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

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

Click here to Download the Episode

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

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

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

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

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

Mentioned: My 60 Memorable Games 

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

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

Mentioned: Bruce Pandolfini, GM Robert Hess 

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

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

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

Mentioned: Paul Morphy, Judit Polgar 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess





EP 372- GM Jan Gustafsson: Learning 1. E4, Life after Team Magnus, Chess Cheating, the FIDE Candidates & more 

This week we get to catch up with one of the original and most popular Perpetual Chess guests, GM Jan Gustafsson. Jan, of course, is a renowned opening theoretician, commentator and trainer, who has worked on GM Magnus Carlson’s World Championship team, and is currently the coach of the German National Team. Jan has recently released a highly anticipated Chessable course, Gustafsson’s  Aggressive 1. E4 (co-authored with CM Vjekoslav Nemec).  

We discuss the lines Jan selected for this course, but also catch up on a wide variety of topics including life after Team Magnus, life after Chess24, life after the Chicken Chess Club podcast, chess cheating, the Bundesliga and the FIDE Candidates. It is always amusing and informative to chat with Jan, and this time is no exception! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Chessable has tons of new offerings in addition to GM Jan Gustafsson brand new course on 1. E4!  If you use the link below to sign up for Perpetual Chess, it helps to support the pod! 

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



0:01- Welcome back Jan! Patreon mailbag question: “What chess generation does Jan identify with?”



0:05- Jan recently competed in the renowned German Chess League, the Bundesliga. How were the games, and what was his schedule like? 

Mentioned: GM Viswanathan Anand, Nakamura, GM Vincent Keymer 



9:30- How did Jan enjoy the Chess.com Team Challenge match, where he and Peter Svidler lost to a team with GM Robert Hess and GM Daniel Naroditsky 

You can watch the match replay here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pl3TNUTtqQ



11;00- Will Jan be playing his aggressive 1. E4 repertoire in the Bundesliga? Was it challenging to work on this course as a lifelong 1. D4 player. 



14:30- Why did Jan decide to focus on the Dubov Italian within his course? 



20:00- Why did Jan pick the classical against the Pirc? 



24:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Why did Jan make an aggressive repertoire rather than a “chicken” repertoire?” 



27:00- Did Jan have a secret blitz account to try these lines? 



28:15- Patreon mailbag question: “Why does Jan stream in German rather than English?” 



30:00- What does Jan miss most from Chess24? 



32:00- Will Jan do a banter blitz for Chess.com ? 



33:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Whither the Chicken Chess Club Podcast?” 



36:00- What are Jan’s thoughts about the upcoming FIDE Candidates?



41:00- Is Jan still working with GM Anish Giri? 



42:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What emotions did Jan feel when Magnus announced his stepping down from the World Championship cycle?” 



46:00- What does Jan think of Chess960/Freestyle chess? 



50:00- Jan’s 2024 calendar including coaching the German Olimpiad team. 



57:00- Jan asks me for chess book recommendations

Mentioned; Think Like a Super GM, In Black and White 



59:00- Has Jan seen any good movies or TV shows lately? 

Mentioned: Mr and Mrs. Smith, Shogun, Blue Eyed Samarui, The Bear, 



 1:02:00- How are Magnus’ Carlsen’s Fantasy Basketball skills? 



1:04:00- Has Jan seen GM Hans Niemann’s vlog? 

Mentioned: GM Hans Niemann’s YouTube 



1:06:00- What does Jan think of all of the recent cheating accusations we have been hearing about? 

Mentioned: Episode 368 with Erik Allebest 



1:10- Thanks to Jan for joining me again!!

















EP 371- GM Josh Friedel: Common Beginner & Intermediate Mistakes, Freestyle Chess, and Advice for Goal-Setting

Photo in thumbnail via St. Louis Chess Club

GM Josh Friedel is the 2013 US Open Champion and is a state champion of 3 different states! Josh has also been teaching chess for decades, and he always presents chess in a clear and instructive fashion. Here in 2024, Josh has released his first Chessable course, Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them. In addition to sharing some key advice from this course, Josh also discusses common errors he sees at the intermediate level. It has been more than 5 years since my first interview with Josh, so we also catch up on his OTB career, goal-setting, and  on what he learns about chess improvement from working to improve at cooking, tennis, and his newest hobby, guitar. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com. In addition to GM Friedel’s course, GM Jan Gustafsson is out with a brand new course on 1. E4!  If you use the link below to sign up for Perpetual Chess, it helps to support the pod! 

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

0:01- What gave Josh the idea to cover the topic of Beginner Mistakes. What are some common beginner mistakes? 

0:11- Josh covers some of the most common intermediate-level (1600-2100)  mistakes he sees. 

Mentioned; GM Josh Friedel’s YouTube channel 

https://www.youtube.com/user/joshfriedel

0:22- Josh shares his thoughts on Chess960 aka Freestyle Chess 

0:27- Patreon mailbag question: What is Josh’s advice for how chess players should go about setting goals? 

29- Josh’s plans for an OTB comeback 

36:00- Patreon mailbag question: What has Josh learned from working with coaches like GM Kaidanov, GM Goldin, NM Hal Terrie, and GM Larry Christiansen? 

Mentioned; GM Daniel Naroditsky, Lev Psakhis, Viktor Mikhalevski, Vinay Bhat 

45:00- Are Josh’s abilities in his other interests, such as tennis and cooking, also  progressing? 

Mentioned: GM Ray Robson, IM Eric Rosen, IM Marc Esserman 

48:00- What is the topic of the chess book Josh is working on? 

Thanks to Josh for joining the pod! You can reach him via the LiChess coaches page, and be sure to check out his Chessable course!

https://www.chessable.com/beginner-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them-the-opening/course/204684/

You can contact him via his LiChess coaches page: 

https://lichess.org/coach/JFriedel

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess






EP 370- Breakthroughs, Declines, Mindfulness and the Odyssey of a 20+ Year Professional Career

This week’s guest is two- time Dutch Champion, eleven-time Olympian, author and former candidate for the World Championship Title, GM Paul Van der Sterren. Paul had an unusual career trajectory, in that after 15+years as a chess professional, his “breakout” year occurred at the age of 37. What happened that year (1993)? That is one of the many questions tackled in his fantastic, newly-translated game collection/memoir In Black and White: The Chess Autobiography of a World Championship Candidate. In New in Chess Magazine, GM Matthew Sadler calls this book “simply the finest chess book I’ve ever read.” After retiring from professional chess, Paul became a meditation teacher. His new book, Mindful Chess, traces the development of his mindfulness practice and offers reflections and tips for chess players interested in the topic. In addition to reflecting on the lessons from these books, Paul shares wonderful stories about his clashes with the Polgar sisters, Korchnoi, Tal and many others. I cannot recommend Paul’s books highly enough, and I think that this interview will give you a good sense of the lessons they contain. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.  

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com. Be sure to check out new courses like FM Dalton Perrine’s The French Simplified. If you use the link below to sign up for Perpetual Chess, it helps to support the pod! 

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

0:01- Free previews of Paul’s books are available from New in Chess here: 

In Black and White

Mindful Chess 

0:03- GM Van der Sterren achieved a legendary chess breakthrough in 1993 at age 37 . What changed? 

10:30- In his one career Candidates’ match, Paul lost to a young GM Gata Kamsky. How does he reflect on that match now? 

16:00- For Chess in Black and White, how did Paul remember so many details from throughout his chess career? 

24:00- Aging comes across as a major theme of the book, Chess in Black and White. Was this by design? 

Mentioned: GM Matthew Sadler, Sasha Chapin’s All the Moves That Matter, GM Ben Finegold 

32:00- Patreon mailbag question:

“What is Paul’s opinion as to why adults struggle to improve at chess?”

Mentioned: The Facebook Chess Book Collector’s Group 

41:00- We discuss Mindful Chess. When did Paul become interested in meditation and Western philosophy? 

Mentioned; The Bhagavad Gita, Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Vidit

50:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does GM Van der Sterren have any recommendations for connecting psychology and chess?” 

Mentioned; Mental Toughness in Chess, The Rider by Tim Krabbe, The Essential Sosonko 

55:00- Story time! What was it like to play the young Polgar sisters, Jan Timman, Korchnoi and Jan Timman? 

1:22:00- One more Korchnoi story!

1:24:00- Paul discusses his work at the historic Max Euwe Chess Center. 

Mentioned: You can help support the Max Euwe via this link:

https://steunactie.nl/actie/het-max-euwe-centrum-gaat-verhuizen-the-max-euwe-centre-is-moving/-29071

1:30:00- Will there be an update to Paul’s excellent opening encyclopedia, Fundamental Chess Openings

Thanks so much to GM Van der Sterren for joining me! 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 369- NM Robert Ramirez on the difference between Adult and Youth Chess Students, Chess in Cuba, and Why He Loves the Pirc Defense

This week I am excited to be joined by chess YouTube star and popular Chessable author, NM Robert Ramirez. Robert has a unique story amongst master-level players, as he spent his early years in Cuba and began tournament chess at the relatively late age of 12. As one of the older kids in his chess class in Cuba, Robert felt like he had to “play catch up” from the beginning, and this perspective steered him toward less popular openings like the Pirc defense and the King’s Indian Defense. Robert continued his pursuit of chess when his family emigrated to the U.S. in 2016, and ultimately became a successful chess teacher. With less work and extra free time during the pandemic, Robert launched his YouTube channel. Robert’s channel took a while to catch on, but he now has over 120,000 YouTube subscribers. His Chessable course, which is based on his battle-tested repertoire, has drawn rave reviews. Robert showcases an ability to relate to people and a lucid teaching style that likely contributes to the success of everything that he does. It was a lot of fun hearing his story and his chess advice. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode


0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com. In addition to NM Robert Ramirez’s course, be sure to check out new ones like FM Dalton Perrine’s The French Simplified.  If you use the link below to sign up for Perpeutal Chess it helps to support the pod! 

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



0:01- We start with a tournament rundown. What has Robert learned since coming back to OTB a few years ago, and what was different about his approach in a successful recent tournament? 

Mentioned: Tournament crosstable here, 6000 Problems de Ajedrez, Lessons with a Grandmaster 

15:00- What are the origins of Robert’s YouTube channel? 

Mentioned: Robert’s series with Omar, aka Chess von Doom 

21:00- What are the secrets to the Pirc defense? 

Mentioned: 2 Adult Improvers and one Training Plan


28:00- Does Robert need to switch his openings since he is known for the Pirc and King’s Indian Defense?

30:00- Robert discusses his childhood in Cuba and what it was like coming to the U.S. at age 16 and resuming chess here?


46:00- The differences between adults and kids in chess learning . 

Mentioned: Fallow123 on Chess.com 


56:00- Robert’s closing chess improvement advice 


58:00- Where do Robert’s skills as a presenter come from?


Thanks to Robert for joining the show! Here is how to keep up with him: 

Youtube:

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

Chessable:

https://www.chessable.com/counterblow-a-complete-fighting-repertoire-for-beginners/course/199358/

Twitter/x: 

https://twitter.com/NMRobertRamirez

EP 368- Erik Allebest (Chess.com CEO)- Online Cheating, The Magnus-Hikaru match that fell through, the Chess24 closure & more

Recorded on January 31, 2024 

Featuring guest co-host FM Nate Solon 

With talk of online cheating recently dominating chess conversations,  Chess.com CEO and co-founder Erik Allebest joined me (and guest co-host FM Nate Solon) to discuss the issue at length. While Erik acknowledges that chess cheating is an existential threat to the game, the research of his Chess.com team suggests that people overestimate the frequency of online cheating occurrences. Erik also discussed Chess.com’s current and forthcoming anti-cheat measures, their policy regarding not naming suspected cheaters, and Erik’s thoughts on some recent headline-grabbing comments by GM Fabiano Caruana. We also covered a lot of topics unrelated to online cheating, including The Magnus-Hikaru match that fell through last year, the closures of Chess24 and the Pro Chess League, Chess.com’s relationship with FIDE,  and  Erik’s reflections on the Niemann-Carlsen story. As Erik discussed, there will still be a lot more information coming out about that story in a forthcoming Netflix documentary. I appreciate Erik’s willingness to speak so openly about so many issues and think that you will learn a lot from the conversation. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Be sure to check out Chessable’s new courses including GM Srinath Narayanan’s brand new course on the Classical Sicilian, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and/or make a Chessable purchase, it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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



0:01- Here are the links to subscribe to guest co-host FM Nate Solon’s blog and to check out his new learning cohort, The Chess Gym:

https://thechessgym.com/

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/



0:03- Erik Allebest joins the podcast! We begin by discussing chess cheating. 

Mentioned: Erik’s first interview with Ilya Levitov

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZDRrWAx2Rk

(There is a part 2 to that interview that was released after this podcast was recorded)

NY Times article: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/22/crosswords/chess-cheating-online-fide.html



13:30- What does Erik think of GM Fabiano Caruana’s recent suggestions of widespread cheating during Titled Tuesday? 

Mentioned; Nate’s post called Beating Hikaru

https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/beating-hikaru




27:00- More on cheating, including whether they have considered having players play from centralized locations and other issues. 



31:00- What goes into their policy of not naming cheaters? Might that policy be changed? 



40:00- Has Chess.com had discussions with FIDE about sharing info about players who have been banned from their site? 



42;00- Would Chess.com consider being involved in a new chess governing body? 

Mentioned: Episode 364 with GM Patrick Wolff 



49:00- What happened with the match between Magnus and Hikaru that fell through last year? 

Mentioned: The State of Chess.com 2023:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri3Z809CbS8



55:00- What will be the subject of a forthcoming Netflix chess documentary?

Mentioned: GM Sam Sevian 



57:00- What did the CHess.com team learn from the Niemann-Carlsen controversy? 



1:01:00- Why was the Pro Chess League shut down? What about Chess24? 



1:11:00- Was selling of a partial stake of Chess.com to the private equity firm General Atlantic related to the Play Magnus acquisition? 

Mentioned: Isai Scheinberg, General Atlantic Announces Investment in Chess.com:

https://www.generalatlantic.com/media-article/chess-com-announces-growth-investment-from-general-atlantic/



1:20:00- Closing thoughts- what is Erik excited for in the coming year? 



Thanks to Erik for joining us, and to FM Nate Solon for co-hosting! 



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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess







Book Recap #35- Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning- What should chess players know about how to learn and retain information? (with Dr. Nick Vasquez)

We return to our  book review series, Chess Books Recaptured,  to discuss a  “non-chess” book for the first time. However, the information in this book is vital for any student of the game. Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning is an extremely insightful encapsulation of best practices for learning and retaining information. The book is written by Peter C. Brown, Henry Roediger and Mark McDaniel. It was the culmination of 10+ years of research. Joining me to discuss the book is emergency room physician and dedicated chess amateur, Dr. Nick Vasquez. Nick has been blogging about how Make it Stick changed his thinking about learning and chess study, and we thought it was worth expanding the blog posts into a conversation. Key precepts of the book include the importance of mixing study themes, spacing out your study, testing your knowledge frequently, and emphasizing understanding and contextualization of the study material. Timestamps of the topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com! 

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and/or make a Chessable purchase, it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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

Interviews Mentioned: 

Episode 286 Adult Improver Series Interview with Dr. Nick Vasquez 

Episode 349 with Dr. Anique de Bruin 

Nick’s blog posts about Make it Stick:

Book Review- https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/make-it-stick

Chess Implications: https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/making-it-stick

0:02- How did Make it Stick change Nick’s thinking about learning and studying chess? 

0:09- What are the implications for opening learning of Make it Stick

Mentioned: Make it Stick website 

21:00- What is the difference between varied practice and interleaving? 

24:30- How did the book alter Nick’s training plan? 

Mentioned: The Chess Steps, Practical Chess Exercises, GM Wojciech Moranda’s Books, GM Winning Chess Exercises for Kids, Anki 

29:00- When trying to ingrain something into one’s memory are you better off studying things over decreasing time intervals or increasing time intervals? 

33:00- More chess study conclusions

Mentioned: FM Nate Solon’s How to Learn an Opening in 2023

40:00- Is is true that “there is no such as a learning style?” 

45:00- Final thoughts and favorite quotes and studies cited. 

50:00- What is a “memory palace?

Mentioned; Moonwalking with Einstein

57:00- Thanks to Dr. Vasquez for joining me again! Be sure to sub to his blog here:

https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

 Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning is an extremely insightful encapsulation of best practices for learning and retaining information. The book is written by Peter C. Brown, Henry Roediger and Mark McDaniel, and was the culmination of 10+ years of research. Joining me to discuss the book is emergency room physician and dedicated chess amateur Dr. Nick Vasquez. Nick has been blogging about how Make it Stick changed his thinking about learning and chess study, and we thought it was worth expanding the blog posts into a conversation. Key precepts of the book include the importance of mixing study themes, spacing out your study, testing your knowledge frequently,  and emphasizing understanding and contextualization of the study material.  Timestamps of the topics discussed are below. 



Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com! 

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and/or make a Chessable purchase, it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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



Interviews Mentioned: 

Episode 286 Adult Improver Series Interview with Dr. Nick Vasquez 

Episode 349 with Dr. Anique de Bruin 



Nick’s blog posts about Make it Stick:

Book Review- https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/make-it-stick

Chess Implications: https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/making-it-stick



0:02- How did Make it Stick change Nick’s thinking about learning and studying chess? 



0:09- What are the implications for opening learning of Make it Stick

Mentioned: Make it Stick website 




21:00- What is the difference between varied practice and interleaving? 



24:30- How did the book alter Nick’s training plan? 

Mentioned: The Chess Steps, Practical Chess Exercises, GM Wojciech Moranda’s Books, GM Winning Chess Exercises for Kids, Anki 



29:00- When trying to ingrain something into one’s memory are you better off studying things over decreasing time intervals or increasing time intervals? 



33:00- More chess study conclusions

Mentioned: FM Nate Solon’s How to Learn an Opening in 2023



40:00- Is is true that “there is no such as a learning style?” 



45:00- Final thoughts and favorite quotes and studies cited. 



50:00- What is a “memory palace?

Mentioned; Moonwalking with Einstein



57:00- Thanks to Dr. Vasquez for rejoining me! Be sure to sub to his blog here:

https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/



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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 367- Adult Improver Julio Calcina: A Chess and MMA Enthusiast on the Life Lessons that Each Can Provide.

The Adult Improver Series is back, and we have a very entertaining guest for you. Julio Calcina is a 32-year-old, Nottingham, England-based chess and Mixed Martial Arts enthusiast. Julio has found chess to be a transformative force for him and views chess as a microcosm of life. As Julio tells it, he used to be impetuous and aggressive in both chess and life, and made choices that sabotaged relationships and even contributed to his enduring a stint in prison. Throughout the years, Julio has stuck with the game, and it has helped teach him to be more contemplative and patient, both over the board and away from it. Julio loves to play daily chess on Chess.com, and also reports on the British O.T.B. scene, shares chess improvement recommendations, and discusses his near-term goals and plans in chess and beyond. It was a lot of fun chatting with Julio, and I think you will enjoy the conversation. 

Click here to Download the Episode




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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com!

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and/or make a Chessable purchase, it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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

Spotify “Adult Improver Series” Playlist- 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=f12d20ae06fd4a89





0:00- If you would like to be considered for, or suggest someone as an adult improver guest, you can submit your information via this online form:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adult





02:00- Julio Calcina tells his “chess origin story.” 





8:00- What has chess taught Julio about his own personality? 





14:00- What has helped Julio improve his game?

Mentioned: The Backyard Professor’s YouTube Channel 

https://www.youtube.com/@TheBackyardProfessor, Silman’s Complete Endgame Course





17;00- Julio describes his OTB experiences 





18:00- What happened that caused Julio to end up in prison? 





22:00- That time Julio caught his romantic partner engine-cheating against him in a chess game 

Mentioned: Man’s Search for Meaning by VIktor Frankl

Meditations: Marcus Aurilieus 

 

30:00- Patreon mailbag question: “As a martial arts practitioner, why does Julio think that chess improvement is more difficult than improving at ju-jitsu?” 





40:00- Patreon mailbag questions: “Does Julio consider chess a martial art in itself? Should chess be taught as part of martial arts curriculums?” 





47:00- Patreon mailbag questions: “How does Julio balance cardio, weights, and chess? Can chess help those with ADHD?” 





50:00- How would Julio describe the chess culture in prison? 





55:00- Is there a  link between drinking and chess in England?





1:00- What are Julio’s 2024 plans?





Thanks to Julio for sharing his amazing story! Here is how to keep up with him: 





LiChess 

Chess.com

JulioPDC Instagram

Facebook Julio Calcina 
















EP 366- GM Raven Sturt: Chess Improvement Deep Dive with a Self-Taught Grandmaster. Board Visualization Tips, Book Recs & Lots more.

This week’s guest is Grandmaster and Chessable Author, Raven Sturt. Raven was a National High-School champion, but considers himself a late bloomer in chess because he had to work very hard to earn the Grandmaster title in his 20s. During this period, GM Sturt intensively trained his board visualization and pattern recognition skills, and he shares the fruits of his labor in his excellent Chessable Course, Developing Chess Intuition: Domination & Other Lesser Known Positional Concepts. During our conversation, we discuss the course, his book recommendations, and his unique approach to studying openings. Raven is working on a course on the Bird Opening (1. f4) , and has come to believe it is an underrated weapon for White. We also discuss Raven’s unique life trajectory. Raven grew up in New York City, went to McGill University in Canada, and has recently settled in Paraguay after traveling extensively. I really enjoyed chatting with Raven, and if you are interested in improving your chess game, you will definitely enjoy this conversation! 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com!

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and/or make a Chessable purchase, it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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

02:00- What does Raven think are the core tenets of chess improvement? 

07:00- What has Raven noticed in the differences in how kids and adults learn? 

09:00- After graduating from McGill University, Raven ended up pursuing chess full-time. What went into that decision? How did he approach his chess study?

11:00- Raven offers helpful visualization and calculation advice

Mentioned: Evaluate Like a Grandmaster 

16:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “Does Raven find that his focus on improving intuition resonates with adult students?” 

22:40- Is competing OTB overrated as a method of chess improvement? 

25:00- How did Raven get better at practical play without competing frequently? 

Mentioned: MVL on C-Squared Podcast, GM Giga Qupardaze


31:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “What tips does Raven have for getting good at blindfold visualization?” 

Mentioned: Book Recap #10- Blindfold Chess, Improve Your Chess Now by GM Jonathan Tisdall

Domination by Kaspayan

38:00- How does Raven recommend dividing chess study time? 

Mentioned: Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual  

45:00- Raven’s favorite chess books:

Chess for Zebras, Dvoretsky’s Positional Play, Book Recap #32- Chess for Zebras, Strategic Play by GM Jacob Aagaard, Shankland’s Small Steps to Giant Improvement 

50:00- What made Raven decide to study at a university outside of the U.S., to travel extensively, and to relocate to Paraguay? 

53:00- What international open tournaments are Raven’s favorites to attend? 

Mentioned: Sitges International, Floripa Chess Open, Paleochora International Chess Tournament in Crete  

1:00:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “Why doesn’t the U.S. offer more tournaments with one round per day?” 

1:03:00- Is Raven training and competing right now? 

1:04:00- Why is the Bird opening underrated for White? 

1:06:00- What are Raven’s plans for his Youtube channel? 

1:08:00- 

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

Chessable course

YouTube

Blog

LiChess Coaches Page












EP 365- GM Abihimanyu Mishra: The Young Phenom on his Chess Improvement Regimen, His Next Goals, and his 2024 Plans

This week we are honored to be joined by the 14-year-old record-breaking prodigy, GM Abhimanyu Mishra. Abhimanyu made worldwide headlines when he became the youngest Grandmaster in history in 2021. Since breaking that record, GM Mishra has continued his rapid ascension and is now rated 2635. As the number #10 junior in the world, Abhimanyu is the only junior in the top 20 under the age of 16! In our conversation, we discuss Abhimanyu’s training regimen, both now, and as he quickly climbed up the ranks. His chess growth was well-chronicled in the enjoyable book, The Youngest Chess Grandmaster in the World, as well as his Chessable course, Youngest Grandmaster: Abhimanyu Mishra   Abhi also discusses how he balances chess and school work, his 2024 tournament plans, and the difficulties he has encountered in receiving invitations and sponsorship opportunities. Lastly, Abhimanyu reflects on unforgettable experiences, like training with Kasparov, and recently beating the legendary players such as GMs Vasyl Ivanchuk and Levon Aronian. I greatly enjoyed chatting with Abhi and can’t wait to see where the future takes him. 

Click here to Download the Episode



Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com!

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and/or make a Chessable purchase, it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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


2:00- What motivates Abhimanyu Mishra to work so hard on chess? Why does he love it? 


4:00- Abhimanyu discusses his current training regimen. 

Mentioned: GM Karsten Muller’s Endgame Magic, Abhi’s interview on C-Squared 

 

13:00- How structured is Abhi’s chess-study schedule? 


18:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How does Abhi think chess learning has changed over generations?’ 


23:00- Abhimanyu discusses how he approached studying Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual 


30:00- What are Abhi’s favorite games that he has played? 

Mentioned:-Mishra-Ivanchuk 2023, Mishra-Aronan 2023 

Post mortem video of IVanchuk game via Chessbase India:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COPQ3S9KgUY


34:00- Is Abhi still interested in table tennis and other sports? (He wrote about this in his book.)


38:00- Abhi discusses the financial challenges of being a young elite player. 

Mentioned: GM Praggnanandhaa gets big sponsor


40:30- Abhi discusses his famed journey to the GM title. 


43:00- How does Abhi select tournaments? Was he invited to Wijk an Zee? 


46:00- What was it like to work with Kasparov? Who is the GOAT? 


50:00- Would Abhi consider going to university? 


54:00- What shows does Abhi watch? 

Mentioned: C-Squared podcast


58:00- Thanks to GM Mishra, for joining me, you can follow him via these social media channels: 

Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/abhimanyu.mishra2509/?hl=en

X:

https://twitter.com/chessmishra?lang=en



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


https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess


EP 364- GM Patrick Wolff- Recent Chess News Breakdown: Prearranged Draws, Bizarre Dress Codes, the Candidates Cycle- Is it time to Replace FIDE? Plus a Chess and AI update

GM Patrick Wolff is quite accomplished on and off the chess board. In the 1990’s he was a  2 time US Chess Champion and a member of GM Viswanathan Anand's prep team.  Patrick is also the author of Learn to Play Chess Like a Boss, a book that is always one of my first recommendations for newer players.  In more recent years, he has worked as a hedge fund analyst.  This varied background gives Patrick unique insights into the intersections of the chess and the business worlds. In our conversation, Patrick shared his opinions on all of the recent controversies which have plagued the chess world. As Patrick explains, the recent flare-ups involving dress codes, prearranged draws and a chaotic qualification process for the FIDE Candidates are all connected. Patrick thinks that the chess world needs a new governing body, and that the game is poised for more explosive growth if this can occur. In addition to all of the news, we caught up on lessons Patrick learned from playing in the US Senior Championship,  and his observations on the continued evolution of chess engines. There is always lots to learn from GM Wolff, and I appreciated hearing his perspective.

0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com!

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, , and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and and/or make a Chessable purchase, and it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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

03:00- Patrick shares his thoughts on prearranged draws in light of the Dubov-Nepomniachtchi prearranged draw. 

Mentioned: Background info here, Video and discussing of it here 

13:00- What did Patrick think of the controversy surrounding Anna Maja Kazarian’s footwear? 

Mentioned: NY Times article 

20:00- We discuss the chaotic  FIDE Candidates qualification cycle, which culminated in GM Alireza Firouzja scrambling to gain a few rating points.

Mentioned: C Squared pod discussion of the issue 

28:00- Patrick discusses the history of FIDE, as it has evolved during his career. 

Mentioned: Florencio Campomanes 

51:00- Why didn’t Kasparov’s PCA work?

55:00- Patrick shares his thoughts on the April 2024 FIDE Candidates. 

57:00- Patrick reflects on his performance in the US Senior Championship. 

Mentioned: GM Gregory Kaidanov, You can view the games discussed here: 

https://www.chess.com/events/2023-us-senior-chess-championship/games

1:12:00- What age-related effects does Patrick notice, aside from struggling to remember opening lines? 

1:15:00- Patrick discusses the way computers are effecting opening theory.

Click here to download the episode



0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com!

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, , and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and and/or make a Chessable purchase, and it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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




03:00- Patrick shares his thoughts on prearranged draws in light of the Dubov-Nepomniachtchi prearranged draw. 

Mentioned: Background info here, Video and discussing of it here 



13:00- What did Patrick think of the controversy surrounding Anna Maja Kazarian’s footwear? 

Mentioned: NY Times article 



20:00- We discuss the chaotic  FIDE Candidates qualification cycle, which culminated in GM Alireza Firouzja scrambling to gain a few rating points.

Mentioned: C Squared pod discussion of the issue 



28:00- Patrick discusses the history of FIDE, as it has evolved during his career. 

Mentioned: Florencio Campomanes 



51:00- Why didn’t Kasparov’s PCA work?



55:00- Patrick shares his thoughts on the April 2024 FIDE Candidates. 



57:00- Patrick reflects on his performance in the US Senior Championship. 

Mentioned: GM Gregory Kaidanov, You can view the games discussed here: 

https://www.chess.com/events/2023-us-senior-chess-championship/games




1:12:00- What age-related effects does Patrick notice, aside from struggling to remember opening lines? 

1:15:00- Patrick discusses the way computers are effecting opening theory.









EP-363 Jennifer Shahade on Playing Like a Champion, Building Confidence, and what "Zapping" is in Chess.


This week’s return guest is 2 time US Women’s Champion and award-winning author, podcaster and commentator Jennifer Shahade. Jennifer has recently released the excellent and inspiring new tactics book, Play Like a Champion. Play Like a Champion is a collection of biographical sketches of top woman players, featuring memorable tactics for a wide range of experience- levels. In our conversation, we discuss Jen’s writing and puzzle selection process, new chess vocabulary, Jen’s advice for starting chess clubs, and her decision to leave US Chess. We also discuss Jen’s next projects and her plans for 2024. As always, timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Be sure to check out their new courses, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and and/or make a Chessable purchase, and it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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

03:00- We discuss Jen’s recent event at the Marshall Chess Club. 


04:30- Patreon mailbag question- “What is Jen’s advice for starting a Women’s meetup/chess club?” 


07:30- Why does Jen think there might be a “confidence gap” between how women and men assess their own chess skills?

Mentioned: Elizabeth Spiegel, Shawn Martinez


14:30- What led to the shift in Jen’s confidence level as a chess player when she was a teenager? 


15;00- How did Jen decide on the wide range of difficulty within her puzzles?

Mentioned: The Botez Sisters, Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, IM Sara Khadem


25:00- New chess strategy terminology: What is a “zap”? What does it mean to “think sideways?”


29:00- How is Jen’s next book progressing? 


31:30- Jen discusses her collaboration with IM Jeremy Silman, who was her publisher for the book Chess Bitch

Mentioned: GM Ben Finegold, Anna Hahn, Irina Krush, Pal Benko: My Life, Games, and Compositions 


38:00- Will Jen be blogging more frequently?

Mentioned: Jen’s substack


40:00- Jen discusses her decision to leave US Chess in the wake of the Alejandro Ramirez allegations.

Mentioned: How Sexual Assault Allegations Against a US Chess Grandmaster went Unaddressed for Years,French female players Open Letter,  Article regarding Steve Shutt, coach at Masterman High School (which Jennifer and I attended), Carol Meyer stepping down as US Chess Executive Director 


48:00- Jen on her 2024 events and plans:

Chesskid National Festival, Russell Makofsky’s Impact Coaching Network, FM Mike Klein, FM James Canty, GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Daniel Rensch, ASAP Philly 


53:00- How to enter to win a copy of Play Like a Champion signed by Jennifer Shahade 

SIGNED BOOK IS US ONLY, outside the US, you can still enter to win a free Forward Chess Digital Copy of Jen’s book. (there are two prizes in total) Please specify in the email whether you are in the US or outside of the US.

Entries will be closed on January 16 and winners will be announced via email shortly thereafter 


55:00- Thanks, as always to Jen for joining me. Be sure to check out her book and to subscribe to her blog








EP 362- IM Jeremy Silman tribute: IM John Donaldson and IM Cyrus Lakdawala look back on their friend's life and legacy

Photo of IM Jeremy Silman in 1988 via his website

Legendary chess author IM Jeremy Silman valued his chess friendships highly, and referred to his inner circle as his chess ‘“posse.” This week, two members of that posse, IMsJohn Donaldson and IM Cyrus Lakdawala join me to share stories and biographical details about their friend. As one might expect from Silman’s books, they recall a friend who was funny, empathetic, extremely strong as a chess player, and a brilliant writer and gifted public speaker. John and Cyrus both begin with their first recollections of meeting Jeremy in 1981, and they take us through his chess life and his journey from a chess nomad to a devoted husband, cat dad, and one of the most successful chess authors of all time. Thanks to John and Cyrus for helping us all learn more about Jeremy’s life. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. . 

Click here to Download the Episode


Noteworthy obituaries of IM Silman:-

https://new.uschess.org/news/im-jeremy-silman-1954-2023

https://www.chess.com/news/view/jeremy-silman-1954-2023

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/books/jeremy-silman-dead.html


Fred Wilson’s old interviews with IM Jeremy Silman will be posted to the Perpetual Chess YouTube channel by the end of the week. 

Interview #1-

https://youtu.be/FVDGwFIUjkA

Interview #2 coming soon.



01:30- John and Cyrus share their first memories of meeting IM Jeremy Silman, both in 1981. 

Mentioned; Chuck Johnson


07:00- John and Cyrus describe Silman’s “hippie days.”


12;00- How did Jeremy get his start in chess? 

Mentioned: IM John Grefe, Dennis Waterman, IM Jack Peters, Bob Long, and 

Silman’s article describing his ‘posse’-

https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-books-and-youth-vs-old-age

Silman’s Chess Odyssey 

22;00- Cyrus discusses the legacy of How to Reassess Your Chess, as well as Jeremy’s unique insight into a need for literature addressing club players. 


26;00- Why did The Complete Book of Chess Strategy sell so well? How did his other books do?


33;00- John and Cyrus discuss Jeremy’s abilities as a speaker, and the success of the series he did for “Great Courses”

Mentioned: https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-play-chess-lessons-from-an-international-master 


38;00- Did financial success change Jeremy? John also discusses some of Jeremy’s students. 

Mentioned: von Frankenstein, Allan Horn, Brady Anderson, NM Vanessa West 


43;00- Could Jeremy have been a GM?

Mentioned: Ken West?, IM Jack Peters, IM Douglas Root 


50:00- John and Cyrus discuss the challenges of fe as a chess author and how chess content has changed. 


1:13:00- John discusses the health challenges Jeremy faced late in life. 


1:16:00- What jobs did Jeremy have outside of chess? 



1:21:00- John discusses Jeremy’s love for chess books, and for Japan! 

Mentioned: The Games of Tigran Petrosian by Shekhtman 


1:26:00- Should we care about analytical mistakes?

Mentioned: Vitiugov vs. Robson 2013 


1:31:00- Favorite Silman stories 

Thanks so much to John and Cyrus for sharing their memories of IM Silman



Book Recap #33- IM Jeremy Silman's The Amateurs Mind (with David Hamm)

In the wake of IM Jeremy Silman’s recent passingChess Books Recaptured returns to review one of his classic books, The Amateur’s Mind. The Amateur’s Mind sold over 90,000 copies, and IM Jeremy Silman said that he thought it was his best instructional book. What made this book, and Silman’s writing so unique? We dive into that topic, share many memorable (and amusing) quotes from the book, and briefly discuss some of the other works from IM Jeremy Silman’s illustrious canon. Joining me for this discussion, is David Hamm. As a 1000 (ish) rated, relatively recent chess devotee, who is also an attorney with 3 kids, David is just the type of reader that Silman likely had in mind when writing this book. While The Amateur’s Mind might not be my #1 recommendation if your goal is to improve your game, it was a ton of fun to read it and to discuss it, and reflecting on IM Jeremy Silman's legacy has left me more impressed with his work than ever. Timestamps of topics discussed and links of articles referred to are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

IM Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess is now on Chessable, and The Amateur’s Mind will be coming in 2024! Use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and and/or make a Chessable purchase, and it will help support Perpetual Chess. 

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



0:00- Thanks to Fred Wilson of Fred Wilson Books for allowing me to share Fred’s old interviews with IM Jeremy Silman. They will be posted soon to the Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel, so make sure you are subbed. 


0:03- David Hamm joins me to discuss the book. We begin by discussing how David got into chess, and to IM Jeremy Silman. 


0:07- We briefly go over IM Jeremy SIlman’s bio, and discuss some of Silman’s works.

Mentioned: NY Times obit by Dylan Loeb McLain, Chess.com obit by Tarjei Svensen

John Donaldson’s obit for US Chess


12:30- What makes SIlman’s writing stand out?

Mentioned: How to Reassess Your Chess, Nick Visel’s Review of Amateur’s Mind 


19:00- If chess improvement is your primary focus, what books could one consider as alternatives to Amateur’s Mind

Mentioned: Simple Chess, Winning Chess Strategies, Mastering Chess Strategies, Techniques of Positional Play 


22:00- We read the first few paragraphs and discuss Silman’s meticulous approach to writing. 

Mentioned: Dojo Talks Episode 92: Remembering IM Jeremy Silman, Zen in the Art of Archery 


29:00- We read our favorite quotes from the book! 

Mentioned: Alekhine-Maroczy 1923 , IM Willy Hendriks, Silman response to Hendriks ADD LINK 


52:00- Closing thoughts and our favorite Silman’s books ranked! 

Mentioned: Autobiography of a Goat, Make it Stick, How to Reassess Your Chess, Silman's Complete Endgame Course, Silman's Chess Odyssey 


Volunteer to co-host a book review podcast via the following form:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/co-host

Thanks to David for doing a great job co-hosting! Here is how you can reach him:

LiChess Chessdad1979

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hamm-1a3a325?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name


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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 361- Professor/ GM David Smerdon: Renewed Chess Cheating Allegations and the New “Gender Equality in Chess Index.”


This week we are joined by the economist, award-winning author, and top Australian player, GM David Smerdon. David is a professor at the University of Queensland. With a statistical background, David is a particular expert in the intersection of statistics and chess and is frequently able to combine his chess expertise with his academic research. Since chess cheating has been in the news again, we begin by getting David’s thoughts on the renewed allegations against GM Hans Niemann, as well as the recent concerns about rampant online cheating voiced by GM Vladimir Kramnik. David drew some interesting comparisons between these cheating scandals and a recent one in the academic world. David also had some recently published chess research to discuss, as he and a team of collaborators have recently launched the “Gender Equality in Chess Index. (GECI)” What is the goal of his index and how did they arrive at the numbers?  Lastly, we catch up on David’s chess career. As David details, he doesn’t have a ton of time to study, but is competing when he can with a specific goal in mind. There is always lots to learn from GM Smerdon, and it was a pleasure to catch up with him Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com! Help support Perpetual Chess by signing up for Chessable pro using this link:

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



0:00- Intro



Mentioned: Tarjei’s Svensen’s article, Dojo Talks EP 101  with GM Vladmir Kramnik 




0:02- David discusses cheating in the chess world, and draws parallels to some scandals in the academic world.

Mentioned: Did an honesty researcher fabricate data?, GM Alex Fishbein 



10:00- Has any good come of the recent chess cheating scandals? 

Mentioned: GM Mamedyarov withdraws from 2018 tournament after accusing opponent of cheating, Hans Niemann competes in London Chess Classic after stunning result in Zagreb 




17:00- Chess.com statement regarding Kramnik allegations against Nakamura 



23:00- Do continued allegations against Niemann cause concern about the viability of the future of OTB chess? 

Mentioned: Poker pro alleged to have used special contact lenses to see through a deck 



26:30- Can statistics help detect “smart cheating”?



29:00 What was the genesis of the idea for a “chess gender index”? 

Mentioned: Mongolia Tops Chess Gender Index by Leon Watson 



34:00- Is it likely that  Queen of Katwe contributed to the success of women’s chess in Uganda?What did he notice about other high ranking countries? 



41:00- What are the components of the index? 



51:00- David discusses his other chess-related research



52:00- How is David’s chess game, and what is his current chess goal? 

Mentioned: Episode 30, The Complete Chess Swindler 



Thanks to David for joining me again.  Here are links to keep up with him:



X: https://twitter.com/dsmerdon



David’s Blog;

https://www.davidsmerdon.com/

 




EP 360- Adult Improver Ben Hodgkiss just quit his job to pursue chess full-time. Here is his story.

Ben Hodgkiss is a 32-year-old chess enthusiast who has worked in a few different fields, but feels like he has not yet found his professional calling. Ben knows that he loves chess though, and for at least the next year, he has decided to live the life of a chess professional and to chronicle this pursuit on his YouTube channel. Many chess players have fantasized about taking such a leap, so I was fascinated to hear that Ben is actually doing it! In our conversation, we cover the nuts of bolts, of how Ben will pay the bills, and what Ben will study, but we also discuss his goals for the project and his chess-related goals. Ben has already collaborated with well-known presenters like IM Eric Rosen and IM Andras Toth and recently played his first of what will likely be many OTB chess tournaments. I really admire Ben’s dedication to his chess passion and am excited to share his story with you! Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to download the episode

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com! Find out more about becoming a Chessable pro member, and receiving a wide range of features here: 

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



0:02- How did the idea of doing a year of full chess come about?

Ben’s Reddit post is here: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/17anc4k/quit_your_job_chess_full_time_for_a_year_how_do



0:08- What are Ben’s goals for this project? What is his chess history?


13:30- Patreon mailbag questions: Does he think it will be more challenging to maintain motivation? Would taking a week or a month off be beneficial for one’s chess? 


22:00- Patreon mailbag questions Is it possible that working full time subtracts 200 points from your chess strength? 

Mentioned: Check out Tactics Time author Tim Brennan’s rating graph here:

https://www.uschess.org/datapage/ratings_graph.php?memid=12718954



30:00- What was Ben’s first OTB tournament like? 


37:00- Ben discusses his study regimen more, and why he decided to join the Chess Dojo. 


41:30- We discuss the best potential ways for Ben to chronicle his chess pursuit on YouTube. 


50:00- Ben read my book and wanted to discuss some topics on it! We start with discussing visualization. What does one see when visualizing a chess board?

Mentioned: Chess Steps 2, Thinking Ahead, Visualize Courses on Chessable 


1:03:00- Ben asks me: which chess weakness of mine am I working on?


1:07:00- Thanks so much to Ben for sharing his inspiring story, be sure to check out his YouTube channel here:

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


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

patreon.com/perpetualchess


EP 359- Davaun Williams (aka Chess Knowledge with H1) on Chess TikTok Stardom, Opening Traps, and Improvement Recs


This week I am joined by a rising star in chess media, Davaun Williams. To his 200,000+ Tiktok followers and nearly 80,000 Instagram followers, Davaun is better known as “Chess Knowledge with H1.”  In our conversation, we discuss H1’s chess origins, the origins of the nickname “H1,”  and how he gained fame for using a demo board and throwing the captured chess pieces during his entertaining videos. Davaun’s videos feature a lot of opening traps, and  he has just released his first Chessable course, “Opening Traps You Must Learn.” In addition to discussing chess openings, Davaun shares other chess improvement advice, and even advises me on whether or not I should continue to post videos on TikTok. All in all, this was a fun conversation, and it was great to learn more about Davaun’s background. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

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Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com. You can see their latest courses here:

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





0:02- Davaun has been making chess content for years, but during the past year he has seen his TikTok channel explode. What changed? 



0:05- Does Davaun have plans to dedicate himself full time to chess content? 



0:06- Davaun discusses his unusual USCF rating history:




12:00- Davaun’s favorite chess content creators

Mentioned: Gotham Chess, IM John Bartholomew, KingsCrusher, The Chessbrahs 



13:00- Davaun’s chess origin story

Mentioned: Chessmaster: Grandmaster Edition 



17:00- How did Davaun develop the habit of throwing the Demo board pieces after they are captured in his videos? 



20:00- How did Davaun decide to write a Chessable course on Opening Traps? 

Mentioned: Davaun’s video about the Polish/Orangutan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQQW_ZHbut4



23:00- What  is Davaun’s theory as to why his shorter videos get more traction than the longer ones? How is his podcast, Chess Knowledge with H1 doing? 

https://open.spotify.com/show/6AefOx7Atzw3bgyfHG2bjR?si=3ed28f8e7d794837



27:00-Is Davaun interested in, and does he cover, top-level chess? 

Mentioned: Agadmator, Gotham Chess 



30:00- Will Davaun’s kids play chess?



33:00- What is Davaun’s favorite aspect of chess? What is his favorite opening to play?




39:00- Davaun gives both chess improvement and chess content advice. 



44:00- I ask Davaun’s advice: Should I continue to post videos to TikTok if noone is watching them? 



Thanks to Davaun for joining the pod, here is his linktree:

https://linktr.ee/H1chess



EP 358- GM Robert Hungaski on Teaching Chess Teachers, Nakamura, Shirov, Niemann The Indian Chess Boom & more

This week  a favorite guest returns to the pod, GM Robert Hungaski. Robert wears many hats in the chess world, as an accomplished player, Fide Senior trainer and International arbiter. His newest project involves organizing and presenting FIDE-sanctioned chess teaching seminars from some of the top trainers in the world, including Grandmasters Gregory Kaidanov, Alexey Shirov, Antoaneta Stefanova and many others. These seminars provide a unique opportunity to learn tricks of the trade from some chess legends. In addition to this project, Robert always has plenty of entertaining and insightful stories, and this interview is no exception. Robert reflects on his encounters with young Nakamura and Niemann, his trip to the 2022 Chess Olympiad, his friend GM Ulf Andersson, and, of course, he leaves with a bit of chess study advice and a book recommendation. It is always fun to talk chess with GM Hungaski! 

Click here to download the Episode

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com:

Check out their new courses here:

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

Check out my favorites here:

https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/

More information about the FIDE trainer seminar’s here:

https://fideamerica.net/tca/registrations/?fbclid=IwAR1TQF5uATurqzF0Prwmr6QEg8LWJ165d0ttZrvOG2N0LlqLjqZkbEWdJ6w

Prior Interview 2019- Episode 149 

02:00- Robert describes his “chess upbringing” and why his contemporaries  (such as Nakamura, Vitugiov and Le Quang Liem) made him feel like he had no chess talent. 

Mentioned: GM Joel Benjamin, Jen Shahade 

08:00- Robert reflects on the rise of chess in India and describes his trip to the 2022 Olympiad.

11:00- Robert discusses the teachers’ seminars he is arranging featuring top GMs like Shirov, Kaidanov, Illescas and many others. It will take December 8-10. 

Also Mentioned: Stefanova, Cheparinov, Bologan, Yottachess.com 

25:00- Robert tells stories about GM Alexei Shirov.

Mentioned: GM Andy Rodriguez 

31:00- Who are the most impressive players Robert has analyzed with?

Mentioned: GM Grande Zuniga, Ulf Andersson 

32:00- As a fellow Connecticut native, what have been Robert’s interactions with GM Hans Niemann? 

39:00 Robert tells a few stories about spending time with GM Bill Lombardy, Boris Spassky and others 

46:00- Ulf Andersson stories 

50:00- Robert’s chess improvement advice 

55:00- Patreon mailbag question- 

“How many openings does Robert suggest that his students learn?”

Mentioned: Boom Boom- The World vs. Boris Becker 

1:01:00- Who is the most impressive blitz player Robert has ever seen?

1:02:00- Book talk!

Mentioned: Domination by Kasparyan 

Thanks to GM Hungaski for joining me, you can contact him via his website:

https://gmhungaski.com/

EP 357- Adult Improver Denis Markov on How a Calm and Consistent Approach has Elevated his Chess Game

The Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series returns with another guest with a great story. Denis Markov is a 39 year-old working dad with a passion for chess. Denis has deep chess roots which date back to a childhood in Russia where he took classes at the fabled “Palace of Pioneers.” According to Denis, he did not show exceptional talent in those days and eventually set chess aside for some years. Now based in Pennsylvania, Denis returned to competitive chess in mid-2021 and since then, through hard work and consistency has elevated his USCF rating from 1742 to over 2050! While this type of improvement is quite unusual, Denis is adamant that he isn’t doing anything to “reinvent the wheel.” In our conversation Denis details an approach focused on frequent competitive play, game review and lots of hard work. I found our conversation grounding and inspiring at the same time. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Adult Improver Series Spotify Playlist here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=680ff07480434ec9



0:00- 

Thanks to those who help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon! If you would like to join the community, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess


0:01- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com! 


New Chessable courses including Silman’s Endgame Course, and new ones by GM Erwin L’ami, GM Johan Hellsten. 

You can check out their latest offerings here:

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



2:00- Denis joins the show! What is his “ why”?

What does he do when his motivation to study chess is low?

Denis’ Reddit post detailing his success:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/16sw628/1740_to_2040_uscf_in_2_years_adult_improver/


11:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How will Denis approach teaching chess to his kids?’ 


14:00- Patreon mailbag question: ‘Does Denis think that his Russian background helped his chess development?’ 


21:00- What got Denis back into chess in his college years?

Mentioned: Aron Nimzowhitsch’s My System


25:00- Denis’ study routine

Denis’ coach: 

https://lichess.org/coach/Davjan



34:00- Denis discusses his approach to openings, especially as it relates to playing the same opponents repeatedly. 


42:00- How did Denis settle on studying via ChessTempo and the Chess Steps workbooks? 

Mentioned: Arthur Yusupov’s series, Chess Steps Method


48:00- What is the nature of Denis’ work with his coach? 


54:00- Does Denis have any theories on why he is seeing gains while others might be struggling? 


1:03:00- More book recommendations!


Mentioned: Sam Shankland’s books, Endgame Strategy by Shereshevsky, GM Johan Hellsten’s books, Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios, GM Ivan Sokolov’s Winning Middle Game Strategies, Sokolov’s interview with Chessbase India, His How to Chess Interview is Now Out! 


1:08:00- Thanks to Denis for joining me! You can email him at dvmarkov at gmail dot com 

Or follow him on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/dvm0101/



EP 356- FIDE Grand Swiss Recap/FIDE Candidates Lookahead plus LiChess Catchup with Community Manager Chris Callahan

Photo of IM R. Vaishali and GM Vidit Gujirathi (the winners of the Grand Swisses) by Anna Shtourman via FIDE

Next week’s podcast is arriving early, and it's a double episode! For the first segment, I am joined again by Chessable author and trainer CM Vjekoslav (Vjeko) Nemec. Vjeko and I discuss the riveting, recently concluded FIDE Grand Swiss. India’s ascension continued as GM Vidit Gujirathi and IM R. Vaishali’s had impressive victories in the Open and Women’s Sections respectively. With more spots in the 2024 FIDE Candidates now settled, we also look ahead to what is shaping up to be quite an entertaining fight for the right to challenge for the World Championship titles. Lastly, Vjeko followed this event quite closely, so he recommends several interviews and games from an action-packed tournament for us to check out. 

Following Vjeko, I catch up with Chris Callahan (38:00) about what is new with LiChess.org since our last chat in 2021. Chris reports that LiChess is continuing to see solid growth, and discusses their plans in terms of both community outreach and potential additional features on the website. We also discuss the latest in cheat detection and LiChess’ decision to stop working with US Chess and with the St. Louis Chess Club in the wake of the allegations against GM Alejandro Ramirez. It is always fun to catch up with Chris and hear about what is going on with LiChess. As always, timestamps of the many topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode





Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com! Silman’s Endgame Course is now on Chessable and on sale if you act quickly!

https://www.chessable.com/silmans-complete-endgame-course-from-beginner-to-master/course/199399/







0:00- Intro

Up to date information about ordering my book, and events can be found here:




5:00- CM Vjekoslav Nemec joins me to recap the FIDE Grand Swiss 




5:30- Who won and earned Candidates’ spots in the FIDE Grand Swiss? 

More info here




13:00- What can chess do to make more tournaments feel as important as the Grand Swiss and the FIDE World Cup? 




Mentioned: Tarjei Svensen’s article about GM Ding Liren




19:00- What players and personalities stood out in the tournament? 

Mentioned: L’ami-Gujirathi 2023 

Bogdan-Daniel Deac interview with Fiona Stiel-Antoni:







Mishra’s amazing analysis of his win over Ivanchuk:







Sevian’s analysis of his win over Firouzja




 L’ami-Gujirathi 2023 




24:00- Who are the early favorites to win the 2024 Candidates? 




27:00- What stood out from the Women’s section?

Mentioned: GM Pia Cramling, GM Tan Zhonkyi, GM Humpy Koneru 

IM Vaishali’s analysis of her round 3 win over Garifullina







32:00- Early thoughts on the 2024 Women’s Candidates Field 




36:00- Thanks to Vjeko for coming back to talk with us- check out his Twitter page here:




37:00- Chris Callahan joins the pod to talk LiCHess




38:00- How LiChess has changed in recent years?




Mentioned: Episode 221 with Chris Callahan

LiChess game database available for download here:




42:00- How do LiChess blogs work? How is it determined which posts get on the home page? 

Mentioned: FM Nate Solon 




46:00- How do they treat blog posts that are somewhat promotional in nature? 




48:00- What, if any, are the technical upgrades the LiChess team is working on? 




50:00- What are most requested features for LiChess?




52:00- Chris’ discusses the financial situation of LiChess. 

LiChess’ costs spreadsheet here:




54:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does LiCHess have plans to become a non-profit (501c3) in the US?’ 




57:00- What is the latest on LiChess’ cheat detection efforts?




1:03:00- What went into Lichess’ decision to stop working with US Chess and the St. Louis Chess Club?

Mentioned: Breaking the Silence, Chris’ interview on Ono Another Chess Podcast

St. Louis Chess Club Statement 




1:10:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How can one volunteer with the Women in Chess Foundation?” 




1:13:00- Thanks to Chris for joining the pod! You can email him at chris.callahan at Lichess dot org