EP 401- Sam Kahn: Advice for Taming Chess Degeneracy and The Lessons We Can Learn from Past Chess Greats

Sam Kahn is a writer and film producer by day with a passion for chess, and particularly, the lessons we can learn from chess history. Sam is especially fascinated by the distinct chess styles that one can see by playing through the games of prior greats like Lasker, Pillsbury and Capablanca. He writes about the lessons we can learn from these players in his excellent new collaboration with IM Cyrus Lakdawala, A Century of Chess Book 1: 1900-1909. Of course, before Sam became consumed by chess history, he obsessively focused on his own game. Sam has his share of stories from all-nighters at NYC chess dens, and reflects on how he achieved the 2100 USCF level, and why he thinks it will be challenging to reach a highe level.  Based on his own experiences, Sam also shares tips for navigating the narrow path from “degenerate” chess obsessive to healthy chess hobbyist. As an avid reader of Sam’s blogs (both chess and non-chess), I was excited to hear him reflect on his chess story. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Check out the app of our new sponsors Chess Universe in your app store. 

https://chess-universe.sng.link/Dqw52/kbhh

0:02- What makes some chess players better than ourselves?

Mentioned: Sam’s post My Insane, Degenerate, Overpowering Chess Hobby

https://samkahn.substack.com/p/my-insane-degenerate-overpowering

0:07- Has AI changed the romanticism of players representing competing schools of thought? 

11:30- As a 2100 level player, why is Sam dismissive of his own chess abilities? 

Mentioned: Edward Winter’s post about the famous quote “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.”

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/proverbs.html

16:00- Why does Sam call legendary NYC IM Jay Bonin his “White Whale”?

18:00- What does Sam think are the best ways to improve at chess? 

24:00- Thanks to our sponsors:

Check out new Chessable courses by me, GM Nils Grandelius, and GM Sam Shankland- if you sign up for Chessable Pro, be sure to use this link:

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

25:00- What is the story behind Sam’s chess history blog being turned into a book? 

Mentioned: Colin Stapcynzcki

A Century of Chess Book 1: 1900-1909, IM Cyrus Lakdawala 

33:00- Who is Sam’s favorite chess player covered in the book?

Mentioned: Lasker, Maroczy, Pillsbury 

38:00- How does Sam ascertain the stylistic tendencies of historical chess players? 

Mentioned: Nimzowitsch, Janowski, New in Chess Podcast with GM Tiger Hillarp Persson

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hmw6yMC1u2mwYo5HUjNPG?si=43cd8d56debb4319

48:00- Is there much overlap between Sam’s non-chess blog and his chess blog? 

https://samkahn.substack.com/p/my-insane-degenerate-overpowering

55:00- Sam’s advice for finding a balanced approach to chess. 

57:00- In his late 30s, is Sam too old to make the  master level? 

Mentioned: Episode 400 with NM Matt Gross

1:03:00- Sam’s favorite chess history writers:

Mentioned: Richard Reti’s Masters of the Chessboard, Irving Chernev, GM Andy Soltis, My Great Predecessor’s, On the Origin of Good Moves by IM Willy Hendriks, Ink Wars by IM Willy Hendriks 

1:09:00- Thanks to Sam for joining.   Here is how you can check out his work.  

Book- 

A Century of Chess Book 1: 1900-1909,

Chess.com History Blog-

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

Non-Chess Blog-

https://samkahn.substack.com/

Olympiad Bonus Pod- Mr. Dodgy on the Atmosphere, Controversies and Notable Stories so far from Budapest

As the FIDE Chess Olympiad enters the homestretch, it has been as entertaining as ever. It is hard to keep up with all of the emerging storylines, but Chessable's Mr. Dodgy joined me from Budapest to discuss a few, as well as to describe the atmosphere in Budapest and at the playing hall. Topics covered include: the cell phone camera controversy, GM Ding Liren's disappointing performance, India's dominance, and the inspiring story of Eman Sawan. You can find links to all of the stories referenced below. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the tournament!

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- Welcome 

3:00- How Budapest compares to the 2022 Chennai Olympiad 

5:55- The Women in Chess Foundation

08:56- The Kramnik camera phone controversy 

12:00- GM Ding Liren’s uninspiring performance at the tournament 

15:00- Final thoughts: Is India inevitable? 

Links referenced:

Find out more about the phone in the playing hall controversy here:

https://x.com/chess24com/status/1837226230082588923

Chessbase India shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/c/ChessBaseIndiachannel/shorts

Check out FM Mike Klein’s interview with Palestinian star performer Eman Sawan here:

https://x.com/chess24com/status/1836815099614400866

Magnus arrival by bicycle to an early round:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1ffxngn/twitter_photochess_magnus_carlsen_arrives_late/

GM Peter Svidler’s Ding Liren comment:

https://x.com/FIDE_chess/status/1836397064143438001

Thanks to Mr. Dodgy for joining, Check out the Women in Chess Foundation here:

https://www.womeninchess.com/

Thanks to Mr. Doodgy for joining, Check out the Women in Chess Foundation here:

https://www.womeninchess.com/

EP 400- Adult Improver NM Matt Gross- How Studying Model Games and Improving Intuition Helped Him Become an NM at Age 48

The Adult Improver series returns to Perpetual Chess to spotlight another accomplished amateur. This week we are joined by 48-year-old data scientist, NM Matt Gross. Matt returned to tournament chess after a 17-year hiatus with a mission to earn the USCF Master title. With a 2140 rating, Matt did not need to earn so many additional points to reach his goal, but he found that the game had evolved and competition was much tougher in 2021 than in had been in  2004. Matt could no longer rely on outcalculating his opponents and playing dodgy openings, He soon realized that  he would need to revamp his entire chess game. He decided to focus on building a solid repertoire, and, most of all,to work assiduously to improve his chess intuition.  Matt’s mission to make NM took a few years, but he managed to earn the title in 2023, possibly making him one of the oldest players to earn the NM title in the past few years. Our conversation is about how he went about this.  In addition to the insights from this conversation, Matt also shares a treasure trove of advice and resources on his blog, Movelibrary. Thanks to Matt for sharing his inspiring story! 

Click here to download the Episode

https://www.movelibrary.com/

0:00- Thanks to Perpetual Chess Patreon subs for helping to support the podcast! If you would like to join the community, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

0:00- Thanks to our sponsors:

Check out new Chessable courses by me, GM Nils Grandelius, and GM Sam Shankland- if you sign up for Chessable Pro, be sure to use this link:

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

0:02- NM Matt Gross joins the podcast and discusses how he got back into chess during the pandemic after 17 years away. 

Mentioned: GM Gata Kamsky’s Twitch stream 

0:08- Why did Matt think he would need to revamp his game after a 17-year hiatus? 

Mentioned: Matt’s “TLDR” post is here:

https://www.movelibrary.com/story/1/

14:00- Why did Matt decide to focus on studying model games and working to improve his intuition? 

22:00- Check out the app of our new sponsors Chess Universe in your app store. 

https://chess-universe.sng.link/Dqw52/kbhh

23:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Many GMs have suggested that calculation is the great differentiator between masters and club players, so why focus on intuition rather than calculation?” 

32:00- What surprised Matt in coming back to tournaments for the first time in 17 years? 

Mentioned: GM Naroditsky series The Blitz Chess Manifesto

https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-blitz-chess-manifesto

45:00- Matt’s favorite content creators and books

Mentioned: GM John Nunn, Zurich 1953, Fire on Board, GM Hikaru Nakamura, The ChessDojo 

47:00- How does Matt approach online play? 

48:00- How much time does Matt spend reviewing his games?

51:00- How did it feel for Matt to achieve his goal and reach the ranking of  USCF Master? 

55:00- How does Matt prepare openings for common opponents? 

Mentioned: NM Peter MInear, NM Matt O’Brien 

56:00- Matt’s improvement advice for lower-rated players. 

EP 399- GM Tiger Hillarp Persson: The 2x Swedish Champion, Author & Go Master Shares a Life’s Worth of Wisdom on How to Improve at Complex Games

This week I am honored to be joined by author, trainer, and 2 time Swedish National Champion, GM Tiger Hillarp Persson. Tiger has a unique background for a GM, as at the age of 26, when  he was not yet an IM, he decided to pursue chess professionally nonetheless. From there he made rapid progress and has been an active player ever since. But Tiger is equally passionate about another complex game, Go, which he started playing at the age of 40. He has become a master-level player, and has represented his native Sweden in international Go tournaments as well. In our conversation, Tiger discusses the challenges and rewards of improving at both games, and why he thinks substantial improvement is possible at both if one is honest with oneself and works hard. We also discuss Tiger’s fantastic new book, Tiger’s Chaos Theory. The book deconstructs and gives vocabulary to some uncommon and important patterns and situations in chess, and is a pleasure to read. I found this conversation very insightful, and I trust that you will as well. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors:

Check out new Chessable courses by me, GM Nils Grandelius, and GM Sam Shankland- if you sign up for Chessable Pro, be sure to use this link:

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

Check out the app of our new sponsors Chess Universe in your app store. 

https://chess-universe.sng.link/Dqw52/kbhh

0:02- GM Tiger Hillarp Persson joins the pod. We begin by discussing why Tiger decided to devote himself fully to chess at age 26, when he was not even an IM at that point.

Mentioned: Karpov-Miles 1980, The Soviet Chess Conveyor by Shereshevsky 

18:00- What has pursuing excellence at Go taught Tiger about chess improvement? 

Mentioned:

Check out Tiger’s blog here:

https://tiger.bagofcats.net/

Ivanchuk-Van Foreest 2022:

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2416368

37:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Tiger play unorthodox openings in Go as well? “

42:00- Tiger discusses the study method of trying to imitate the play of a player whose style you admire, as he did for Karpov. 

48:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Have computers been a blessing or a curse for chess?”

52:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Tiger’s advice for lower rated players for assessing sacrifices?” 

Mentioned: The Art of Sacrifice by Rudolph Spielman 

56:00- Tiger’s other favorite chess books

Mentioned: Under the Surface by GM Jan Markos 

59:00- What is a hecatomb?

1:00:00- Tiger’s favorite tournament memories 

Mentioned: GM Jonathan Rowson, GM Peter Heine Nielsen, GM Lembit Oll 

1:05:00- Tiger is playing on the Swedish team at the Olympiad. How does he prepare? 

1:10:00- Tiger discusses his most famous win, an amazing game against GM Peter Hiene Nielsen 

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1434778

1:12:00- Thanks to Tiger for joining me! Here are links to check out his book:

https://qualitychess.co.uk/products/improvement/23034/tigers_chaos_theory_by_tiger_hillarp_persson/

Free preview from Quality Chess:

https://qualitychess.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tigers-Chaos-Theory-060-excerpt-1.pdf

Forward Chess:

https://forwardchess.com/product/tigers-chaos-theory

EP 398- FIDE Olympiad preview with GM Jonathan Speelman: Magnus, Medal Chases & Prodigies in Action

The 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad begins September 11, 2024 in Budapest, and it will feature many of the world’s top players. It is always a fun tournament for players and fans alike, with its unique format and the opportunity for players to represent their country. Joining me to help preview this year’s edition is 14- time British Chess Olympian, author, and three-time British champion, GM Jonathan Speelman. Before Jon joins me, I discuss storylines I am excited for, including Magnus’ return to classical chess, a star-studded Indian team, and the Olympiad debut of a young British star. At the 14 minute mark, GM Speelman joins me to share some of his own Olympiad memories, as well as to give us his thoughts on this year’s edition. The Olympiad is always one of my favorite tournaments to follow, and you can be sure that Perpetual Chess will be following and covering this year’s edition in detail. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Check out the app of our new sponsors Chess Universe in your app store. 

https://chess-universe.sng.link/Dqw52/kbhh

0:12:00- Ten storylines I am excited for the in the Olympiad

Mentioned: You can see the Olympiad rosters.

Thanks to our longtime sponsors, Chessable.com! 

If you sign up for Chessable pro, please use the following link to help support Perpetual Chess:

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

14:00- GM Jonathan Speelman joins me and reflects on his Olympiad experiences as a player and trainer. 

Mentioned: 

Kasparov-Speelman 1980 

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069881

36:00- Jon shares his thoughts on this year’s Olympiad. 

Mentioned: 

2700chess.com 

55:00- Jon reminisces about the 1988 Olympiad, the young Polgar sisters, and “Grandmaster Clash.”

Check out Grandmaster Clash here:

Grandmaster Clash - 28th Chess Olympiad 1988 with Stephen Fry

1:00- Predictions? 

1:00- Thanks, as always to GM Speelman for joining me.  You can subscribe to this Twitch channel here: 

https://www.twitch.tv/jonspeelman

1:02- If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

BONUS POD- Hans vs. Magnus Speed Chess Championship Preview with GM Ben Finegold

On September 6, almost two years to the day after their fateful game at the Sinquefield Cup, Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann will meet at Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship. They will play in front of an audience in Paris, France.  Joining me to discuss the history of this feud, and the details of this match is popular commentator, YouTuber and Twitch streamer GM Ben Finegold. Does Hans have a chance given his impressive play lately? Since Magnus has been refusing to play Niemann, is there a chance that Magnus won’t show up to the match? What openings might we expect?  We dive into these questions and many more in our conversation. 

Click here to Download the Episode

All the information you need about the match is here:

https://www.chess.com/events/info/2024-speed-chess-championship

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com! Check out my new course here, Identifying Critical Moments in Chess, here:

https://www.chessable.com/identifying-critical-moments-in-chess/course/248353/

1:30- Hans has been on a massive heater and has cracked the top 20 in Classical for the first time.  Can he actually win? 

5:00- Does Ben agree with Hikaru that Magnus has a particular edge in bullet?

Mentioned: Hikaru on Hans-Magnus in Paris

https://youtube.com/shorts/y3MkTIlEILY?si=oLR4rc7a3EZrqrku

7:30- Should we expect Hans’ ascent to continue?

11:00- Ben’s thoughts on Hans’ recent interview with GM Daniel Naroditsky

https://youtu.be/ZFBAuihQYgw?si=QGCenzk5sKeZlEGv

25:00- Where is the prize money for Hans’ tour coming from? 

Mentioned: Hans tweet

https://x.com/HansMokeNiemann/status/1827750674873958819

26:00- We discuss IM Daniel Rensch’s response to Hans’ recent interview

https://x.com/DanielRensch/status/1821536477924438528

32:00- Predictions

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess 

EP 397- JulesGambit on What Fueled a Rapid Rating Rise, the Story Behind the Botez Chess Camp, and Why She Thinks Chess is no Longer Uncool

JulesGambit is a popular Twitch streamer and YouTuber who rediscovered chess while at university and has seen rapid growth in her rating and her online following. Jules joined me shortly after competing in the BotezChessCamp, a unique tournament where she lived in a house with other female chess stars, like the Botezes and Anna Cramling, and competed in a tournament. Jules was the lowest-rated entrant, but gained rating and drew two time US Women’s Champ Jennifer Yu in a classical game. This incredible result comes on the heels of a two year period where she has taken her rating from 1000 USCF to around 1800. In our conversation, we discuss the keys to Jules’ progress, the story behind the BotezChessCamp and what Jules plans to study next as she turns her attention to chess full-time. Jules is quick to credit many well-known chess players for helping fuel her growth as chess player, student and presenter. It was inspiring to hear someone so motivated to continue her chess growth. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com. My new course, Identifying Critical Moments in Chess is one of the many new offerings worth checking out. 

If you sign up for Chessable pro, please use the following link to help support Perpetual Chess:

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

2:00- Jules joins the show. We being by discussing her recent experience at the BotezChessCamp 

Mentioned: Alexandra Botez, WGM Dina Belenkaya, Jules video:  “I went on a date with Andrea Botez” 

https://youtu.be/jM6ezgnO7c0?si=K05Fs6RZPmiTAWpt

Check out Jules’ game with Jennifer Yu here:

https://www.chess.com/events/2024-botez-chess-camp-classical/07/Schulman_Julia-Yu_Jennifer

18:00- How did Jules get back into chess during college? What led to Jules’ rapid rating progress in the past two years?

Mentioned: How I went from 900 to 1700 in one year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PFIyAtOiho

Coffee Chess YouTube 

28:00- What did Jules’ college friends think of her chess streaming?

31:00- Why is Jules switching from emphasizing Twitch streaming to YouTube?

37:00- Why did Jules quit chess as a kid?

44:00- How do people respond to Jules’ interest in chess on dating apps? 

46:30- What are Jules’ next chess goals? What is she currently studying?

Mentioned: Positional Decision Making in Chess. Endgame Studies 101, Forcing Chess Moves 

55:00- What was the highlight of going to a camp at Charlotte Chess Center with GMs R.B. Ramesh, Judit Polgar, and Veselin Topalov?

58:00- How did Jules manage to write her thesis about chess? What was the conclusion of her research regarding geographic distribution of 2600+ players?

Mentioned: GM David Brodsky 

1:00:00- Thanks to Jules for joining! Here is how to keep up with her!

Instagram

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

Twitch

https://www.twitch.tv/julesgambit

YouTube 

https://www.youtube.com/@Julesgambit

X 

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

EP 396- GM Pontus Carlsson- Advice for Remembering Openings, early Magnus memories, the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz in New York and much more.

GM Pontus Carlsson is a Grandmaster, trainer, entrepreneur, and the founder of the non-profit Business Meets Chess & Kids. Pontus is always forthright and entertaining, and in his third visit to the podcast, we  caught up on chess topics including: 

• The unique stress of being World Chess Champion, and Pontus’ thoughts on the upcoming match 

• Pontus’ advice for helping to remember openings

• Will Pontus be following the Hans-Magnus speed chess championship match? What happened the first time Pontus encountered an 8 year-old Magnus Carlsen (no relation) at a Scandinavian championship event? 

• The positives and negatives of the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz occurring in New York this year

We also discussed online chess cheating, the upcoming Olympiad, and an online chess charity event which Pontus will be organizing this weekend, called Chess 2 Change. This is a fun event for amateurs to play in, meet successful chess and business personalities, and is potentially life-changing for the young chess talents who participate in the event. GM Maurice Ashley will be broadcasting this year’s edition on August 25. As is often the case, we covered a wide range of chess stories, so you can check the show notes for timestamps of topics of interest. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com. New courses include offerings by GM R.B. Ramesh and IM Alex Astaneh you sign up for Chessable Pro, please use this link:

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

Information for the Chess 2 Change event on August 25 is here:

https://businessmeetschessandkids.com/chess-to-change/

Pontus’ prior interviews: 

Episode 29

Episode 101

02:00- We chat about rating deflation as Pontus reflects on a recent tournament in Bratislava 

7:00- What is Pontus’ current day job?

10:00- Online chess cheating

14:00- The first time Pontus encountered an 8 year-old Magnus Carlsen

18:00- The stress of being World Chess Champion 

20:30- Pontus’ thoughts on the Ding-Gukesh match

24:00- The Olympiad

Mentioned: GM Nils Grandelius, GM Erik Blomqvist, GM Tiger Hillarp Persson, IM Martin Lokander 

29:00- Pontus’ advice for remembering openings 

34- Chess improvement advice for adults 

38:00- Famous “touch-move” controversies involving Hikaru Nakamura and Garry Kasparov 

42:00- The challenges of professional chess for those below the top 10

48:00- More on the upcoming Hans-Magnus match

Watch GM Hans NIemann’s recent interview here:

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

51:00- World Rapid and Blitz will be in New York

Mentioned: FIDE Press Release here:

https://www.fide.com/news/3070

1:04:00- Pontus discusses his upcoming charity event, Chess 2 Change

Mentioned: The Gift of Chess, Chess in Slums 

The interview was great fun.

Here come the links that we talked about:

Business Meets Chess & Kids

https://businessmeetschessandkids.com/

Chess 2 Change

https://businessmeetschessandkids.com/chess-to-change/

Our Twitch Channel where the Charity Tournament will be Broadcasted

https://www.twitch.tv/chess2change

EP 395- FM Kamil Plichta- Learning from your Rating Peers, Opening Advice for Amateurs, Bullet Chess Tips, & more

FM Kamil Plichta is a renowned opening theoretician, Chessable author, trainer, and blitz/bullet specialist. In our conversation, Kamil highlights several important chess improvement-related topics: 

• The value of learning by emulating those slightly higher rated than you 

• Knowing when to withdraw from a brutal tournament 

• Advice for choosing openings 

We also chat about Kamil’s pursuit of the IM title, the London System, the English Defence, and much more. It's always fun to talk chess with Kamil, and it had been too long since our previous interview! Timestamps for topics discussed are below. 

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com. If you sign up for Chessable Pro, please use this link:

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

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Kamil discusses the value of learning from studying games from the next level up, rather than from Super GM games

Mentioned: Lego Chess 

11:30- Kamil is one norm away from the IM title. How is the journey? 

18:00- Kamil reflects on a recent poor OTB showing. 

32:00- Bullet chess advice! 

35:00- Opening advice for amateurs 

40:00- What is the English Defence?

46:00- How does Kamil use engines?

48:00- Kamil’s recommended line against the London System

51:00- Closing chess advice 

Thanks to Kamil for joining me, here is how to keep up with him.

Kamil’s Chessable Author page:

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

Follow him on X here:

https://x.com/Kaldas90

EP 394- GM Jacob Aagaard- The Story Behind the Big Chess Publishing Merger, plus his Latest Thoughts on Ratings, the World Championship Cycle, Chess Improvement, & more

As the co-founder of Quality Chess Books and Killer Chess Training.com, GM Jacob Aagaard is always a busy man. This year, the award-winning author and trainer has been even busier. It was recently announced that his company, Quality Chess Books is acquiring two of the biggest chess publishers (New in Chess Books and Everyman Chess) from Chess.com. Jacob joined me to tell me the story behind these acquisitions, as well as the decision of his co-founder, GM John Shaw to retire. Jacob is always insightful and opinionated about professional chess, so we also got the opportunity to hear his takes on Ding-Gukesh, rating deflation, and IM Levy Rozman’s quest for the GM title, among other topics. As always, Jacob was very generous with his time, and you can find timestamps of topics discussed below. 

Click here to download the episode

Jacob’s prior appearances on Perpetual Chess: 

Episode 111

Episode 166 (with GM R.B. Ramesh)

Episode 296

Bonus pod on the Carlsen-Niemann scandal

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com. Be sure to check out new courses by GM Raven Sturt (with Simon Williams) and CM Can Kabadayi. 

If you sign up for Chessable Pro, please use this link:

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

0:03- What events led to Quality Chess Books acquiring New in Chess Books and Everyman Chess? 

Mentioned: GM John Shaw, IM Dmitry Schneider, GM Matthew Sadler, Silicon Road YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq06gd_5HTiG8IIu5-enWyA

Also Mentioned: Remmelt Otten

28:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Jacob think chess book sales will grow over the next 10 years?” 

32:00- Patreon mailbag question: ”Will Everyman continue its “Starting Out” series?” 

36:00-Jacob discusses the future of “New in Chess” magazine

Mentioned: FM Nate Solon

44:00  Patreon mailbag question: Should beginner to intermediate players focus on challenging puzzles or basic pattern recognition? 

Mentioned: 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know, 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know  Workbook

54:00- Jacob discusses the story of his friend and colleague GM Renier Castellanos attaining GM in his 40’s.

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Episode 379 with GM Renier Castellanos 

58:00- Does Jacob think Gotham Chess can make GM? 

1:02:00- The raging feud between GM Jan Gustafsson and Jacob Aagaard continues!

Mentioned: Prior comments here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4EI6rH7Mt4

1:03:00- What does Jacob think of rating deflation?

1:11:00- Jacob’s thoughts on the World Championship match

1:20:00- Does Jacob think someone from the younger generation could become a dominant World Champion?

1:24:00- GM Sam Shankland update

1:26:00- Books we are excited for:

Tiger’s Chaos Theory, The Woodpecker Method 2 

1:30:00- Thanks to Jacob, as always! You can find him at Killer Chess Training:

https://killerchesstraining.com/

Or follow him on X here:

https://x.com/GMJacobAagaard

EP 393- GM Jan Gustafsson on the Candidates, the upcoming World Championship the Olympiad, and his Sicilian Defense Power Rankings

On this week’s Perpetual Chess, the popular and sometimes entertaining GM Jan Gustafsson returns! Jan, of course, is a popular commentator, Twitch streamer, Chessable author, and renowned opening theoretician. His last visit to the podcast was a mere four months ago, but a lot has changed since then. GM D Gukesh has qualified for the World Championship match, and it has been revealed that Jan worked on GM Ian Nepomniatchtchi’s team. In this interview, Jan reflects on these occurrences and describes what it was like to be in Toronto as a second for the FIDE Candidates. He also looks ahead to the Gukesh-Ding World Championship match, which will take place in November in Singapore. Jan also answers plenty of listener questions on a wide range of topics, including the upcoming Olympiads, the closing of Chess24, the status of the Chicken Chess Club Podcast, and, of course, the openings covered in his new Chessable course, GM Jan Gustafsson Aggressive 1. E4 part 2 (co-authored with CM Vjekoslav Nemec). We covered a ton of topics in this one, but as always, timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com. They have tons of new offerings in addition to Jan’s new course If you sign up for Chessable pro, please use the following link:

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

0:02- Banter- Bronny James! Should Jan become co-host of Perpetual Chess?

0:05- Actual chess! Jan reflects on working on the prep team of Ian Nepomniachtchi and shares his thoughts on the FIDE Candidates. 

0:14- Jan’s thoughts on the World Championship Match

20:00- How does Jan feel about #chesspunks?

22:00- Donner’s The King and other books

25:00- What was the source of  the reference  to the pawn formation “the bathtub”?

Mentioned: More info on the bathtub here:

https://lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/which-of-these-4-are-the-bathtub-formation

25:00- Will Jan do more banter blitz?

27:00- Who are best athlete chess players?

29:00- Which of the players who are rated below 2700 players”the most impressive opening knowledge?

Mentioned: GM Alexey Sarana 

32:00- Patreon mailbag questions: “WHEN WILL THE CHICKEN CHESS CLUB COME BACK?’

34:00- Jan discusses a recent chess/poker event in which he participated.

37:00- Has Jan ever played 1. E4?

39:00- How did Jan choose to cover the Advanced French, the Fantasy variation, and the Open Sicilian in his new Chessable course? 

44:00- Jan’s top 5 variations of the Sicilian defense

49:00- Are GMs using Jan’s suggested moves from his Chessable courses?

52:00- What are the goals for the German Olympiad team?

54:00- What did Jan think of Germany’s performance in the Euro cup?

57:00- Why doesn’t Germany have any elite chess players?

59:00- Update on Jan’s 1000 game match with his friend  Ettienne

1:01:00- What is the origin story of Chess24?

1:03:00- Jan’s upcoming travels and chess plans 

1:05:00-Jan’s tv recs

Mentioned: Presumed Innocent, The Bear, IM Greg Shahade

1:09:00- Jan’s basketball podcast recommendations

Mentioned: The Rights to Ricky Sanchez, Down to Dunk 

Thanks as always to Jan for joining me! You can follow him on X here:

https://x.com/gmjangustafsson?lang=en

Or on Twitch here:

https://www.twitch.tv/janistantv

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 392- Aiden Rayner- What Adult Chess Players Need to Know about Visualization and Working Memory

This week’s guest is Aiden Rayner, a Melbourne, Australia-based chess trainer, blogger, podcaster,  and the founder of the training site, Don’t Move Until You See It. Aiden became interested in chess improvement as an adult and quickly zeroed in on a need to improve his ability to picture a chess board in his head. In the subsequent years, he has developed some tools to help improve this skill, and has read extensively on how the different brains adapt to this task. Aiden also has studied how working memory functions, and shares what adults need to know about how it affects chess calculation. Lastly, Aiden shares a few “non-chess” book recommendations for those who would like to learn more about the challenges of rewiring our brains for chess. If you are interested in improving your chess game, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com. They are now offering a #chesspunks approved classic, The Power of Pawns, presented by IM Andras Toth. If you sign up for Chessable pro, please use this link:https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com. They are now offering a #chesspunks-approved classic, The Power of Pawns, presented by IM Andras Toth.

If you sign up for Chessable pro, please use this link:

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

02:00- Why doesn’t Aiden like the term “visualization” when it comes to playing through moves in our heads

Mentioned: GM George Koltanowski 

07:00- What got Aiden into visualization? 

11:00- What features does Aiden’s site offer? 

Mentioned: Aiden’s blindfold trainer:

https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/blindfold-trainer/

16:30- Patreon mailbag question: “What advice does Aiden have for people adjusting from playing 2D (on screens) to playing 3D (OTB)?” 

26:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Can Aiden share advice for how to improve at remembering a game through “narration” rather than visualization?” 

32:00- Aiden’s recommended (non-chess) books:

Mentioned: Thinking Fast and Slow

Chatter, The Voice in Our Head and Why it Matters, and How to Harness It

Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions

34:30- What is working memory and why does it matter for chess players? Mentioned: Chess Visualization with Don’t Move,  , 

 N Back Memory Training App (You can search for it in an App Store) 

55:00- What are “the three Fs?” 

1:05:00- Thanks to Aiden, for joining me! Here is it how to keep up with him:

Don’t Move Until You See It Website:

https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/

Follow Aiden on X here: 

https://x.com/AidenAtDontMove

EP 391- IM Atle Gronn- Life Lessons from the remarkable Careers of GM Simen Agdestein, plus the lessons Simen imparted to his student, GM Magnus Carlsen

This week’s guest is author, commentator, and Slavic Linguistics professor at the University of Oslo, IM Atle Gronn. Atle’s most recent book, Games and Goals: The Fascinating Chess and Football Careers of Simen Agdestein, has recently been released in the English language and is one I have been greatly looking forward to reading. It did not disappoint, as it provides a revealing biography of one of the most compelling figures in modern chess history. GM Simen Agdestein, in addition to being a Norwegian chess legend, and the childhood trainer of Magnus Carlsen, was a supremely talented athlete who played for the Norwegian national soccer team. As a strong player from the same generation as Simen, Atle bore witness to Simen’s rise, fall, and resurgence, and also witnessed and contextualizes GM Magnus Carlsen’s relentless ascent to the top of the chess world.  There are many lessons we all can learn from the stories that Atle shares, and I greatly enjoyed chatting with him about his book. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Games and Goals is available from Amazon and other booksellers, 

Games and Goals: The Fascinating Chess and Football Careers of Simen Agdestein books 

And you can view a Free excerpt here:

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9186.pdf

0:01- Thanks to our sponsor Chessable.com- If you sign up for Chessable pro, please use the link below to help support Perpetual Chess:

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

0:02- What made Simen Agdestein a “mythic figure” in the 1980’s? How did he go from beginner to national Norway champion in four years? 

Mentioned: Tarjei Svensen’s Article on the most recent Norwegian Championship:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/15-year-old-copies-magnus-carlsen-norwegian-champion

0:07- How did Simen become an elite athlete without training extensively? What was his style like as a footballer?

15:00- How did Atle’s collaboration with Simen come about? 

22:00- How would Atle describe Simen’s chess style? What traits of Simen can be seen in his former student Magnus Carlsen? 

29:00- Atle describes his 2005 game against Magnus Carlsen, which became a famous win for Magnus.

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1348050

32- Why was Atle initial skeptical of Magnus’ talents? 

37:00- How did injuries change Simen’s careers?

46:00- What did Simen do for income during his years when both careers suddenly ended?

52:00- We discuss chess books and the topics of Otle’s prior books, which were written in Norwegian. 

EP 390- Russ Makofsky: How Chess Can Change Lives from NYC to Africa

This week’s guest is Russ Makofsky. Russ is the founder of both The Gift of Chess, and of Impact Coaching Network. The Gift of Chess is a global non-profit dedicated to changing lives by distributing free chess sets in overlooked communities. Impact Coaching Network is a New York City-based educational chess organization that facilitates school programs and runs tournaments. In our interview, Russ recounts his journey from a sport-obsessed kid to a chess educator and shares the stories of many people whose lives have been changed by chess, including FM Tani Adewumi, and Tunde Onakoya of Chess in Slums. Russ is a firm believer in the power that good stories can have in spreading a passion for chess, and of the impact that chess can have on lives, once that passion is ignited. Tune in to hear many of these inspiring stories! 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsor Chessable.com- If you sign up for Chessable pro, please use the link below to help support Perpetual Chess:

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

2:00- How did Russ’s chess organization, Impact Coaching Network, begin? 

7:00- As an educator does Russ encounter any resistance from parents to the emphasis on the competitive element of chess?

Mentioned: Brooklyn Castle 

15:30- Famed youth champion, FM Tani Adewumi discovered chess via one of the Impact Coaching Network’s Schools while his family was living in a homeless shelter- Russ tells this story from his perspective. 

Mentioned: Chesskid.com 

28:00- What are the origins of the non-profit, The Gift of Chess?

Mentioned: Episode 219 with Tunde Onakoya

57:00- What does The Gift of Chess do for prison outreach?

Mentioned: Episode 289 with Tony Ballard 

1:03:00- How is the fundraising going?

1:08:00- Russ’s advice for chess educators and those thinking of starting chess programs

Thanks to Russ for sharing so many inspiring stories! Here is the linktree for the GiftofChess:

https://linktr.ee/thegiftofchess

You can email them at info at giftofchess.org 

EP 389-Solveig Friberg (The Rookie Redhead)- A Recent Adult Beginner on Getting to 1500 from Scratch and Finding Community and Audience

The Adult Improver Series of Perpetual Chess returns, as I am joined by Solveig Friberg, who streams on Twitch as “The Rookie Redhead.” Solveig is a relatively new chess player who discovered the game via a Norwegian national TV broadcast of one of Magnus Carlsen’s World Championship matches. A few years later, she has attained a rating of 1570 FIDE, built a large online audience, and published her first Chessable course (Breaking 1000)  as a Twitch streamer.  Shehas even had the opportunity to interview players like Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana. We begin our conversation by discussing the unique popularity of chess in Norway.   it is very popular as a spectator sport, but that has not translated into a thriving competitive chess scene. Why might that be? We also discuss Solveig’s own chess journey.  Solveig shares a lot of study recommendations and core beliefs based on her experience as a chess player and her professional background as an educator. Solveig is a particularly firm believer in the importance of finding a community and did not see her chess take off until she found online “chess people.” Solveig is an inspiration for anyone who is coming to chess as a working adult with a busy life. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com- in addition to Solveig’s course, be sure to check out GM Sam Shankland’s latest, and if you sign up for Chessable Pro, please use the link below.

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

2:00- Solveig got into chess by watching coverage of the Magnus-Nepo match on national TV in Norway. What is the coverage like in Norway? What is the OTB scene like there? 

Mentioned: 

Solveig on Chess Journeys, Episode 91:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rwxKkso2M2IPITLOEt4hc?si=86bec8cf1aa34f5d

Solveig on Sjakksnakk 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1c0FBix4q4OSvPdz6nbGSf?si=63cf7ec45f5f441d

9:00- How did Solveig find a chess community? 

To find the “chess people” on X, make an account, send a message and conclude it with the #chesspunks

https://x.com/hashtag/chesspunks?src=hashtag_click

To apply or suggest someone to be a guest on the Adult Improver Series, use this google form:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adult

17:00- How did Solveig’s professional background impact her approach to chess improvement? 

22:30- What was Solveig’s approach to studying chess? 

27:00- We discuss chess pub nights and the Good Knight Chess Pub in Oslo, Norway.

29:00- What would Solveig have done differently to improve at chess if she could start over?

32:00- Patreon mailbag question- “What are some common mistakes that beginners make, and how can they avoid them?”

36:00- Solveig’s resource recommendations

Mentioned:

Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@HangingPawns

Build Up Your Chess Series

https://www.chessable.com/the-fundamentals-1-build-up-your-chess/course/19145/

Chess Tactics from Scratch 

https://www.chessable.com/chess-tactics-from-scratch-understanding-chess-tactics/course/27821/

Also available as a book- https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Tactics-Scratch-Understanding/dp/1907982027

37:00- What was it like for Solveig to interview Hikaru Nakamura about gender issues in chess? 

Mentioned:

Watch the interview here:

https://x.com/RookieRedhead/status/1801228262170882212

46:30- What is the theme of Solveig’s Chessable course, Breaking 1000?

52:00- What are Solveig’s streaming goals? Does she ever stream in Norwegian?

55:00- Thanks to Solveig for joining me, Here is how to keep up with her:

Instagram:

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

X:

https://x.com/RookieRedhead

And her Chessable Course:

https://www.chessable.com/breaking-1000/course/237622/

EP 388- GM Awonder Liang on What Led to His Record-Breaking Chess Success, & Transitioning to Life as a University Student

Photo by Chessherocanada via Wikimedia commons

This week’s guest is 21-year old former youth champion, GM Awonder Liang. As a scholastic player, Awonder broke many records including becoming the youngest US player to reach a rating of 2000 (USCF), and the youngest to beat an International Master, as well the youngest to beat  a Grandmaster. These days, Awonder is a student at University of Chicago and is more devoted to his studies than his chess. Nonetheless, Awonder’s love for the game is evident, and he recently played in two strong tournaments even though he did not prepare as rigorously as he once would have. In our conversation, Awonder was able to contextualize his remarkable chess success and discuss both what made him great, and what may have led to  contemporaries of his like GM Alireza Firouzja and Arjun Erigaisi surpassing him in rating ( for now at least.) It was fun to hear Awonder reflect on his career as if he were an old man, and I look forward to seeing how his bright future unfolds. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00-  You can subscribe to my free newsletter here-

” https://benjohnson.substack.com

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

Find out more about the Create Your Own Course Contest here:

https://t.co/wUQCi0gqaC

0:03- Awonder joins the pod! Awonder has mostly been taking a break from chess while at the University of Chicago. How did it feel to play two high level tournaments recently?

0:06- Did Awonder consider pursuing chess rather than university? 

0:08- Does Awonder prefer classical or online blitz?

11:00- We discuss Awonder’s Chicago Open performance

15:00- How did Awonder prepare for the Summer Chess Classic, where he finished shared 2nd? 

19:00- Awonder’s thoughts on the Chicago Open cheating scandal 

23:00- What makes Awonder so good at chess? 

33- What does it mean to have a good chess memory? 

36:00- Did Awonder read a lot of chess books? 

38:00- How does Awonder use engines? 

42:00- What is the story behind Awonder’s famous 2022 Scotch Gambit win over GM Levon Aronian?

Mentioned: https://www.chess.com/events/2022-us-chess-championship/05/Liang_Awonder-Aronian_Levon

45:00- What are Awonder’s other favorite games of his? 

Mentioned: Liang-Caruana 2022

50:00- Awonder’s summer plan

52:00- Awonder’s post graduation plans

1:06:00- Awonder’s favorite chess memories 

Book Recap #37- My System (Fast Track Edition) with GM Alex Fishbein

Chess Books Recaptured returns to revisit an old book which now has a modern twist. My System by Aron Nimzowitsch is one of the best-selling and most recommended chess books of all time, but the original version has not aged well in some respects. In Book Recap #18, IM Christof Sielecki and I highlighted some of the classic book’s shortcomings as viewed through a modern lens. Luckily, GM Alex Fishbein decided to update the book for a 21st-century audience. The result is My System: Fast Track Edition, from Russell Enterprises (also available via Forward Chess). During my recent trip to the National Open in Las Vegas, Alex joined me to discuss My System’s legacy, his personal history with the book,  and why he decided that the chess world needed a better version. Following our chat, Alex took some questions from the audience, and briefly shared his thoughts on my book, Perpetual Chess Improvement. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to download the Episode

You can hear my discussion of prior editions of My System with IM Christof Sieleki in Book Recap #18-

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lkGXPkegq9flj5zEoGAxi?si=f82aa751388a4476

0:02- GM Alex FIshbein joins! How does My System compare to Nimzo’s other classic, Chess Praxis? 

3:30- What was the genesis of Alex deciding to edit/create the fast-track edition of My System?

12:00 - What were the challenges of translating the book?

27:00- What did Alex do with variations that modern engines say were incorrect?

Mentioned: Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean 

35:00- Audience question- “Would Alex consider editing a “fast track edition” of any other classic books?’

Mentioned: Alekhine 1924

39:00- Audience question- “Did Alex include other concepts to the book in addition to those that were written about in the original?” 

41:00- Audience question: “What foundational chess concepts are excluded from this book?”

43:00- Audience questions:  “Is Alex familiar with the book by Raymond Keene, Nimowitsch: A Reappraisal?”  “What about The Blockade?”

44:00- Audience question:  “How much shorter is the fast track edition compared to the regular?”

44:00- Audience question; “Would he do a fast track edition of “Praxis” by Nimzowitsch?”

46:00- Audience question: “Do older books still matter as learning tools, as compared to playing games?” 

49:00- Audience question:  ‘What is the best way to read a chess book?’ 

Mentioned: The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 

53:00- Alex shares his thoughts on my book, Perpetual Chess Improvement. 

Thanks to GM Alex Fishbein for joining me in Las Vegas! 

You can check out the new edition of My System, as well as his other books on Amazon, Forward Chess and other booksellers. 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alex-Fishbein/author/B075N1DG4Z?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

https://forwardchess.com/product/my-system-fast-track-edition

EP 387- Stories and Chess Advice from the National Open with GM Ben Finegold, GM Kayden Troff, Kamryn Hellman, Kyle Boddy & many more!

This week’s pod is a special edition featuring 10 different short interviews from the 2024 National Open in Las Vegas. We feature stories and perspectives from GM Ben Finegold, adult improver return guests, other chess podcasters, and even two different Grandmasters named Daniel Fernandez! Big tournaments like the National Open are great opportunities to bond over a shared love of chess, and I hope this episode helps encapsulate the many ways that chess can touch our lives,  teach us lessons, and bring us together. Timestamps and a brief description of each interview and guest can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

1. GM Ben Finegold- 6:45  (recorded Wednesday, June 5) -Ben discusses his personal history at the National Open, the Nimzo-Indian defense, and dispenses some chess advice 

2. Glenn Panner- 17:30-   (recorded Friday, June 7) The tournament co-organizer discusses the tournament history , the recent cheating story from the Chicago Open, and the cheat detection methods being used at the National Open.  

3. GM Daniel Fernandez (US) 31:00-  (recorded Friday, June 7) The first of our GM Danil Fernandez guests, a Houston based player and trainer discusses how the stresses of playing compare to the stresses of coaching, and the advice he gives to his students who are competing in the tournament. 

4. Kamryn Hellman 37:15  -  (recorded Saturday June 8) The popular streamer and YouTuber reflects on her first big tournament and the recent chess lessons that she has learned. You can hear more from Kamryn in Episode 314. https://open.spotify.com/episode/30F7kQGQGyqi64sh3hdCmU? si=6cb9062c05134a7d And check our her YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@kamrynheidi

5. Kevin Scull-  -46:50  (recorded Saturday June 8) - The host of the Chess Journeys podcast reflects on the highs and lows of an ongoing tournament and discusses why he is trying to read fewer chess books!  Check out the Chess Journeys podcast here:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1kNbZLQE6JvbAyfOlv7ZNY?si=755f03091b9e462c

6. Lennart Ootes- 56:30- (recorded Saturday June 8) - The renowned chess photographer and multimedia maestro compares photographing amateurs to photographing his usual subjects, the top pros of chess. Check out Lennart’s beautiful photos here: Lennart Ootes And his National Open photos here: https://www.chessphotoshop.com/National-Open-2024-Las-Vegas

7. Kyle Boddy-  1:07:00 (recorded Saturday June 8) -I am rejoined by the founder of Driveline Baseball to discuss why he makes time for the National Open in the middle of the baseball season,and to share the lessons he has learned from IM Calvin Blocker, IM Marc Esserman and others. You can hear more of Kyle’s chess story in Episode 303. 

8. GM Daniel Fernandez (UK)- 1:19:00 -(recorded Sunday, June 9) The U.K. based player, author and trainer discusses what he is doing in an effort to push through mental barriers and the importance of physical training at the GM level. 

9. GM Kayden Troff- 1:29:15 (recorded Tuesday June 11)- Kayden’s primary role at the National Open was to provide free post-mortem analysis of amateur games. What type of mistakes did he see recur after reviewing dozens of games over a long weekend?  Check out Kayden’s epic game here:

   https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1709061

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETcq8kmlMic  You can find the Chesssharkz Twitch stream with Tony Padron here: https://www.twitch.tv/chesssharkz

10. ElaynahTV - 1:44:30-  (recorded Friday,  June 14) The popular chess streamer and newly minted podcaster discusses how the women’s tournament compared to the Open event, and the challenges of streaming a tournament. 

Check out Elaynah’s Twitch stream here:

https://www.twitch.tv/elaynah

And her new podcast with Dylan Quercia here:

https://chesslounge.podbean.com/ 

Photo in thumbnail of ElaynahTV by Lennart Ootes-

https://www.chessphotoshop.com/National-Open-2024-Las-Vegas

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 386- GM Arturs Neiksans- Coaching Gotham Chess, His own Journey to the GM Title & Advice for Choosing Openings

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Click here to Download the Episode

This week I am pleased to be joined by 4-time Latvian champion, GM Arturs Neiksans. In addition to his accomplished, (and ongoing)  competitive career, Arturs is a respected coach, commentator, Twitch streamer,  and Chessable Author. Arturs recently added a new line to his resume as he became the trainer of IM Levy Rozman! As Levy trains for the GM title, he has been posting instructive excerpts of his frequent lessons with Arturs. In our conversation, we hear Arturs’ perspective on the origins of their collaboration and what Levy needs to work on in order to potentially ascend to the next level. Arturs also reflects on his own bumpy journey to the GM title and shares plenty of general improvement advice and . Lastly, as chess cheating has (again) been in the news, Arturs provides his personal perspective on the unfortunate fall from grace of his fellow Latvian player, GM Igors Rausis (who later changed his name to Isa Kasimi, and is now deceased). It was a pleasure to talk chess with Arturs, and I look forward to learning more from him both on his own channels, and on that of Gotham Chess!  

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- How did GM Arturs Neiksans become Levy Rozman’s coach? What does Levy need to work on to become a GM?

17:00- Arturs quit chess at 18 and came back at 27. What drove him away and what brought him back? 

23:00- How will Arturs balance responsibilities like playing on the Latvian national team with coaching Levy?

28:00- How challenging was it for Arturs to become a GM in his late 20s?

35:00- It was Arturs who saw GM Igors Rausis (who was caught cheating during an OTB tournament) attempting to compete under a new identity. What was the story behind that?

44:00- What was Arturs approach to chess study as a kid? 

48:00- Does Arturs play a narrow or broad opening repertoire?

51:00- Thanks to Arturs for joining me! 

Here is how to keep up with him:

Chess.com

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

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChrqQ5BlmmGkaVmraYQw-IQ

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/gmneiksans

Chessable courses:

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

EP 385- GM Eugene Perelshteyn: Recent Online Cheating Drama, Tips for Facing Dodgy Gambits & the Future of Professional Chess

Click here to Download the Episode

This week I got the chance to catch up with author, trainer and Chessable author, GM Eugene Perelshteyn. We begin by discussing a recent online cheating controversy. An anonymous account was banned from Chess.com after beating GM Daniel Naroditsky in an online bullet match using only the “Meadow Hay” Gambit. Is this gambit so bad that it makes cheating likely? This controversy served as a springboard to discuss both online cheating and dodgy gambits. Eugene has recently released a course “Every Gambit Refuted” so he also shared general advice on how to react when you face an unknown gambit. These days, gambits can be particularly dangerous, as creators like IM Eric Rosen and GothamChess teach their audiences tricky openings. Finally, Eugene and I discuss some issues from the world of professional chess, including a lack of affordable opportunities to compete for the non-elite, the FIDE Candidates (which Eugene attended) and “the great eval bar debate.” Eugene is always insightful, and it was great to catch up with him! 

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0:01- Eugene Perelshteyn joins me! We begin by discussing recent cheating controversies. This includes a recent controversy involving an account being banned after winning a bullet match against GM Daniel Naroditsky. GM Brandon Jacobson was playing the Meadow Hay Gambit. Is this gambit any good? 

More info on Chess Reddit: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1claxsm/its_me_viih_sou/

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1ctu6qc/question_what_happened_in_full_with_brandon/

Mentioned: Jospem on Chess.com, Episode 368 with Erik Allebest 

18:00- How have creators like IM Eric Rosen changed the paradigm when it comes to gambits?

Mentioned: Fight Like Magnus, Lifetime Repertoires: Hyper Accelerated Dragon 

22:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Eugene’s advice for how to approach playing against gambits you don’t know?” 

Mentioned: Eugene’s Chess.com Lesson plan on Gambits is here:

https://www.chess.com/lessons/every-gambit-refuted

32:00- What is different about how a player like Pragganandhaa uses surprise openings compared to how they are used by club players?

37:00- Eugene shares his own perspective on attending the FIDE Candidates in Toronto. 

42:00- Does Eugene think evaluation bars should be used during chess broadcasts?

48:00- Has Eugene been pleased with the reception of his collaboration with FM Nate Solon Evaluate like a Grandmaster? 

51:00- What else is Eugene working on?

Mentioned: Chess Openings for Black, Explained,GM Lev Alburt, GM Roman Dzindzichashvilli 

55:00- What does Eugene think of recent discussion about a lack of financial opportunities for “middle-class” Grandmasters? 

Mentioned: GM Jorden van Forreest tweet here:

https://x.com/jordenvforeest/status/1790333612874666440

 1:08:00- Thanks to Eugene for joining me! 

Check out his Chessable courses here:

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

Contact him via Twitter

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

Or Chess.com

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