Book Recap #36- The King: Chess Pieces by GM Jan Hein Donner (with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam)

The Perpetual Chess Book Review series, Chess Books Recaptured is finally back! I am honored to be joined by renowned author and chess journalist Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam to discuss GM Jan Hein Donner’s The King: Chess Pieces. The book is widely considered a 20th century classic and has been recommended by the likes of GMs Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson. It is a compilation of chess columns from a 3-time Dutch national champion, who spanned the chess generations between Max Euwe and Jan Timman. Donner is a brilliant, prescient and provocative writer who chronicles his own career, and also opines as the careers of Fischer, Spassky, Tal and others unfold in his proximity. Reading The King is a fun way to retrace 20th-century chess history, and the life and career of Donner. But, in my opinion, the book is not without its flaws. Donner’s writing is sometimes offensive, particularly when he bombastically shares his views about women in chess. I was grateful to have Dirk Jan help me discern whether Donner was being sarcastic in some of his more scathing columns. After we finish discussing the book, I chat with Dirk Jan a bit about his current projects, and his work on New in Chess’ excellent new podcast. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:02- What is Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam’s personal history with The King and with its author, GM Jan Hein Donner? 

Mentioned: Dutch novelist Harry Mulisch

0:09- How is the English edition of The King, connected to the history of New in Chess publishing?

Mentioned: Allard Hoogland, Taylor Kingston’s review of the 1997 edition of The King:

https://www.chesscafe.com/text/donner.txt

12:00- We discuss Donner’s personal life, including the one, short-lived, real job that he had at IBM. 

Mentioned: 

Hein Donner: The Biography by Alexander Munninghoff 

18:00- Some of Donner’s most famous writing is very sexist- how was it viewed at the time? 

Mentioned: GM Jan Gustafsson 

23:00- Did Dirk Jan work directly with Richard de Weger, the book’s translator? 

24:00- Likes and dislikes from the book, starting with his acquaintance with Donner’s beautiful reflections on Fischer and Spassky. 

Mentioned: Richard James’ review of Hein Donner, The Biography:

https://britishchessnews.com/2020/08/07/hein-donner-the-biography/

42:00- What was Donner’s opinion of legendary Dutch World Champion, Dr. Max Euwe? 

43:00- What did Donner mean by his famous quote “Chess is a game of chance?” We also discuss a few other memorable quotes. 

48:00- Was Donner being sarcastic when he wrote at length that “women cannot play chess”? 

54:00- Why is Donner’s rivalry and demeaning writing about Dutch champion Lodewijk Prins, such a famous part of Dutch chess history? 

Mentioned: GM Ben FInegold’s video on Donner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXqpyLUt6mM

59:00- Closing thoughts on The King

1:03:00- Dirk’s thoughts on the Candidates and his other current big project

Mentioned: The Real Paul Morphy by FM Charles Hertan, Games and Goals 

1:08:00- How is Dirk Jan enjoying podcasting?

Mentioned: New in Chess Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Mj990NfwvaOh4GCKWLMJ7?si=2ec5f58435f44686

Episode 207 with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam 

Thanks to Dirk Jan for sharing his knowledge and experiences with this book! Be sure to sub to the New in Chess Podcast! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Mj990NfwvaOh4GCKWLMJ7?si=eb1eca7173d44ae2

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 384- IM Levy Rozman (GothamChess) on renewing his GM title pursuit, lessons learned from his first attempt, and what we need to do to improve.

This week IM Levy Rozman (Gotham Chess) makes his annual return to Perpetual Chess to discuss what is new with him. I was particularly excited to chat with Levy as he recently announced his renewed pursuit of the GM title. Levy has been sharing lesson snippets and discussing his tournament plans on his channel, but I wanted many more details. What did he learn from his first norm-chasing experience? What will he do differently this time? Does he think he will be able to stick with it? Although most of us will never make GM, Levy’s quest to make it to the next level is relatable for me and for many other chess players. Aside from his OTB comeback, we discussed the swift rating-rise of popular gamer, Tyler 1, and the successes and lessons learned from Levy’s book.   Levy shared a few stories from meeting celebrities in recent months. It's always fun catching up with Levy, and I am especially excited to follow his renewed pursuit of the GM title! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below.

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:02- What will be different about Levy’s second public quest for GM? Will his mental health be ok? How will he study?

Mentioned: Road to GM Episode 3 with GM Arturs Neiksans 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFILafuQgPg&t=1704s

11:00- What will Levy do to address the weaknesses that GM Neiksans highlighted? 

Mentioned: IM Alex Ostrovskiy 

15:00- Levy discusses his upcoming tournament in Spain. 

17:30- Will Levy stream his tournament games? What tournaments is he planning to play? 

26:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What can Levy’s fans do to support his renewed GM quest?” 

29:00- Will Levy hire a sports psychologist? 

31:00- Does Levy have a timeframe in mind for this GM pursuit? 

34:00- Levy has been covering popular Twitch streamer and gamer Tyler1’s unusual chess progress. What interests him about this story? 

Mentioned: 

Tyler1 is a ChessGM!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gler9fDuhRY

41:00- What led Levy to work on his fitness? 

43:00- Has Levy been pleased with the reception to his book?

Mentioned: Rey Enigma, Blitzstream 

49:00- What was the story behind meeting NBA superstar Luka Donkic? 

53:00- What was it like to finally meet Magnus Carlsen IRL? 

55:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Can Levy tease any upcoming collaborations?”

Mentioned: More info in an article from Tarjei Svensen here:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/4-million-buy-in-tournament-wadim-rosenstein-abdusattorov-caruana-nepomniachtchi-niemann

58:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How will Levy work on positional evaluation in his renewed GM quest?” 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagard’s books 

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Jacob-Aagaard/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJacob+Aagaard

1:00:00- Thanks, as always to Levy for joining me! 

In addition to the usual channels, you can get inside access to his GM quest via his Patreon here:

https://www.patreon.com/gothamchessofficial

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 383- Dan Bock: An Accomplished Adult Improver on How He Leveled Up in his 40s.

Photo by Dan Schipper of the Charlotte Chess Center

This week the Adult Improver Series returns with an extremely insightful guest. Dan Bock is a North Carolina-based software engineer and dad, who finally got serious about chess improvement in 2021. At this time, Dan began to compete frequently, utilize digital flashcards, and make a conscious effort to make “chess friends” to help make his hobby more fulfilling. Dan’s results have been rare and inspiring, as he has seen USCF rating rise from the high 1500s to the high 1900s (USCF) in the last 3 years. As Dan explains, while he is very directed in his decisions of how to approach chess study, he does not put in an outlandish number of hours of study per day. He is very focused on what actually decides the outcomes of his own games and has made constant progress by keeping that as his North Star. I find Dan’s story very inspiring and am excited to see his continued progress! 

Click here to Download the Episode

You can find the Adult Improver Spotify Playlist here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=29035838af4d4345

0:00- You can find more information about the National Open here:

https://www.vegaschessfestival.com/national-open/

The live “My System” podcast with GM Alex Fishbein will be on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 PM. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:02- When did Dan decide to get serious about chess improvement? How did he know how to approach studying? 

Mentioned: Chess Journeys Episode 93 with Dan:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Xg3JotQTg4NoThsn9pPhw?si=14bfea1e50df4df5

Mentioned: Dan’s post: 11 Things I did to Take my USCF Rating from 1547 to 1976 

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/p/11-things-i-did-to-take-my-uscf-rating

09:00- Why did he decide to emphasize OTB chess for improvement? 

10:45- How does Dan use checklists to help his thinking processes?

Mentioned: Dr. Nick Vasquez’s post discussing checklists:

https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/simpler-chess-ask-questions

16:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Dan suggest spending one hour per day on chess?

Mentioned: Anki flashcard app:

https://apps.ankiweb.net/

23:00- Aside from using digital flashcards, what else would Dan recommend? 

Mentioned: Dan’s Post: “What Really Decides Games at the 1900 Level?” 

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/p/what-really-decides-games-at-the

28:00- How did Dan cure his time-trouble habit?

33:00- What is Dan’s approach to openings, and especially the Dubov Italian?

Mentioned: Chessbook.com, CM Han Schut and GM Jan Gustaffson’s Chessable courses on the Dubov Italian 

https://www.chessable.com/dubovs-explosive-italian/course/80152/

https://www.chessable.com/gustafssons-aggressive-1e4-part-1/course/207313/

41:00- Does Dan still work without a coach? 

42:00- Dan and Ben’s improvement takeaways from the FIDE Candidates

45:00- We discuss Dan’s approach to the Italian Opening

Mentioned: TheOnoZone’s Blog:

https://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/learning-to-learn/Xg3xJ4qX

Ono’s HowtoChess interview:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fKVmwuQZkWV9orWqnnchF?si=090bccbf5a284f85

52:00- What does Dan look for when choosing a chess tournament? 

Mentioned: My Two Favorite Chess Tournament

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/p/my-two-favorite-chess-tournaments

56:00- How does Dan balance socialization with chess study at tournaments? Does Dan exercise during tournaments? 

58:00- Closing thoughts!

Mentioned: How to Reassess Your Chess 

1:00:00- 

Subscribe to Dan’s blog here:

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/

Follow him on X here:

https://x.com/boldmovebydan

EP 382- WIM Anna-Maja Kazarian: Why she is All-in on OTB Chess. WGM Title Pursuit, Study Recs + "Shoegate" Reflections

Click here to Download the Episode

This week I am excited to be joined by the popular chess streamer, YouTuber,  commentator, and champion player, WIM Anna-Maja Kazarian. Anna-Maja joined me from her home in the Netherlands after concluding a busy few months of competitive chess. Although she had her share of setbacks, these tournaments were largely successful, as Anna-Maja recently earned her first WGM Norm! 

Our conversation gave Anna-Maja the chance to reflect on the recent lessons she has learned, as well as her goals, both as a chess player and content creator. As she told me, Anna graduated from university somewhat recently and feels that this gives her an opportunity to devote all of her energy to chess improvement. She reflected on what aspects of the game she needs to work on, and also shared recommendations and advice for listeners. Last, and possibly least, we reflected on “Shoegate,” the bizarre scandal in which Anna-Maja somewhat unexpectedly made global headlines for her choice of footwear during the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz tournament. I am excited to see Anna-Maja’s continued norm pursuit, and Ii enjoyed chatting with her. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

02:00- What is the status of Anna-Maja’s quest to earn the WGM title? 

Mentioned: Anna-Maja’s The Chess Experience Podcast Interview 

Anna-Maja’s game recap of earning her norm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVm2KeXwzds

09:00- Is it challenging for Anna-Maja to focus on her tournament games while she is streaming them? 

Mentioned: Episode 326 with Dina Belenkaya 

18:00- What is Anna-Maja’s approach to openings? 

20:00- Does Anna-Maja have a study plan? What books is she studying? 

Mentioned: Zurich 1953, 100 Endgames You Must Know, Van Perlov’s Endgame Tactics, GM Jacob Aagaard’s Attacking Manual, The Steps Method 

25:00- What are Anna-Maja’s upcoming tournaments? 

Mentioned: Sharjah Masters 

26:00-Anna discusses her professional plans after finishing university last year. 

27:00- How does Anna-Maja manage to combine studying with streaming chess?

Mentioned: StudyTime Twitch 

https://www.twitch.tv/studytme

33:00- What are Anna-Maja’s reflections on “shoegate”? 

Mentioned: NY Times-

“Chess Federation Fines Player over her Sports Shoes” 

40:00- What other tournaments does Anna-Maja have coming up? 

44:00- Anna-Maja describes her work with the Chessqueens Foundation 

49:00- What are Anna-Maja’s favorite open tournaments? Does she do a lot of socialzing during rounds? 

52:00- Is Anna-Maja working with a coach? 

55:00 Anna-Maja’s closing thoughts. 

Mentioned: Alliance E-Sports 

Thanks to Anna-Maja for joining me! Here is how to keep up with her:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/amkazarian/

Twitch

https://www.twitch.tv/annamaja

YouTube-

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIKOoBA2bTAVj_MaPHzMSdg

X/Twitter-

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

EP 381- CM Azel Chua- Calculation Advice, Improving Chess Intuition, and is the concept of “Checks, Captures & Threats” overrated?

Azel Chua is a 21-year-old Singapore-based self-taught Candidate Master who has built his own chess skills from the ground up. As Azel explains, he began working on his visualization skills as he sought a way to study chess during high school classes that did not especially interest him.. From there, Azel has developed a unique framework for calculating in chess that he calls “The Burger Technique,” as covered in his popular Chessable courses on Calculation.  In our interview, we discuss this technique, as well as hearing Azel’s thoughts and experiences with utilizing resources such as YouTube, and Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual. Azel also shares some helpful tips on ways to improve one’s chess intuition, and he delves into his background and the chess scene in Singapore. As always, timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock additional features, be sure to use the following link:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

03:00- What did Azel learn from studying the classic book Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual during high school classes? 

Mentioned: Calculation Masterclass with Chessgoals

7:00- What was Azel’s approach to chess improvement? 

10:00- Why does Azel think that the common tactic-solving advice of looking for “checks, captures and threats” might be bad advice? 

12:15- What is”the Burger technique?” 

17:30- Where did he come up with the name for “the Burger technique?” 

21:00- What was Azel’s mix of studying vs. competing as a tournament player? 

22:00- How does Azel describe the chess culture of Singapore?

25:00- What were the biggest contributors to Azel’s improvement?

27:30- What can we do to improve our chess intuition?

32:00- What was Azel’s approach to openings?

36:00- Does Azel follow professional chess? Or read about chess history?

37:00- How does Azel find teaching material? 

39:00- What is reciprocal thinking? 

Mentioned: IM John Bartholomew‘s Video: The Power of Reciprocal Thinking 

45:00- Thanks to Azel Chua for joining me! You can check out his Chessable courses here:

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

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 380- FIDE Candidates Wrap Up with GM Erwin L'Ami: Gukesh Ascends as Caruana Suffers a Heartbreaking Setback

We are back for one more 2024 FIDE Candidates reflection as we start to take stock of a historic tournament. Joining me (again) to discuss it is renowned trainer, opening theoretician, Chessable author, and 2022 Dutch National Champion, GM Erwin Lami. Erwin has frequently collaborated with GM Anish Giri, and he was on the World Championship preparation team for GM Veselin Toplov. Erwin shares his thoughts on GM Gukesh’s impressive ascendance, Fabiano and Nepo’s disappointment, and what this result does and does not mean for the trajectory of professional chess. We also discuss the performance of the other players, the Women’s Candidates, and Erwin’s plans for 2024. I always love to hear Erwin’s perspective, and discussing this tournament was not an exception. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com! Check out what they have to offer, and if you sign up for Chessable Pro (as you should), use this link to help support Perpeutal Chess:

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0;00- Upcoming events and info:

1. Chess in the Schools Poker Fundraiser;

https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-poker-night-fundraiser

1. National Open/Las Vegas Chess Festival Info:

https://www.vegaschessfestival.com/national-open/

4:30- GM Erwin L’Ami joins me! What does he think made this tournament was so compelling? 

10:00- How surprised was Erwin by Gukesh’s performance? What should we expect from him from here? 

18;30- Patreon mailbag quesiton: “How can Caruana recover from his devastaiting loss to Nepo? “ 

.27:00- What did Erwin think of Nepo's performance?

29:30- Where does Nakamura go from here? Will this be his last Candidates? 

38:00- What went wrong for GM Alireza Firouzja? 

43:00 What are Erwin’s thoughts on Pragganandhaa’s performance? 

46:00- What were Erwin’s thoughts on the Women’s Candidates? 

49:00- Where might the World Championship be held? Would it help or hurt Gukesh if it were in India? 

53:00- Who does Erwin think would be the favorite in Gukesh vs. Ding?

Mentioned: Gotham City Podcast with GM Gukesh 

57:00 Does the format for the Candidates or Candidates qualification need to be changed? 

Mentioned: IM Greg Shahade’s blog post 

1:08:00- What are Erwin’s remaining 2024 plans? 

Thanks as always to GM Erwin L’ami for providing his perspective! 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 379- IM Renier Castellanos on How he Earned the GM Title at Age 41.

41-year-old IM Renier Castellanos had all but given up on earning the Grandmaster title. His life was getting busier, and after 2 potential GM norms were not ratified by FIDE, he felt like it just wasn’t meant to be. But his friends and Killer Chess Training co-workers, GM Jacob Aagaard and Kallia Kleisarchaki, convinced him to keep trying. It turned out that was all it took! Two weeks ago, Renier got his final GM norm, to earn the title of Grandmaster at age 41. In our interview, Renier reflects on the lessons he has learned, and why he thinks he was still able to earn the title in this challenging era, despite not working on chess as much as he did in his 20s. Renier also shares his own advice on chess improvement, some book recommendations, and discusses what he observed from facing Super GM level players like GM Vladimir Fedoseev. This interview was conducted while the Candidates was still ongoing, but you can even hear Renier’s Candidates prediction to see how it played out. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com 

New courses include - Michael Roiz’s Fighting the Grunfeld and King’s Indian 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:01- Renier discusses why he had given up on the GM title 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard of Killer Chess Training, Killer Chess Training Review of Renier’s Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeI0AazBw1I

0:08- What shortcoming in his game did Renier need to overcome in order to earn the title?

9:45- How did he think about the expense of pursuing the GM title?

16:00- What is Renier’s approach to the opening? What else did he do to train?

Mentioned; KillerChessTraining.com

22:00- How did Renier’s wife, WGM Raluca Sgircea, help him with his daily habits? 

25:00- Renier discusses his early years growing up in Cuba, moving to Chile and then to Spain in his teens and 20s 

Mentioned: GM Lazaro Bruzon Batista, Chess Reddit thread about Renier’s GM title  

31:00- We discuss the congratulatory notes Renier has gotten, including this tweet from GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming 

Mentioned: Episode 184 with GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming 

34:00- Did an emphasis on physical fitness help his chess? What about community?

43:00- What is the best way to spend one’s chess improvement time?

46:00- Renier’s recommended open tournaments, based on his time on as a traveling chess professional:

Mentioned: Benasque, Spain Chess Open, Menoraca, Sitges 

51:00- Renier’s favorite chess books

Mentioned: Perfect Your Chess, Dynamic Chess Strategy by GM Mihai Suba 

54:00- What did Renier learn from playing Fedoseev and other super GM-level players? 

1:03:00- Renier’s most memorable game

Mentioned: Video of his World Bitz victory vs. GM Peter Svidler 

1:10:00- Thanks to Renier for sharing his inspiring story! 

You can reach him via his Lichess coaches page or find his classes at KillerChessTraining:

https://lichess.org/coach/RenierChess

KillerChessTraining.com

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 2)- FM Mike Klein on the Player’s Mindsets, Historical Context, and the Alireza Shoe Controversy

For the final FIDE Candidates bonus pod, award-winning Chess.com journalist, FM Mike Klein joins me from Toronto. We cover  topics including the atmosphere in the playing hall, the presence of seconds and family members of the players, what to expect in rounds 13 and 14,  and Mike provides his perspective on the controversy surrounding GM Alireza Firouzja's father. Thanks, as always, to Mike for providing so many behind-the-scenes details.

Click here to Download the Episode

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 1)- An Epic Finish Awaits, as Naka, Nepo and Gukesh are Tied!

As we enter the final rest day, The FIDE Candidates tournament is set up for maximum drama with a three-way tie for first place and two rounds remaining. Joining me from Toronto to discuss it is FM Dalton Perrine. We highlight the continued trend of surprising opening choices and results, as well as the increased tension in the room as the tournament builds to a climax. In the women's section, we are down to two contenders for the Candidates title, as Tan Zhongyi and Lei Tingjie are separated by a half a point.Dalton and I discuss all of the key matchups and surprises we have seen, as we look forward to the final chapter of an entertaining tournament. I will be back with one more bonus pod later on Friday, as Chess.com’s FM Mike Klein joins me from Toronto. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Mentioned in pod:

@ponysunrise photos:

https://twitter.com/sunrise_pony

@chessnumbers tweet -

https://x.com/ChessNumbers/status/1781113720212742568

Calib Wetheralll's Tournament Simulations-

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c7iy1g/fide_candidates_tournament_updated_predictions/

Thanks to FM Dalton Perrine for joining me! Here is how to reach him: 

Chessable Author page:

https://www.chessable.com/author/mattydperrine/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzuOx_63p9AIVkElyCh0z-A53EAAYASAAEgJY5vD_BwE

Chess.com

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

 His Coaching Services:

https://nextlevelchesscoaching.com/fm-dalton-perrine/

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

https://www.patreon.com/PerpetualChess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Jan Timman on the tournament so far.

It is always an honor to hear 9-time Dutch Champion and former “best of the west” standout, GM Jan Timman discuss elite chess. In this interview he shares his thoughts on the 2024 FIDE Candidates. Topics include: 

• Who he favored going in

• Who he favors now

• Why the opening surprises? 

• His thoughts on Firouzja’s disappointing performance

• His next book

  Its always a pleasure to speak with GM Timman!

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Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out GM Oliksiyenko’s course for Chessable pro members on the Candidates here:

https://www.chessable.com/chess-candidates-2024/course/243222/

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:03- GM Timman joins me! 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 378- Lou Hays- Spending weekends with Fischer and Spassky, Getting to 2100 from Scratch as an Adult, Chess Publishing Then and Now

For this week’s (non-Candidates) podcast I am honored to be joined by Lou Hays. Lou Hays is a businessman, accomplished chess author, and the founder of Hays Publishing, which published many popular books beginning in the 1990s. Lou also is an accomplished amateur player, who began tournament chess in his 20s and made it up to near master level. Lou has had the opportunity to meet some of the true legends of the game, and shares some amazing stories about his time spent with Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky and David Bronstein. We also discuss how chess improvement has, and has not changed over the decades, as well as Hays Publishing’s most successful books, and how the chess publishing industry has changed. I greatly enjoyed hearing Lou’s stories, and I am confident that you will as well. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00-  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include GM Romain Eduoard’s Lifetime Repertoires: King’s Indian Attack. 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

Mentioned:

Winning Chess for Juniors 

 https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Tactics-Juniors-Hays/dp/1880673932

0:03- In 1992, Lou got to spend the weekend with Bobby Fischer. How did that come about, and what was the experience like?

Mentioned: Bobby Fischer, Complete Games of the World Champion, Zita Rajcsanyi, Ken Smith (founder of Chess Digest and the Smith-Morra Gambit), Fischer voicemail is on YouTube here:

https://youtube.com/shorts/CCa15k61MLY?si=igrs2WYVuyYHbltj

25:00- Lou shares his own chess story, including how chess improvement has, and has not changed 

Mentioned: Hastings 1895 (Out of print), NM John Jacobs, Hal Bogner, IM Anatoly Lein 

37:00- What was it like to spend a weekend with Boris Spassky?

46:00- Lou tells the story of playing legendary blitz player Israel Zelber. 

49:00- How did Lou get into the chess publishing business? 

Mentioned: My System: 21st Century Edition, Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors, Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, Stuart Margulies, Yasser Seirawan 

55:30- Patreon mailbag question: Would Lou consider putting Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors on Chessable? 

Mentioned: James Stallings 

1:00:00- Lou is also an accomplished improver at golf! Are there any parallels to chess improvement?

Mentioned:Lou’s book Make Your Golf Dream a Reality , 

1:01:00- What was it like to spend time with legendary GM David Bronstein?

Mentioned: The Rise and Fall of David Bronstein by Genna Sosonko, Mikanes Bronstein 1965 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Gukesh lead Narrowly as Naka and Fabi are in Pursuit

Heading into the penultimate rest day, I provide a quick rundown of the standings and key stories of a closely contested and entertaining FIDE Candidates. Plus I briefly share my thoughts on the drama surrounding GM Alireza Firouzja's noisy shoes.

Watch this feed for part 2, which will feature an interview about the Candidates with legendary former Dutch Champion, GM Jan Timman.

Click here to Download the Episode

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Daniel King on the Tournament So Far

We are back for with an in-depth breakdown of the first half of the FIDE Candidates. I am honored to be joined by commentator, author, Chessable author and Excellent YouTuber, GM Daniel King to discuss all that has transpired so far. What makes Nepo so good in these tournaments? Does Fabi have another gear? What has surprised Daniel the most? Tune in for this, plus player-by-player analysis. Timestamps of topics discussed below as always! 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Brief big picture thoughts on the tournament

0:05- Nepo! What stands out about his performance?

Mentioned: The Chess Mind’s Blog Post:

https://thechessmind.substack.com/p/candidates-round-7

21:00- Fabiano 

Mentioned: Anthony Levin’s Round 7 Recap:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-7

27:00- Gukesh

Final moments of Firouzja-Gukesh:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c1sxzb/final_moments_of_gukesh_vs_firouzja/

34:00- Firouzja 

38:00- Pragganandha

45:00- Nakamura 

50:00- Vidit

53:00- Abasov 

55:00- Final thoughts on Open Section 

56:00- Women’s sections 

1:01:00- Viewer Q & A- Daniel’s next projects, Genna Sosonko, Collusion 

Mentioned: Daniel’s Anti-Sicilian Chessable Course (forthcoming to New in Chess as a book) , The Essential Sosonko

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Tan Zhongyi Lead after a Dramatic First Half of the Tournament

We are at the halfway point of a wildly entertaining 2024 FIDE Candidates! Ian Nepomniathchi continues to lead the Open Section, while Tan Zhongyi is in front in the Women’s Candidates This is the first part of what will be 2 podcasts discussing the tournament through 7 rounds. In this solo pod, I briefly run through the standings, upcoming pairings and share a few thoughts on the tournament. For part 2 (coming soon to this feed), I will be interviewing GM Daniel King of the Powerplay Chess YouTube Channel. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Links Mentioned:

Live stream of my chat with GM Daniel King Friday at 9AM EDT/1PM GMT on the Powerplay Chess YouTube Chess 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiOR9OnXOEk

(and later to this feed)

Mentioned: 

Final moments of Firouzja-Gukesh:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c1sxzb/final_moments_of_gukesh_vs_firouzja/

Be sure to tune in for tomorrow Candidates interview with GM Daniel King, as well as our regular Tuesday weekly pod. 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 377- NM Dan Heisman and NM Laura Smith. Two Accomplished Trainers on Capturing, Counting, and other Chess Concepts To Know

For this week’s regular edition, (no FIDE Candidates talk) of Perpetual Chess, we are honored to be joined by two highly respected trainers and Chessable Authors. NM Dan Heisman is an engineer, turned author, YouTuber and trainer, who is particularly insightful regarding topics of adult chess improvement. I am a particular fan of his book, A Guide to Chess Improvement: The Best of Novice Nook. NM Laura Smith is a school teacher, chess trainer and former youth champion, who was the highest rated 13 year-old in the United States in 2002. Together, Laura and Dan have just collaborated on a new Chessable course, Can I Take It? A Beginner's Guide to Capturing Pieces. The course is geared toward beginner players and provides a comprehensive guide to an important tactical concept that Dan Heisman calls “counting.” In addition to discussing lessons from the course, we discuss some of the other original chess terms Dan has coined, Laura’s recent return to OTB chess, and upcoming projects for both authors. As always, timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00-  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

Prior interviews with our guests:

Episode 138 with NM Dan Heisman 

Laura Smith on How to Chess 

0:01- How did Laura and Dan decide to collaborate? 

Back to Basics Chess Tactics by Dan Heisman 

5:30- What does Dan mean by the term “counting”? 

Mentioned: GM John Nunn’s Learn Chess Tactics 

10:30- What is the genesis of the term “Reinfeld values”

Mentioned: GM Larry Kaufman, The Evolution of Material Imbalances by IM Larry Kaufman, FM Charles Hertan 

12:30- Dan and Laura on the differences between how adults and kids learn

Mentioned: NM Dan Benjamin, IM Josh Waitzkin, Everyone’s Second Chess Book by NM Dan Heisman 

19:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Dan’s advice for improving visualization? 

Mentioned: Evaluate like a Grandmaster by FM Nate Solon and GM Eugene Perelshteyn 

Chessable’s Visualize Courses 

25:00- Laura’s lessons learned from a recent OTB tournament, her first in years. 

28:00- We discuss some of our favorite books.

Mentioned: Dan’s recommended book page, My recommended book page, Chess Steps books, Interviews mentioned IM Jop de la Marre, NM Han Schut, Chess Steps Walk-Through with Han Schut, 

30:00- Dan and Smith discuss forthcoming books and projects 

Mentioned: Laura Smith’s Forcing Moves for Beginners 

39:00- What is a floobly? 

46:00- Thanks to Dan and Laura for rejoining! Here is how you can reach them:

https://www.danheisman.com/lessons.html

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

Get their course here: https://www.chessable.com/can-i-take-it-a-beginners-guide-to-capturing-pieces/course/174891/

Sub to Dan's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/danheisman

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

Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates First 4 Round Breakdown. Nepo leads (As usual). Plus a Fan's Toronto Trip Report

Denis Markov and Vishy Anand Reminiscing About Their Appearances on Perpetual Chess

The 2024 FIDE Candidates tournament is off and running with some entertaining chess and plenty of surprises. (Although perhaps the identities of the leaders in the Open and Women’s sections aren’t as surprising.) I have been riveted by this tournament and am hoping to provide audio analysis and perspective from different guests on each rest day. In today’s pod, I briefly share my early impressions, than welcome recent guest Denis Markov back to the podcast. Denis had just returned from attending Rounds 1 and 2 in Toronto and described what it was like to attend the event. We went into everything from FIDE’s cheat prevention methods, to what the viewing experience is like within the venue. Whether you are thinking of making a last minute trip to Toronto, or just want to live vicariously through Denis, I think you will enjoy his report of a trip that Denis says he definitely will not regret. We will be back with more coverage of this fantastic tournament on the next rest day, Friday April 12. 

Click here to Download the Episode

00:02 - Introduction and Plan for Perpetual Chess Coverage

02:00- Tournament Standings and Ben’s early Impressions

11:00 -Preview of Round Five Pairings

13:30- Denis Markov joins for a trip report from Toronto  (previously heard on Episode 359)

13:57- Buying Tickets and Ticket Options

15:40- VIP Tickets and Balcony Experience

17:32- What it is like watching the players 

19:50- Player Interactions and Autographs

23:00- The Fan Zone and Chess Personalities

26:47 -Spotting Chess Personalities

31:41-Meeting Gukesh and Viswanathan Anand

33:57-- Comparing the Candidates Tournament with attending the 2016 World Championship Match

36:57- Denis' Final Thoughts 

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

Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

EP 376- Adult Improver Jordan Groff on What it Takes to Make Master in 2024

The Adult Improver Series returns this week, with a guest who has improved his chess rapidly. Jordan Groff is a 24 year old Connecticut-based chess instructor who was recommended as a guest to me by GM Eugene Perelshteyn. Jordan resumed chess in 2018 after some years away, and has gone from 1864 to more than 2260 in about the last few years. During  our interview, Jordan shares several ‘secrets” to his success. Aside from a lot of hard work and frequent competition, Jordan particularly credits a focus on the psychological aspects of OTB chess, and on opening preparation and tactics work. You can find out many more details in my interview with Jordan.  it is inspiring to see such fast progress! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

 0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:00- You can find all of the information you need about the Las Vegas Chess Festival and the National Open here. I hope to see you there!

https://www.vegaschessfestival.com/national-open/

Click here to Download the Episode

0:01- What got Jordan back into chess  in 2018, after some years away? 

Mentioned: Ginger GM, Chess Network 

13:00- What is Jordan’s approach to the study of openings? 

Mentioned: GM Eugene Perelshteyn, FM Nate Solon

20:00- Has Jordan studied a lot of tactics? 

25:00- What made Jordan decide to “play up” and play in higher sections?

32:00- What is Jordan’s approach to studying endgames?  

37:00- What sort of stuff does Jordan do in his lessons with GM Eugene Perelshteyn? 

43:00- Was it challenging for Jordan to earn the National Master title? What are his next goals? 

Mentioned: Here is Jordan’s LiChess coaches page:

https://lichess.org/coach/jmwgroff

48:30- What is Jordan’s best advice for people who are stuck?

52:00- Jordan’s recommended chess resources:

Mentioned: How to Reassess Your Chess, Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, Under the Surface, Seven Deadly Chess Sins 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 375- FIDE Candidates Mega Preview with GM Rafael Leitão, Chess by the Numbers, and On the Queenside

The FIDE Candidates Tournament begins on April 4 in Toronto, Canada, and I could not be more excited to see who gets to challenge for the FIDE World Championship. As is tradition on Perpetual Chess, we have a few great guests joining to help discuss the action. This year offers a unique clash of generations, with the established elite like GMs Nakamura, Nepomniathchi and Caruana trying to hold off young stars like GM Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa. My first guest is 7-time Brazilian champion & Correspondence GM,  Rafael Leitão. In addition to a vast resume as a player, Rafael regularly annotates top-level games for Chess.com news coverage. Reviewing these games in detail on a daily basis gives Rafael unique insights into the tendencies of the world’s top players.  Rafael and I discuss what to watch for in each player’s performance, fun facts, and what opening choices we might see from each player.

 Following Rafael, I am joined by Tai Pruce Zimmerman, a/k/a Chess by the Numbers. Tai shares and discusses the win probability of both the open and the women’s candidates, and we also compare the output of Tai’s probabilistic model to the betting markets. Last but not least, I am joined by “On the Queenside,” who has built a large following on Twitter and Lichess for covering Women’s Chess in detail. We discuss whether it is a good idea to run the Women’s Candidates concurrently with the open, and which players we are excited to watch. As always, the timestamps of the guests, as well as the topics and players discussed can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:01- Format notes on the FIDE Candidates, including tournament schedule, tiebreak formats, and the Perpetual Chess plan for covering the event. 

Mentioned: More info on the Candidates here, including tiebreak rules:

https://www.fide.com/news/2843

More from Chess.com here:

https://www.chess.com/events/2024-fide-candidates-chess-tournament

09:30- GM Rafael Leitão joins me for a detailed Candidates discussion!

Mentioned: Rafael’s prior interview was episode 147. 

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2019/10/15/episode-147-gm-rafael-Leitão

15:00- Can Ian Nepomniatchtchi “threepeat” at the Candidates? 

21:50- We discuss GM Nijat Abasov. As the lowest rated player, does he have a chance?

25:30- GM Fabiano Caruana- is it his time again? What openings might he play? 

Mentioned: Leitão-Caruana 2010 

30:00- GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshababu. Can the young phenom break through?

32:30- Hikaru Nakamura. Is it finally his time? 

Mentioned: GM Daniel King’s Powerplay Chess’ Preview of the tournament:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t947S0Jhj48

Gelfand-Nakamura 2010 

37:45- Alireza Firouzja! Has he learned from his disappointing performance in 2022? 

44:00- GM Vidit Gujirathi: Can he continue his mid-career rise? 

47:00- GM Gukesh Dommaraju:  Can the youngest participant surprise? 

51:30- Who does Rafael predict will win? 

Mentioned: Bwin’s betting market on the Candidates:

https://sports.bwin.com/en/sports/events/candidates-tournament-2024-14808453

54:00- Rafael shares his thoughts on the Women’s Candidates. More info here: 

https://www.chess.com/events/2022-2023-fide-womens-candidates

59:00- Rafael discusses his own chess career, and what is new since our prior interview. This includes a compelling argument for Chess960. 

Mentioned:GM Luis Paolo Supi,  Supi-Carlsen 2020 

1:10:00- Tai Pruce Zimmerman aka Chess by the Numbers rejoins me to talk Candidates statistiics! 

 Mentioned: Betting market here:https://sports.bwin.com/en/sports/events/candidates-tournament-2024-14808453

1:31:00- What does Tai’s model say on who is most likely to win the Woman’s Candidates?

1:42:00- On the Queenside joins us. Is it a good idea to have the Women’s Candidates run concurrently with the Open Candidates for the first time? 

Mentioned: On the Queenside’s preview of the Reykjavik Open, which is ongoing:

https://lichess.org/@/OnTheQueenside/blog/reykjavik-open-preview/zJaq8b7C

EP 374- GM Noel Studer- Chess Improvement Q & A- Avoiding Burnout, Addressing Weaknesses, Avoiding Blunders, & Lots More!

This week we return with another “Chess Improvement Q & A” episode, with another top trainer. Our returning guest is 2-time Swiss National Champion, turned trainer and blogger, GM Noel Studer. Noel is always insightful on everything related to chess improvement. He answers a wide range of questions from the online chess community. Topics discussed include: how to diagnose weaknesses, what to look for in a chess trainer, limiting blunders,and  improving tactics, as well as Noel’s helpful advice for dealing with various common psychological pitfalls that chess players face. After 75 minutes of chess improvement talk, we turn our attention to Noel’s new course, Beginner Chess Mastery.  It is a comprehensive guide for newer chess players, designed to take you up to about the 1200 level. If this describes you or someone you know, you will want to stay tuned until the end of the pod.  Timestamps of all the topics discussed can be found below.

Click here to download the episode

If you or someone you know is below 1200 and looking to improve their games, check out Noel’s course. (on sale for a limited time) 

(Using this link helps to support Perpetual Chess) 

Beginner Chess Mastery 

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, here: 

https://benjohnson.substack.com

Sign up for Noel’s chess improvement blog here:

https://nextlevelchess.blog/newsletter/

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

Prior Noel Studer appearances on episodes 248 and 312

 04:30- Chess improvement Q and A! Is it possible that an amateur player would be a better teacher for a beginner than a Grandmaster would? 

Mentioned: Nate Solon’s Tweet:

https://x.com/natesolon/status/1765044706885468204?s=20

Also Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard

18:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How does Noel diagnose what a student needs to do to improve? How does he know when a weakness has been sufficiently addressed?” 

22:00- Advice for limiting blunders 

25:00-  Patreon mailbag question:  “What is Noel’s advice for someone who struggles at rapid speed compared to slower time controls?” 

31:00- Advice for improving at tactics 

Mentioned: 600 Practical Chess Exercises 

36;30- Is it more effective to have a coach than to use online training courses? 

38:00- Noel’s excellent advice for avoiding making impulsive moves. 

45:00- Noel’s advice for a player who struggles to embrace complications when short on time

51;00- Is one better off studying the games of lower level masters compared to those of Super GMs and the all-time greats? 

56:00- What does Noel think of solitaire chess/guess the move? 

1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Diet and weight loss are known as the keys to losing weight.  What are the chess-improvement analogs to diet and weight loss?” 

1:03:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What are some ways to evaluate improvement besides rating?” 

1:05:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “What is Noel’s favorite chess book on the middlegame?” 

Mentioned: Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios 

1:07:00- Does Noel think its better to repeat tactical puzzles a la the Woodpecker method, or to solve new ones? 

1:09:00- Noel’s tips for avoiding burnout 

1:13:00- What is the best time control to practice online? 

1:15:30- We discuss Noel’s new course, Beginner Chess Mastery

1:19:50- Who is the target audience for this course? 

Thanks to Noel for joining me again! 

Sign up for his blog here:

https://nextlevelchess.blog/newsletter/

And get his course here (using this link helps support Perpetual Chess):

https://nextlevelchesscourses.teachable.com/p/beginner-chess-mastery?affcode=1152624_qcx_s87s

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 373- Carol Ann Caronia: Advice for Chess Parents & Scholastic Teachers from an Author and Longtime Teacher

This week on the podcast we delve into the topic of how to teach chess to kids who are new to the game. My guest, Carol Ann Caronia has been teaching curriculum and afterschool chess classes in Brooklyn, New York for decades. Her new book, Strategic Moves: Mind-Building Chess Exercises for Kids, shares all that she has learned from these experiences. The topics we cover include, differences she has noticed between teaching girls and teaching boys, managing after-school classes, and whether or not we should let new students/our kids win when we play them. Carol Ann has accumulated some amusing stories during her time teaching, including a tale of two parents getting into a fight over their kids chess game. As we discuss, Carol Ann has worked closely with legendary teacher Bruce Pandolfini, and taught a 5 year-old Fabiano Caruana! If you are a chess parent, a teacher, or simply someone who would like to be able to teach a new player the game effectively, this is the episode for you. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com. In addition to GM Friedel’s course, Endgame Labyrinths is now on Chessable. If you use the link below to sign up for Perpetual Chess, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

0:01- What advice would Carol Ann give to those facilitating scholastic chess classes? 

12:00- What recommendations would Carol Ann give for anyone teaching chess to a brand new player? Should we let the kids win? 

15:00- Has Carol Ann noticed a difference in teaching chess to girls and teaching chess to boys? 

Mentioned: My 60 Memorable Games 

20:00- What advice does she give to parents whose kids become tournament players? 

23:00- Carol Ann discusses some of her star students, including a 5 year-old Fabiano Caruana 

Mentioned: Bruce Pandolfini, GM Robert Hess 

27:00- How is it different teaching chess as part of a curriculum compared to after school classes or chess clubs? 

28:30- Carol Ann shares a story of two parents getting in a fight over a game during parent visitation day. 

32:00- In the age of devices, does Carol Ann notice any difference in the attention span of kids? 

Mentioned: Paul Morphy, Judit Polgar 

34:00- Should “touch-move” be enforced with kids? 

36:30- What can teachers and volunteers do to help make up for any shortcomings in the school systems?

39:00- Has Carol Ann noticed any change in the popularity of chess in the wake of Queen’s Gambit? 

40:30- What skills does Carol Ann think chess might help develop? 

43:00- Carol Ann shares some closing recommendations for resources Mentioned:

Jeff Coakley’s books, Everyone’s First Chess Workbook 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess