GM Davorin Kuljasevic is a renowned author, trainer and player, best known for the excellent book, How to Study Chess on Your Own. Because GM Kuljasevic has worked with players of varying ages and skill levels, and has written a book on the topic of chess study, he is the perfect person to field questions for a Chess Improvement Q & A. In our far-reaching conversation, we cover topics ranging from budgeting study time, to analyzing games, to playing against kids, and many others. We also discuss Davorin’s excellent forthcoming biography on GM Ding Liren, DIng Lirens Best Games: A Chess Biography of the World Champion. Ding, of course, is a fascinating and admirable player and there's so much to learn both from his games and from his approach to chess. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below.
Click here to download the Episode
0:01- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com
Check out GM Fabiano Caruana’s course here:
https://www.chessable.com/caruanas-ruy-lopez-dark-archangel/course/188495/
And GM Kuljasevic’s course, Beyond Material :
https://www.chessable.com/author/DavorinKuljasevic/
And some of my favorites:
https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/
Prior interviews with Davorin:
Episode 229, June 2021
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1nllqVtGfVA9gqdELutNpP?si=2d9ad8336bbb4cbc
How to Chess Episode 09
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4tS4dfBFfxnOBmuLqnSfj3?si=2d75dd2c90ba4e61
0:02- GM Kuljasevic joins me!
Pre-order his book:
https://www.amazon.com/Ding-Lirens-Best-Games-Biography/dp/9083336689
DIng Liren’s Best Games: A Chess Biography of the World Champion:
https://www.newinchess.com/ding-liren-s-best-games-hardcover
03:30- First topic- Budgeting Your Chess Study Time
Mentioned: Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual
13:00- Do chess books still have value?
Mentioned: IM Mark Dvoretsky, IM Jeremy Silman, Think Like a Grandmaster, The Life and Games of Smyslov
16:30- Tactics
20:00- Game analysis
Books: Logical Chess Move by Move, The Most Instructive Chess Games,Instructive Chess Miniatures
22:00- Dealing with nerves at critical moments
Mentioned: Ding Liren-Nakamura 2022
30:00- Tips for how much time to spend analyzing games
32:00- Finding "model games"
Mentioned: Chess Structures
34:00- Tips for those that struggle with time trouble
Mentioned; How to Chess Episode 14 with Peter Svidler
41:00- Was Davorin surprised by the strength of a particular element of Ding’s play?
48:00- What is the ideal time control for newer players?
51:00- What calculation improvement resources are recommended for intermediate players?
Mentioned: Calculation: A Complete Guide for Tournament Players by Azel Chua, Fundamental Chess Calculation Skills by CM Can Kabadayi
54:30- Advice for playing against kids
Mentioned: Qatar Open, Nakamura, Carlsen, Kaidanov-Van Foreest 2023
1:01:00- If a study approach isn’t working, like a particular opening or emphasis on a phase of the game, how do we know if we should stick with it or change the approach?
1:03:00- Davorin discusses his workbook series and plans for a 2100 level edition, How to Study Chess on Your Own Workbook
Mentioned: Workbook , 1500-1800, Workbook 1800-2100
1:06:00- What does Davorin mean when he suggests that a player should study one’s openings deeply? Does it change at different levels?
1:09:00- What were the origins of Davorin’s Ding Liren book?
1:20:00- Thanks so much to GM Kuljasevic for joining, you can reach out to him via the Lichess or Chess.com Coaches pages:
https://lichess.org/coach/GrandmasterThinking
https://www.chess.com/member/davorinkuljasevic
Pre-order my book, Perpetual Chess Improvement: Practical Chess Advice from World Class Players and Dedicated Amateurs. It will be available soon from Amazon and other major retailers.