Bonus pod- Tata Steel in the Home Stretch- FM Michiel Abeln assesses the Tournament so Far

We are back with another Tata Steel focused bonus pod. As we recorded the venerable tournament has 3 rounds left and has been filled with beautiful games and fascinating storylines. We are re-joined by renowned author/ Chessable author, FM Michiel Abeln to assess what we have seen so far. Timestamps of topics and players discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- What has struck Michiel about the first 10 rounds of the Masters tournament? 

06:00- We briefly discuss the Challengers section. 

09:00- We discuss the performance of the players one by one, beginning with GM Vincent Keymer

14:30- GM Arjun Erigaisi 

16:00- GM Jorden van Foreest

18:45- GM Parham Maghsoodloo 

23:00- 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%.

25:00- GM Gukesh 

Mentioned: Vanessa West’s Recap of Round 10 for Chess.com

32:00- GM Ding Liren 

35:00- GM Praggnanandhaa

38:00- Rapport, Caruana and Aronian 

Mentioned: Erigaisi-Rapport 2023, Caruana-Carlsen 2023

46:00- GM Wesley So 

47:00- GM Magnus Carlsen 

51:00- GM Anish Giri 

53:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

55:00- Anish Giri continued…

59:00- Finally… GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov

1:05:00- Michiel’s closing thoughts

Thanks again to Michiel for joining us from the Netherlands. Here is how to keep up with his work:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/MichielAbeln

His Book- The Anand Files

His Chessable Courses-

Trompowsky Simplified- https://www.chessable.com/the-trompowsky-simplified/course/134623/

The Leningrad Dutch- 

https://www.chessable.com/leningrad-dutch-an-uncompromising-attacking-opening/course/72081/

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 314- Adult Improver Kamryn Hellman on How Discovering Chess via Queen's Gambit turned her into a Fast Improving Chess Obsessive

The Adult Improver Series of Perpetual Chess returns today. It is a series devoted to sharing the stories of dedicated chess amateurs. This week’s guest is Kamryn Hellman. Kamryn is a 23 year-old who got swept up by chess in 2021 after seeing Queen’s Gambit. At that time she learned the game from scratch, and in the subsequent time she has become immersed in the culture and brought her Chess.com rapid rating to a peak of over 1900. Kamryn has also gotten involved in her local chess community and has enjoyed her forays into tournament chess, despite the challenges that it created. I was really impressed with Kamryn’s quick rise in the chess ranks, and also her analytical approach to improving her game. She shared lots of useful advice in our interview, and it was fun to hear her story. Please read on for timestamps of topics discussed. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Resources mentioned in intro: 

Spotify Adult Improver Playlist 

Adult Improver Webpage 

Submit Your Info to Potentially be a Guest on the Pod 

Support Perpetual Chess Via Patreon

Also be sure to subscribe to the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, for a free weekly email of the week’s biggest chess stories and chess improvement related blog posts. 

0:04- After Kamryn discovered chess via Queen’s Gambit, how did she dive deeper into the game? 

Mentioned: Gotham Chess 

0:09- How did Kamryn begin to find a community IRL? Was she welcomed at her local chess club? 

Mentioned: Todd Wolf

14:00 - Kamryn is doing some teaching of beginners. Does she think it helps her chess? 

16:00- 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

18:00- What was the tournament experience like? How has Kamryn learned to deal with nerves? 

27:00- What is Kamryn’s approach to analyzing her games? 

33:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Kamryn work on her thought processes?

36:00- Does Kamryn have any other hobbies that have helped with her approach to chess?

38:00-  Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

40:00- How does Kamryn approach working on endgames?

Mentioned: GM Naroditsky’s Principles of Chess Endgames 

44:00- What motivates Kamryn to work so hard on her game?

Mentioned: Jen Shahade’s Chess Queens 

46:00- How does Kamryn study openings? 

53:00- Compared to most adults, Kamryn’s unusual rise in the  ratings have been meteoric.  How does Kamryn contextualize the unusual gains she has made?

 58:00- What other content creators does Kamryn enjoy? 

Mentioned: Hanging Pawns, Eric Rosen teaches Andrea Botez the London 

59:00- Has Kamryn read any chess books that have really helped her? 

Mentioned: 100 Endgames You Must Know, Everyone’s First Chess Workbook, Best Lessons of a Chess Coach 

1:02:00- What do Kamryn’s friends think of her chess obsession?

1:04:00- What is Kamryn’s advice for new chess enthusiasts?

1:06:00- Thanks so much to Kamryn for joining me! You can follow her on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/kamrynheidi

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus pod- Dispatch from the Tata Steel Chess tournament with Renowned Author, FM Michiel Abeln

Photo of the playing hall in 2019 by Vysotsky via Wikimedia Commons

We’ve got some bonus content for you guys, as renowned author/ Chessable author FM Michiel Abeln joined me on the first rest day to discuss the ongoing Tata Steel Chess tournament. Tata Steel is an annual tournament in the Netherlands which routinely attracts many of the world’s top players as well as rising stars. It is run concurrently with tournaments open to all, and is celebrating its 85th anniversay this year! We recorded the podcast the day after Anish Giri beat Magnus Carlsen in impressive fashion, but we focus more on the “big picture” of the tournament rather than the current standings. Michiel and I discuss questions such as: What makes Tata Steel such a special tournament? What is it like to be there right now? What should amateurs who are considering attending or playing in the tournament in the future know? Which players and games have impressed Michiel so far? Michael lives near the tournament venue and has been visiting it for over a decade, so he was very helpful in putting this year's event into context. He has also been writing about the tournament for The Week in Chess. Tata Steel has such a storied legacy in the chess world and it was great to get some perspective from a knowledgeable local about the past and present of this classic tournament!

Click here to Download the Episode

Our Prior Interview: Episode 156 with Michiel Abeln 

04:00- What would surprise a recreational chess player who decided to show up and play in the Open Tournament at Wijk an Zee? 

Mentioned: Kings, Queens and Rookies (new book from New in Chess)

07:30- How much can fans interact with the top players there? Who has Michiel seen there?

16:00- 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

17:00- Patreon mailbag Question: Are the youngsters taking over in the open tournaments in Wijk an Zee? 

Mentioned: Episode 186 with GM Erwin L’Ami, Elina Roebers-Erwin L’Ami 2023

25:00- Michiel discusses the formats of the amateur tournaments 

32:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

34:00- What are some of the standout games worth reviewing from the tournament? 

Pragganandha-Ding Liren 2023, Gukesh-Ding Liren 2023, Giri-Gukesh 2023, Giri-Carlsen 2023, Rapport-Caruana 2023

46:00- Michiel’s shares his closing thoughts on Tata Steel. Here are the links to keep up with him… 

Twitter- https://twitter.com/MichielAbeln

His Book- The Anand Files

His Chessable Courses-

Trompowsky Simplified- https://www.chessable.com/the-trompowsky-simplified/course/134623/

The Leningrad Dutch- 

https://www.chessable.com/leningrad-dutch-an-uncompromising-attacking-opening/course/72081/

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 313- FM James Canty on Staying Motivated and His Grind Toward the IM Title and Beyond.

This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is the hardest-working man in chess. He is Twitch Streamer, Chess.com commentator, and ambitious improver, FM James Canty. I have been a fan of James for a long time, so I was glad to finally get to ask him some questions about what motivates him to work so hard on his game. Naturally we also discussed what James specifically is studying, his pursuit of the IM and GM titles, and some of his favorite chess improvement resources. I find it energizing and motivating to talk chess with James, and I think you all will as well. As always, timestamps for topics discussed can be found in the show description. 

Click here to Download the Episode

02:00- What motivates James to keep working on his OTB game? What is his goal?

Mentioned: Simon Sinek’s Start With Why, GM Maurice Ashley

05:00- What is James’s current study regimen? How does he balance working on his game with streaming tons of chess?

Mentioned: Test Your Tactical Skill, GM Kenny Solomon, GM Amon Simotowe 

16:00- What are James’s favorite Chessable courses and books? 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard’s Grandmaster Preparation, Thinking Inside the Box, Encyclopedia of Combinations, Woodpecker Method, Tactics Time, Benedictine’s Visualization Series 

28:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

29:00- James discusses his love for the Scotch Gambit and his pending Chessable courses 

35:00- What is his upcoming tournament schedule? What did James have to learn about how FIDE ratings and norms work? 

Mentioned: 2023 Charlotte Open 

44:00- Does James ever get burnt out from chess? 

47:00- 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

48:00- Patreon mailbag question: What inspires James’s dedication to fitness and weight lifting? 

59:00- True or false: James is a rapper as well? 

1:00:00- What did James learn from legendary trainer, GM Roman Dzindziashvilli? 

1:02:00- What was James’s fondest memory from attending the Global Chess Championship in Toronto? 

Mentioned: GM Wesley So, GM Anish Giri, GM Fabiano Caruana, IM Danny Rensch, GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Robert Hess, GM Wesley So’s Chessable Courses, Chessgames.com

1:06:00- What advice does James give to younger players? 

Thanks so much to James for sharing his passion for chess with us! Here are all of the links to keep up with him:

YouTube:

Twitch:

Twitter: 

Merch

Instagram

EP 312- GM Noel Studer- The Swiss National Champ Turned Trainer Shares Advice on Overcoming Plateaus, Calculating, Analyzing Games & More

EP 312- GM Noel Studer- The Swiss National Champ Turned Trainer Shares Advice on Overcoming Plateaus, Calculating, Analyzing Games & More

This week on Perpetual Chess, we are rejoined by 2019 Swiss National Champion, blogger and trainer, GM Noel Studer. Noel is always extremely insightful on matters related to chess improvement, and has recently released a video course sharing his own recommended approach. The course, Next Level Training: Conquer the Chess Information Chaos, tackles many of the questions commonly contemplated on the pod, such as which aspects of the game to prioritize, how to analyze games and how to approach opening study. Noel even has a section on how one should learn any discipline, and relates his experiences as a tennis and poker improver. Lastly, Noel shares some thoughts and his own experiences on cheating in tournament chess and discusses his continuing recovery from a brain injury. You can find timestamps for topics discussed below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Prior Interview with Noel- Episode 248 with GM Noel Studer 

02:00- Patreon mailbag question: I am working hard on my chess, but I am not improving. Should I give up on the possibility of improvement? 

13:00- We discuss Noel’s chess course. What audience did Noel have in mind? How did he go about making the course?  

19:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

20:00- We discuss a few of the chess improvement recommendations from Noel’s course that resonated with me, and the reasons that they struck a chord with me. 

28:00- What was the primary contributor to Noel’s chess growth when he was an up and coming player? 

Mentioned: GM Artur Yusopov, Lee Child “Jack Reacher” Novels, The Tim Ferris Podcast 

33:00- Why does Noel think it's important to write down one’s thoughts when reviewing OTB games? 

37:00- What did Noel learn from doing calculation-training with GM R.B. Ramesh and GM Sam Shankland? 

44:00- How would Noel respond to someone who says that his course, at $297, is too expensive?

48:00- 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

49:00- Has Noel read any good books lately? 

Mentioned: Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism

50:00- What has Noel learned about chess learning through trying to improve at tennis and poker?  

1:04:00- We discuss top level chess, especially the Magnus/Niemann saga and the issue of cheating in chess. 

Mentioned: Episode 310 with John Hartmann, Belgian IM Stephen Docx expelled from tournament, Episode 301 with Dr. Kenneth Regan 

1:22:00- What is next for Noel? How is his health? 

Thanks to Noel for joining me, you can keep up with him by subscribing to his blog!

Blog- https://nextlevelchess.blog/

Course- Next Level Training: Conquer the Chess Information Chaos

EP 311- GM Jonathan Speelman- A British Chess Legend on His Time as a Top 10 Player and His Encounters with Anand, Korchnoi, Tal and many more!

Photo by Wolfgang Jekel via Wikimedia Commons. 

We are joined this week by a legend of British chess, GM Jonathan Speelman! Jonathan is a three- time British champion, a two-time World Championship Candidate an author, Chessbase.com columnist, and a trainer. He has been ranked as high as #4 in the world in 1989 and has worked as a second for GMs Viktor Korchnoi, Vishy Anand and Nigel Short. As you might imagine, such a wealth of chess experience gives Jonathan an endless array of stories and a great perspective on what differentiates top players. Jonathan considers questions such as these: 

Why does he consider Ivanchuk the most talented player he has ever encountered? 

Could Anand potentially have beaten Kasparov in 1993? 

Could Jonathan have been World Champion?

 Does he regret pursuing chess after studying mathematics at Oxford? 

It was quite an honor to hear GM Speelman’s modest reflections on a brilliant career. You can find timestamps for topics discussed below. 

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- John shares his thoughts on Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship, which recently culminated with Hikaru Nakamura defeating Magnus Carlsen in the final. 

Mentioned: GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Andrew Tang 

08:00- GM Speelman has said that GM Vasyl Ivanchuk is “the most talented player he has ever encountered.” What differentiates Chucky? 

Mentioned: Ivanchuk-Van Forest 2022 (featuring 26. Nd7!), More on the game from GM Speelman here, Info on “A Grimshaw” here, Novotny here, Karpov-Spassky 1974, Karpov-Korchnoi 1974, Karpov-Unzicker 1974

18:00- GM Speelman reflects on the experience of working on Korchnoi’s, Short’s and Anand’s teams. 

31:00- 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

32:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Shopify! To try out their payment service for $1 a month, please visit the link: shopify.com/chess.

33:00- Patreon mailbag question: How did Jon discover a novelty via a Norwegian Newspaper to surprise GM Nigel Short in the Candidates?

Mentioned: GM Jonathan Tisdall, GM John Nunn

40:00- What are Jonathan’s recollections of his Candidates match vs. GM Jan Timman? 

46:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

47:00- Many chess greats, like Fischer, Kasparov, and Jonathan himself have grown up without a dad, does Jon think there is a reason for this?

48:00- What was Jon’s approach to chess when he was climbing the ranks in his 20s? 

1:00:00- Did Jon watch any of the Trent-Hambleton chessboxing match?

1:02:00- Jon shares stories about Larsen, Tal and Ljubomir Ljobojevic. 

Mentioned: Speelman-Larsen 1978, Ljubojevic-Speelman 1980 

1:11:00- Jon has always had poor vision. Has it impacted his chess? 

1:13:00- What are Jon’s Twitch streaming plans?

1:15:00- What are Jon’s plans for his Chessbase Column?

1:20:00- Thanks so much to Jonathan for joining us! Here is how to keep up with him:

LiChess Coaches Page:

https://lichess.org/coach/Jon_Speelman

Chessbase Column:

https://en.chessbase.com/author/jon-speelman

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/jonspeelman

Jon’s Game Collection is still available on Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/Speelmans-Best-Games-Batsford-Chess-ebook/dp/B00PIWLT6O

EP 310- John Hartmann joins to Review the Year in Chess: A Carlsen/Niemann Update, A New Cheating Scandal, The Chess.Com/PM Merger, & lots more

As 2022 draws to a close, I am (re)joined by Chess Life Magazine editor and Award Winning Journalist John Hartmann to reflect on a year of seismic change in the chess world. First and foremost, cheating in chess has been thrust to the forefront in the wake of the Carlsen/Niemann scandal. We review the latest legal developments in this particular story and also provide some details on a new chess cheating scandal from a tournament in Spain. John and I also discuss the big “chess business” news of 2022. The merger between Chess.com and The Play Magnus Group is now complete! As we discuss, it is hard to predict the ramifications but it is likely to eventually lead to lots of changes in how chess events are presented. Lastly, of course, Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the World Championship Cycle. Will people still tune in to watch Ding face Nepo in 2023? Is Magnus right that Classical Chess’ popularity is receding? 

After reviewing the news, I catch up with John Hartmann on recommended chess books, the health of US Chess and chess generally, and we even discuss what we learned from our own tournament games in 2022. As always, you can find timestamps for topics discussed below. Happy New Year Everyone! 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:02:00- We provide an update on the Niemann/Carlsen scandal and discuss the biggest story of the year, cheating in chess. 

Mentioned: The Sunway Sitges Invitational, FM Andy Woodward, FIDE World Rapid & Blitz 

13:45- A new scandal related to cheating is breaking now, as a Belgian IM was banned from a tournament for refusing to be searched with a metal detector. More info here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/stefan-docx-expelled-from-benidorm-open

Mentioned: GM Arthur Kogan, GM Romain Eduoard’s Tweet 

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- We provide an update on Big Story #2- The Chess.com Merger with The Play Magnus Group, which is now complete

39:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

42:00- Big story #3, Magnus stepped down from the World Championship cycle. What does this mean for the cycle going forward? 

48:00- We provide an update on the Woman’s World Championship Cycle. GM Tan Zhongyi will face GM Lei Tingjie for the right to face GM Ju Wenjun for the World Championship. 

49:00- Is US Chess seeing continued interest in tournament chess? 

Mentioned: GM Awonder Liang, GM Christopher Yoo, JJ Lang, WGM Tatev Abrahamyan, Ladan-Abrahamyan 2022, Cover Stories with Chess Life with WGM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova 

59:00- Quick tangent on the upcoming Tata Steel tournament. 

1:02:00- Quick update on our own years in tournament chess 

Mentioned: My interview with GM Jesse Kraai for ChessDojo, The Streak App (Its actually $5), FM Nate Solon 

1:09:00- Has John checked out any new chess books this year? 

Mentioned: Reinfeld’s Immortal Games of Capablanca, Cambridge Springs 1904, Albert W. Fox, A Chess Life on and Off the Board by John Hilbert, A Life at Play by Lubomir Kavalek, Gufeld-Kavalek 1962, Learning Chess with Vladimir Simagin by GM Mihail Marin, GM Jacob Aagaard’s A Matter of Endgame Technique, 1001 Endgame Exercises for Beginners by IM Thomas Willemze, Masterpieces and Drama of the Soviet Championships Volume 3 

Thanks to John for rejoining! 

His Twitter:

https://twitter.com/hartmannchess

To Subscribe to Chess Life Magazine you can sign up for a US Chess membership here (even outside of the US):

https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess

If you would like you can help support Perpetual Chess here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

If you would like you can help support Perpetual Chess here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 309- Dr. Joel Sneed- An Author and Psychology Professor on How to Regain One's Chess Motivation, Curbing "Blitz Tilt" and How he Made Unusual Rating Gains as an Adult

This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is author, psychology professor and avid chess player, Dr. Joel Sneed. In the professional realm, Joel is a practicing clinical psychologist, and his research focuses on the topics of late life depression and cognitive impairment. A casual chess game with a patient led to Joel's discovery of competitive chess, and since then he has always found time for the game. In addition to co-authoring some excellent chess books, Joel has achieved very unusual gains for an adult learner.

Joel began tournament chess at age 33 with a 1200 rating, and at age 48 is rated over 2000! Joel thinks that part of the reason for his success has been his emphasis on the psychological side of chess, as discussed in his latest collaboration with GM Boris Gulko, Analyzing the Chess Mind. The book provides both traditional game analysis from GM Gulko, as well as more general advice about chess psychology from both the GM and the Professor. It was fascinating to hear Joel’s story, and there is much to learn from his book and from our conversation! Please read on for timestamps and topics discussed.Joel began tournament chess at age 33 with a 1200 rating, and at age 48 is rated over 2000! Joel thinks that part of the reason for his success has been his emphasis on the psychological side of chess, as discussed in his latest collaboration with GM Boris Gulko, Analyzing the Chess Mind. The book provides both traditional game analysis from GM Gulko, as well as more general advice about chess psychology from both the GM and the Professor. It was fascinating to hear Joel’s story, and there is much to learn from his book and from our conversation! Please read on for timestamps and topics discussed. 

Click here to Download the Episode

01:00- Joel tells the story of his starting to discover tournament chess through working with a patient at a psychiatric hospital. 

07:00- What has chess taught Joel about himself? Why was he initially attracted to the game? 

Mentioned: Episode 300 with GM Ulf Andersson 

13:00- Joel hasn’t played a tournament since May, why not? 

17:00- Joel discusses how he began to collaborate with his co-author, legendary GM Boris Gulko. 

19:00- What advice would Joel give to a friend who is having trouble finding the motivation to return to tournament chess? 

Mentioned: IM John Watson 

25:00- Patreon mailbag question: What advice does Joel give to someone who wants to get into a beneficial mindset before a tournament? 

35:00- 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: What is Joel’s advice for someone who is prone to bullet chess addiction and tilt?

Mentioned: Episode 216 with Dr. Jana Krivec

50:00- How has studying his own chess tendencies helped Joel in his activities that take place away from the chess board? 

57:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

58:00- What chess lessons did Joel learn from the golf book, Golf is not a Game of Perfect? 

1:07:00- What were the biggest contributors to Joel’s slow and steady rise from 1200 to 2000 USCF? 

1:11:00- What are Joel’s favorite chess books, besides his own Lessons with a Grandmaster collaboration with GM Boris Gulko? 

Mentioned: The Giants of Strategy by GM Neil McDonald, How to Reassess Your Chess by IM Jeremy Silman 

1:17:00- What is meant by “Ego is a limited resource?” 

1:22:00- Thanks so much to Joel for joining me. You can email him at prof.sneed at gmail dot com 

Be sure to check out his books with GM Boris Gulko as well: 

Analyzing the Chess Mind:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Analyzing-Chess-Sneed-Boris-Gulko/dp/1784831123/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1YLXPM3IWVAKS&keywords=Analyzing+the+Chess+Mind&qid=1671420382&s=books&sprefix=analyzing+the+chess+mind%2Cstripbooks%2C109&sr=1-1

Forward Chess: https://forwardchess.com/sample/analyzing-the-chess-mind

Lessons with a Grandmaster

Book Recap #30- 10 Underrated Chess Books for Different Ratings Levels, with FM Carsten Hansen

This episode was recorded at Suite Recording Studios in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey and is also available with video on the Perpetual Chess YouTube channel. 

Chess Books Recaptured returns, this time to discuss 10 books for the price of one! My guest co-host is FM Carsten Hansen, who returns to the pod to join me in selecting and discussing different chess books for different chess experience levels. Carsten is a prolific author, the book reviewer for American Chess Magazine, and a Chess Life magazine columnist. In addition to a lot of book talk, we discuss Carsten’s chess-improvement efforts and OTB plans, and a few of his recent collaborations with IM Cyrus Lakdawala. There is always so much to learn from Carsten, and I am confident we have selected worthwhile book recommendations for chess enthusiasts of many backgrounds.  

Click here to Download the Episode

02:00- How do we define an “underrated” chess book? 

04:30- Aside from reading chess books, who are some of our favorite chess content creators?

Mentioned: IM Levy Rozman, GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Andras Toth, IM John Bartholomew, GM Daniel King, Chess Feels, C Squared, Chicken Chess Club, Ladies Knight with Isabella Choko 

8:30- Book #1- Open Files by Uhlman and Schmidt 

12:00- Book #2- Arkell’s Endings by and GM Keith Arkell  

16:00- Book #3- World Chess Championship 1948. Contact the translator, Jan Verendel via his website: https://verendel.com/

18:00- Book #4- Fundamental Chess: Logical Decision Making by GM Ramesh

23:00- Book #5- Learn to Play Chess Like a Boss by GM Patrick Wolff 

Mentioned: Episode 189 with GM Patrick Wolff 

 Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

27:00- Book #6- Instructive Chess Miniatures  by FM Alper Efe Ataman 

30:30- Book #7- Rewire Your Chess Brain by IM Cyrus Lakdawala 

Mentioned: Episode 197 with IM Cyrus Lakdawala,  Endgames Studies 101 on Chessable

37:30- Book #8- The Giants of Strategy by GM Neil McDonald 

42:30- Book #9- Positional Chess by IM Shaun Talbut 

Mentioned: Move First, Think Later by IM Willy Hendriks 

Mentioned: Improve Your Positional Chess by FM Carsten Hansen, Episode 182 with IM Willy Hendriks 

47:00- Book #10- Universal Chess Training by GM Wojciech Moranda 

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

54:00- How is Carsten currently working on his chess and blitz games?  

Mentioned: The Checkmate Patterns Manual by CrafyRaf, The Dirty Harry Sicilian by IM Christof Sielecki, Play the Orangutan by FM Carsten Hansen, Episode 178 with IM Kare Kristensen

1:11:00- Bonus book talk! Carsten showcases a few books that aren’t translated into English but should be. 

Mentioned: Larsen Volume 1, 30 Years at the Chessboard by Jens Enevoldsen

1:19:00- Which of Carsten’s recent books would he recommend most highly?

Mentioned: The Anti-Alapin Gambit, The Smyslov Workbook, The Chess Wizardry of Wotowa, Back to Basics: Chess Openings

1:24:00- Some of Our Favorite Books of 2022: . Masterpieces and Drama of the Soviet Championship, Albert W. Fox: A Life on and Off the Chess Board by John S. Hilbert, Evaluate like a Grandmaster, Think Like a Super GM

1:25:00- Thanks to Carsten for joining me in studio! 

You can check out his books here:

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Carsten-Hansen/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ACarsten+Hansen

Follow him on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/carstenchess

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community and be able to submit questions for guests and receive other perks, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 308- GM Srinath Narayanan- Lessons Learned from Training Some of the Chess World's Brightest Young Talents

Photo courtesy of GM Srinath Narayanan

This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is GM Srinath Narayanan. Srinath is a 3 time Asian junior Champion, a popular Chessable Author and a high-level trainer. GM Srinath has worked with many of India’s brightest young talents including, GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Nihail Sarin. I caught Arjun at an interesting time, as both Arjun and Nihail had just won events in the Tata Steel India tournaments. What does it feel like when your longtime students are suddenly outperforming world elites like Hikaru Nakamura and Wesley So? How does Srinath adjust the training plans of his students as they go from 2500 to 2700? We also talked about openings, as Srinath has co-authored (with GM Sahaj Grover) standout Chessable courses on The London System and the Catalan. We also discussed chess improvement, engine use, and we got Srinath’s take on the Carlsen/Niemann saga. You can find timestamps for topics discussed below. 

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- What has surprised Srinath about the rise of his students, GMs Arjun Erigaisi and GM Nihail Sarin?

 Mentioned: Srinath’s Recent interview with IM Sagar Shah of Chessbase India’ 

15:00- GM Erigaisi unleashed some epic opening preparation in a game against Sarin in their recent Tata Steel India Tournament. Did Srinath have a hand in the prep?

Mentioned: CORRECTION- The article mentioned is by IM V Saravanan, my apologies

 V Saravanan article highlighting Erigaisi’s amazing prep 

20:00- What training methods did Srinath use with GMs Sarin and Erigaisi?

29:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

31:00- Since he has co-written Chessable courses on both the London System and the Catalan, how would Srinath compare the two? 

39:00- Srinath is an advocate of playing training games in an opening to learn it. Can improvers do this against a computer or is it better to find a training partner? 

45:00- When discussing engine evaluations, Srinath says “not all zeroes are equal”. What does he mean by this? 

49:00- Does Srinath have any tournaments coming up?

Mentioned: FIDE World Rapid and Blitz 

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

55:00- Srinath shares his thoughts on the Niemann/Carlsen story and cheating in chess generally. 

Mentioned: His Tweets About it, Niemann-Erigaisi 2022

1:11:00- What is Srinath’s chess-improvement advice for ambitious amateurs? 

Mentioned: Move First and Think Later, On the Origin of Good Chess Moves 

1:17:00- Thanks to GM Srinath for joining. Here are links to keep up with him:

Chessable Courses

YouTube

Twitter 

EP 307- IM Dean Ippolito- A Longtime Trainer, Author and Champion Competitor on the Adjustments one Should Make for the Modern Tournament Landscape

This week we are joined by trainer, author and 6 time New Jersey state chess champion, IM Dean Ippolito. Dean has been an accomplished active player for decades, and a major theme of our conversation is the increasingly unforgiving nature of modern competitive chess. As Dean explains, players at all ages and levels are better prepared and more skilled than ever before. Competing with them is a challenge, but Dean relishes the opportunity to put his best foot forward and shares helpful advice for players of all levels who are looking to do the same. Dean was a lifelong New Jersey resident who recently relocated to Charlotte, in part to compete in events at the Charlotte Chess Center. Most recently, Dean played in the star-studded US Masters tournament. We also discuss Dean’s new book, Tricks, Tactics, and Tips in the Chess Opening: Practical Lessons for Ambitious Improvers. The book draws on Dean’s decades of teaching experience and is a good choice for scholastic players and amateurs rated below 1500 or so. Lastly, Dean shares some fun stories from his years of high-level chess. As an accomplished veteran of the US Chess scene, Dean has seen the rise of Nakamura and Caruana and many others, and in his extensive chess travels, he has had memorable games against some world class competitors . You can find timestamps of topics discussed below. 

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- You can subscribe to my free weekly chess news round up, the Perpetual Chess linkfest here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com

1:00- Dean reflects on the ups and downs of his chess career as it relates to his ratings up and downs, which translates to good universal advice for OTB players. 

10:00- What would it take for Dean to become a Grandmaster? 

Mentioned: Episode 249 with Dr. Mark Glickman (Ratings Discussion)

15:00- What has Dean observed about adults sometimes losing interest in competitive chess? 

20:00- What adjustments has Dean made for modern tournament chess? 

Mentioned: The Woodpecker Method 

34:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

36:00- What was the US Masters and North Carolina Open like in Charlotte? 

Mentioned: FM James Canty, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, GM Aman Hambleton, GM Daniel Naroditsky 

45:00- What training will Dean do to try to earn the GM title? 

55:00- 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- Why write a chess book?

Mentioned: The Art of Attack in Chess, Get the E-Book here

1:04:00 - Dean has decades of experience running chess clubs/academies. What advice does he give to those thinking of opening one? 

1:11:00- What are Dean’s favorite chess memories? 

Mentioned: Ippolito-Sasrikan 2017, Morozevich-Ippolito 1997, GM Awonder Liang, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Parimarjan Negi 

1:29:00- Thanks to Dean for joining me! Here is how to reach him:

Email- Dean at deanofchess dot com

Book- Tricks, Tactics, and Tips in the Chess Opening: Practical Lessons for Ambitious Improvers. 

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/deanofchess/?hl=en

Twitter- https://twitter.com/deanofchess?lang=en

Webpage- https://www.deanofchess.com/

EP 306- Adult Improver Vishnu Warrier. Can a 31 year old USCF 2100 become a GM? Vishnu wants to find out!

Vishnu is a 31 year old tech consultant, chess author and dad who has grown accustomed to  waking up at 4 AM to study chess for hours before his family and work life begins. Vishnu shares his study routine and recommendations for chess resources, based on his intensive study  in recent years. Vishnu also candidly discusses his long term goal of becoming a GM, a goal that many would say is impossible for someone with so many other responsibilities to achieve. Lastly, Vishnu’s shares some of his best advice from his new book,   The Chess Bible – Most Instructive Tips, Axioms, One-Liners & Mantras. Although I am not sure if Vishnu will be able to achieve his ultimate goal, I enjoyed talking chess with him and can’t wait to see how his chess journey continues to unfold. Please read on for timestamps and relevant links. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Why does Vishnu work so hard on his chess? What are his goals? 

Mentioned: Vishnu’s rating page is here

4:30- Why does he think no one has ever gone from the 2100 level to GM in their 30s? What makes Vishnu think he can be the first? 

8:00- Vishnu details his study routine. 

10:00- Welcome to the Chess dot bomb! Vishnu utilizes his Chess.com premium membership by making Puzzle Rush a part of his daily routine.  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).

Mentioned: GM Noel Studer’s Next Level Chess Blog 

12:00- Vishnu continues discussion of his daily chess study routine.

Mentioned: Chess Tempo, ChessMood.com, Blog Post- How Grandmasters Memorize Openings 

25:00- 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

26:00- How has Vishnu’s routine changed? How often does he compete? 

30:00- Vishnu shares a few book recs:

Small Steps to Giant Improvement, Soviet Middlegame Technique 

33:00- How does Vishnu deal with frustration and naysayers? 

Mentioned: FM James Canty, GM Ben Finegold, GM John Shaw 

38:00- Does Vishnu’s tournament routine change when a tournament is coming up? 

42:00- What has Vishnu learned from ultra marathon runner David Goggins? 

47:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/

48:00- We discuss Vishnu’s book. He shares the inspiration for The Chess Bible – Most Instructive Tips, Axioms, One-Liners & Mantras and shares a few axioms… 

Mentioned: IM Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy 

1:01:00- What improvement advice would Vishnu give to other improvers? 

Mentioned: 45 Positional Methods and Techniques, Chess Training for Post Beginners 

1:04:00- Thanks to Vishnu for joining me! You can find him on Facebook or email him at kvwarrier108 at gmail dot com

EP 305- WIM Andreea Navrotescu- The Latest on the FIDE Women's World Championship Cycle + Her Life as a Chess Professional in France

As suspense builds in the FIDE Women’s World Championship Cycle, I am joined by one of France’s top female players to discuss what has transpired so far, and what is coming. My guest is WIM Andreaa Navrotescu. Andreaa is a Romanian-born, French-based chess player, Twitch streamer and commentator. Andreaa joined me shortly after returning from Monaco, where GM Lei Tingjie defeated Anna Muzychuk in a tense match, to advance to the next stage of the cycle. Andreea was there working as FIDE Press Officer. She described the atmosphere in Monoco and helped us preview the matches which will be starting next week in Uzbekistan. We also discuss Andreea’s own chess career, including her favorite memories, her content recommendations, her upcoming tournaments, and her current goals as a chess player. I very much enjoyed chatting with Andreea and look forward to tracking her career as well as the continuation of the FIDE Women's Candidates tournament. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00-  

To nominate a chess educator for the Andy Lerner award, please go to this link:

https://chessintheschools.org/andy-lerner-excellence-in-chess-education-award/

2:45- Andreea joins the show and begins with a trip report of what it was like to be in Monaco for the FIDE Women’s Candidates quarter-final match, and to talk about which participants remain. GM Lei Tingjie has advanced to the semi-finals over the Muzychuk sisters and GM Humpy Koneru. 

More info on the Women’s World Championship cycle here: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Candidates_Tournament_2022%E2%80%9323

15:00- Did the players bring trainers to help them prepare?

Mentioned: GM Srinath Narayanan, GM Yuriy Kryvorucho 

18:00- Who does Andreea consider the favorite in the bracket that features GMs Aleksandra Goryachkina, Kateryna Lagno, Alexandra Kosteniuk and Tan Zhongyi? 

20:00-Andreea shares some final reflections on the Women’s World Championship cycle so far including what chess lessons she took away

25:00- 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-Andreea discusses her chess development in Romania and France. What chess lessons did Andreea learn from her dad, IM Catalin Navrotescu? 

32:00- Is GM Alireza Firouzja well known in France? 

36:00-Andreea discusses her study regimen and her current chess goals. 

Mentioned: Sam Shankland’s Chessable Courses, GM Romain Edouard, GM Veselin Topalov 

45:00-Andreea describes her experience at the Olympiad.

Mentioned: GM Magnus Carlsen 

50:00- 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

52:00- Andreea discusses her upcoming tournament schedule and how she trains for an upcoming tournament

59:00- Andreea discusses her Twitch streaming plans, as well as the popularity of chess Twitch streaming in France. 

Mentioned: Fiona Steil-Antoni, IM Julien Song, GM Laurent Fressinet  

1:07:00- Outside of chess, what are Andreea’s interests? 

1:09:00- Thanks to Andreea for joining the show! Here is how to keep up with her:

Twitter-

https://twitter.com/andy_rekt_chess

Instagram-

https://www.instagram.com/andy_rekt_chess/

Linktree-

https://linktr.ee/andy_rekt

EP 304- Neal Bruce- What We Can Learn from the Studying Classic Game Compilation Books

This week I am joined by longtime friend of the podcast Neal Bruce. Neal, learned chess from scratch at the age of 40, and is immersed in a multi-year chess study plan that currently focuses on studying the games of some of some of chess’ greatest players. As bibliophiles, Neal and I are particularly interested in books featuring legendary games, but one can also study classics through online databases or YouTube serieses. In this podcast, Neal updates us on his study routine, and we rank some of the best “game collection” books we have come across. We also weigh the importance of studying games. Is it an indispensable part of any chess player's routine? Is there a “right way” to study them? What will be next for Neal? It is always inspiring to hear of Neal’s commitment to lifelong learning! Please read on for timestamps of topics discussed and books referenced. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Neal Bruce’s prior appearances: 

Book Recap #6- Discussing the Woodpecker Method and Rapid Chess Improvement with Neal Bruce . 

Book Recap #11- Discussing Winning Chess Strategies with Neal Bruce 

Episode 240- “Pawn Book Championship”

How to Chess 04- What to Expect when Attending a Chess Tournament with Neal Bruce 

02:00- Why did Neal decide to study a bunch of game collection books? How many games has he played through? 

06:00- Why should one study annotated games? What has doing so taught Neal?

17:00- How should one study games? Digital? Board? Two Physical Boards? 

Mentioned: Chessable, Forward Chess, New in Chess Book Reader 

26:00- What can one expect to gain from going through games? 

28:00- 

 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

30:00- We review specific books. Starting with ones for newer players 

Mentioned: First Book of Morphy, Logical Chess Move by Move, Masters of the Chessboard, Winning Chess Brilliancies, Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking, The Most Instructive Chess Games Ever Played  (Neal’s highest recommendation) 

39:00- What intermediate level books has Neal reviewed? What struck him about Alekhines games?

Botvinnik’s 100 Selected Games, Understanding Chess Moves by Move, Alekhine’s Chess Games 1902-1946, How I Beat Fischer’s Record by GM Judit Polgar, Karpov’s Strategic Wins by Tibor Karolyi, Karpov Move by Move, Ivanchuk Move by Move

48:00- 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/

49:00- How do we approach playing through variations? 

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel 

53:00- What are Ben’s favorites out of the 32 books that have been reviewed on the podcast?

Mentioned: The Mammoth Book of the World’s Greatest Chess Games, How I Beat Fischer’s Record , Logical Chess Move by Move, Chess Tactics from Scratch 

1:02- What is my favorite chess history book that I have reviewed? 

Mentioned: Book Recap #20- Korchnoi’s Chess is My Life 

1:07:00- What is Neal learning to code at age 53? 

EP 303- Adult Improver Kyle Boddy- A Pioneer in Sports Analytics and Peak Performance on His Approach to Chess Improvement

The Adult Improver Series of Perpetual Chess returns with an insightful guest with a passion for openings and tournament chess. Kyle Boddy is the founder of an influential and successful baseball performance training company, Driveline Baseball., which started as a one-man operation, and now boasts 50+ employees and many professional athletes as clients.  Having been introduced to chess as a kid, Kyle actually regained his interest in the game in recent years while working in a Major League Baseball clubhouse. In our conversation, Kyle discusses why he loves chess, and compares it to his other competitive interests of poker, Magic the Gathering, and of course, baseball. We also tackle questions such as: How does a sports data expert approach chess data? Why does he love openings? Why does he love tournaments? What does he do to promote chess in his community?  This was a fun conversation with an innovative thinker. You can find timestamps and links to topics referenced below.

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Links -

Perpetual Chess Linkfest - https://benjohnson.substack.com/

If you would like to join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

5:00- Kyle Boddy joins the pod and shares his unique chess origin story, which began in his childhood and gained steam when he started playing  with a few well-known major league baseball players. 

Mentioned: NY Times Article about NFL Players Playing Chess

7:30- Kyle’s favorite chess content creators 

Mentioned: GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM John Bartholomew, IM Alex Banzea

10:00- How did Kyle learn to stop depending too much on the engine? 

Mentioned: Kyle’s blog

12:00- What is Kyle’s chess study routine? What tournaments has he played?

Mentioned: IM Marc Esserman 

15:30- What is Magic the Gathering? 

Mentioned: FM Stanislav Cifka 

18:00- Kyle’s approach to online chess 

19:00- 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

20:00- How does Kyle balance a desire to improve with just wanting to have fun? 

Mentioned: Hanging Pawns YouTube 

22:00- Is MLB star Joey Votto studying chess much? 

23:00- Might Kyle be studying openings too much?

26:00- What openings does Kyle play? Why did he choose 1. D4? 

31:00-  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/

32:00- If you are interested in getting free Chesskid.com premium memberships for any new school chess program you can email Ranae Bartlett at ranae at chesskid.com

34:00: Kyle discusses the community outreach he is doing in Seattle, WA. 

38:00- As an innovator in data science, does Kyle see any innovations that could be made in the chess world? 

Mentioned: Filter Openings for rating via the Lichess Analysis Board 

44:00- Does Kyle read many chess books? 

Mentioned: Mayhem in the Morra (also on Chessable) 

46:00- What are Kyle’s long-term chess goals? 

49:00- Kyle tried bullet chess to help him learn to make quicker decisions OTB, did it help? 

53:00- How did Kyle develop strength as in endgames? 

Mentioned: Endgame Bootcamp with IM John Bartholomew

55:00- Has Kyle traveled to any huge weekend Swiss tournaments yet? 

Mentioned: Hikaru Nakamura on the Lex Fridman podcast, WIM Megan Lee, Larry Hedder  

57:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Kyle deal with “chess tilt”?

1:01:00- Was Kyle’s career impeded by the fact he didn’t finish university? 

Mentioned: MLB pitcher Ryan Buchter, Phillies coach Caleb Cotham 

1:07:00- Did Kyle see chess in clubhouses aside from the Cincinnati Reds? 

Mentioned: Steven Kwan

1:12:00- Kyle’s World Series Prediction! 

1:14:00- Thanks to Kyle for talking chess (and baseball!) with me. Here are links to keep up with him:

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

His Blog- https://www.kyleboddy.com/2022/02/27/scc-u1200-chess-tournament-report-feb-26-2022/

Driveline Baseball-

https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/

EP 302- Chess Improvement Q & A with IM Andras Toth- One of YouTube's Best Chess Teachers

Art by AdamGenesis

This week we are joined by one of the best chess online chess teachers in the world, IM Andras Toth. Andras is an Australia-based Chessable author, YouTube presenter and Twitch streamer. Andras’ background as a teacher enables him to explain chess strategy very clearly, in a no-nonsense style. It had been a while since Andras and I had talked, so it was doubly fun to catch up with him. In our interview, Andras answers tons of listeners' questions related to chess improvement, discusses some favorite recent chess books, and talks about the ups and downs of the life of a chess content creator. It is always fun and informative to talk chess improvement with IM Andras Toth! 

Recorded October 10, 2022 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- How does Andras manage to avoid discussing chess drama such as the Carlsen/Niemann controversy? 

5:00- What qualities and habits has Andras observed in people who have improved significantly at chess? 

7:00- Why do players sometimes struggle to convey their increased skills to better OTB performance? 

14:00- If study material is not sticking, should one study it multiple times? 

Mentioned: Yusopov Improve Your Chess Series

18:00- Has Andras read any good new chess books? Any suggestions for books about pawn structures? 

Mentioned: How to Chess with Andras Toth , Improve Your Chess Calculation by R.B. Ramesh (Now on Chessable), Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios (also on Chessable), GM Andy Soltis’ Pawn Structure Chess, Winning Chess Middlegames, an Essential Guide to Pawn Structures by GM Ivan Sokolov 

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- What would your approach be if you were trying to go from 1700-1900? 

Mentioned: Chess Principles Reloaded by IM Andras Toth, GM Magnus Carlsen on the Lex Fridman Podcast 

37:00- What was it like to work GM Judit Polgar on a Chessable course? 

Mentioned: Master your Chess with Judit and IM Andras Toth 

41:00- How can one better learn to play less materialistically? 

44:00- Does Andras have recommendations for learning King’s Indian/Benoni structures?  

Mentioned: Lifetime Repertoires: Modern Benoni, Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios

LiChess Opening Explorer

50:00- 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

51:00- How is Andras’ YouTube channel doing? 

52:00- What videos on his Channel would Andras recommend to someone who has never watched it?

Mentioned: The Amateur’s Mind Series

54:00- Does Andras get tempted to do more “clickbaity” content? What about Twitch clips or videos of him playing blitz? 

1:01:00- What is Andras working on now? 

1:02:00- Thanks to Andras for joining the pod! Here are links to keep up with him:

Twitter- 

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

Chessable- https://www.chessable.com/author/ChesscoachAndras/

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcYZTGsTO5TbCaA1O0wcBzw

Twitch- https://www.twitch.tv/chesscoachandras

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus Pod- GM Hans Niemann is suing Magnus, Chess.com and Hikaru Nakamura! Law Professor David Franklin joins to Assess What Might Happen From Here

With the bombshell news that GM Hans Niemann is suing Magnus Carlsen, Chess.com, and Hikaru Nakamura, we brought in a legal expert to help us make sense of the case. I am joined by Professor David Franklin. David is a Constitutional Law Professor and an appellate lawyer, who is also a chess enthusiast who had already been following the Carlsen/Niemann story closely. In our conversation, David answered important questions about the legitimacy of the lawsuit, and which potential scenarios are likely to unfold from here. You can find timestamps of topics discussed below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- I review a few key points about the Niemann lawsuit. 

Mentioned: Here is the Niemann complaint

6:30- Thanks to our chess sponsors, Chessable and AImchess. If you decide to subscribe to Aimchess, use this link or the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

08:00- Professor David Franklin joins the podcast. 

9:00- Did he expect a lawsuit?

11:00- Can Magnus be held accountable for damages in the U.S. as a Norwegian citizen. 

13:00- Is this writing style in the complaint likely to impact the case’s outcome? 

17:00- Is David surprised that collusion is included in the case? 

19:00- Should we take the $100 million amount in this seriously? 

20:00- Was David surprised that Hikaru is in the lawsuit? 

Mentioned: Akiva Cohen Esq. Twitter Thread

23:00- What is the strongest claim in the case? 

36:00- What is the timeline for likely events that will be forthcoming in the case? 

41:00- What charges or parties might be struck/removed from the case? 

44:00- Do any frivolous elements in the case make it less likely the case will succeed? 

45:00- What does David think of the “big picture” issue of OTB cheating? 

46:00- Thanks to David for sharing his expertise, you can follow him on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/DFranklinChi

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

Ben Johnson is creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

Ep 301- Computer Science Professor and IM, Dr. Kenneth Regan on the Carlsen/Niemann controversy and the Current State of Cheating in OTB Chess

Custom art by Adam Genesis

This week we are rejoined by Dr. Kenneth Regan. Dr. Regan is, as many of you will are already aware, is one of the world’s leading experts at engine cheat detection. He is an IM at chess, and is the rare individual with domain expertise in chess, statistics and computer science. Dr. Regan has degrees in mathematics from Princeton and Oxford and is a Professor in Computational Complexity Theory at the University of Buffalo. As a chess player, Ken was the 1977 US Junior co-champion and once held the record of youngest USCF Master since Bobby Fischer. Dr. Regan joined the podcast to share some of his findings about the Carlsen/Niemann controversy and to discuss chess cheating more generally. More details can be found below.

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- This podcast may be best watched via YouTube. You can sub/Watch at the video of this podcast the Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel here:

https://youtu.be/UsEIBzm5msU

To subscribe to the Perpetual Chess Linkfest you can submit your email address    at the bottom of the most recent post here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/p/perpetual-chess-linkfest-9-october

02:00- Dr. Regan joins the show. What did Dr. Regan think of the Chess.com Report about GM Hans Niemann? 

Mentioned:

James Altucher interview with Dr. Regan-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hf-V4WFq2k

2019 Perpetual Chess Interview (Episode 136):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loNQ__09_fE

08:00- Dr. Regan shares some of his data regarding how the amount of time one has impacts chess strength. 

17:00- What data was Dr. Regan able to gather from the famous all night bullet match between GMs Alireza Firouzja and Daniel Naroditsky during the 2022 FIDE Candidates tournament. 

19:00- 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/

20:00- What does Dr. Regan think of Chessbase’s “Let’s Check” as a cheat detection measure? 

24:00- Dr. Regan discussing these blog posts:

https://rjlipton.wpcomstaging.com/2022/09/21/cheating-at-chess-not-again/

https://rjlipton.wpcomstaging.com/2016/11/30/when-data-serves-turkey/

32:00- 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%.

32:30- Dr. Regan shares and discusses some of his data on GM Hans Niemann 

41:00- Dr. Regan discusses his research and post called ‘Pandemic Lag’ as well as a few other informative articles 

https://rjlipton.wpcomstaging.com/2021/07/30/pandemic-lag/

Chessbase article by Frederic Friedel regarding typical prodigy progress 

https://en.chessbase.com/post/tracking-a-player-s-progress

FM Nate Solon’s look at GM Hans Niemann’s centipawn losses

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/did-hans-niemann-cheat

55:00- Patreon mailbag question: What did Dr. Regan think of GM Fabiano Caruana’s comments regarding the efficacy of his model? 

Mentioned: C Squared Podcast 

1:03:00- Patreon mailbag question: How can Dr. Regan’s model catch cheaters if it is only looking at a sample size of one game? 

1:07:00- Patreon mailbag question: Why does Dr. Regan’s model exclude chess knowledge? 

1:10:00- Patreon mailbag question: Would it be harder to catch cheating if done only a few times per game? 

1:13:00- Patreon mailbag question: What precautions can clubs and organizers take to help prevent cheat? 

1:18:00- Dr. Regan discusses his post “Measuring Fidelity to a Computer Agent”

https://cse.buffalo.edu/~regan/chess/fidelity/

1:20:00- Does Dr. Regan’s data even hint at Hans Niemann cheating OTB?

1:26:00- How would Dr. Regan use his data for chess improvement? 

1:30:00- Thanks to Dr.Regan for joining us and sharing his research! You can keep up with his research via his blog (co-authored with Richard J. Lipton):

https://rjlipton.wpcomstaging.com/

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

Ben Johnson is creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

EP 300- Swedish Chess Legend, GM Ulf Andersson on his Encounters with Kasparov, Karpov and Fischer and How he Keeps up With Chess Today.

1983 photo via Wikimedia/Dutch National Archive

This week we are joined by a legend of the game, one of the best players in the world in the 1970s and 1980s, Swedish champion, and legendary positional player, GM Ulf Andersson. Ulf doesn’t play as much as he did at his peak, but he still exudes passion for chess, and has accumulated a litany of stories about his games with fellow legends. Ulf regales us with stories about his clashes with Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer, Viktor Korchnoi, Bent Larsen, and so many others. At the age of 71, his memory for these encounters is flawless, and he shares many details about his elite GM peers. Ulf still follows modern chess closely, and also discusses his favorite modern players and games, and describes his daily life today. Ulf splits time between Germany and Sweden. It was quite an honor to hear a lifetime’s worth of chess stories. Timestamps of people and topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:03- Ulf joined me from his part-time home near Cologne, Germany, how did he end up there? 

0:05- How does Ulf keep up with the chess world? How did he approach chess improvement in his earlier years? 

0:09- Question from Chess Historian and Blogger Douglas Griffin: Does Ullf think that faster time controls have decreased the quality of endgame play? How have increments affected chess overall? 

13:30- Who are GM Ulf Andersson’s favorite modern players?

15:30- What did Ulf think of Magnus’ decision not to defend his title? 

16:45- 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/

18:00- What are Ulf’s memories of GM Mikhail Tal? 

22:00- Ulf mentions that he finds tournament chess more stressful than he used to it? When did he start to feel this way?

24:00- What was it like to play Fischer at the peak of his power? 

28:00- What were GM Ulf Andersson’s impressions of Korchnoi?

32:00- Ulf describes his matches with legendary Danish GM Bent Larsen. 

37:00- What were Ulf’s interactions with Kasparov like? What was the difference between Kasparov and Karpov in personality? 

43:00- 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

44:00- What was it like to meet and play Soviet legend GM David Bronstein? What about his friend GM Jan Timman? 

48:00- Ulf discusses an infamous loss of his against IM Michael Basman, sometimes called, “The Immortal Waiting Game.”

50:00- Ulf discusses the 15 hour, 300 plus board simul he played in 1996. 

57:00- Uf gives his perspective on the epic clash between Gukesh and Abdussatorov at this year’s Olympiad. 

59:00- Ulf discusses some of the top current Swedish player’s approaches to maintaining their nerves and playing fighting chess. 

1:09:00- Ulf discusses his interactions with GM Viswanathan Anand 

1:13:00- Shirov’s famous move Bh3! Wwas inspired by a game Alexei played against Ulf. Does Ulf know this story? 

1:16:00- How did Ulf achieve his peak rating in his 40s? Ulf also discusses the differences between open and closed tournaments. 

1:20:00- Ulf discusses his correspondence chess career.

1:28:00- Ulf describes his life in Germany, and also back in Arboga, Sweden, where he does not even have a computer!

Mentioned: GM Robert Hungaski, GM Sandra Mareco

1:35:00- Ulf discusses coaching the Argentinian Olympiad team in 2014. 

1:41:00- Does Ulf do any coaching?

1:47:00- Ulf’s favorite games

1:51:00- What are Ulf’s favorite chess memories? 

1:55:00- Kasparov-Karpov Seville 1987

1:56:00- Thanks so much to Ulf for sharing his passion to a lifetime devoted to chess! 

Bonus Pod- FM Nate Solon joins to Discuss Chess.Com's Report about the Carlsen/Niemann Controversy

Photo courtesy of FM Nate Solon

Perpetual Chess is back with another bonus pod, as the Carlsen/Niemann story continues to see new developments. This week’s major news is that Chess.com has issued a report with a full accounting of their actions around the Hans Niemann story. Joining me to discuss it is FM Nate Solon. Nate is a data scientist, 2018 Massachussets State Chess Champion, an Author, and a blogger who has recently been writing about the controversy, There was tons to discuss from this report, so I was happy to have Nate help me do so. Notes and brief timestamps can be found below.  

CORRECTION- There were a couple of times I misspoke in this pod in distinguishing between online and OTB cheating.I want to clarify that I was not disputing whether Hans cheated online, and any time I mentioned questions about whether Hans cheated it was only in relation to whether he cheated OTB. My apologies- Ben

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- What are the major conclusions from the Chess.com report? 

Mentioned: Chess.com report link here: 

https://www.chess.com/blog/CHESScom/hans-niemann-report

Hans’ Most Recent Chess.com Account

https://www.chess.com/member/hansontwitch

15:00 - 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/

We discuss the data Nate laid out in his Monday post, Did Hans Nieman Cheat

22:00- Back to the report. We discuss the analysis within Chess.com’s report of Hans’ OTB results. 

41:00- 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

42:00- We answer some listener questions related to the scandal. 

Mentioned: David Smerdon’s thoughts on the report here:

https://twitter.com/dsmerdon/status/1577490212342870022?s=20&t=SSwdxc-1W8b1Ot9qukkx8w

Episode 271 with GM Hans Niemann 

1:13:00- Thanks to Nate for joining me and sharing his insights. Here are links to keep up with him: 

Twitter

Substack Blog 

Evaluate Like a GM Website 

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