Ben Johnson

September 15, 2026

EP 499- IM Thomas Willemze on Game Review, Openings & Training with Focus

Ben Johnson

September 15, 2026

IM Thomas Willemze is a popular author, Chessable creator, and trainer who has worked with the Dutch National Youth Team, among countless other students. A data analyst by day, Thomas brings an analytical approach to thinking about the core components of chess improvement.

In our conversation, we draw on Thomas's experiences as both a player and coach to tease out practical lessons for improving players. We discuss everything from game review and opening preparation to how to improve your focus while studying and playing. Thomas also shares some book recommendations, reflects on learning chess from the creators of the Steps Method while they were still developing it, and recounts what happened when, at age 40, he gave himself a year to seriously pursue his GM ambitions.

Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below.

Free perpetual Chess Discord:

https://discord.gg/UpRTQfjQB

Free Newsletter:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/

00:00 Introduction to the Interview with Thomas Willems

Thanks to our sponsors, Claude AI, check them out at:

Claude.AI/chess

02:01 Introduction to IM Thomas Willemze

04:07 The Intersection of Data Science and Chess

07:09 Thomas’ Training and Coaching Philosophy

09:55 The Chess Steps Method and Early Chess Education

mentioned : Rob Brunia and IM Cor van Wijgerden

15:36 Addressing Weaknesses and Improving Skills

Mentioned: Fundamental Chess Endings, Dvoretsky’s books, GM Yury Averbakh’s books

18:08 Common Pitfalls for Adult Players

20:51 Patreon mailbag question:

How can we improve our focus when playing games and studying?

23:55 Defensive Awareness and Identifying Threats

27:00 Patreon mailbag question: Does Thomas see parallels between chess and football/soccer strategy?

28:48 The Balance of Attack and Defense in Chess

30:28 Effective Study Strategies for Ambitious Players

32:07 Reviewing Games: Learning from Mistakes

33:34 The Competitive Landscape of Modern Chess

38:26 Preparing for Upcoming Tournaments

40:05 Choosing an Opening Repertoire

42:01 Current Projects and Future Endeavors

44:08 Chess Content Recommendations and Personal Interests

Mentioned: 100 Endgames You Must Know

50:00- Thanks to IM Willemze for joining me. You can reach him via his Chessable author’s page:

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

Ben Johnson

September 8, 2026

EP 498- IM David Vigorito on How to Improve as an Adult & Build a Better Opening Repertoire

Ben Johnson

September 8, 2026

IM David Vigorito is a three-time state champion, renowned opening theoretician and trainer, and the author of many highly regarded books and Chessable courses. His latest course, 1. e4: The Gold Standard, offers an ambitious, principled repertoire against all of Black’s major responses.

In our conversation, we discuss:

How David’s process for researching openings has changed as engines have grown increasingly powerful.
What adult improvers can learn from David’s own unusual chess journey and the huge rating gains he made in his late teens, 20s, and 30s.
Why players should sometimes deliberately play openings and positions that make them uncomfortable.
The challenges of finding opportunities to compete while balancing chess with work and family obligations.

David also shares a funny story about the unexpected chain of events that followed our first interview in 2019, explains some of the ambitious choices in his new 1. e4 repertoire, and shares his strong opinions on Chess960 and some recent trends in professional chess.

It’s always fun to catch up with David, and there is lots of practical chess advice in this one.

0:00 Intro

Thanks to our sponsor Claude.ai

Check them out at Claude.ai/chess

2:30 David’s new 1. e4 course and how engine-era opening research has changed

6:55 Why David recommends ambitious, principled opening lines

15:15 How much opening theory do amateur players actually need?

20:40 Adult improvement: what helped David make huge rating gains

26:00 The New England chess scene and David’s tournament schedule

31:55 A funny story stemming from David’s first Perpetual Chess interview

38:20 Improving by working on your weaknesses

44:00 Following professional chess and David’s dislike of alternative scoring formats

45:40 Why David has no interest in Chess960

Vigorito-Aagaard 2025

https://www.chesshere.com/master-games/1822045?fen=r1bqk2r%2Fpppp1ppp%2F2n2n2%2F1B2p3%2F1b2P3%2F2N2N2%2FPPPP1PPP%2FR1BQK2R+w+KQkq+-+6+5

50:30 What’s next for David

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

52:00- Thanks to David for joining me! Be sure to check out his courses on Chessable:

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

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

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Ben Johnson

September 1, 2026

EP 497- GM Valentin Dragnev on Improving Thought Processes, Building Chess Community and his Most Memorable OTB Moments

Ben Johnson

September 1, 2026

GM Valentin Dragnev is a two-time Austrian national champion and former chess Olympian who has had memorable OTB encounters with GM Magnus Carlsen, Vasyl Ivanchuk, and many other top players. After achieving so much over the board, he has increasingly focused his attention on chess training and a community-focused website he co-founded, Chessivity.com. We discuss:

The story behind Valentin’s fast rise up the ranks after a relatively late start to tournament chess.
The struggles he has observed that adult students have in developing consistent thought processes.
The vision behind Chessivity, a website that aims to connect chess players and help them track and share their chess training.
Stories from Valentin’s chess career, including nearly beating Magnus Carlsen and cycling from Austria to Budapest to compete in the Chess Olympiad.

This was a very insightful conversation with lots of good stories and practical chess advice.

0:00- Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — Claude.ai/CHESS.

03:05 GM Dragnev’s rise up the ranks

Mentioned:

The Art of Planning in Chess by GM Neal McDonald

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Planning-Chess-Move/dp/071349025X

12:14 Transitioning to Chess as a Career

15:31 Advice for Parents and Young Players

18:29 Coaching Adults vs. Kids

21:52 The Importance of Thought Process in Chess

26:53 The Birth of Chessivity

30:32 Integrating Chessivity with User Accounts

Follow Ben here:

https://chessivity.com/profile/bennyficial1

31:05 Future Features and User Feedback

33:11 Valentin's Chess Career Highlights

35:05 Playing Against Magnus Carlsen

Check out the Sicilian game here:

https://lichess.org/broadcast/european-team-championship-open/round-2/kLFgyBxS/QCqXtaGu

38:39 Training and Preparation Strategies

42:10 Working with Top Players

44:46 Balancing Coaching and Competitive Play

47:07 Misconceptions in Chess Improvement

52:22 Valentin tells the story of cycling from Austria to Budapest before competing in the Olympiad

56:03 Thanks to Valentin for joining!

Find him on Chessivity:

https://chessivity.com/profile/valentin

Lichess coaches:

https://lichess.org/coach/DrAgnevstein

Ben Johnson

August 25, 2026

EP 496: Kyle Boddy on His Continued Journey from Sub-1000 to 1550 USCF

Ben Johnson

August 25, 2026

The Adult Improver Series returns to welcome back an accomplished guest. Kyle Boddy is the founder of Driveline Baseball, an influential company that provides training and performance guidance for professional and aspiring baseball players. Despite the demands of running a company and raising a family, Kyle values chess as a hobby and makes plenty of time for it.

When I first interviewed Kyle in 2022, he was rated below 1000 USCF, but was working diligently and had a long-term hope of reaching USCF 2000. Four years later, he has stuck with it and made considerable progress, recently reaching a new peak of nearly 1550 USCF.

In this follow-up, we discuss:

Why he still loves openings, and how studying them deeply has given him a competitive advantage against many higher-rated opponents.
How he combines old-school, analog training methods with sophisticated uses of AI and chess technology.
The parallels he sees between improving at physical pursuits like baseball and improving at chess.
The immense value he gains from being part of a vibrant chess community in the Pacific Northwest.

It is inspiring to see Kyle’s continued dedication to chess, and I look forward to following his continued progress in the coming years.

0:00- Intro

Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Join the free discord:

https://discord.gg/hN3CJsbGn

EP 495- How Bill Goichberg Changed American Chess with FM Jon Jacobs

Ben Johnson

August 18, 2026

With the recent news of his passing, this week we look at the remarkable and wide-ranging chess legacy of FM Bill Goichberg. Among many other distinctions, Bill was the founder of the Continental Chess Association and the creator of the U.S. National Scholastic Championships, and he left an indelible mark on the U.S. chess scene.

My guest is chess journalist FM Jon Jacobs, who is working on an independent biography of Bill. Jon grew up in New York and got to know Bill personally as a top young scholastic player, with a young Bill Goichberg directing some of his formative tournaments in Brooklyn. Decades later, Bill sat down for 15 hours’ worth of interviews with Jon, which Jon has been crafting into a book.

In our interview, we discuss Bill’s business legacy, chess accomplishments, family life, and much more. Bill changed the course of American chess, and I am grateful to Jon for joining me and fleshing out his life story.

00:00 - Intro and remembering FM Bill Goichberg

0:02- Maurice Ashley tweet regarding Goichberg-

https://x.com/MauriceAshley?lang=en
06:13 - Jon’s first memories of Bill
08:14 - How Bill got started organizing tournaments
14:16 - Growing chess in the pre-Fischer era
18:21 - Bill’s proudest contributions to US chess
22:54 - Continental Chess and its competitors
24:39 - How big a business did CCA become?
29:50 - Bill’s wife Brenda and their life together
35:35 - Bill’s beginnings as a chess player
39:48 - How strong was Bill as a player?
44:07 - Did Bill ever work outside of chess?

Mentioned: CCA and Domainvision.com

https://www.chesstour.com/aboutcca.htm
47:38 - The Continental Chess business model
51:54 - Why Jon is writing Bill’s biography
57:01 - Where to follow Jon’s work

1:00:00- Thanks to Jon for coming on, you can follow his Facebook page here-

https://www.facebook.com/p/A-Pawn-Made-Flesh-61568668591626/

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

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Ben Johnson

August 11, 2026

EP 494- GM Jacob Aagaard on How to Improve Calculation & Learn From Your Mistakes

Ben Johnson

August 11, 2026

GM Jacob Aagaard is an award-winning author, a renowned trainer who has worked with GMs Sam Shankland, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and many others, and the co-founder of Quality Chess. Despite all of his accomplishments and the many demands on his time, Jacob retains his passion for chess books and chess improvement. He returns to the podcast to discuss:

How to actually improve at calculation, including why many club players should spend more time solving simple tactics rather than difficult calculation exercises
Some of the key concepts from his excellent new book, A Killer Guide to Attacking Chess
How to categorize the mistakes in your games without overcomplicating the process
Some of the forthcoming chess books he is most excited about

Jacob also teases an exciting new project with GM Garry Kasparov and shares his thoughts on the Olympiad, the FIDE election, and the health of the chess publishing business, among many other topics.

There is always so much to learn from Jacob, and I greatly appreciate his generosity with his time.

This week’s podcast is brought to you by Chessiverse.com. Be sure to check out their many features, and use code “Perpetual30” to receive a 30% discount on premium offerings and IM John Bartholomew’s Scandinavian Course.

00:00 Introduction

0:02- GM Jacob Aagaard joins

0:08- The Upcoming Chess books Jacob is most excited about

Naroditsky Memorial Box Set Quality Chess

Chess Metamorphoss by GM Nikita Vitiugov

Grandmaster Training Camp with GM Sam Shankland

Unlock Your Chess Creativity by IM Richard Palliser

Winning Chess Tactics by GM Yasser Seirawan

The Evans Gambit by IM Andrew Martin

17:00 Jacob’s Writing Workflow and Challenges

21:30 The Role of AI in Chess Writing

30:00 Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob’s new book compare to his Excelling at Chess Series?

33:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob recommend one improve at calculation?

41:00 Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s advice for how to categorize the mistakes you make when reviewing and trying to learn from your games?

43:33 Categorizing Mistakes in Chess

45:00 Recommended Chess Books for Improvement

Mentioned:

Attack with Mikhail Tal

Alekhine’s Best Games

Books by GM Larry Christiansen

Life and Games of Mikhail Tal

48:00 Working with GM Garry Kasparov on an updated The Great Predecessors Series

57:00 Patreon mailbag question: How is the chess publishing business doing? Does Jacob have any plans of streamlining the digital availability of the New in Chess Magazine archive?

01:10:00 Patreon mailbag question: Jacob’s thoughts on the Chess Olympiad, the FIDE election and Gukesh-Sindarov

1:16:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s motivation for continuing to compete occasionally

01:17:00- What Jacob learns from being an adult improver at guitar

Mentioned: Jake Workman is Jacob’s guitar teacher

01:24:00-

Thanks to Jacob for joining the show again! Here is how to keep up his work:

Killer Chess Training

https://killerchesstraining.com/

Books

https://www.newinchess.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?authors=Jacob+Aagaard+Madsen&q=%2A

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

⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess⁠

Ben Johnson

August 4, 2026

EP 493- GM Vasif Durarbayli: Why Every Serious Chess Player Needs a Coach

Ben Johnson

August 4, 2026

GM Vasif Durarbayli is a former World Youth Champion and two-time champion of his native Azerbaijan. Now based in St. Louis after graduating from Webster University, Vasif has turned much of his attention to ChessEver, an app designed to make following live chess easier.

In our conversation we discuss:

•• Why he believes every serious chess player needs a coach, and how not hiring one nearly derailed his own career.

• Vasif's outstanding performance at the Naroditsky Memorial blitz, including a near-upset of Hikaru Nakamura.

• An unforgettable over-the-board encounter with legendary GM Viktor Korchnoi.

• How chess broadcasting can be improved, and his ambitious long-term vision for ChessEver.

This was a really enjoyable conversation, and I recommend ChessEver to anyone who enjoys following top-level tournaments.

In our conversation we discuss:

•• Why he believes every serious chess player needs a coach, and how not hiring one nearly derailed his own career.

• Vasif's outstanding performance at the Naroditsky Memorial blitz, including a near-upset of Hikaru Nakamura.

• An unforgettable over-the-board encounter with legendary GM Viktor Korchnoi.

• How chess broadcasting can be improved, and his ambitious long-term vision for ChessEver.

This was a really enjoyable conversation, and I recommend ChessEver to anyone who enjoys following top-level tournaments.

00:00 - Intro

01:16 - Insights from a top 10 finish at the Naroditsky Memorial blitz tournament

Check out Vasif’s Naroditsky Memorial games here:

The Nakamura game is game 13, 35. Rxa7! Was mate in 12.

https://lichess.org/study/UoNAiYdm/TehrviPk

03:52 - Playing Korchnoi

05:02 - Playing style: aggressive opening choices and psychological play

06:45 - The influence of legendary players and their aura on Vasif

09:16 - Off-the-board aspects of chess improvement and coaching advice

12:37 - Strategies for handling lost positions and psychological tactics

15:08 - The significance of coaching and Vasif’s past mistakes in self-improvement

Vasif’s thoughts on Gukesh’s slump here:

https://x.com/durarbayli/status/2079565216413556923

24:52 - The power of strategic preparation stories from chess books

Mentioned: The Random Book that Made me a Grandmaster

https://durarbayli.com/a-random-book-made-me-a-grandmaster/

The Method in Chess by Josif Dorfman

https://www.amazon.com/Method-Chess-Iossif-Dorfman/dp/2957289024

30:00- Why we should not emulate Sindarov’s study approach

Mentioned: Fooled by Randomness

39:06 - The journey from competitive chess to creating Chess Ever

44:50 - The vision for Chess Ever: following games, broadcasting, and innovation

53:41 - Monetization plans and future features of Chess Ever

58:51 - How Chess Ever differs from other streaming and follow platforms

61:47 - The future of chess broadcasting, AI commentary, and competition

63:48 - Final thoughts and encouraging feedback from listenersResources:

Connect with Vasif Durabayi:

Ben Johnson

July 28, 2026

EP 492: Mr. Dodgy on Improving at Classical Chess + Chess Fam

Ben Johnson

July 28, 2026

⁠⁠⁠Michael Duke (better known as Mr. Dodgy, or @chessproblem on X) is a Chessable author, the co-founder of ⁠Chessfam⁠, and co-host of the Chicken Chess Club podcast. He has built a large online following through his passion for chess and his sharp sense of humor. But aside from the jokes, Michael has become more serious about improving his own game.

With a FIDE rating just shy of 2100, Michael was frustrated that he consistently performed much better in rapid than in classical chess. In order to change that, he sought out GM Alex Colovic for coaching after trying several instructors. He worked to address the biggest weaknesses in his game, including lazy calculation and overly ambitious opening choices. The work paid off as he defeated a grandmaster for the first time at age 38 and later held GM David Howell to a draw in a rapid game.

In our conversation, Michael shares what he learned about improving as an adult, why his rapid results have always been better than his OTB results, and the practical changes that helped close the gap.

We also discuss Chessfam, the ambitious new platform he co-founded to make finding and entering chess tournaments easier, as well as his observations from the recent European Chess Union Congress and the upcoming FIDE presidential election. (Please note this interview was recorded before Arkady Dvorkovich withdrew from the race.)

As always, timestamps for all topics discussed are below.

00:04 Introduction to Mr. Dodgy

02:51 Chess Improvement Deep Dive and Dodgy’s recent achievements

Mentioned: ⁠GM Alex Colovic’s Substack⁠

05:42 Lessons from Grandmaster Alex Colovic

GM Alex Colovic- How to Become a Grandmaster

⁠https://www.quora.com/How-did-you-become-a-grandmaster/answer/Alex-Colovic?share=55b455d3&srid=hY2IT⁠

08:49 Strengths and Weaknesses in Rapid vs Classical Chess

11:52 Opening Strategies and Learning Approaches

GM Alex Colovic’s Suggestions for the Alapin-

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6K0YFRN20U⁠

14:38 Daily Practice and Calculation Work

17:49 Patreon Mailbag Question: Can We Expect another Mr. Dodgy Chessable course?

20:33 Recommended Resources for Improvement

Mentioned: Improve Your Chess Calculation by GM RB Ramesh, Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams and Philip Hurtado, ⁠Perfect Your Chess by GM Volokitin and IM Grabinsky ⁠

25:20 Exploring Diverse Thinking in Chess

26:15 Influential Players and Their Styles

27:21 Dodgy's Grandmaster Victory Story

30:19 Chess Party: A Unique Event Experience

35:45 Introducing Chess Fam: A New Chess Platform

Mentioned: Sligo International, Maia Chess Festival, Sitges International

39:55 The Business Model Behind Chess Fam

43:54 Navigating New Skills in Chess Fam

48:01 Getting Involved with Chess Fam

48:26 The Need for Chess Tournament Reviews

50:43 Creating a Welcoming Environment for New Players

52:39 The Rise of Casual Chess Events

54:07 Insights from the ECU Congress

55:40 Understanding the Role of the ECU

59:00 The Future of European Chess

Mentioned: GM Peter Arnaudov from ⁠ModernChess.com⁠, Business Meets Chess & Kids & GM Pontuss Carlsson

01:05:07 FIDE Elections and the Importance of Term Limits

Thanks to Mr. Dodgy for joining! Here are links to his stuff:

X: https://x.com/ChessProblem

Chessable-

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

Chessfam-

⁠https://chessfam.com/⁠

Photo in thumbnail by David Llada

Ben Johnson

July 21, 2026

EP 491: Lessons from the Naroditsky Memorial with FM Dalton Perrine, GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney

Ben Johnson

July 21, 2026

By all accounts, the Naroditsky Memorial was a touching tribute to the legendary streamer, educator and grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. This week I welcome three guests to share their stories from the memorable event in Charlotte.

Popular Chessable author and coach FM Dalton Perrine reflects on the lessons and memorable experiences of the tournament. Dalton also shares chess improvement insights from his excellent Chess Chatter newsletter and discusses Chessalyz, the AI-powered chess improvement platform he co-founded.

Following Dalton, GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney return to the podcast for an update on the "Chess Rocky" story. They discuss Mike's results after months of training for the event, along with unforgettable stories from the tournament, including their encounter with legendary GM Vasyl Ivanchuk.

As always, I enjoyed hearing the stories and lessons from Dalton, Eugene and Mike, and I think listeners will find plenty to learn from their experiences.

00:04 Introduction and Background

01:01 The Narodzki Memorial Tournament Experience

04:01 Learning from Danya's Speedruns

Mentioned: Chessbase India- Naroditsky Memorial Coverage

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2unSfeOdoM

Chessbase India Interview with Danya’s Mother:

Daniel Naroditsky's mother shares heartfelt message to the chess community

06:53 Atmosphere and Community at the Tournament

10:04 Performance and Reflections on Games

13:01 Simplicity in Chess Improvement

16:02 Chessalyze: The AI-Assisted Coaching Platform

22:12 Future of Chessalyze and User Feedback

27:57 Advice for Ambitious Club Players

Mentioned:

Survive and Thrive: How to Blunder Less and Defend Better

https://www.chessable.com/survive-thrive-how-to-blunder-less-and-defend-better/course/80629/

34:00- Upcoming Tournaments and Projects

Thanks to Dalton for joining! Here is how to keep up with him:

Chess Chatter Blog

Chessalyz.ai

DaltonPerrine.com

38:00 GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney join me

Mentioned: Ivanchuk is here, GM Steven Zierk

Sindarov-Woodward 2026

https://www.chess.com/events/2026-naroditsky-memorial-masters-rapid/03/Sindarov_Javokhir-Woodward_Andy

IM Sagar Shah-Mahoney 2026-

https://lichess.org/study/IgNM0rNc/ZiaxROGi

48:32 The Pressure of Competition: In-Person Challenges

54:37 Reflections and Future Aspirations

https://eugeneperel.substack.com/

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

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Photo in thumbnail via Charlotte Chess Center-

https://www.cltccf.org/portfolio-collections/naroditsky-memorial-rapid-and-blitz-2026/setupmisc

Ben Johnson

July 14, 2026

EP 490- Bruce Pandolfini on 50 Years of Teaching Chess

Ben Johnson

July 14, 2026

Bruce Pandolfini is an American chess legend who has written many popular books, consulted on The Queen's Gambit and numerous other films and television projects featuring chess, and worked with countless future masters, including GM Fabiano Caruana and IM Josh Waitzkin.

Bruce rejoined me to reflect on what he has learned from an incredibly varied career in chess, from helping cover the 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Championship for PBS to nearly fifty years as one of America's most influential chess teachers.

In our conversation, Bruce discusses the nature of chess talent, what separates students who improve from those who don't, how technology has changed the way chess is taught, and shares memorable stories from his decades as a teacher, author, and film consultant.

00:00 Introduction and Bruce's background

00:23 Bruce's career highlights and teaching philosophy

06:06 Traits of successful chess players

09:10 Adults vs. kids in chess learning

Mentioned:

Dream Moves by GM Miron Sher

19:28 Talent and hard work in chess

Mentioned: Reveal Your Chess Style by GM Andy Soltis ,

Deadline Grandmaster

24:00- Working on the movies Searching For Bobby Fischer, and Fresh

31:58 The health and future of chess

40:15 Chess legends and historical stories

45:00- Patreon mailbag question: Would Bruce consider revising and updating any of his books?

48:28 Bruce's involvement in media and films

56:16 Reflections on chess evolution and technology

Mentioned: Thinking Sideways, Dark Squares, Bobby Fischer’s Chess Queen, Rebel Queen,

The Seventh Seal, From Russia with Love, Casablanca

01:03:14 Advice for chess enthusiasts and closing thoughts

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

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

Ben Johnson

June 30, 2026

EP 489- IM-elect Rose Atwell on Discipline, Improvement, and Chess Psychology

Ben Johnson

June 30, 2026

17-year-old IM-elect Rose Atwell is one of the brightest young stars in American chess. She recently earned her International Master title, tied for first at the National High School Championship, and qualified for the U.S. Women's Olympiad team for the first time. Rose has also built a loyal following on social media by candidly chronicling her tournament experiences. She shares instructive positions and the lessons she learns from both her successes and setbacks.

In our conversation we discuss:

Her approach to reviewing games and systematically addressing weaknesses
How she uses digital flashcards and "mixed tactics" to accelerate improvement
Why she believes homeschooling has benefited both her chess and her education
The chess advice she would give to her younger self

Rose is an impressive player and a great ambassador for the game. I appreciate her taking the time to join me during a very busy tournament schedule.

00:00 Introduction to Rose Atwell

03:23 Lessons Learned From a Disappointing Recent Tournament

06:24 Reviewing Games and Learning from Mistakes

09:29 Training Routines and Adjustments

12:33 Coaching Dynamics and Study Habits

Mentioned:

Rose Atwell interview with GM Mauricio Flores Rios

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w-JQbZUIRs

“Class in Session” with WGM Sabina Foisor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6YiEvust3k

15:24 Digital Tools and Flashcards for Improvement

18:23 Balancing Study and Physical Health

21:23 Family Background and Support

24:31 Competitive Mindset and Gender Dynamics in Chess

Mentioned: Judit Polgar book trilogy

https://forwardchess.com/product/judit-polgar-how-i-beat-fischers-record

31:32 Upcoming Tournaments and Travel Plans

33:58 Meeting Chess Heroes and Inspirations

36:00 Balancing Chess and Education

39:01 The Future of College and Chess

39:52 Attributing Success and Overcoming Challenges

42:04 Social Media and Sharing Chess Experiences

43:57 Advice to Younger Self and Emotional Resilience

46:05 The Importance of Identity Beyond Chess

49:02 Reading and Maintaining Focus

51:22 Chess Training and Future Goals

57:00 Thanks to Rose for joining me! Here is how to keep up with her:

X:

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

Instagram:

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

Ben Johnson

June 23, 2026

EP 488- GM R.B. Ramesh on Calculation, Confidence, and Coaching Champions

Ben Johnson

June 23, 2026

Renowned author and trainer GM R.B. Ramesh is one of the rare coaches who has worked extensively with the world's elite players while still providing practical advice for ambitious amateurs.

Long respected as one of chess's leading trainers and authors, Ramesh has helped guide the development of stars such as GMs Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, and Aravindh Chithambaram. As his students continue to reach new heights, Ramesh remains committed to sharing lessons that can benefit players at every level. For that reason, it was exciting news when he recently announced the relaunch of his YouTube channel, where he plans to regularly share free instructional content.

In our conversation, we discussed:

• What he has learned from coaching elite players
• When to focus on calculation versus pattern recognition
• The risks of burnout for top young players

We also discussed Ramesh's plans for future content, whether he has any new chess book recommendations, and how aspiring players can make the most of their limited study time.

There is always so much to learn from GM R.B. Ramesh.

Thanks to this week’s sponsors, Chessiverse.com. Use code “Perpetual30” to save 30% on premium offerings, and IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.

0:00 Introduction

2:10 GM Ramesh joins. Why is he relaunching his YouTube channel?

4:50 What Ramesh has learned from coaching elite players like Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram

7:45 Why young players focus too much on openings

10:00 How strong players think: candidate moves, objectivity, and avoiding analytical bias

13:30 Visualization, calculation, and why club players struggle to analyze deeply

16:15 Common problems even elite players face: time trouble, concentration, and handling losses

Check out Ramesh’s interview with Praggnandhaa here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU0J3ftM8BQ

21:00 How coaches can help players overcome psychological obstacles

27:00 Patreon mailbag question: Might players like Praggnandhaa and Gukesh be dealing with issues like burnout, and a lack of balance in their lives?

Mentioned:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/right-now-it-s-a-challenge-to-enjoy-chess-gukesh-101781022470045.html

31:30 The dangers of playing too many tournaments

35:15 Long-term burnout concerns for today's generation of prodigies

37:20 Patreon mailbag question: What does Gukesh need to do to regain his best form?

44:45 Does being World Champion create unique psychological pressure?

48:45 Listener question: Pattern recognition vs. calculation

51:00 Analysis vs. calculation: an important distinction

54:10 How adults with only a few hours per week should spend their chess study time

55:30 Future books, Chessable courses, and long-term projects

57:30 What viewers can expect from Ramesh's YouTube channel

1:00:30 Training camps, teaching philosophy, and adapting to students

1:02:30 Why Ramesh stopped reading most chess books

1:04:00 The psychological side of coaching and improvement

1:06:30 Final advice for amateurs and aspiring professionals

1:07:40 Outro

Thanks to GM Ramesh for joining me again! Be sure to SUB to his YouTube channel here:

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

Ben Johnson

June 23, 2026

EP 487- Matt Rathkey on Chess Improvement, Jazz Improvisation, and Learning How to Learn

Ben Johnson

June 23, 2026

Can a background as a professional jazz musician help you improve at chess? Matt Rathkey says “yes.”.

Matt is this week's guest on The Adult Improver Series. Like many players, he fell back in love with chess during the COVID pandemic and soon found himself playing regularly, watching top-level broadcasts, and solving puzzles. Along the way, he drew upon lessons from years of studying music, particularly the role of pattern recognition, deliberate practice, and improvisation. After years of dedication, Matt has raised his Chess.com blitz rating from roughly 1200 to over 1900.

Matt also has a fascinating day job. He is a learning designer on Duolingo's chess team, helping build what has quickly become one of the largest entry points into chess in the world. Launched last year, Duolingo Chess now has more than 7 million daily active users, most of whom are new to the game.

Matt shares his improvement advice, discusses the parallels between jazz and chess, and reflects on what he has learned about the science of skill acquisition.

This was a fun conversation, and it is encouraging to see so many new players discovering chess through Duolingo.

00:00 Introduction

Join the free Perpetual Chess Discord here:

https://discord.gg/7KxjmaTW

Sub to my free newsletter here:

https://benjohnson.substack.com/

Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here:

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess

02:00 Matt Rathkey joins

04:10 The Return to Chess: A Pandemic Story

07:04 Rediscovering Chess: The Queen's Gambit Effect

10:08 Setting Goals: The Journey to 1500

Matt’s USCF rating page:

https://ratings.uschess.org/player/13412385

13:09 Learning Through Observation: Active Engagement

16:04 The Importance of Tactics in Chess

18:48 Understanding Openings: Beyond Memorization

21:41 Chess Culture and Personal Growth

24:42 The Future of Chess: Duolingo's Chess Course

34:56 Overcoming Chess Intimidation

36:48 Duolingo Chess: Making Chess Accessible

39:44 Engaging with Oscar: The Duolingo Chess Bot

42:53 Learning Pathways in Duolingo Chess

46:41 Designing Effective Chess Lessons

51:08 Personalized Learning in Chess

53:14 The Intersection of Music and Chess

01:02:06 Advice for Chess Improvement

01:08:24 The Journey of Continuous Improvement

Ben Johnson

June 9, 2026

EP 486: James Black Jr. on Going from Scholastic Star to Chess Mentor

Ben Johnson

June 9, 2026

As a scholastic player, James Black Jr. was an All-American who won numerous national titles and trophies, both as an individual competitor and as part of the famed IS 318 chess program in Brooklyn, New York, as featured in the documentary Brooklyn Castle. Alongside FM Joshua Colas and IM Justus Williams, James became one of the youngest African-American National Masters in U.S. history.

After stepping away from competitive chess for several years, James has recently returned to the game, both as a player and as a coach and mentor. In a full-circle moment, he is now teaching at the same school where he first made his name while also building his own organization, KnightShift.

James joins me to discuss:

• Why he came back to competitive chess, and his goals for the future
• The "four pillars" he emphasizes when teaching young players
• How chess training has changed since his rise in the early 2010s, and what he needs to do to catch up

Plus, we discuss a unique chess book recommendation, his memories of Webster University, and his reaction to the news that its chess program is coming to an end.

This was a fun conversation, and I am excited to see James's comeback unfold.

00:00 Intro+ What brought James back to chess after an OTB hiatus

Mentioned: Brooklyn Castle

https://www.rescuedmedia.com/brooklyn-castle

GM Alex Lenderman, GM-elect Liam Putnam

Background info we mentioned:

https://grokipedia.com/page/james_black_jr

10:59 Teaching and Learning: Evolving Chess Education

Watch James vs. Magnus in 2012 here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfbpC3dQWw

17:16 Opening Strategies: Adapting to Modern Chess

23:25 Inspiration from Legends: Shaping a Chess Career

29:28 Beyond the Board: Life Lessons Through Chess

34:36 Reflections on Growth: Embracing the Journey

36:12 Impact of Mentorship in Chess

38:48 Teaching Chess to Young Minds

43:00- Favorite chess book!

Mentioned: WNYC video featuring James as a kid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOVyiR5jUU

Knight Moves by Charles Alexander-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126711532470?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOopTKnSuidd7Eg5M3-xYtoYzP97-jcvhVtZSPv1S1T25hE9dzgcXGsU

48:58 Experiences at Webster University

Webster terminates chess program:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/spice-chess-program-terminated

53:49 Advice for Aspiring Chess Players

Thanks to James for sharing his story!

You can email him at

JamesBlackChess at gmail dot com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/knightshiftofficial_/

Ben Johnson

June 2, 2026

EP 485: GM Simon Williams on Mistakes, Revival, and the Future of Chesspublishing

Ben Johnson

June 2, 2026

GM Simon Williams returns to Perpetual Chess for the first time in several years. Simon is one of chess's most recognizable personalities, known as the Ginger GM through his work as a streamer, commentator, author and Chessable creator. He is also an accomplished tournament player, having shared first in the 2010 London Chess Classic and finished second in the 2004 British Championship.

Simon joined me for a wide-ranging conversation covering both chess and life. We discussed:

• His candid reflections on becoming involved with a pension company that later collapsed, the mistakes he made, and how he has worked to move forward

• His new role helping revitalize Chesspublishing.com, and why he believes its archive of opening analysis remains an underappreciated resource

• How modern opening preparation has changed, and why Simon increasingly relies on offbeat ideas to avoid preparation battles

• His love of creative, attacking chess and the memorable games he has played at the Reykjavik Open

We also discussed the Stonewall Dutch, rising British star Bodhana Sivanandan, the losses of IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins, and even Simon's thoughts on Las Vegas.

As always, it was great catching up with Simon, and I am glad to see him creating chess content again.

00:00 The 2026 Reykjavik Open and Simon’s flair for the dramatic chess game

Check out Simon’s epic queen sacrifice in this article by NM Anthony Levin:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2023-reykjavik-open-williams-sacrifices-queen#:~:text=Williams%27%20Brilliancy,he%20played%20the%20interesting%205.

04:45 How Simon has adapted his approach to openings in the engine age

Mentioned: Simon’s game vs. Bodhana Sivanadan

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=3124933

07:35 Playing Against Younger Opponents

10:38 The State of British Chess

13:32 Exploring the Stonewall Dutch

Mentioned: Bronstein’s famous blunder-

https://www.chess.com/blog/ThummimS/the-1951-world-chess-championship

16:32 The Impact of Computer Analysis

19:39 Experiences playing against legends at the 2025 European Club Cup

22:26 Simon’s Involvement with Chess Publishing

More background info here:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/simon-williams-ordered-to-pay-back-900-000-to-pension-scheme

26:30 Innovative Chess Solutions

28:11 Lessons learned from working for a pension firm that went bankrupt.

35:42 Navigating Financial Mistakes

40:17 The Importance of Chess in Life

44:48 Content Creation and Future Projects

Keep an eye out for The Ginger and The Bear podcast!

48:54 Remembering IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins

50:00- How to keep up with GM Simon Williams

Suggestions for Chesspublishing.com

https://www.chesspublishing.com/contact

X:

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

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/gingergm

Disclosure: Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Perpetual Chess may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Ben Johnson

May 26, 2026

EP 484- Jordan Himelfarb on Interregnum and the Drama of the 2024 Candidates Cycle

Ben Johnson

May 26, 2026

Jordan Himelfarb is an award-winning editor for the Toronto Star and an avid games player who became fascinated by elite chess during the pandemic. That fascination eventually led to his excellent new book, Interregnum : Inside the Grueling and Glamourous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess, a detailed and highly readable chronicle of the 2024 FIDE Candidates cycle.

Jordan traveled to events including the World Cup, Grand Swiss, Candidates Tournament and World Championship match, gathering revealing first-hand reflections from many of the game’s top players along the way.

We discuss:

Why the Candidates cycle makes for such compelling sports drama
The emotional and physical toll of professional chess
Which players and personal stories resonated with him most
Ding Liren, Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh and the shifting generational landscape in chess
The controversies, chaos and unforgettable moments of the 2024 cycle

I recommend Jordan’s book to anyone looking for “bedtime chess reading”, and this was a really fun conversation.

00:00 Project Origins, Jordan’s Chess and Games Background

03:48 The Structure and Narrative of the Book

07:01 Experiences at Major Chess Events

09:54 Challenges and Insights in Reporting

12:46 The Physical and Mental Toll of Chess

15:58 Gender Dynamics in Chess

19:00- Patreon mailbag question: Which Candidates’ story resonated with Jordan the most?

22:16 The Weight of the Crown: Mental Health in Chess

23:40 Compelling Stories of Chess Players

25:30 The Agony and Ecstasy of Chess

30:07 The Relentless Grind of Chess Tournaments

31:09 Drama and Controversy in the Chess World

36:20 Expectations and Surprises in the Candidates Cycle

38:13 The Future of Young Chess Players

39:54 Personal Reflections on Chess

40:00- Thanks to Jordan for joining me, here is where to get the book:

https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/1639369910

Audiobook:

https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/B0GCPR89VZ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

Ben Johnson

May 19, 2026

EP 483- Paulo SantAnna: What Happens When a Retired Adult Treats Chess Like a Full-Time Job?

Ben Johnson

May 19, 2026

Paulo SantAnna is living the dream of many adult chess improvers. The retired software engineer has spent the past several years devoting serious time and energy to improving his game, and the results have been impressive. When Paulo rekindled his interest in tournament chess, his FIDE rating had fallen to a recent low of 1850. Through years of hard study, travel, disciplined training, and resilience, he recently reached a new high over 2100 FIDE in his mid-50s!

We discuss:

The moment Paulo decided to get serious about improvement
The mistakes he made early in his comeback
How he structures his training
Study recommendations and practical advice for adult improvers
Physical fitness, tournament selection, and maintaining motivation

I found Paulo’s story inspiring, and it offers hope for the rest of us, if we only could get rid of these pesky jobs.

0:00 Intro

EP 482- GM Ivan Sokolov on Talent, Training and Modern Chess

Ben Johnson

May 12, 2026

GM Ivan Sokolov is a former top-15 player who won major tournaments across multiple decades and became national champion of both Yugoslavia and the Netherlands. In classical chess, he scored memorable wins against Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand.

In recent years, Ivan has become equally respected as a trainer and author. Most notably, he worked with the gold medal-winning Uzbek team at the 2022 Chess Olympiad, including GMs Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Given Sindarov’s recent success, Ivan reflects on how his game has evolved and why it was clear to him that Sindarov was both supremely talented and, at the time, somewhat unprofessional in his approach.

Ivan recently released a new Chessable course, Self-Improvement for Advanced Players. We discuss chess improvement for professionals and amateurs alike, the proper role of a trainer in a player’s development, preparation in the Kasparov era versus today, and memories from his legendary career. This includes reflections on his close friendship with the late GM Jan Timman.

It is always an honor to hear GM Sokolov’s stories and perspectives.

Click here to download the Episode

00:00 Introduction to Ivan Sokolov

Prior interview with GM Ivan Sokolov:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2slrqqW7s&t=209s

02:21 Insights on the Uzbek National Team

Interview with Chessbase India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnN00uNrBEQ&t=588s

09:10 Assessing Grandmaster Sinderov's Potential

12:57 The Importance of Chess History

15:56 The Role of a Trainer

19:28 Experiences Against Chess Legends

22:09 Preparing for Kasparov vs. Modern Players

28:18 The Future of Chess: Classical vs. Chess 960

32:10 Insights from Ivan’s course.

36:22 Memories of the 2012 World Open and other tournaments in the US

Mentioned: Sokolov vs. Shirov 1999

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1010044

40:05 Talent vs. Hard Work in Chess

42:06 Remembering Grandmaster Yantum

46:40 Current Projects and Future Plans

50:00- Thanks to GM Sokolov for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him:

X:

https://x.com/GMSokolovIvan

Chessable Courses:

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

Ben Johnson

May 5, 2026

EP 481- IM Greg Shahade: Inside His Incredible Jeopardy Run

Ben Johnson

May 5, 2026

IM Greg Shahade has long been well known in the chess world as a three-time national scholastic champion and the founder of the Pro Chess League and the US Chess School. Recently, however, he reached a much broader audience with an impressive run on the syndicated trivia show Jeopardy!.

Greg amassed over $75,000 in winnings, dethroning 31-time champion Jamie Ding along the way. He joined me after what he described as “the craziest week of his life” to discuss:

The approach to adult learning that helped him go from trivia novice to Jeopardy! champion in just a few years
Behind-the-scenes insights from the recording process, plus his reflections on his controversial on-stage mannerisms
How his background in chess (and poker) shaped his strategy and decision-making under pressure

There isn’t a ton of chess discussion in this episode, but Greg’s approach to learning and performance has clear applications across many domains.

00:00 Introduction

Check out our sponsors, Chessiverse.com , and you can use code Perpetual30 to save 30% on premium feature and/or IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.

Chessiverse.com

03:00- Greg Shahade joins the show, we begin by discussing adult learning and Greg’s late start to trivia.

Mentioned: Learned League

Thinking Sideways by Jennifer Shahade

Ducksters

07:43 Building Knowledge Structures

10:03 The Role of Intense Study

12:54 Flashcards and Review Techniques

15:43 Betting Strategies on Jeopardy

18:45 Reflections on the Jeopardy Experience

You can review questions Greg faced here:

https://www.j-archive.com/showseason.php?season=42

25:00- Patreon mailbag question- Why does Greg know so little about current events? What is his approach to daily double hunting?

30:44 Daily Double Strategies and Insights

36:57 Patreon mailbag question- Why is Greg so expressive when playing Jeopardy?

42:16 Physicality and Focus in Jeopardy

49:25 Behind the Scenes of Jeopardy

52:40 Facing the Champion: Mental Strategies

55:11 The Weight of Anticipation: Media and Public Perception

57:02 Navigating Fame: Love, Hate, and Public Reaction

59:50 Preparing for the Tournament of Champions

01:03:51 Chess and Jeopardy: Cross-Disciplinary Insights

01:07:20 Reflections on Study Techniques and Memory

01:11:20 Final Thoughts: The Game and Its Emotional Toll

Thanks to Greg for joining me at a busy time. Follow him here:

Instagram:

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

X:

https://x.com/GregShahade

Ben Johnson

April 28, 2026

EP 480- GM Eugene Perelshteyn & NM Mike Mahoney: Chess Rocky-Taking on Nakamura & Niemann at the Naroditsky Memorial

Ben Johnson

April 28, 2026

When I read on GM Eugene Perelshteyn’s blog that his amateur friend had signed up to compete against players like Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann in the Naroditsky Memorial, I knew I had to hear this story.

That friend is NM Mike Mahoney. Mike is a pharmacist by day and a devoted online blitz player by night. For Mike, chess is usually a way to unwind, not something he takes too seriously. But he couldn’t pass up the chance to test himself in one of the strongest blitz tournaments the U.S. has ever seen.

Eugene will be mentoring Mike and traveling with him to Charlotte, and they both joined me to discuss:

Why Mike decided to jump into such a stacked field
How Eugene is preparing him for the challenge
How Mike defines “success” in a tournament like this

We also talk about Mike’s unconventional path to becoming a National Master, starting relatively late, as well as some great stories from the Boston blitz scene.

I’m excited to follow how this unfolds, and Eugene and Mike will be back after the tournament for a trip report. In the meantime, you can follow Mike’s journey on Eugene’s blog.

Be sure to check out the Perpetual Chess YouTube channel where Eugene goes over one of Mike’s model games against the Caro-Kann. (The video will be out later this week)

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

00:00 Introduction to the Guests and Their Journey

02:50 Mike's Decision to Compete in the Naroditsky Memorial

05:41 Eugene's Support and Coaching Role

08:41 Mike's Past Experiences with Top Players

11:35 Analyzing Mike's Strengths and Weaknesses

14:37 Training and Preparation for the Tournament

17:31 Opening Strategies and Game Analysis

Mentioned: The Hungarian Dragon

The Dragodorf

20:32 Eugene’s Philosophy on Gimmicky Openings

23:21 Defining Success in the Tournament

Mentioned: IM Marc Esserman

27:04 Excitement in Facing Strong Opponents

31:35 Setting Performance Goals as a Coach

34:02 The Importance of Blitz Clock Management

35:33 The Origin Story of a Late Chess Starter

Mentioned: Ilya Koyfman

36:39 Factors Contributing to Success in Chess

39:16 The Value of Community in Chess

40:56 The Evolution of Chess Accessibility

43:25 The Importance of a Fun and Relaxed Approach

43:37 Learning from Losses and Honest Reflection

46:02 Stories about legendary

GM Roman Dzindziashvilli and Bobby Fischer

Mentioned: Dzindzi-Jansa move 25

https://lichess.org/study/Th7i9fr2/kxMPOEjA

49:00 Upcoming Projects and Future Endeavors

50:00- Thanks to Eugene and Mike for joining me!

You can follow Mike’s training and progress on GM Eugene Perelshteyn’s blog.

https://eugeneperel.substack.com/

If you would like to help support Mike’s dream trip you can do so via this Go Fund Me:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/send-chess-rocky-to-fight-supergms-in-charlotte?lid=nlkk8jxujhda&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TXN_User_Messaging_Thank_You_Option_A&utm_content=internal