EP 438- Tony Ballard: Chess, Freedom, and Lessons Learned From 26 Years in Prison

In this memorable episode of Perpetual Chess, we welcome back Tony Ballard, who spent 26 years incarcerated and credits chess with helping him change the course of his life. When we last spoke in Episode 289 (2022), Tony was still in a minimum-security facility. Now fully free, he’s making the most of his second chance. He’s working full-time at the Paul Mitchell Barber School, has founded a nonprofit—Masters and Mentors—to teach chess to at-risk youth, and has released a powerful memoir, Time Alone: From Isolation to Transformation. The book doesn’t shy away from the trauma and darkness of his past, but ultimately it’s an inspiring story of growth and resilience.

In our conversation, we discussed:
– How chess fits into his daily routine
– His chess improvement philosophy
– The best things about life after prison
– Tony’s advice for anyone who feels stuck or overwhelmed

Chatting with Tony is always uplifting—and this conversation is no exception.

Click here to Download the Episode



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

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

And you can check out their new offerings here:

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




02:00- Has Tony been playing any chess since getting out of prison? 

Mentioned: Episode 390 with Russell Makofsky of The Gift of Chess 

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/7/9/ep-390-russ-makofsky-how-chess-can-change-lives-from-nyc-to-africanbsp



Watch Tony’s interview with Devaughn Croxton of US Chess here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c6OH3NvF6M



06:00- What is Tony’s online chess routine? 

Mentioned: Chess Psychology: The Will to Win



15:00- What is Tony’s chess improvement philosophy? 



20:00- We discuss chess notation and Tony’s approach to game analysis 



22:00- What are Tony’s favorite non-chess books? 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Man’s Search for Meaning

The 48 Laws of Power 



29:00- How is chess perceived in prison? What is the chess scene like there?

Mentioned: Agadmator 



34:00- Patreon mailbag question: 

“How can prisoners be encouraged to invest time and effort into activities like chess?”



39:00- What is the mission of Tony’s new non-profit, Masters and Mentors? 

https://mastersandmentors.org/

You can support Masters and Mentors here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-masters-and-mentors-youth-enrichment-strategies



45:00- How did Perpetual Chess help Tony win over his girlfriend?



46:00- How did Tony get interested in golf? 



50:00- What is the best part of being free? 



53:00- Is Tony ever tempted to return to his younger lifestyle? 



58:00 Tony’s closing advice for those who feel like they are struggling.



1:00- THanks to Tony for sharing his inspiring story!

Here is how to keep up with him



Facebook-

https://www.facebook.com/tony.ballard.900918



Instagram- 

https://www.instagram.com/tonyballard1977/

Masters and Mentors-

https://mastersandmentors.org/

His Book- 

https://www.amazon.com/Time-Alone-Transformation-Tony-Ballard/dp/B0F252YM48



His LiChess:

https://lichess.org/@/TonyBallard77



And Chess.com

https://www.chess.com/member/tony_1b



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

https://www.patreon.com/notifications




EP 437- Coach Jay Stallings and NM Adam Weissbarth talk Chess Teaching, Chess in the Movies and The Challenges and Rewards of Running a Chess Business

This two-part episode of Perpetual Chess features two of the most impactful figures in American chess education: Coach Jay Stallings and Adam Weissbarth. First up, Coach Jay shares insights from his decades of experience teaching over 30,000 students,and also discusses his recent work consulting on the chess scenes in the new Hollywood blockbuster The Accountant 2. Additionally, Jay reviews some of the teaching tools he currently relies on—including a fun new one that he recently created himself.

Following Jay is Adam Weissbarth, founder of Silver Knights Chess Academy, one of the largest after-school chess programs in the country. Adam recounts the immense challenges his company faced during the pandemic, when it lost all of its revenue sources overnight. He explains how he rebuilt the organization and expanded into elite coaching with grandmasters. Together, these conversations offer a fascinating look at the state of chess instruction—from classrooms to Zoom screens to movie scenes. Timestamps of guests and topics are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode


Check out the special offers mentioned at the beginning of the show below: 

Chessdojo-

https://www.chessdojo.club/signup

Chessmood- Free one Week Trial-

Chessmood.com/Ben

Chess.com-Free Premum One Week Trial-

http://go.chess.com/Perpetual



0:02:00- Coach Jay joins the show! We begin by discussing chess and movies, Jay recently consulted on the chess scenes for The Accountant 2.

Mentioned: 

Check out my recommended books here:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book-recommendations

Order Coach Jay’s Books for Kids here:

https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/coach-jay-starter-packs



Coach Jay’s prior interviews:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2017/9/12/episode-39-coach-jay-stallings



https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/5/14/episode-72-coach-jay-stallings-returns



Also mentioned:

Searching for Bobby Fischer 




14:30- Why did Jay wind down his chess non-profit after the pandemic? 



16:00- Jay’s report on Supernationals, the giant scholastic tournament where he coached? 



25:00- Jay discusses his new chess educational kit for kids, “Triple Check”

Get it here:

https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/collections/triple-check-the-chess-puzzle-game-that-needs-no-wifi



37:00- Jay shares a few new teaching tools he has been using.

Mentioned: Lichess studies, Chess.com Arena tournaments 



40:00- Thanks to Coach Jay for joining, you can reach him via his website:

https://store.coachjayschessacademy.com/



44:00- NM Adam Weissbarth joins the podcast! What was the biggest challenge his organization has faced? 

Adam’s prior Perpetual Chess Interview:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/4/9/silver-knights-chess-founder-adam-weissbarth



58:00- What has Adam learned from working with GM coaches like GM Johan Hellsten and GM Lazaro Bruzon?

Mentioned: Mastering Chess Strategy

1:02::00- Why has Silver Knights expanded its offering to stronger scholastic players? 



1:06:00- Did Adam meet people from the US Chess Federation at the Nationals? 



1:10:00- What resources does Silver Knights use for intermediate students? 



1:14:00- Adam’s advice for growing a chess teaching business


Thanks to Adam for joining, you can reach the Silver Knights academy via the following page:

https://chessacademy.com/pages/contact-us










EP 436- Adult Improver Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde on How Workplace Trash Talk Sparked a Lifelong Passion for Chess 

In this inspiring and relatable installment of the Adult Improver Series, we meet  Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde, a 39-year-old father of two, from Norway who discovered competitive chess after a bit of playful banter with a workplace rival. That exchange sparked a fascination with the game—and when the pandemic hit shortly after, Torkil suddenly had the time to dive in. Five years later, he's a regular tournament competitor and recently completed an impressive FIDE rating jump from 1400 to 1800 in just one year. In our conversation, Torkil shares his favorite resources and offers thoughtful advice on how to make the most of limited chess time. He also reflects on how chess has influenced his off-the-board habits—from health and mindfulness to goal-setting—and why he hopes his chess journey is still just beginning.




Spotify Adult Improver Playlist




Click here to Download the Episode

You can volunteer or suggest an adult improver guest here:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adult



Links to special offers and new courses:

Chessdojo use- the code “Ben40” at checkout. 

https://www.chessdojo.club/signup

Chessmood Free one Week Trial-

Chessmood.com/Ben

Check out FM Nate Solon’s new Chessable course here: 

https://www.chessable.com/100-repertoires-semi-slav/course/285379/



0:00- Torkil’s unique chess origin story

12:00- What resources helped Torkil early in his pursuit of chess improvement?

Mentioned: Hanging Pawns, Gotham Chess, Daniel Naroditsky, Anna Cramling, Anna-Maja Kazarian, Chessable Starter Pack

27:00- When did Torkil transition to tournament chess? What were the biggest adjustments?

40:00- What led to Torkil’s big rating jump?

49:00- Patreon mailbag question- “Where might the limit be for Torkil’s potential improvement?”

Mentioned: Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, Sherevsky’s Endgame Strategy 

59:00- More recommendations from Torkil ADD IMAGES

Mentioned: The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Move First Think Later, Chess Principles Reloaded, The Art of Attack in Chess 

1:02:00- Torkil’s final reflections and advice 

1:05:00- Thanks to Torkil for sharing his story! Here is his new, non-secret Lichess account where you can message him:

https://lichess.org/@/TorkilJaraBard





takeaways

Torkil started playing chess during the pandemic.

He improved his FIDE rating from 1400 to 1800.

Chess has led him to focus on nutrition and exercise.

He believes in developing rather than defending a rating.

Consistency is key to improvement in chess.

Chess reflects how well your brain works on a given day.

He treats every game as a bungee jump experience.

Torkil aims to become slightly better each year.

He has learned to manage his alcohol consumption for better performance.

He plays chess for fun, not just for results.

titles

From Pandemic to Progress: Torkil's Chess Journey

The Adult Improver: Torkil's Rise in Chess

Sound Bites

"I started chess during the pandemic."

"I believe consistency is the key."

"I treat every game as a bungee jump."

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Torkil's Chess Journey

11:57

The Impact of the Pandemic on Chess

27:53

Transitioning to Tournament Chess

34:40

Experiencing Classical Chess for the First Time

36:38

Chess Clock Etiquette and Personal Experiences

38:34

Transitioning to Regular Club Play

41:00

Achieving New Ratings and Performance Insights

43:41

The Joy of Exploration in Chess

44:49

Fog of War: Strategy and Preparation

47:56

Balancing Fun and Results in Chess

49:10

Potential for Improvement and Future Goals

52:35

Training Philosophy and Long-Term Goals

58:05

Recommended Resources and Learning Materials

01:02:31

Consistency and Mindfulness in Chess



In this episode of the Adult Improver series, host Ben Johnson interviews Torkil Jara Bårdsgjerde, who shares his inspiring journey of learning chess as an adult during the pandemic. Torkil discusses his rapid improvement from a 1400 to an 1800 FIDE rating, his experiences in tournament chess, and the importance of mindfulness and nutrition in enhancing his chess performance. He emphasizes the significance of consistency in practice and the joy of exploring different aspects of chess rather than just focusing on results. Torkil's story is a testament to the potential for growth and improvement in chess, regardless of age or starting point.

EP 435- IM Alex Ostrovskiy on Opening Prep, Norm Tournaments, and His Core Chess Improvement Advice 

IM Alex Ostrovskiy is a former Scholastic National Champion, New York State Champion, and accomplished coach who has earned one GM norm, and reached a peak USCF rating of 2560. In addition to his coaching work, Alex is a regular commentator on GM Hikaru Nakamura's Twitch channel, and a tournament organizer who runs frequent invitational tournaments in New York City (where he has lived since the age of 5).  Alex and I discussed the following: 

  • Alex’s three main tenets of chess improvement are  tactics, opening prep, and playing consistently 

  • Lessons from a couple of recent tournaments, and why Alex has scaled back his GM-Title ambitions

  • The origins of Alex’s longtime friendship with Gotham Chess, and whether he is surprised by Levy's success. 

This was a fun conversation with a lot of good advice. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 



Click here to download the Episode

00:00- ChessDojo special offer! If you try out Chessdojo 4.0 you can get a 40% discount by using the code “Ben40” at checkout. 

https://www.chessdojo.club/signup

0:01- 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

And you can check out their new offerings here:

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



02:00-  Alex joins the show! 



Mentioned: Alex’s Interview with Dylan Quercia- 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIK2jjnpwcM&list=PLXZjuvMCiLW0Ae7nNr5dvJk80neTe4Jvz&index=1&t=1975s&pp=iAQB

Also mentioned: GM Arjun Kalyan, Elizabeth Spiegel, Brooklyn Castle 



0:08- Alex’s students are known for deep opening prep.  What is his approach as a coach?

Mentioned: NM Matan Prilleltensky 



13:00- How important are openings for those who are  below the 2000 level? 

16:00- Alex’s report on two recent tournaments in Spain. 

Mentioned: GM Andy Woodward 

21:00- How does the work of going to youth championships in order  to coach students, work logistically? 

22:00- What is the origin of the Norm invitational tournaments that Alex helps run in NYC? 

Mentioned: Keith Espinosa 

More info at: https://nycchessnorms.com/



24:00- Will Alex be able to convince the famous Chess YouTuber FM Donny Ariel to play in a norm invitational?

Mentioned: EP 421 with FM Donny Ariel and GM Jan Gustasaffson

Donny Ariel: The Road to Chess Grandmaster:

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

30:00- Alex is longtime friends with IM Levy Rozman.  What is his first memory of him? 

36:00- What was it like to do training sessions with Kasparov as a kid? 

37:00- Who were Alex’s main rivals as one of the top US players for his age? 

Mentioned: GM Darwin Yang, GM Daniel Naroditsky

40:30 -Did Alex study chess a lot as a kid or did he primarily learn by playing? 

45:00- Has Alex worked with adult students? 

48:00- Alex’s training advice 

54:00- How did Alex get started as a commentator on Hikaru’s channel? 

56:00- Alex’s closing advice 



Thanks to Alex for joining me, you can reach him via his website. 

https://www.alexchess.com/






EP 434- GM Mauricio Flores Rios: The Acclaimed Chess Structures Author on How to Approach Different Chess Imbalances, Chess & A.I., and The Missing Ingredient in Freestyle Chess

GM Mauricio Flores Rios' first book, Chess Structures, is a modern classic which is seemingly recommended on a weekly basis on Perpetual Chess. After nine years of work, Mauricio has recently released its follow-up, Chess Imbalances: A GM Guide. Like Chess Structures, it is a highly instructive book with a beautiful selection of games and useful guidelines to aid one's chess decision-making. We discussed the following: 



  • His opinion on the value of the bishop pair, as well as bishop vs. knight 

  • The surprising reason that his book often featured the games of Magnus Carlsen

  • When to switch from “objective mode” to “survival mode” in a game 

We also discussed freestyle chess, and the impact of machine learning on chess. Mauricio is a statistician by trade, who recently launched a chess instruction site called ChessMind A.I., so he was particularly insightful on this topic. There is always lots to learn from chatting with (and reading) GM Rios, and this conversation was quite informative. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Click here to Download the Episode

Prior interview with Mauricio- Episode 109:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2019/1/15/episode-109-gm-mauricio-flores



For our forthcoming video companion to this interview, keep an eye on the Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@perpetualchesspodcast9143



Here is the video companion to this interview, be sure to sub to the Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/rmjcbwv7BtQ

0:00- You can sign up for a free one-week membership to Chessmood using this link:

Chessmood.com/Ben

Check out the YouTube video with Mauricio showing me games from Chess Imbalances here:





4:30- Mauricio joins the show! We dive right into discussing the vision behind GM Flores Rios’ much anticipated book, Chess Imbalances.  

Mentioned : 

Free preview of the book from Quality Chess here:

https://qualitychess.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chess-Imbalances-070x-Excerpt.pdf





11:00- Mauricio explains the guideline  “Quantity is more important than quality.” 



14:00- Why did Mauricio select a lot of games from Magnus Carlsen? 



15:00- Will Chess Imbalances be on Chessable? 



19:00- What made the bishop vs. knight chapter especially challenging to write? 



23:00- Mauricio’s advice for evaluating trading bishop’s vs. knights 



25:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

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

And you can check out their new offerings here:

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



26:00- What does it mean to switch from “from objective mode to survival mode” in a game?

Mentioned: The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Learn from the Legends 



35:00- What is Maurice’s next chess project? 

Mentioned: Chessmind AI 



39:00- How close are we to having an A.I. model that can clearly explain chess games?



41:00- Are humans near the peak of how good they can be at chess? What about engines?



43:00- Does Mauricio like Chess960?

Mentioned: GM Kenneth Rogoff interview with NM Tyler Cowen:

https://conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/kenneth-rogoff/



47:00- Will Mauricio’s kid(s) play chess? 





Thanks to Mauricio for joining me! You can reach him via email at:

Mauricio.a.flores.math at gmail dot com



Here is the link for Chess Imbalances: A GM Guide, including a free sample:

https://www.newinchess.com/chess-imbalances



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

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




EP 433- GM Kenneth Rogoff: From the World Juniors to the World Bank. Dr. Rogoff on His Remarkable Transition from Top Young Chess Talent to Renowned Economist. 

Dr. Kenneth Rogoff has undoubtedly had one of the highest-profile and most interesting careers of any Grandmaster working outside of chess. He is an author and Harvard professor who was once singled-out by none other than Bobby Fischer, as a player who had shown remarkable chess improvement. As a young chess star, Dr. Rogoff actually dropped out of high school to move to Europe and pursue chess professionally, but by age 18 he had returned to the U.S. and enrolled at Yale. He would remain active in chess for many more years, but his top priority gradually switched from chess to academics, and he eventually quit chess entirely (save for an exhibition game against Magnus Carlsen in 2012).

Dr. Rogoff still loves chess and thinks about it all the time, but economics turned out to be the right decision for him, as he has become a distinguished professor who has worked as the Chief Economist at the World Bank, and has met 8 different U.S. Presidents in his life. His new book, Our Dollar, Your Problem,intersperses occasional lessons from his chess career while providing a modern history of the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency. This interview focuses primarily on Dr. Rogoff’s chess career, but those interested in his reflections on the global economy should stay tuned until the end of the interview, and should definitely check out his new book. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Recorded on April 3, 2025. 

0:02- We dive into GM Rogoff’s chess upbringing, and his interactions with Bobby Fischer 

Mentioned: NM Eric Marchand, IM Sal Matera , GM Rogoff’s chess biography:

https://rogoff.scholars.harvard.edu//pages/biography

Bobby Fischer article mentioning GM Rogoff:

https://rogoff.scholars.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum5901/files/rogoff/files/fischer69.pdf

Karpov-Ulf Andersson 1969 ADD IMAGE 

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1019420

11:00- How did Dr. Rogoff gain hundreds of rating points in his early teens?

21:00- Was it hard to switch from the meritocratic chess world to academia? 

25:00- What led to Dr. Rogoff’s dropping out of high school at age 16 to pursue chess? What was life like as an American teenager living alone in Europe in 1969? 

Mentioned: Muppets in Moscow by Natasha Rogoff 

26:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

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

And you can check out their new offerings here:

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

32:30- Why did Dr. Rogoff make a U-turn and go to Yale University after dropping out of high school?

34:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Dr. Rogoff ever daydream about what a professional chess life might have looked like?

37:00- Why did Dr. Rogoff quit chess “Cold turkey”? 

Mentioned: Carlsen-Rogoff 2012

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1690691

40:00- Does Dr. Rogoff have a favorite chess memory? Who were his favorite players? 

Mentioned: Kasparov, Peter Thiel, Arkady Dvorkovich ,Reshevsky-Rogoff 1978, IM Kim Commons, Lev Aronian  

Larsen-Rogoff 1968

Fischer-Spassky 1975

53:00- What is the origin of the phrase “Our Dollar, Your Problem”? (The title of Dr. Rogoff’s new book

58:00- What can regular people do to prepare for volatile markets?

1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: Is the US debt load sustainable? What does Dr. Rogoff think of Ray Dalio’s writing? 

1:05:00- Dr. Rogoff has met 8 presidents and many more world leaders- Does any experience stand out? 

1:08:00- What does Dr. Rogoff think of the future of crypto-currencies? 

Mentioned: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari


Thanks to Dr. Rogoff for joining me! You can get his new book here. 

EP 432- NM Dana Mackenzie: The 5 Steps to Becoming a Chess Master & Other Chess Stories and A

NM Dana Mackenzie is a former math professor turned science writer who has maintained a passion for chess throughout his life and career changes.He is a USCF Life Master and was the 2 time state champion of North Carolina.  Dana had a long running and popular chess blog which has now been turned into a book Did You Come Here to Play Chess or Have Fun? The book features plenty of chess improvement advice, with a particular emphasis on what Dana thinks is required to become a master level player.

Dana is very familiar with the ups and downs of an active player, as he achieved a peak rating of USCF 2257, eventually fell below 2100, and then had to revamp his game in his 50s in order to get back to 2200!.  Dana also shares some fun stories from his chess career. These include amusing or noteworthy anecdotes about GM Jesse Kraai, a young GM Hans Niemann and a funny story involving a prominent grandmaster offering a “psychological draw offer.” . All in all, there is a lot to learn, and to enjoy from Dana’s book and from our conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

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

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

And you can check out their new offerings here:

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



00:00- Introduction to Dana McKenzie

Read about Dana’s history of pursuing tenure here:

https://danamackenzie.com/about/the-tenure-chase-papers/tenure-chase-part-1-prehistory/

04:00- Becoming a Chess Master: Core Beliefs and Steps

Mentioned: IM Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess 

07:00- Developing Strengths and Eliminating Weaknesses

11:00- The Importance of Community in Chess

14:00- Navigating Age and Chess Performance

16:00- Strategic Thinking and Questions for Improvement

19:00- Are chess tactics necessary to make it to the master level?

22:00- Can going to chess parties help your chess? 

24:00- After losing over 100 points in his 40s, Dana managed to gain them back and get back over 2200. What changes did he make to his game?

Mentioned: 

Dana’s USCF Rating History:https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=10277604

Episode 346 with NM Todd Bryant 

Can Adults Improve at Chess? By NM Todd Bryant

https://www.chess.com/article/view/can-adults-improve-at-chess

30:00- Dana shares a few examples of his suggested “10 questions for schematic thinking.” 

Mentioned: GM Robert Hess, GM Jonathan Rowson, GM Jesse Kraai 

36:00- Dana’s advice for finding a chess community, and the underrated value of chess parties! 

Mentioned: NM Mike Splane,  FM Craig Mar 

43:00- Dana tells a funny story involving Grandmasters and a “psychological draw offer.” 

Mentioned: GM Walter Browne, GM Sergey Kudrin

https://danamackenzie.com/blog/?p=3209

52:00- Dana’s encounter with a young Hans Niemann

Mentioned: Read more about “The Troitsky Line” here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_knights_endgame

58:00- What Dana learned from GM Jesse Kraai

Mentioned: Read more about Nezhmetdinov’s famous queen sacrifice in this article by NM Sam Copeland:

https://www.chess.com/blog/SamCopeland/nezhmetdinovs-immortal-queen-sacrifice-best-of-the-60s-nezhmetdinov-vs-chernikov-1962



Thanks to Dana for joining me!

You can check out his blog and website here:

https://danamackenzie.com/

And get his book here:

https://www.newinchess.com/did-you-come-here-to-play-chess-or-to-have-fun



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

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess?redirect=true




EP 431- GM Mihail Marin:The Award-Winning Author shares Chess Wisdom from Across the Generations 

GM Mihail Marin is a prolific and popular author, trainer, and 3-time Romanian national champion. He has made numerous contributions to the chess canon but is probably best known for the book Learn from the Legends, published in 2005, which received high praise from GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Jeremy Silman, and many others. In 2025, its much-anticipated sequel, Learn from the Legends 2: Chess Heroes at Their Best has finally been released. GM Marin joined me to discuss:

  • The different format chosen for this sequel compared to the original

  • Things to know about each of the principle players featured: GMs Stein, Keres, Bronstein, Portisch, and Polugaevsky

  • His own rise up the chess ranks

  • Why chess was a uniquely appealing profession in Communist Romania 

GM Marin has accumulated a litany of stories from a life among the world's top players, and it is always a pleasure to speak with him! Timestamps of topics discussed are below."


Click here to Download the Episode


Prior Interview- Episode 316

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2023/2/7/ep-316-gm-mihail-marin-the-renowned-author-and-trainer-on-learning-from-larsen-tal-polgar-and-other-legends



Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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





0:00- What was Mihail Marin’s approach to chess improvement as an up-and-coming player?

Mentioned: Karpov-Unzicker 1975

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067846



Also mentioned: GM Florin Gheorghiu, GM Mihai Suba . Psakhis-Marin 2000



17:00- Mihail shares a little bit about each player covered in Learn from the Legends 2, including Stein, Polugaevsky, Bronstein, Keres and Portisch 

Mentioned: Korchnoi-Portisch Candidates Match 1983

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=93347



Also mentioned: Bronstein’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 

Keres-Benko 1962 (adjourned on move 41)

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1072970

GM Jan Timman’s Curacao 1962: The Battle That Shook the Chess World

https://www.amazon.com/Curacao-1962-Battle-Minds-Shook/dp/9056911392



34:00- In the modern chess age is it still possible to have a distinct chess style?



Mentioned:

Spassky Fischer, game 8, move 15:

https://lichess.org/study/FeAwvrlI/nNPKlIqp



Spassky-Polgar 1993-

https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=1762744



45:00- Is Mihail following the Freestyle Chess Tour?



53:00- Is Mihail following the Women’s World Championship?



54:00- How is Mihail preparing for his imminent tournament? 

Mentioned: Dorfman’s The Method in Chess

Petr Izmailov: From Chess Champion of Russia to Enemy of the People

https://chess.co.uk/products/petr-izmailov-from-chess-champion-of-russia-to-enemy-of-the-people-nikolai-izmailov



58:00- GM Marin discusses his next projects: a Chessable course, and a forthcoming book about his chess hero,  GM VIktor Korchnoi

Mentioned: 



1:08:00- Mihail’s recommended European chess tournaments

Alicante chess tournament 2025:

https://chessnews.info/ix-international-chess-open-easter-2025/
Seville:

https://www.modern-chess.com/tournaments?id=1450




1:10:00- Thanks to Mihail for joining me again! 

Here is how to keep up with him:

Learn From the Legends 2:

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Legends-2-Mihail-Marin/dp/1784832162

Forward Chess:

https://forwardchess.com/product/learn-from-the-legends2-chess-heroes-at-their-best

Watch here for his forthcoming Chessable course:

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



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

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







EP 430- GM Susan Polgar on Perseverance and Empowering the Next Generation 

GM Susan Polgar is a World Chess Hall of Famer and former Women’s World Champion. She is also the holder of numerous records, including being the first female  “triple crown winner” and the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title by norms and rating. She is also an author, and Chessable author. Her latest book,  Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny and the Making of Grandmaster is a candid and fascinating memoir which looks back at her unusual upbringing, her extraordinary playing career, her life as a wife and mom, and her accomplishments as a groundbreaking university coach. As you might expect, this is a fascinating conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode


Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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




0:00- Information about the Chess in the Schools chess/poker fundraiser, hosted by GM Robert Hess on May 1, is here:

https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-2nd-annual-charity-poker-tournament



0:02- What are some of the primary lessons of Susan’s new memoir, Rebel Queen? 



15:00- GM Polgar tells the story of her famous win over GM Ljuboimir Ljubojevic in 1987. 



See the game here:

https://susanpolgar.com/portfolio-item/susan-polgar-vs-ljubomir-ljubojevic-1987/




18:00- What informed the Polgar philosophy of playing the strongest competition, regardless of gender?



21:00- Patreon mailbag question- Did Susan ever consider raising her own children in the way that her parents raised her and her sisters? 



26:00- Susan’s memories of young Levy Rozman and Fabiano Caruana playing at her chess center. 

Mentioned: photo of Susan with young Levy:

https://www.facebook.com/susanpolgarchess/photos/this-was-from-a-million-years-ago-who-is-this-young-chess-superstar-who-used-to-/1202844537877913/?_rdr



30:00- Patreon mailbag question:

What still needs to be done to continue to grow women’s chess?

Mentioned:

Chess Tactics for Champions by Susan Polgar 



33:00- Patreon mailbag question: “To what extent does Susan think socialization plays a role in the smaller percentage of women playing chess?” 



36:00- Patreon mailbag question:  “Have the barriers that women in chess face changed over the years?”



39:00- Patreon mailbag question: “ What is Susan’s advice for raising the level of play among the girls at a chess club?”

Mentioned: GM Susan Polgar’s interview with the Botez sisters 

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



40:00-  Patreon mailbag question: “Does Susan have a favorite Mikhail Tal story?”

Photos of Susan’s first encounter with GM Mikhail Tal here:

https://x.com/SusanPolgar/status/1855363562073620780



48:00- Was Susan Polgar in touch with GM Bobby Fischer in his final years? 



51:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What made Susan decide to begin coaching university chess at Texas Tech?”



54:00- What else is Susan working on now that she is retired from coaching university chess? 



58:00- Which factor was the biggest contributor to the success of Susan and her sisters?



Thanks to GM Polgar for a fascinating interview! Here is how to keep up with her:



Instagram:

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

X:

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

Order her book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Queen-Misogyny-Making-Grandmaster/dp/153875729X



For newer players, you can check out her “Learn Chess the Right Way” Series on Chessable here:

https://www.chessable.com/learn-chess-the-right-way-book-1-must-know-checkmates/course/12192/



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

https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess?redirect=true

EP 429- Omar MIlls: Chess and Life Lessons Learned From Not Improving as Much as He Expected

The Adult Improver series returns to Perpetual Chess to welcome Omar Mills (a/k/a ChessvonDoom) to the podcast. Omar fell in love with chess during the pandemic and has learned some unexpected lessons through the thousands of games he has played in subsequent years. He learned that chess improvement and maintaining a disciplined study routine  is much harder than he ever could have guessed, but that you can learn a lot about yourself through the game nonetheless. In a new Chessable course, Chess Destiny: Lessons from an Adult Improver and his Coach, Omar collaborates with popular YouTuber NM Robert Ramirez to share some of these unexpected chess and life lessons. These lessons include:

  • What does Omar call “the rule of three?” 

  • What has playing the bass taught Omar about chess improvement?

  • What one piece of advice would he give his “new to chess” self of 5 years ago? 

Plus lots  more, it's always insightful and entertaining to hear from Omar! 

Click here to Download the Episode


Adult Improver Series webpage:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=2a3f9cee77b948f1

Adult Improver Series Spotify playlist:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover


Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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


0:00- Information about the Chess in the Schools chess/poker fundraiser, hosted by GM Robert Hess on May 1, is here:

https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-2nd-annual-charity-poker-tournament




0:02- What is the story behind Omar, an average club player,  making a Chessable course? 

Mentioned: NM Robert Ramirez, Bruna Tuzi, NM Ian Harris, IM Miodrag Peruvunic (Milo the Butcher) 

You can hear Omar on How to Chess, Season 2, Episode 4-

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4x3gO38SDRut2lJZdCLPeh?si=53a28262690c4297




0:15- What is “the rule of three”? 



0:21- What has playing the bass taught Omar about playing chess?

Mentioned: Victor Wooten 



43:00- What is Omar’s daily chess routine? 

Mentioned: Kamryn Hellman, Nick Visel 



48:00- NM Robert Ramirez’s recommended study plan 

YouTube series with Omar, Roberto and NM Robert Ramirez:

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




52:00- What would Omar tell his new-to-chess self, from a few years ago? 



53:00- Does Omar have any tournaments on this horizon?




55:00- Thanks to Omar for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him:



Twitter/X:

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

Chess.com:

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

His Chessable Course:

https://www.chessable.com/chess-destiny-lessons-from-an-adult-improver-and-his-coach/course/266890/




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

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

EP 428- IM Danny Rensch of Chess.com: Combating Cheats and Charting Chess's Future

IM Danny Rensch is a former child prodigy turned Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, the largest chess website in the world. Danny rejoined me 8 years after his first visit to the podcast (Episode 18) to discuss all that is new with Chess.com. Inevitably, this means a detailed discussion of online cheat detection, and whether Chess.com thinks that their increased deterrence methods are working. But there is a lot more to discuss including:

  • What goes into making decisions about choosing commentators for an event?

  • Lessons learned from some P.R. missteps related to the closing of Chess24, and changes to the Chessable product offerings. 

  • Upcoming TV shows and documentaries related to chess. Why are so many of these shows related to cheating?

It is always fun to get a glimpse behind the curtain at the world’s biggest chess company, and you are sure to learn something about “chess business” in this conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 



Click here to Download the Episode


Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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

0:00- We discuss cheat detection. Is publicly disclosing cheaters acting as a deterrent to cheating? What about their new proprietary browser, Proctor? 



The two interviews/videos we reference are here:

Greg Mustreader:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4fGt3MbF0I

State of Chess.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lQ47SuBLU8&t=8428s



15:00- Is OTB cheating as common as online cheating? 



21:00- What was the story behind future GM Alireza Firouzja’s account being erroneously closed due to fair play some years ago?

Mentioned: GM Lenier Dominguez 



28:00- We briefly discuss Danny’s forthcoming memoir, Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Squares-Chess-Saved-Life/dp/1541703286



31:00- How can the chess world move away from predominantly cheating-based mainstream coverage?

Mentioned: 

Netflix documentary:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/netflix-unveils-carlsen-niemann-documentary-for-2025

Forthcoming Movie:

https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64565309/

BBC’s Chess Masters: The Endgame:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028x4d




37:00- Are there too many professional chess tournaments with too little differentiation between events? 

Mentioned:

Coachchamps Improver Challenge:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/announcing-coachchamps-2025

Also mentioned: Caitlin Clark, Judit Polgar



48:00- How does Chess.com decide which commentators to feature in which events?

Mentioned: GM Daniel Naroditsky, GM Robert Hess



51:00- What lessons were learned from backlash against the Chess24 closure and recent changes to access to free courses on Chessable?

Mentioned: Info on Chessable’s 2025 changes to Chessable Short and Sweet Access:

https://www.chessable.com/blog/new-year-big-changes-to-chessable-pro/



1:00:00- What 2025 events is Danny excited for?

Mentioned:

Pogchamps

https://www.chess.com/news/view/announcing-pogchamps-6-field

Speed Chess Championships, ESports World Cup 



1:03:00- Is Chess.com still thinking of becoming publicly traded at some point? Would Danny retire in the near future? 




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

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






EP 427- Key Chess Improvement Principles with GM Noël Studer: The Fallacy of Accuracy Scores, Leaky Roofs & Information Overload

GM Noël Studer is a two time Swiss National Champion turned blogger, course creator and chess trainer. Noël is also a regular guest on the podcast, and as an avid reader of his blog, I always have plenty of questions for him. This particular interview tackles questions like the following:

  • What has training for a marathon taught Noël about chess?

  • Do Grandmasters like Noël make it sound easier than it is to “fix blunders?” 

  • What are the traits of Noël’s most successful students? 

We also discuss an update to one of Noël’s courses, his next projects, and why we both are a bit disillusioned with professional chess. There is always a lot to learn from GM Studer! 


Click here to Download the Episode


Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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

Check out Noël’s updated course on studying chess the right way here (https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0) Use the code perpetual20 to receive a 20% discount. By using that link, you'll also support Perpetual Chess.

https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0




Noël’s prior appearances were on the podcast were Episodes 248, 312 and 374 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Dtd4jQXwwJkfwOegqrGad?si=11a29a76268249b8

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0asMZuJZhbp6EnNUyUvzo4?si=9cc4a0c08d7b48e8

https://open.spotify.com/episode/39O0qNPy5mCDxSf96byIES?si=7a1e8a1e12bc4102





01:00- Chess Lessons from training for a marathon

(From article From Thinking to Doing)

Dr. Nick Vasquez’s post, Too Many Choices:

https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/what-do-we-mean-improvement




13:00- Why does Noël call blundering “the leaking roof issue”?

The leaking roof issue



Steps method playlist from Chess Steps trainer NM Han Schut:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHJ-t45Y-c5SN7u7YSd-gj0vpyCgXv7lM



21:00- Do people overemphasize the importance of accuracy scores?

https://nextlevelchess.com/accuracy-score/



25:00- In his professional days, what was Noël’s approach to checking engines immediately after games? 



28:00- Why do CEO’s have a hard time improving at chess? 

https://nextlevelchess.com/study-chess-in-a-smarter-way/



35:00- Which posts of Noël’ got the most feedback? 



37:00- What is “the chess improvement equation?” 

https://nextlevelchess.com/improvement-score/



40:00- What other recent interests and daily practices has Noël implemented? 



42:00-  Noël’ discusses his relaunched course, The Simplified Chess Improvement System

https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0



49::00- Noël’s next projects



52:00- Does Noël still follow professional chess closely? 



Thanks to Noël for coming on!

You can email him at Noël at nextlevelchess.blog



Check out his courses. Remember to use perpetual20 for 20% off on either course.

All in one beginner course (up to 1200 chesscom): https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/beginner-chess-mastery?ref=bc4be0 His re-launched improvement system (previously Next Level Training): https://courses.nextlevelchess.blog/courses/simplified-chess-improvement-system?ref=bc4be0




Subscribe to his newsletter here:

https://nextlevelchess.com/




EP 426- NM Oleksandr Prokhorov on Sustaining and Growing Ukrainian Chess during the War 

Oleksandr Prokhorov is a Lviv, Ukraine-based chess organizer, trainer, FIDE arbiter and Twitch streamer. Ukraine has a rich chess history and has a vibrant grass roots scene in addition to famous natives such as Vasyl Ivanchuk, the Muzychuk sisters, and GM Ruslan Ponomariov. In recent years, I have marvelled at the persistent passion for chess in Ukraine  as I follow Facebook groups like the Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group. Oleksandr and I discussed: 

  • Is interest in Ukrainian chess as strong as ever despite the war?

  • Is there still state funding for chess-related activities? 

  • What challenges are presented by the fact that many of its top Ukrainian players are moving abroad in order to be able to compete internationally? 

We also discussed a few notable Ukrainians who have been on the front lines, Oleksandr's favorite books and content creators, and what Oleksandr and his colleagues are doing to help the next generation of Ukrainian players. Hearing about the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and their continued passion for chess inspires admiration and respect. Thanks to Oleksandr for sharing a few of their stories! 

Click here to Download the Episode


Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

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

0:02- What is the amateur chess scene like in Ukraine?

Mentioned:

 Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group


0:09- Is there still state support for chess during the war?

0:13- Does Oleksandr work full time in chess? How did he learn chess?

0:19- How has Ukrainian chess handled the exodus of many of its top players? 

0:26- Why does Oleksandr think Ukraine has produced so many top female players?

0:33- Okelsandr discusses the many chess players who are currently in combat, including GM Igor Kovalenko. 

Mentioned: GM Igor Kovalenko, GM Martin Kravtsiv

https://www.chess.com/news/view/ukrainian-grandmaster-given-courage-award-by-zelenskyy



0:39- - Okelsandr discusses Artem Sachuk, a former vice-president of chess in Ukraine who was killed in combat in 2023. 

https://www.chess.com/news/view/artem-sachuk-vp-ukrainian-chess-federation-killed-action

44:00- Oleksandr’s favorite chess book

Mentioned: My System

46:00- Oleksandr’s favorite YouTubers

Mentioned: IM Eric Rosen, Dina Belenkaya, Anna Cramling 

50:00- Thanks to Oleksandr for joining me. Here is how to reach him:

Facebook-

https://www.facebook.com/OleksanderProkhorov

Coaching-

https://lichess.org/coach/Prohorov_Olexandr123

Email- 

Prohorov at chessclub.lviv.ua

Love Chess Ukraine Facebook Group-

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2031039970525130







EP 425- IM Willy Hendriks: The Award-Winning Author on Nimzowitsch’s Ego, Tarrasch’s Tenets and what Their Rivalry Means for Modern Chess. 

IM Willy Hendriks is an award-winning chess author, historian and chess trainer. He has just released his fourth book, The Philosopher and the Housewife:Tarrasch, Nimzowitsch and the Evolution of Chess. This book is the completion of a trilogy which casts a new light on chess history and looks at the evolution of chess ideas. Willy’s newest book focuses on the early 20th century, with a particular emphasis on Aron Nimzowitsch and Siegbert Tarrasch. We tackle questions such as:

  • Was Aron Nimzowitsch the most pretentious chess player of them all? 

  • What does Willy think of My System? 

  • Have the stylistic differences between Tarrasch and Nimzowitsch been exaggerated?

  • What can we learn about engines and modern chess through reading about these players? 

Our conversation is filled with fun stories and reflections about these players, along with the contributions of the third “main character,” Semion Alapin.   We also discuss Willy’s own competitive career and his potential next projects. It is always a pleasure to read Willy's work and to speak with him.   Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode



Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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

Perpetual Chess Improvement Audiobook information- The links for where to order the Perpetual Chess Improvement audiobook are on this page. It is now available on all platform except for Audible/Amazon (hopefully coming soon):

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book






0:02- Where did the title The Philosopher and the Housewife come from?



0:06- Willy tells a few stories to illustrate why he considers Aron Nimzowitsch to be “the most self-aggrandizing chess player of all-time.”



10:00- What were the chess stylistic differences of Nimzowitsch and Tarrasch?

Mentioned:

Modern Ideas in Chess by Richard Reti 



18:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What does Willy think of the book My System?” 

Mentioned: 

Book Recap #18- My System with IM Christof Sielecki 

Book Recap #37- My System (fast track edition) with GM Alex Fishbein 

Aron Nimzowitch: A Reappraisal by GM Raymond Keene

https://www.amazon.com/Aron-Nimzowitsch-Reappraisal-Raymond-Keene/dp/0713484381



23:00- Where does the third character in the book, Semyon Alapin fit in?



31:00- How are engines connected to the themes of Willy’s writing?



34:00- What is the “Trainer’s fallacy?” 



42:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What ideas does Willy have for upcoming books?” 

Mentioned: Kasparov’s My Great Predecessors, Mihail Marin’s Learn from the Legends 1 and 2



45:00- Does Willy follow modern chess and chess drama? Does he like freestyle chess?



48:00- What has Willy been reading?

Mentioned: Daniel Dennett

Tarrasch’s 300 Chess Games, the Works of Edward Lasker and Milan Vidmar, The Essential Sosonko, In Black and White 



52:00- Has Willy been competing OTB lately? 



54:00- Thanks as always to Willy for visiting the pod and for advancing our knowledge of chess history! 

You can get his books here:

https://www.newinchess.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Willy+Hendriks

You can also get a physical copy in the US from Chess4Less:

https://chess4less.com/products/the-philosopher-and-the-housewife-willy-hendriks




EP 424- GM Wojciech Moranda: Visualization, Pattern Recognition and the 5 Elements of Calculation 

GM Wojciech Moranda is a high-level trainer, author and 2600+ rated player  who has worked with the Polish youth national team and IM Levy Rozman among many other students. I often recommend his books for ambitious advanced players, so I was excited to welcome him back to discuss his new Chessable Course, The Moranda Method: How to Calculate Like a Beast. In the course, and in our discussion, Wojciech lays out his core beliefs and fundamental framework for how to calculate in chess. His course is best-suited for 1800+ players, but Wojciech’s insights can help players at any level. In today’s conversation, we discuss common misconceptions about calculation, when one should stop calculating a variation, and then Wojciech lays out what he calls “the 5 elements of calculation.” Wojciech is extremely knowledgeable about chess, and it's always a pleasure to speak with him. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Check out our bonus video going through a calculation exercise on the Perpetual Chess YouTube page:

https://youtu.be/0gSdFDkeeWQ?si=nIiLcasyr_fVMMjv

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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

0:00- What is the definition of calculation? 

0:03- What are some common misconceptions about calculation?

0:12- When should we stop calculating a sequence? What visualization advice can Wojciech give? 

Mentioned: Step 2 Thinking Ahead

23:00- We discuss Wojciech’s “5 Elements of Calculation,” starting with what he calls “vision and perceptivity.” 

49:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Was Wojciech influenced by the work of legendary trainer Josef Dorfman?”

56:00- What is a typical day like for Wojciech? Is he still playing actively? 

1:00:00- Thanks to Wojciech for joining me again, here are the links to keep up with his work or reach him:



Wojciech’s Books:

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Wojciech-Moranda/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AWojciech%2BMoranda

His Course:

https://www.chessable.com/calculate-like-a-beast-the-moranda-method/course/279827/

His coaches page:

https://lichess.org/coach/gmmoranda



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

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



Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).



EP 423- FM Nate Solon on The Right Way to Learn Openings, the Fundamental Flaw of Chess Puzzles and What He Is Working on and Planning for 2025.  

FM Nate Solon is a data scientist, Chessable author, New in Chess Magazine columnist and the creator of the popular and insightful newsletter, Zwischenzug. Nate joined me shortly after we played in a tournament together to share his latest chess-improvement related thoughts and to reflect on recent lessons he has absorbed. We focused on a few themes in particular: 

  • Why Nate thinks the challenge of learning new openings is often overstated, and the way in which he thinks chess openings “resemble poems.”

  • How to avoid the trap of overemphasizing solving tactics in one’s training plan 

  • Nate and I both discuss our experiences in the recent World Amateur Team tournament, and the ways in which the weekend tournament experience might be improved. 

There is always a lot to learn from Nate, and I am confident your chess can benefit from this conversation. Timestamps of discussion are below.

Click here to Download the Episode

Sub to Nate’s newsletter here:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/


Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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- Nate’s comprehensive advice for learning openings, which focuses on learning by playing and utilizing spaced repetition 



17:00- Nate’s advice for using model games



22:00- Do people overemphasize tactical puzzles? How can we avoid this trap? 

Mentioned: New in Chess Magazine, My Chessable Course 



26:00- What is “gritty calculation”? 

The position Nate references can be seen here:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/calculation-is-never-just-calculation



GM Josh Friedel’s calculation advice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvh7HsYMn-Q



36:00- Is the rating system finally reaching a stable state?



37:00- Nate and I discuss the World Amateur Team, a tournament in which we both recently played . 




45:00- Nate’s next tournaments and projects



55:00- Thanks to Nate for joining! Here are the links to keep up with him:

Newsletter:

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/



Chessable courses:

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



His Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Evaluate-Like-Grandmaster-Eugene-Perelshteyn/dp/B0BHNF5CWB




Photo in thumbnail via Charlotte Chess Center:

https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/photos




EP 422- WGM Dina Belenkaya on Her Recent Tournies, Her Continued Social Media Growth, and the Vision Behind her New Chess School

WGM Dina Belenkaya is a Russian-born and schooled chess champion who is now based in Charlotte, North Carolina. In recent years,  Dina has built a massive Twitch, YouTube and Instagram following, while maintaining a busy competitive schedule. In this interview, we caught up with Dina's recent OTB results, including her impressions of the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz in New York City. Dina discusses the challenges she is currently encountering in her game as well as her current chess goals. Dina and I also talked extensively about her newest chess project, Chess with Dina. It is a chess academy that emphasizes the social side of chess improvement, and it has seen a fast growth since it launched last year. Dina discussed the building blocks that newer players should focus on, based on her experience as a product of Russia’s legendary chess education infrastructure. Lastly, we touched a bit on Freestyle chess, as Dina discussed why she thinks it might be challenging for the chess variant to catch on with newer chess players. As always, timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Photo in thumbnail from Dina’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEdUEivv8QT/?hl=en&img_index=1


Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

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

0:02- What has changed for Dina in the past two years since I last interviewed her? 

Mentioned: Episode 326 with Dina Belenkaya



0:05- Dina has been playing OTB quite actively.  How is her game progressing? 



0:11- Dina’s impressions of the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz 

Mentioned: You can review Dina’s game against WGM Atousa Pourkashyan here:

https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-rapid--blitz-championships-2024--blitz-women/round-11/JvQWXSPT/ugyly8Xl



You can watch Magnus’ recent interview here:

https://x.com/taketaketakeapp/status/1887126217091874871?s=46&t=7an2GBXWXIlgRTjDfRwIGw



25:00- Is Dina still working with a coach? 



27:00- Dina’s discusses the value of face-to-face moments and a recent training camp she hosted for her chess school. 

Mentioned:

More info about her school here:

https://www.skool.com/russianchessschool/about





42:00- What does Dina think of Freestyle chess? Do her students like it?

Mentioned: Dina’s blog:



https://www.dinabelenkaya.com/post/let-s-talk-fischer-random-  



0:55:00- Thanks to Dina for coming back on the pod! Here is how to to keep up with her:



Instagram:

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

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@DinaBelenkaya/videos



Twitter/X:

https://x.com/messages/60494861-1366144904590671876

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/dinabelenkaya

Blog:

https://www.dinabelenkaya.com/post/let-s-talk-fischer-random-chess

Chess School:

https://www.skool.com/russianchessschool/about



Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

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

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




EP 421- GM Jan Gustafsson and FM Donny Ariel discussion: Can a mid-40s working dad make Grandmaster without doing any work? 

This week’s podcast is a discussion among friends. FM Donny Ariel is an NYC based former scholastic champion who has attained 3 IM Norms. These days he is  a working dad, who has recently decided to pursue not only the IM title, but the Grandmaster title as well. (Donny is chronicling this journey on his YouTube channel, The Road to Chess Grandmaster).   GM Jan Gustafsson,  as many of you know, is a renowned commentator, Chessable author, trainer, and frequent guest on Perpetual Chess. Jan and I are skeptical that Donny can attain the grandmaster title given his other obligations, but Donny is adamant that we overstate the difficulty of chess improvement. In discussing Donny’s quest, we tackle such questions as: 

  • Is a coach necessary in the digital age? 

  • How important are openings at Donny’s level?

  • How much improvement can one attain through changing your psychological approach rather than training? 

  • What is Donny’s “wall of haters”? 

  • What trait do those who have earned the GM title have in common, according to Jan? 

  • If not earning the GM title, what might Donny’s true goal be? 

This was an entertaining conversation in which Jan actually gave more earnest chess improvement advice than he has in prior episodes. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 



 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

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

0:00- 

Subscribe to my chess newsletter!

https://benjohnson.substack.com/



Subscribe to FM Donny Ariel’s YouTube Channel!

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



0:02- What is Donny’s “Why?” Why is he pursuing the GM title? 



15:00- Does Jan think that Donny needs a coach? 



17:00- What is the “Wall of Haters?” 



22:00- Patreon mailbag question- “How is Donny approaching studying?” 



25:00- Jan’s opening advice to Donny

Mentioned: Reimagining 1. E4 

https://www.newinchess.com/reimagining-1-e4




42:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Donny wish that he started chess later in life?”




50:00- What would my advice be for Donny? What would Jan’s advice be? 

Mentioned: Ep 415 with GM-elect Mark Heimann 



1:00- Thanks to Donny and Jan for joining! Jan will probably ignore any messages you try to send him on social media, but you should buy his excellent Chessable courses. Below  is how you can reach Donny:



Chessable Jan Gustafsson



Donny X/Twitter-

https://x.com/RealDonnyAriel

Facebook-

https://www.facebook.com/donny.ariel

YouTube-

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




EP 420- Nikolaos Ntirlis- Opening & Engine Advice from a Top Theoretician, Author, and Correspondence Player 




Nikolaos Ntirlis is a correspondence chess champion, and computer engineer who has become well known in the chess world for his vast opening expertise. Nikolaos is quite skilled at finding original opening ideas, and has grown popular through his books, and by highlighting new opening ideas on his Twitter/X account. The ideas Nikos suggests have often seen quick adoption by Grandmasters, and he has seen moves he highlighted subsequently appear in the games of Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Girl. In fact, GM Giri wrote the Foreword to Nicolaos’ newest book, the excellent  Reimagining 1. E4. The book offers new ideas for White across many defenses to 1. E4, and explains opening concepts clearly without bombarding you with opening theory. In our conversation, we discussed the origins of Nikolaos’ opening enthusiasm, how best to use engines, as well as which defenses to 1.e4 were most challenging to combat theoretically. Nikolaos is also an accomplished chess trainer who has worked with the national team of Denmark. In our conversation, he offered some helpful chess-improvement advice with a philosophical bent. Lastly, we discussed some of  Nicolaos’ other interests, including correspondence chess, chess books, and martial arts. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

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


0:02- What is the origin of Nikos’ popular Twitter threads, in which he suggests lines that have been used by GMs like Nakamura, Carlsen, and others?



Mentioned: Nikolaos’ X account here:

https://x.com/NikolaosNtirlis/status/1852645135487558104



10:00- Was there any defense against 1. E4 where it was particularly challenging to find fresh ideas?



14:30- What rating range is this book best suited for? 



16:00- Does Nikos agree that one should learn opening ideas, rather than openings? 

Mentioned: Nikos’ interview with Charlize van Zyl for Forward Chess:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyanVxu48lk



18:30- Patreon mailbag question: “What did Nikos discover about an original line that Niemann played against Kramnik?”

 

Mentioned Han Schut’s YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/c/hanschut



Read the Twitter thread in question:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1841408942737420435.html



19:00- Who are Nikos’ favorite opening theoreticians? 



25:00- What is Nikos’ advice on the subject of  amateurs use of  engines? 



32:00- Are there any underappreciated openings? 



33:00- Nikos’ overall chess improvement advice



34:00- Where did Nikos’ love for openings start?

Mentioned: GM Efim Geller 



41:00-  Patreon mailbag question: “How can one still win a game in correspondence chess? “




48:00- What is Nikos’ advice for remembering openings? 



52:00- Does Nikos play any OTB? 



56:00- What are Nikos’ favorite books? 

Mentioned: IM Willy Hendriks, IM Tibor Karolyi’s Fischer Books 



1:00- Thanks to Nikos for joining me! You can check out his Quality Chess Books here: 



https://qualitychess.co.uk/products/coming_soon/24060/reimagining_1e4_by_nikolaos_ntirlis/




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

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

EP 419- Dr. Joel Sneed on Quitting, Unquitting & Tilting- Why Even an Accomplished Psychologist & Author Struggles to Manage his Relationship with Chess



Dr. Joel Sneed is a professor, a practicing clinical psychologist and a highly-regarded chess author. And despite a busy professional and family life, Joel has achieved the rare feat of reaching a  2000+ USCF after starting to play tournament chess in his 30s. But, like many of us, Joel struggles to moderate his relationship with chess. He has long held a goal of reaching USCF Master, and puts a lot of pressure on himself to make it happen quickly. This has led to a repetitive cycle of despondency and quitting, followed by resuming chess, with renewed hopes of tackling his goals. In our conversation, we speak candidly about how Joel can derive more enjoyment from chess, and about what he would advise himself if he were his own patient. Joel also touches on how to manage anxiety around tournament chess, our thoughts on IM Levy Rozman’s GM-title pursuit,  and the lessons Joel learned from working with legendary Grandmaster (and co-author, GM Boris Gulko.). This was a fascinating conversation that I think will resonate with many of you. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out their new offerings here:

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

If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

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


0:02- What has been driving Joel’s repeated decisions to quit (then unquit) chess? 

Check out his USCF history here::

https://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?13103922




0:13- Joel tells a story of a frustrating recent experience during which he struggled to remember an opening line. 

Mentioned: Episode 400  with NM Matt Gross, Episode 169 with Terry Chapman, Chess for Life by WIM Natash Regan and GM Matthew Sadler 



26:00 What is “acceptance commitment therapy?” 

Mentioned: Online value sorting tool:

https://meetingpointcounseling.com/tools/ACT-card-sort/



4 Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman 



35:00- How can Joel realign his goals to make chess more enjoyable? 



44:00- We discuss IM Levy Rozman’s GM title pursuit.

Mentioned: GM Arturs Nieksans, Erik Erikson’s 8 Stages of Life 



50:00- What did Joel learn from working with legendary GM Boris Gulko?

Mentioned: Lessons with a Grandmaster, GM Hans Niemann’s video for IM Levy Rozman

https://youtu.be/1p7rbQ723mQ?si=tok_0IZEBpsrLvtI




1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Joel’s advice for dealing with pretournament anxiety?’ 

Mentioned: Episode 309 with Dr. Joel Sneed


1:09:00- Thanks to Dr. Sneed for joining me, you can check out his books with GM Boris Gulko here:

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Joel-Sneed/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJoel%2BSneed

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




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