scholarship inquiries via his blog:

https://thechessmind.substack.com/

The Perpetual Chess linkfest signup is here: 

https://benjohnson.substack.com/

Book Recap #29- Discussing The Longest Game by GM Jan Timman a Great Book which Tells the Story of the Kasparov-Karpov matches 

Perpetual Chess is back with another book review, discussing GM Jan Timman’s excellent book, The Longest Game. It is part game collection and part historic guide to GM Garry Kasparov and GM Anatoly Karpov’s series of 6 World Championship Matches between 1984 and 1990. While the 2023 World Championship looks unlikely to feature the #1 player in the world, fans in the late 1980s got to repeatedly see the clear #1 and clear #2 battle in long matches! These battles resulted in some timeless, tense chess games, and plenty of far-fatched but true stories related to the behind the scenes machinations of the matches. Joining me to discuss it all, is Marko Bulatovic, who selected this book because he is both a chess and history aficionado. Please read on for timestamps of topics discussed.

Click here to download the Episode


0:00- Background on my co-host, Marko Bulatovic and why he chose the book The Longest Game 



14:00- Does the +2 overall record of Kasparov in the 6 World Championship matches misrepresent how close the matches were? 



17:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12

19:00- We briefly discuss GM Jan Timman’s bio, and the formats the book is available in. 

Mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1jQxTXneIGjf24eXkLKFwb?si=03f82d8088644b67

New in Chess Ebook- https://www.newinchess.com/the-longest-game

Amazon/Kindle- The Longest Game: The Five KasparovKarpov Matches for the World Chess Championship: Timman, Jan: 9789056918118: Amazon.com: Books

23:00- We go through the most epic match of all, the 48 game 1984 match. Was the match really suspended to protect Karpov?

35:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/


36:00- We share and discuss a few of our favorite quotes. 

1:02:00- Final thoughts on the book, plus what’s coming next month.






Bonus Pod- GM Jonathan Rowson and GM David Smerdon discuss the Carlsen/Niemann Saga.

GM Jonathan Rowson on the left (photo via Bloomsbury Publishing), GM David Smerdon on the right (via Wikimedia Commons)

Perpetual Chess is back with another bonus pod discussing the ongoing Magnus Carlsen/Hans Niemann controversy. The major news of the week was that GM Magnus Carlsen issued a statement on Monday confirming that he suspects GM Hans Niemann of cheating. To discuss the story, I am honored to be joined by 2 Grandmaster guests who offer significant domain expertise beyond the chess world. First up is GM Jonathan Rowson is a renowned author and philosopher and the 3 time British Chess Champion. My conversation with Jonathan is centered around the human element of this story, and how we can hope to avoid biases in our interpretation of the information at hand. Following GM Rowson, I am joined by Dr. David Smerdon. GM Smerdon is a 7 time Chess Olympian for his native Australia, and an award winning chess author. David has worked with Dr. Kenneth Regan and also the Chess.com cheat detection team on cheat detection. David’s research centers around development economics, but he has a statistical background and devotes significant time to chess-related research. As we discuss, in addition to chess cheating, David has published a paper related to gender issues in chess. It was great to hear the perspective of 2 insightful thinkers. As always, timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode





The interview with Rowson was recorded Wednesday, September 28. The interview with GM David Smerdon was recorded Tuesday, September 27. 



0:00- Intro and review of recent events:

Be sure to subscribe to my free weekly chess news roundup, the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, you can do so here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/


5:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/


6:00- GM Jonathan Rowson joins the podcast. 

What are the 3 major questions we should try to answer for ourselves as we assess the information at hand. 
6:00- 3 key questions to ask ourselves

19:00- Should we draw a distinction between cheating in online and OTB chess? 

29:00- Are we likely to get a resolution to this case?  

32:00- What kind of cheating measures should be put in place? 

35:00- Jonathan reflects on his recent return to OTB competitive chess 

39:00- What behavioral biases should we be alert for as we evaluate the information presented?

48:00- What opinions has Jonathan heard from his Grandmaster peers? 

Mentioned: 

Carlsen-Niemann 2022 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2372960

Mishra-Niemann 2022 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2123031

53:00- Thanks so much to Jonathan for joining the show! Here are links to keep up with him. 

His Twitter 

His most recent book, The Moves that Matter

His website

His Chessable Courses 

You can hear our prior interview here. (Episode 150) 

56:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12


57:00- GM David Smerdon joins the show! 

58:00- What does David’s research suggest about why people cheat at chess? 

You can hear our prior interview here. (Episode 30) 

1:08:00- David has seen Chess.com’s list of banned players, obviously he can’t reveal names, but is there anything he can say about it? 

1:13:00- David discusses some of GM Fabiano Caruana’s comments on the controversy from the C Squared podcast


1:20:00- David discusses the Let’s Check feature on Chessbase. There is a lot we don’t know about how it works! We are referring to video’s such as this one by FM Yosha Iglesias, which makes a good-faith attempt to analyze Han’s game with data. 

Mentioned: IM Ken Regan interview with James Altucher 

1:30:00- Does David have a personal opinion about whether Hans cheated OTB? 


1:33:00- Could one be termed guilty of cheating OTB based on data alone? 

1:40:00- David discusses his fun and useful statistical tool, the Fighting Chess Index (FCI). 

More info on David’s chess blog here:

https://www.davidsmerdon.com/?p=2168


1:45:00- David discusses his research on gender and chess. 

Mentioned: BBC News: Chess Commentator Sacked for Sexist Remark


1:57:00- Thanks so much to David for sharing his insights! Here are some of the ways to keep up with him:

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/dsmerdon

David’s Blog: 

https://www.davidsmerdon.com/

Award Winning Book

The Complete Chess Swindler 





EP 298- Adult Improver Hans Henning on Why he Loves Studying Openings, and How Chess Helps Give Him Purpose

The Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series returns for another detailed conversation with a very dedicated amateur. 35 year-old Hans Henning is a Dublin-based chess enthusiast, who has a demanding job in tech sales, but he is also spending multiple hours per day studying chess. Hans first gained interest in chess through Ludwig Ahgren and Pogchamps and since then, he has made steady progress up to a LiChess blitz rating of around 1900.  Hans shares some personal details about why he finds chess so motivating, and why he has a particular love for studying openings. Hans also shares some great recommendations for books, courses, and study methods. As always, more info to topics referenced and timestamps can be found below. 

Click here to download the Episode

Be sure to subscribe to my free weekly chess news roundup, the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, you can do so here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/



0:00- What motivates Hans to spend tons of time studying chess? 

Mentioned: Checkmate Pattern Manual, Common Chess Patterns 



7:30- How, in Hans’ opinion, should one train chess? 



11:00- How did Hans pull himself out of a depressive period?



14:00- Does Hans worry that he could be fighting an uphill battle by trying to improve at chess in his 30s and beyond? 



16:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/



17:00- Why does Hans love openings and choose to emphasize opening study? 

Mentioned: CT-Art, ChessDojo



30:00- What did Hans learn from GM Sam Shankland and Killer Chess Training about managing opening files? 

 

34:00- Does Hans worry about spending so much money on chess improvement? 



38:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12

39:00- Welcome to the Chess dot bomb! Karen discusses her favorite Chess.com premium features, which includes GM Johan Hellsten’s “Lessons feature”, I also discussed the “Play Like …” feature. If you decide to upgrade to a premium membership at Chess.com, you can help support the pod by signing up using this link (https://go.chess.com/Perpetual).

41:00- What was it like to get lessons with renowned trainer, GM Johan Hellsten? After working with Johan and other trainers, why did he ultimately decide to work on his own?

48:00- Hans describes his OTB chess experiences 

53:00- Hans shares some recommendations for books and resources!  Move First Think Later, How To Study Chess on Your Own, Think Like a Super GM, Understanding Chess Move by Move, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, The Silicon Road to Chess Improvement, Van Perlo’s Endgame Tactics, Endgame Strategy

1:00:00- Thanks to Hans for joining us! You can follow him on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/IamHansHenning

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

Ben Johnson is creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

 




Bonus Pod- GM Alex Fishbein and IM Greg Shahade discuss the latest developments in the Carlsen/Niemann Controversy

Photo by Lennart Ootes via Grand Chess Tour

Click here to Download the Episode

We are back with another bonus pod discussing the ongoing controversy involving GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Hans Niemann. This week there have been significant new events and information brought to light, and I am joined by 2 separate guests to review the developments and help sort it out. After reviewing the key events and quotes, I am joined by GM Alex Fishbein (9:00) and then IM Greg Shahade (1:11:00). The interview with Alex was recorded Wednesday night, September 21, and Greg’s interview was recorded Tuesday September 20. Thanks to them both for sharing their insights! 

0:00- Links from Intro: 

Be sure to subscribe to my free weekly chess news roundup, the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, you can do so here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/

Fabiano/Cristian Chirila C Squared Podcast: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCFB_rNGTaw&feature=youtu.be

Sinquefield Cup Arbiter statement:

https://twitter.com/ChrisBirdIA/status/1572615484654358529?s=20&t=so_SVkkCpU_B6vw1AJfTyw

8:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12

9:00- GM Alex Fishbein joins the show

9:00- Was there anything unusual in Alex’s 3 OTB games against Hans? 

15:00- How likely does Alex think the “prep leak theory" is? 

24:00- Does Alex agree with GM Jacob Aagaard’s shoplifting/bank robbing analogy from last week’s bonus pod? 

33:00- The crux of the issue is that chess has always been played partially based on an honor system 

41:00- Is it true that its easier to cheat online than live? 

46:00- How likely is one to encounter cheating in a typical OTB tournament? 

1:00:00- Alex sums up his thoughts about what may have happened in St. Louis 

1:10:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

1:11:00- IM Greg Shahade joins the show 

Thanks to my guests for joining the show!

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

Donate — The Perpetual Chess Podcast

EP 297- IM Carissa Yip on her love for the King’s Indian Defense, Why Levon Aronian is her favorite player and the ups and downs of her first Chess Olympiad.

This week we are joined by the 2021 US Women’s Champion and one of the top junior female players in the world, IM Carissa Yip. I talked with Carissa in early September, at an interesting juncture in her life- she had just concluded her first Chess Olympiad, and was setting out for California, soon to begin her freshman year at Stanford University. This gave Carissa an opportunity to reflect on her past and future in chess and beyond. We discussed the following questions: What went right (and wrong) for Carissa and the US Women’s Olympiad Team? Why does she love the King’s Indian Defense? How did she get to her current chess level, and what would she need to do to advance even more? How does she plan to balance academics and chess? Plus Carissa told some fun stories involving interactions with GM Levon Aronian, GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Garry Kasparov, and others. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below.

Click here to Download the Episode


Perpetual Chess Link Fest Sign Up-

https://benjohnson.substack.com/


0:01- 

Carissa discusses her day-to-day as she was on the verge of beginning life as a Stanford University freshman. 


4:30- How did Carissa prepare for the Women’s Chess Olympiad, where the U.S. team finished tied for third place? How was the event? 

Mentioned: GM Melih Khachiyan, GM Alejandro Ramirez 


14:00- How did she interact with the team?

Mentioned: Levon Trolling, Carissa Yip (Note this is a Chess.com not Chessbase India video (as I said). My mistake): 

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

18:00- Carissa discusses her critical win over IM Tania Sachdev in the last round and her love for the King’s Indian defense. 

Mentioned: Sachdev-Yip 2022, 

 

22:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/



23:00- What parts of her game is Carissa trying to work on? 

Mentioned: Carissa’s Ladies Knight podcast appearance, The Giant Chess Puzzle Book



32:00- Patreon mailbag question: Who are Carissa’s favorite players of the past and the present? 


36:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12


37:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Carissa plan to balance academics and chess? 

43:00- What is the real story behind GM Andrew Tang’s photo, taken with GM Magnus Carlsen? 

Mentioned: Episode 241 with GM Andrew Tang, Andrew Tang blog post  

50:00- Thanks to Carissa for joining the pod! 

You can keep up with her:

Twitter:

https://mobile.twitter.com/carissayipchess

Instagram

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


Bonus Pod- GM Jacob Aagaard joins for an update on the Sinquefield Cup Controversy

Photo courtesy of GM Jacob Aagaard

We are back with another bonus pod to discuss the Sinquefield Cup controversy with Tuesday’s guest, GM Jacob Aagaard. Jacob has worked with Hans personally, and like the rest of the chess world has been following this story very closely. There has been no statement from GM Magnus Carlsen, but there have still been many developments worth discussing in the past week. Timestamps of topics discussed are below, thanks to Jacob for rejoining us! 

Click here to download the Episode



Be sure to subscribe to my free weekly chess news roundup, the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, you can do so here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/




0:00- What are the key events of the last week? What does Jacob think of the cheating theories?



Mentioned: 



St. Louis Chess Club Arbiter’s Statement:

https://grandchesstour.org/blog/2022-sinquefield-cup-chief-arbiter%E2%80%99s-statement



James Altucher Podcast with IM Kenneth Regan 

GM Jacob Aagaard Blog post about his experience working with GM Hans Niemann 

https://forum.killerchesstraining.com/t/paranoia-and-insanity-by-jacob-aagaard/856



20:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12

21:00- We discuss a couple other of the videos and posts regarding whether Hans potentially cheated OTB before the Sinquefield Cup. 

Mentioned:

Atlanta Kings Research

Todd Bryant’s Response to above research 

Nikos Ntirlis’ Additional Response (Not mentioned on the podcast)



29:00- Why does Jacob think that Hans is “the perfect test to expose the fallibility”  of our current anti-cheating measures? 

35:00- Jacob’s discusses the statement issued by Chess.com

Mentioned: Chess.com statement 

https://twitter.com/chesscom/status/1568010971616100352?s=20&t=lM603tHenLUdoXSKjm4aBQ



42:00- Patreon mailbag question: Even as a recreational player, it is frustrating to get emails that you played online cheaters. Should online cheaters be punished more harshly? 

49:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

50:00- Why hasn’t Magnus issued a statement? What does Jacob think about his handling of the World Championship announcement? 

Mentioned: GM Ben Finegold Video



59:00- Jacob discusses IM Ken Regan’s recent interview on The James Altucher podcast 

Mentioned: Carlsen-Niemann 2022, Video Version of Altucher Ken Regan Podcast, Background on the 2010 French Olimpiad cheating case here



Thanks to Jacob for hopping back on and sharing his thoughts! 

Book-  A Matter of Endgame Technique

Quality Chess- http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/

Killer Chess Training Facebook- 365 Chess Academy / Killer Chess Training | Facebook

GM Jacob Aagaard’s Twitter- https://twitter.com/GMJacobAagaard?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor









EP 296- Award Winning Author/Trainer, GM Jacob Aagaard on Endgame "Rules of Thumb", the Wave of Young Phenoms, and the World Championship Format

This week on Perpetual Chess we are joined by award winning chess author and renowned trainer, GM Jacob Aagaard. It has been more than 2 years since our last long-form interview, and we had tons of topics to cover. We discussed topics including the rise of the top young talents in the chess world, potential World Championship format chances, and chess business news. There was also plenty of talk about chess training and improvement. Our talk about improvement was particularly focused on endgames, because Jacob has recently released an ambitious and highly informative new book, A Matter of Endgame Technique. This book is nearly 900 pages in length and is packed with practical tips and illustrations of moments at which Grandmasters have gone wrong in endgames. Although Perpetual Chess is an audio only format, we tried to extract a few lessons that listeners can apply to their own games. GM Aagaard is never hesitant to share his opinions, and I always learn a lot from speaking with him. You can find timestamps of the topics discussed, as well as links for topics referenced below. 

Click here to Download the Episode



0:01- 

Perpetual Chess Link Fest Sign Up-

https://benjohnson.substack.com/

GM Jacob Aagaard Blog post about his experience working with GM Hans Niemann 

https://forum.killerchesstraining.com/t/paranoia-and-insanity-by-jacob-aagaard/856

0:02- Jacob discusses the “tidal wave” of young chess talents emerging from India and elsewhere. In 10 years, how many of the top 20 players in the world does he predict will be from India?


13:00- Which young players does Aagaard consider most likely to someday be World Champions?

Mentioned: Gukesh-Abdussatorov 2022, IM Levy Rozman Gukesh Interview 


21:00- What in particular precipitates Jacob’s suggestion that= IM Vaishali R may someday be Woman’s World Champion?


24:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12


25:00- What was Jacon’s reaction to the news that Chess.com is acquiring The Play Magnus Group? 

35:00- Patreon Mailbag Question- “What does Jacob think of potential changes to the World Championship Format?” 

51:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/


53:00- What chess lessons can we learn from Jacob’s great new book A Matter of Endgame Technique? 

Mentioned: Think Like a Super GM, Under the Surface, Chess Tactics from Scratch, Positional Decision Making in Chess, Thinking Inside the Box 


1:05:00- What is “The Steinitz Rule”?


1:11:00- What is “The Shankland Rule”?



1:16:00- Patreon Mailbag Question- “What books similar to Thinking Inside the Box does Jacob recommend? 

Mentioned: Chess Structures, GM Johan Hellsten, The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, The Road to Chess Improvement 


1:20:00- What does Jacob think of GM Firouzja’s game?


1:24:00- Patreon Mailbag Question- “Does Jacob think it is important for trainers to occasionally play?” 

Mentioned: Charlotte Chess Center, IM Kassa Korley 


1:30:00- Jacob discusses his pending emigration back to his native country, Denmark 


1:33:00- What is the structure of Jacob’s training academy, Killer Chess Training? 

Mentioned: GM RB Ramesh

1:41:00- Thanks to GM Aagaard for joining us! Links below:


Book- A Matter of Endgame Technique

Quality Chess- http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/

Killer Chess Training Facebook- 365 Chess Academy / Killer Chess Training | Facebook

GM Jacob Aagaard’s Twitter- https://twitter.com/GMJacobAagaard?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor


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

Donate — The Perpetual Chess Podcast

Bonus Pod- Chess World in Turmoil as Magnus Carlsen Suddenly withdraws from Sinquefield Cup Amid Speculation that GM Hans Niemann used Engine Assistance

The chess world has been rocked this week by the sudden withdrawal of GM Magnus Carlsen in the early rounds of the Sinquefield Cup. Although only explained by a cryptic tweet, this unprecedented action has been widely interpreted as an allegation of foul play by GM Hans Niemann, who had defeated Magnus in the prior round.. This has been a complex story with tentacles reaching all over the chess world and making headlines beyond it. In this podcast I briefly attempt to catch listeners up on the key events, and then welcome IM Greg Shahade to try to provide a bit of clarity about what we know right now. Greg is the founder of the Pro Chess League and the US Chess School and in the latter role has observed Hans' chess talent as he has risen up the ranks. Greg shares his perspective of Hans' personality, and of the overall story. Links to the important topics referenced can be found below

Click here to Download the Episode


0:00- I go through the timeline of events and share a few thoughts. 


18:00- IM Greg Shahade joins to discuss the news


A few quick notes and links


Perpetual Chess Link Fest Sign Up-

https://benjohnson.substack.com/


Chess Reddit Megathread

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/x7igg5/megathread_hans_niemann_allegations/


Hans Niemann Round 5 interview- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CJZuT-_kij0


GM Jacob Aagaard Blog post about his experience working with GM Hans Niemann 

https://forum.killerchesstraining.com/t/paranoia-and-insanity-by-jacob-aagaard/856


Chess.com statement 

https://twitter.com/chesscom/status/1568010971616100352?s=20&t=lM603tHenLUdoXSKjm4aBQ


My March 2022 Interview with GM Hans Niemann

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6SNm7UTFwTtzEnabV1p2in?si=6d79b33cdeaf4a5d


Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com and Aimchess! 


Chessable- https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

Aimchess- https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12

Episode 295- GM Gregory Kaidanov- One of the US’ top players and trainers on Maintaining Motivation, Imparting Lessons to Students, and his Long Journey from the USSR to the US.

Photo courtesy of GM Gregory Kaidanov

This week our guest is a renowned trainer, and one of the most accomplished players on the American Chess circuit, GM Gregory Kaidanov. GM Kaidanov was ranked as high as top 20 in the world, and has accumulated a wealth of chess wisdom and memorable stories from his decades in the game. In our interview, Gregory takes us through his famously difficult journey from the former Soviet Union to Kentucky, and shares great chess advice based on his observations while coaching many scholastic champions and future GMs as well as adult chess enthusiasts. Speaking of adult chess enthusiasts, Gregory himself remains active as a chess player and recently qualified for one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, the FIDE World Cup. Gregory discusses how he stays motivated and how he has adjusted his tournament planning over the years. This is a long, but fun conversation. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Show notes and timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode



Mentioned: Episode 149 with GM Robert Hungaski, Episode 280 With GM Ben Finegold, Mike Klein’s 2009 profile of GM Gregory Kaidanov:

http://uscf1-nyc1.aodhosting.com/CL-AND-CR-ALL/CL-ALL/2009/2009_All.pdf




9:00- As a full time trainer and occasional player, how does GM Kaidanov choose which tournaments to compete in? 

Mentioned: Sitges Spain 2022



11:00- How does GM Kaidanov work on his own game? 

Mentioned: IM Greg Shahade, IM John Donaldson 



16:00- GM Kaidanov discusses the underrated utility of “solitaire chess” as a training method, and he shares advice on how to approach it. 

Mentioned: GM Bent Larsen, Episode 291 with GM Alex Fishbein



23:00- Who is GM Kaidanov’s favorite player to study via solitaire chess? 



25:00- What was it like to play his chess hero, Anatoly Karpov? 

Mentioned: GM Dmitry Gurevich, GM Alexander Shabalov 



28:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/



30:00- Gregory tells the incredible story of his difficult emigration to the USA. 

Mentioned: Ken Troutman, GM Alex Fishbein 



40:00- How does Gregory describe his journey to GM?



49:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12



50:00- Gregory discusses working with some of his students, including GM Maurice Ashley, GM Ray Robson, and IM Josh Waitzkin 



1:01:00- What was it like to work with GM Vasyl Ivanchuk?



1:08:00- Does GM Kaidanov follow top tournaments? What has he learned from the games of GM Gukesh and Abdussatorov?



1:14:00- Who is Gregory’s favorite modern player to study?



1:15:00- What was it like to play a young Anand? What was it like to play against 3 of the Zurich 1953 participants from Zurich 1953 in the same tournament?

Mentioned: Kaidanov-Anand 1987, Taimanov-Kaidanov 1988, Grischuk-Kaidanov 2018



1:30:00- What does Gregory think of the current crop of Under 21 players rated over 2700?



1:32:00- Gregory’s take on the Magnus announcement



1:34:00- Gregory tells an educational story involving GM Valery Chekhov and the legendary former World Champion Mikhail Tal.



1:41:00- What can chess teach us that can help us in life?



1:45:00- Thanks so much to Gregory for a fantastic conversation!! 



You can reach him via his website here:

https://kaidanov.org/index1.html



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

Donate — The Perpetual Chess Podcast






 


EP 294- GM Fabiano Caruana on Engines, The Evolution of Chess, the Candidates Tournament, and the World Championship Cycle.

This week we are joined by the third highest rated chess player of all time, GM Fabiano Caruana. Fabiano joined me from the St. Louis Chess Club just days before he was set to begin a string of elite competitions there. This presented the opportunity for Fabiano to reflect on what has been an action packed and noteworthy 2022. Topics include:the 2022 Candidates, the World Championship Cycle, and Magnus’ decision to step down,  what it feels like to be in a slump,  the continued evolution of chess engines, the rise of teen talents and the evolution of chess, and lots more. It was quite an honor to speak with Fabiano, timestamps for topics discussed can be found below.  

Click here to Download the Episode



0:00-  To subscribe to receive the Perpetual Chess Linkfest for free in your inbox, you can submit your email address at the bottom of the most recent post here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/p/perpetual-chess-link-fest-2-august



Sinquefield Cup info: 

https://grandchesstour.org/2022-grand-chess-tour-watch/live



World Chess Hall of Fame info

https://worldchesshof.org/exhibitions



4:30- Fabiano joins! When did Fabiano find out that Magnus won’t be defending his title? Does that change his perspective about the 2022 Candidates? 



11:30- Fabiano discusses his and Team USA’s performance at the Chess Olympiad



15:00- Fabiano has mentioned he didn’t review his World Championship games much. Does he usually review his games? 

Mentioned: Peter Doggers interview with GM Fabiano Caruana:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/fabiano-caruana-interview-carlsen-nepomniachtchi



20:00- Was it hard to discuss chess openings with his USA teammates since they are often rivals? 



22:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 



24:00- Patreon mailbag question: Did the results of young stars at the Olympiad presage a new chess world order? 

Mentioned: GM Arjun Erigaisi 



26:00- Fabiano discusses the evolution of engines and the impact on young players. 



34:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 



36:00- Does Fabiano have the same drive and energy as he did as a teenager?



38:00- What advice would Fabiano to a player like GM Hans Niemann? Has he seen GM Hans Niemann’s interviews?



41:00- What is Fabiano’s chess media consumption like? 



43:00- Patreon mailbag question: Did Fabiano enjoy announcing with GM Robert Hess and IM Danny Rensch?

Mentioned: Episode 282 FIDE Candidates Preview with GM Robert Hess 



46:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Fabiano think Nepomniatchtchi or Ding is more likely to win their match? 



51:00- Would Fabiano be open to making the World Championship a mix of Classical and Rapid? 



56:00- Does Fabiano think Magnus should have been more explicit about his World Championship plans prior to the Candidates? 



1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Fabiano think he would have had the same chess success if he was raised somewhere other than New York City? 



Thanks so much to Fabiano for joining me! Here is the link to watch him in the Sinquefield Cup starting on September 1. 



https://grandchesstour.org/2022-grand-chess-tour-watch/live







EP 293- Olympiad Trip reports with Lula Roberts aka "LulaRobs" and Team USA captain, IM John Donaldson

This week’s double episode features one more look back at the historic 2022 Chess Olympiad. We are joined by two different guests who just returned to their homes from Chennai. Our first guest is Lula Roberts, a 24 year-old popular Twitch streamer who got the chance to represent her country (Jersey) at the Women’s Olympiad. Lula retells her chess results and her many memorable moments at what she hopes will be her first Olympiad of many. Speaking of many Olympiads, our second guest is return guest and award winning author and historian, IM John Donaldson. John served as captain of the United States’ team for the 14th time, so he was able to draw on his vast knowledge of prior Olympiads to contextualize this one. In addition to discussing the Olympiad, John is a leading scholar of Bobby Fischer, so we discuss John’s latest Fischer research and his upcoming projects later in the interview. It was a lot of fun to get two vastly different perspectives on the Olympiad, and I am already looking forward to the next one in 2024!

Click here to Download the Episode


0:00- Intro, brief discussion of the results of the Olympiad


4:00- Thanks to our presenting sponsors, Chessable.com, be sure to check out Grind like a Grandmaster, and Levon Aronian’s new course, along with the rest of their huge catalog of chess courses. 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/


4:45- Lula Roberts joins the show! 


5:00- How did the opportunity for Jersey and Lula to compete in the Olympiad present itself? 

Mentioned: Jen Shahade’s book Chess Queens 


8:00- Lula discusses the tournament itself, as well as how she spent time in between rounds 


24:00- Did she like the team dynamic as opposed to individual tournaments?


26:00- What has Lula’s approach to chess improvement been? 


30:00- How did the Reykjavik Open compare to the Olympiad for Lula?  


37:00- Thanks to Lula Robert for joining the show! Here is how you can keep up with her:

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/lularobs

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/lularobs


38:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12

40:00- IM John Donaldson joins the show just after returning home to the U.S. John gives an overview of the tournament from his perspective. 

Mentioned: Chessbase Interview with GM Ivan Sokolov, coach of the Uzbek team, Giri vs. Vidit Death Match 


1:06:00- What is a typical day like for the captain of the team at the Olympiad? 


1:21:00- How will John look back on this tournament? 


1:31:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does John have any plans to publish additional Fischer physical books? 

1:33:00- Is it true that Fischer liked to yell “Bobby Kill!” during his blitz games as a teen? 


1:34:00- More info on the Spassky-Fischer exhibition in St. Louis is here:

https://explorestlouis.com/event/1972-fischer-spassky-the-match-its-origin-and-influence/2022-09-27/


1:3700- Has John heard anything about the health of GM Boris Spassky recently? 

Mentioned: Episode 64 with GM Melih Khachiyan 


1:47:00- Thanks, as always to IM John Donaldson for joining the show! If you haven’t already be sure to read Bobby Fischer and his World. 


Bobby Fischer and His World

EP 292- Adult Improver Karen Boyd on What She Learned from a Busy Summer of Tournament Chess, and Why she Always "Plays Up" Against Tougher Competition

Karen Boyd with her husband, GM Ben Finegold

Karen Boyd is a 56 year old mother, wife and chess lover with a background in computer programming. She often appears in the videos and streams of her husband, GM Ben Finegold, but she also does a ton of the work behind the scenes, producing Ben’s content. Despite Karen’s busy life, she has been making lots of time for chess study and joined me after a busy summer with plenty of chess tournaments in the United States. Karen assiduously documents her chess study, and has been averaging about 3 hours per day of study when not on the road. She showed some good results in the World Open, and is on the verge of eclipsing her personal high rating of 1421. In our interview, she discussed her background, her study regimen, her goals, her relationship with Ben, and why she thinks she currently finds tournaments more enjoyable than her husband does. I really admire the dedication that Karen is showing to chess and look forward to seeing her continued chess progress. More details, timestamps and relevant links can be found below.  

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- If you or someone you know is interested in appearing as an adult improver, you can submit their info via the online form here:

Interested in Appearing on the Pod as an Adult Improver? — The Perpetual Chess Podcast



1:00- Karen has been studying chess for 3 hours per day and traveling far and wide to play in many tournaments. Why? 

Mentioned: Check out Karen’s study log here:

https://atlchessclub.com/ChessLog/ChessStudyLog.pdf



5:00- How does Karen feel about her recent progress, after a busy summer. 



10:00- Why does Karen prefer classical chess? 

Mentioned: Justin Morrison of Kids Chess Zone 



16:00- Karen’s husband, GM Ben Finegold, has said he is retiring from OTB chess. Does Karen think he will change his mind someday? 



19:00- What are Karen’s current chess goals? 

Mentioned: How to Beat Your Dad at Chess, Chessable’s Checkmate Patterns Manual 



22:00-  Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12



Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Their new courses include a new one by GM Levon Aronian, and GM Magnus Carlsen and GM David Howell recently released a free lesson, Grind like a GM! 

Check out what's new here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/



24:30- Karen discusses her chess beginnings. 



31:00- Patreon mailbag question: How did Karen and GM Ben Finegold meet? 

Mentioned: GM Var Akobian 



35:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Karen think she is treated differently a) because she is a woman? b) because she is married to a GM?



39:00- Welcome to the Chess dot bomb! Karen discusses her favorite Chess.com premium features, which include the tactics trainer. 



If you decide to upgrade to a premium membership at Chess.com, you can help support the pod by signing up using this link (https://go.chess.com/Perpetual).

 

42:00- What was Karen’s inspiration for her study log?



43:00- How do Karen's two coaches, FM Aviv Friedman and NM Spencer Finegold, work with her to improve her chess?



45:00- What is Karen’s approach to openings? 



48:00-How would Karen characterize (or describe) her strengths and weaknesses as a ches player?



51:00- Why does Karen “play up” in higher sections?



53:03- Are there days where Karen doesn’t feel like doing chess?



56:00- Karen’s closing advice 



58:00- Thanks so much to Karen for joining the show. Here are some of the ways you can follow her chess progress:

Twitter-

https://twitter.com/Karen_Chess1

Twitch- 

https://www.twitch.tv/karen_chess



GM Ben Finegold’s Twitch-

https://www.twitch.tv/gmbenjaminfinegold

EP 291- GM Alex Fishbein on Maintaining a Passion for Chess into One's 50s, (Plus great Korchnoi and Tal stories.)

Photo by Maureen Grimaud via GM Fishbein’s Facebook page

GM Alex Fishbein has been one of the top players in the US for decades and remains a frequent competitor on the American chess circuit. He is a four-time US Championship participant and is the Tennessee state champion. Alex is also a chess writer. His most recent book, The French Exchange Comes to Life, is a uniquely presented and instructive guide to a somewhat misunderstood opening. Alex also has a successful career away from the board. He works as a Director in Fixed Income at TD Securities. In our conversation, we discuss Alex’s storied OTB career. Born in the USSR, Alex has learned from many Soviet-era legends and tells memorable stories about Mikhail Tal and Viktor Korchnoi. Alex also shares tips for staying sharp into one’s 50s and discusses how chess learning has changed. Alex’s dad and son are chess masters as well, so he has had a close-up-view of the evolution of chess learning. This was a really fun conversation.   Notes and timestamps on topics discussed can be found below.

Click here to Download the Episode


0:00- We begin with a trip report on the Norway Open, which Alex and his son attended and in which they competed. They also witnessed the Norway Invitational featuring Magnus Carlsen, Maxime Vachier Lagrave and many other elite players. 




08:30- What advice would Alex give to people frustrated by playing lots of underrated players? 

Mentioned: GM Patrick Wolff 




15:00- Patreon mailbag question: In the increasingly competitive tournament chess climate, what  kinds of goals does Alex set for himself these days? 

Mentioned: GM Dmitri Gurevich 




19:00- Which older player did Fishbein consider a role model? Alex goes into great detail about a unique and instructive way that he likes to study great players. 




28:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. If you are a pro member be sure to check out NM Bryan Tillis’ Olympiad Course:

https://www.chessable.com/blog/chess-olympiad-2022/




29:00- What were Alex’s interactions with Korchnoi like?




34:00- Alex tells some great stories from his chess origins in St. Petersburg. He studied under legendary trainer, Vladimir Zak. 

Mentioned: Russian Silhouettes by GM Genna Sosonko 




44:00- What did Alex learn from legendary trainer, IM Mark Dvoretsky? 




47:00- Tal stories! 




54:00-  Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12

56:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What was it like to play Kasparov in a simul as a teen, as chronicled in the documentary American Gambit?” 

More on the documentary here:

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

https://en.chessbase.com/post/american-gambit-kasparov-vs-us-juniors

Fishbein-Kasparov 1988

1:00:00- Alex discusses his career in finance and his decision not to pursue a career in chess. 

1:08:00- Alex’s career advice for stronger young chess players. 

1:10:00- Alex wrote a great book about the French Exchange, what do people misunderstand about this opening? 

1:15:00- How have opening approaches changed over the years? How does Alex’s college- age son prepare? 




1:18:00- Alex discusses his column for American Chess Magazine and on the updated versions of the Dvoretsky Endgame Manual with GM Karsten Muller. 




1:25:00- Alex shares his thoughts on the Magnus Carlsen news. 




1:29:00- Thanks to Alex for a fascinating interview! Here is his contact info:

http://www.gmalexfishbein.com/




Or email afish at panix.com







Bonus Pod - Dispatches from the Chennai Olympiad with GM Axel Bachmann and Mr. Dodgy of Chessable

I have been enjoying the ongoing Chess Olympiad so much that I wanted to hear first hand from some people on the scene about what its like to be there. I am joined by 2 separate guests to give their impressions from Chennai. GM Axel Bachmann is the first board for Paraguay, a former top 100 player in the world, and a 6 time chess Olimpian. Axel discusses the early notable results, the conditions of the venue, and noteworthy results early in the tournament. Following Axel, I am joined by Michael Duke aka Mr. Dodgy of Chessable. Dodgy discusses the chess fever in India, his role as a coach for the Jersey women's team, and shares a few observations from the fabled Bermuda party.

Click here to Download the Episode


0:00- Intro

Mentioned: 

Chessbase India YouTube Channel

Chess.com YouTube Channel 

Gotham Chess Channel 

NM Bryan Tillis’ Chessable Olimpiad Course

Aimchess.com (use code Perpetual30 to save 30% if you subscribe) 




6:00- GM Axel Bachmann joins me from Chennai after round 5. Axel discusses what has struck him about India, how this compares to other Olympiads, and his and Paraguay’s early results. 

Photo of GM Axel Bachmann via Wikimedia Commons





31:00- The famous Mr. Dodgy aka Michael Duke of Chessable joins to give the fan’s/coaches perspective of the Olympiad. 

EP 290- Dutch Trainer and Author IM Jeroen Bosch on How to Build an Opening Repertoire

IM Jeroen Bosch

This week I talk with a top Dutch trainer, chess player, opening theoretician and prolific author, IM Jeroen Bosch. Jeroen is well known for his 14-volume New in Chess series, Secrets of Opening Surprises, and he has recently released a highly instructive new book called How to Out Prepare Your Opponent. The book discusses all aspects of how one should approach the opening, with topics ranging from how to select a repertoire, which openings to play, to GM Magnus Carlsen's unique approach to the opening. Jeroen joined me shortly before heading to the Olympiad as the trainer for the Dutch Women’s Team, so we also talked about how he planned to approach helping the team prepare for such a prestigious event. Lastly, we also discuss Jeroen’s career highlights. As a player, Jeroen has competed in several Dutch National Championships and has beaten 2 players who have been in the top 10 in the World! 

Please read on for lots more details and timestamps of topics. 

Click here to Download the Episode


0:00- IM Bosch shares his thoughts about Magnus Carlsen’s decision not to defend his World Championship title, which segues into what we can learn from Magnus Carlsen’s approach to openings. 


11:00- Any early opening predictions for a Ding vs. Nepomniatchtchi match?


13:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12


16:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Jeroen recommend that club players utilize a narrow or a broad opening repertoire?” 


28:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How would Jeroen advise a club player to select a repertoire?” 


32:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Is there an ideal repertoire for an older club player?”

Mentioned: GM Peter Svidler on the How to Chess Podcast (Episode 14)


44:00-Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Be sure to check out what is new including NM Bryan Tillis’ Olimpiad course for Pro Members, as well as their other great new courses. 


46:00- Jeroen discusses the opening approach of WIM Lisa Schuut, who utilized a very professional approach to openings. 

Mentioned: GM Vladimir Chuchelov 


48:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Can Jeroen suggest how to train openings beyond just applying opening principles? Could he recommend a few Black openings for club players?”

 

56:00- Jeroen’s closing advice on openingsv advice: Actively ask yourself questions when studying openings! 


1:00:00- What are Jeroen’s favorite OTB memories?

Timman-Bosch 2001, Ljubojevic-Bosch 2006 


1:06:00- Jeroen is coaching the Dutch women’s team in the Olympiad.Olimpiad. What are their goals? 


Thanks to Jeroen for joining the show! 

You can check out a free sample of How To Out-prepare Your Opponent here:

https://www.newinchess.com/how-to-out-prepare-your-opponent

Book Recap #28- Chess Tactics from Scratch by FM Martin Weteschnik- A Great Intermediate Level Tactics Guide

Click Here to Download the Episode

Chess Books Recaptured is back for another review and discussion of a chess book. This month, I am joined by Steve Wollkind, to discuss the excellent book and Chessable course Chess Tactics from Scratch. The title might make you think it is for beginners, but it is actually an intermediate-level book which aims to break down the core elements of various tactics. The book was written by an accomplished adult chess learner, and Steve believes that this is evident in the clear explanations of basic tactics. The book is differentiated by an incredible selection of illustrative positions, making it a great choice for chess students and teachers alike. To learn more about the book please tune in. You can find timestamps of topics discussed and links below. 



To apply to be a guest-co host on Chess Books Recaptured please submit an email via this link:

Interested in Guest co-hosting Chess Books ReCaptured? — The Perpetual Chess Podcast


0:00- Steve discusses his background and why he suggested the book/Chessable course, Chess Tactics from Scratch. 


10:00- Chess Tactics from Scratch is available on Chessable, in book form, and on Forward Chess 


13:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12


14:30- We discuss the history behind the 2 editions of the book,which was originally called Understanding Chess Tactics. 


22:00- We share a few quotes in which the author breaks down tactical concepts like the pin and  “The Reloader”


29:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Be sure to check out what is new, including NM Bryan Tillis’ Olimpiad course for Pro Members, as well as their other great new courses. 


31:00- We share a few favorites quotes and explanations from the book. 

Mentioned: The Inner Game of Chess by GM Andy Soltis 


42:00- Do we have any quibbles with this book? 

Mentioned: Thinking Inside the Box, GM Boris Gelfand’s Books, Chessable’s The Checkmate Patterns Manual


53:00- Thanks so much to Steve for suggesting a great book and helping out. I will be making a donation to The Gift of Chess on his behalf. 


Follow Steve on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/stevewollkind

And on his chess accounts here:

Steve’s Chess.com

Steve’s Lichess




EP 289- Tony Ballard- A Convicted Felon on How Chess has Changed His Life

Photo of Tony Ballard via The Gift of Chess

This week on Perpetual Chess, Tony Ballard, who is serving a 294-month prison sentence for attempted murder, tells the remarkable story of how chess has changed his life. Tony joined me via phone from a minimum security rehabilitation facility in Wichita, Kansas, where he currently lives. As you will hear Tony discuss, he had a difficult upbringing, and made some very regrettable choices in his early years, but while in prison, a love for chess took hold, and Tony credits the game as a transformative tool in his life. Tony is now working with a non-profit called The Gift of Chess. Their goal is to promote chess as a learning tool both within the prison system, and outside of it. Tony is taking online university classes and hopes to work in youth outreach when he is fully released from prison in 2025. This is a truly inspiring story of the many ways that chess can impact one’s life! Please read on for timestamps and links referenced. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- We discuss Tony’s background, especially as it relates to chess. 


3:00- Tony discusses his difficult early childhood, and the events that led to his receiving a 294 month prison sentence.

Mentioned: Tony’s Zoom lecture for the non-profit organization, The Gift of Chess, Linktree for more info about The Gift of Chess non-profit, Russell Makofsky of the Impact Coaching Network 



14:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can find IM Andras Toth’s new course, IM Irina Bulmaga’s, as well as so many others, here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/


16:00- Tony describes his passion for chess, which blossomed once Tony was in prison. 


23:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Is Tony able to play chess online within his minimum security facility?” 


27:00- How is chess perceived in prison? What would it take to grow chess in prisons? 


35:00- What are Tony’s favorite openings? What’s his chess style? 


38:00- What chess books did Tony read?

Mentioned: Chess by Laszlo Polgar 


40:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.

Or use this link for the same discount:

https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12


41:00- Tony discusses why he has been working on his endgames. 


https://linktr.ee/thegiftofchess


44:00- What are Tony’s chess plans, and what plans does he have for his life after his full release from prison? His release could happen by 2025? 

Bonus Pod- GM Andrii Baryshpolets on Why He is Running For FIDE President

With a FIDE election coming up on August 7, I am extending the invitation for FIDE Presidential Candidates to share their stories and their reasons to run for FIDE President. Brief timestamps and more information below.

Click here to Download the Episode

1:00- Why is Andrii running for FIDE President? 

9:30- What would Andrii look to accomplish as FIDE President? 

15:00- What does Andrii think of Magnus Carlsen’s suggestions of format changes? 

21:30- Would Andrii keep his day job if elected? 

25:00- Has Andrii heard stories of impropriety in prior FIDE elections?

28:00- Andrii discusses his love for the Yugoslav line of the King’s Indian and his favorite chess memories. 

List of voting countries and delegates here-

https://congress.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/List-of-FIDE-Member-Federations-having-voting-powers_7-June-2022.pdf


More info about Andrii’s candidacy on the Baryshpolets-Nielsen campaign website here:

https://fightforchess.com/

Breaking News Bonus Pod- Chess24 Reporter Tarjei Svensen on Magnus' Decision not to Defend his Title

GM Magnus Carlsen has officially announced that he will not defend his World Championship title, and we are joined by star Chess24 reporter, Tarjei Svensen to get the inside scoop on this decision and to begin to assess the implications. Thanks to Tarjei for joining on short notice! 

Click here to download the Episode


0:00- Why didn’t the news surprise Tarjei? 



Mentioned: Tarjei’s July 18 Chess24 article , The Magnus Effect Podcast 



9:00- How was the news received in Norway?



14:00- What was the reaction of other top players? Including GM Ding Liren, who Tarjei spoke with today?



18:00- Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com and Aimchess.com, if you sign up for Aimchess.com, use the code “Perpetual30” or this link to save 30%. 



19:00- Is China a likely host for a Nepo-Ding match? 



21:00- What really happened in Magnus meeting with FIDE in Madrid? 



24:00- Would it have made a difference to Magnus if Hikaru had come in 2nd in the Candidates? 



27:00- How likely would Magnus be to return if the format changed? 



30:00- What else do we have to look forward to as chess fans?



33:00- Thanks so much to Tarjei for joining us! Be sure to follow him on Twitter. 







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