Episode 216- Dr. Jana Krivec

Photo Courtesy of Thinker’s Publishing

This week Dr. Jana Krivec joins me. She is the seven-time Woman’s National Champion of Slovenia.  Jana is also a Professor of Psychology at the School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. She has recently released a book that synthesizes her interests in chess and brain science. Her book,  Improve Your Life by Playing a Game, gives a rundown of the many psychological issues that chess players often confront, and offers actionable advice on how we all can improve our study habits and our approaches to playing chess. I had a good time speaking with Dr. Krivec, and I think that you will enjoy the interview. Please read on for more details and timestamps. 

 Click here to download the Episode

0:00- We begin by discussing the cognitive biases that are most prevalent amongst chess players. 

Mentioned: Adult Improver interview with Dr. Vishnu Sreekumar, (The book recap I mentioned with Dr. Christopher Chabris will be out later this month) , The Dunning Kruger Effect, Emanuel Lasker, Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman 

15:00- How can we combat these biases?

20:00- Perpetual Chess is proud to be brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Their latest offerings include, Lifetime Repertoires: The Queen’s Gambit Declined by GM Alex Colovic and The Psychology of Chess Tactics 

21:00- Dr. Krivec answers a question from the Patreon mailbag about how to deal with the common issue of online “chess tilt.” 

Mentioned: The Power of Habit 

39:00- Jana answers a Patreon question about how to deal with stress in online chess and she’s asked whether she thinks chess is helpful or harmful with anxiety issues. 

Mentioned: Autogenic Training, Progressive Muscle Relaxation 

55:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com! 

Check out Chessmood’s blog is here: 

https://chessmood.com/blog  and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

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

56:00- What factors were most instrumental in Jana’s chess successes? 

1:04:00- Does Dr. Krivec have an opinion about whether it is better to learn from books or from online tools like Chessable? 

1:12:00- Thanks so much to Dr. Krivec for joining the show. You can contact her via Facebook. 

You can purchase or see a free teaser of her book via Thinkers Publishing Here:

Improve Your Life by Playing a Game – Learn how to turn your life activities into lifelong skills - Thinkers Publishing

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

Episode 215- Dr. Vishnu Sreekumar (Adult Improver Series)

Photo courtesy of Vishnu Sreekumar

We are back with  another Adult Improver Edition of Perpetual Chess. My guest, Vishnu Sreekumar, is a 35 year-old cognitive scientist and dad, who has been dedicating many hours to studying and playing chess since he rediscovered his love for the game in 2018. There have been plenty of obstacles along the way, but Vishnu has had great success, as his USCF rating has  risen from 1675 to 1954 in the 1.5 years preceding the onset of Covid’s changes to all of our lives.  During this period  he has continued to work on his chess, although unfortunately work responsibilities and a pending move back to his native India may soon slow down his chess schedule. Vishnu is also a classically-trained pianist. This background gives him even more perspective on the field of adult learning. So between the chess talk and the neuroscience talk, there is a lot to learn from Vishnu. Please read on for many more details and timestamps. 

 Click here to download the episode

0:00- Intro Vishnu shares a bit about his background and his beginnings in chess, as well as his initial tentative return to tournament play in 2018. . 

Mentioned: GM Nihail Sarin,  Meet the Dojo with GM Jesse Kraai- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kAGwWsRsKU&t=1381s

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance 

How to Reassess Your Chess by IM Jeremy Silman, Pawn Structure Chess by GM Andy Soltis 

12:30- Perpetual Chess is proud to be brought to you in part by Chessable.com. To check out their latest offerings, you can go here: 

https://www.chessable.com/courses/for-beginners/

13:00- At the peak of his chess obsession, Vishnu was spending 3+ hours a day on chess while maintaining work and family responsibilities as well. In this segment, Vishnu shares some of the resources he studied, but he also reflects on that period of obsession, and the adjustments he has since made to make sure that chess doesn’t supplant his family and work responsibilities. 

Mentioned: Domination in 2,545 Endgame Studies, Grandmaster Chess- Positional Play,   Test Your Chess IQ. Understanding Chess Move by Move, Tal Botvinnik 1960 , GM Jesse Kraai, Episode 44 with GM Jesse Kraai, Episode 175 with GM Jesse Kraai 

21:00- Vishnu answers a question from the Perpetual Chess Patreon mailbag. “Is it better to study tactics from a book or from an online tactics trainer?” 

Mentioned: The Test of Time, Winning with the King’s Indian by Eduard Gufeld 

26:00- Patreon question: “What are Vishnu’s biggest regrets in how he has studied chess?” 

Mentioned: GM R.B. Ramesh 

33:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by AImchess.com which collates data from your online games and gives you actionable advice and lessons. Check out the site, and if you subscribe use the Promo code “Chess30” to get a 30% discount.

35:00- Vishnu answers a few questions from Patreon supporters  relating to the cognitive science of chess. 

Mentioned: Practical Chess Exercises, Lev Alburt Pocket Chess Training Books, Woodpecker Method, Sherlock’s Method, Universal Chess Training,  IM Elizabeth Paehtz, Van Perlo’s Endgame Tactics 

41:00- Patreon question: “As a cognitive scientist, why does Vishnu think it’s so hard for adults to improve at chess?” 

Mentioned: IM Greg Shahade, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Peter Svidler, GM Jan Gustafsson, IM Kostya Kavutskiiy, GM Jesse Kraai, GM Avetik Grigoryan 

57:30- Another Patreon question- “Is there a correlation between chess and long term brain health?” 

1:00:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com! 

Check out their blog here: 

https://chessmood.com/blog

 and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

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

1:01:00- Does Vishnu have advice for how to balance a desire to improve at chess with work and family responsibilities? 

1:08:00- We discuss Vishnu’s background in music, as well as his daughter’s burgeoning interest in music. He also answers a Patreon mailbag question relating to whether he thinks that chess talent and music talent are transferable? 

Mentioned: The Steps Method 

1:16:00- With Vishnu moving to India and opening a lab, what role will chess take in his life? 

Thanks to Vishnu for sharing his chess story! You can keep up with him via Twitter or Facebook. 

Episode 214- GM Vlastimil Hort

Photo of GM Vlastimil Hort in 2005 via Wikimedia Commons

Czech grandmaster Vlastimil Hort  was among the world's best players in the 1960s, '70s, and into the mid-'80s. Born in Czechoslovka, the five-time national Czech champion emigrated to West Germany in 1985  and was subsequently the 3 time West German national champ.  GM Hort has played against most World Champions of the modern era, and has memorable stories about Bobby Fischer,  Boris Spassky, Paul Keres, and countless others.  GM Hort is also the co-author of the classic instructional book, The Best Move, and his latest book,  My Chess Stories, 64 Stories From My Life Near the Top in Chess has recently been translated to English. GM Hort reflects on a few of the standout stories in our interview, including how a bribe at a chess tournament in Tunis helped him escape Czechoslovakia in 1985.  He also gives us the details of his less-than-pleasant interactions with GM Mikhail Botvinnik. So many fun stories below, and such an honor to speak with GM Hort. Please read on for timestamps and more details.

 In addition to listening via audio, a transcript is available of this podcast thanks to the efforts of Dr. Stephen Sparks. You can read the interview transcript here. 

Click here to download the episode.

0:00- We launch in by GM Hort sharing his memories of attending Hastings 1967, a tournament for which he had no money to attend, so he ended up sleeping in a park en route to the facilities. Chess has come a long way! 

Mentioned: Hastings 1967-1968

7:30- Why did GM Hort decide to emigrate from the Czechoslovakia to Germany? He tells the amazing story of bribing passport control after theTunis Interzonal in 1985. 

Mentioned: Wilfried Hilgert, Tunis Interzonal 1985, GM Mikhai Suba, GM Evgenij Ermenkov 

14:00- Hort tells a story involving his fellow Czech native who recently passed away, GM Lubomir Kavalek. 

Mentioned: GM Anatoly Karpov, Leonid Brezhnev 

16:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Get Chessable’s IOS app if you haven’t already, and you can check out their latest offerings here:

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

17:30- GM Hort did not have the best relationship with former World Champion, GM Mikail Botvinnik. What events led to this bit of discontent? 

Mentioned: GM Bent Larsen, GM Paul Keres 

24:00- GM Hort had a famously tough loss against GM Boris Spassky in 1977 during the Candidates cycle. How does he look back on that match? And how is GM Boris Spassky doing today? 

Mentioned: GM Vladimir Kramnik, GM William Lombardy. GM Lajos Portisch, GM Pal Benko, GM Bent Larsen, GM Viktor Korchnoi 

30:00- GM Hort answers a Patreon mailbag question: how did it feel to compete against Soviet players when one had to worry about the possibility of collusion? 

Mentioned: GM Karpov, GM Lajos Portisch, GM Bent Larsen, Wolfram Hartmann, 

34:00- It has been alleged that GM Milan Matulovic accepted a bribe to throw the Candidates match against Taimanov  in the FIDE Candidates in 1970? Does GM Hort find this story credible? 

36:30-  Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com! 

Check out their blog here: 

https://chessmood.com/blog

 and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

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

37:30- Was there a test given to Czech youth to assess chess talent? What constitutes chess talent? 

Mentioned: Lubomir Ljubovic, GM Tony Miles, GM Lajos Portisch 

42:00- How did GM Hort study middlegames? 

Mentioned: GM Hans Kmoch, Rubinstein Chess Masterpieces 

44:00- Another Patreon question: How did the idea for the classic book, The Best Move, come about? 

Mentioned: GM Boris Gelfand, GM Jacob Aagaard 

46:30- Patreon question: Who was the most intimidating player to play against? This leads to GM Hort sharing some recollections of the famed Match of the Century in 1970. 

Mentioned: GM Lev Polugaevsky 

50:00- How was GM Hort’s relationship with Bobby Fischer?

Mentioned: GM Svetozar Gligoric, GM Eugenio Torre 

55:00- What does GM Hort think of modern chess and the increased importance of computers? He also mentions the name of the player who, in his opinion,  is the best player that ever was. 

Mentioned: GM Firouzja, GM Jorden van Forrest, GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Anish Giri, Bobby Fischer 

58:00- Patreon question: What keeps GM Hort loving chess after all of those years? 

1:02:00- How does GM Hort keep up with modern chess? 

1:03:00- What are GM Hort’s favorite activities outside of modern chess? 

1:06:00- Thanks so much to GM Hort for joining us and sharing some amazing stories! His book is available here:

https://chess.co.uk/products/vlastimil-hort-my-chess-stories

Thanks to Michael Busse of the Schachgeflüster Podcast.

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Episode 213- IM Greg Shahade is back again

Photo via Greg Shahade’s Instagram Page

In an annual tradition, IM Greg Shahade returns to the show. Greg is the founder of the Pro Chess League as well as the US Chess School, and is a former scholastic champion turned adult-improving, dangerous speed chess specialist. His Chess.com blitz rating hovers in the 2600-2700 range, and he has beaten the likes of GM Alexey Shirov and GM Praggnanandhaa in recent Chess.com TItled Tuesday tournaments. Greg breaks down the secrets to his success- it turns out it has involved a lot of hard work on his openings! He also impart lessons from his success in order to help improving players lower on the rating ladder. Additional topics include:  the growth and evolution of chess, why Greg isn’t as vocal about his chess promotion ideas anymore, plus he answers a few fun Patreon mailbag questions. Whether you agree with Greg’s views of chess or not, its always fun to hear his perspective. Please read on for lots more details and timestamps. 

 Click here to download the episode.

Prior Interviews with IM Greg Shahade 

Episode 1

Episode 55

Episode 107

Episode 159

0:00- 

Greg’s blitz rating has been consistently improving even as he hits his early 40s. What are his study tricks? What approach should he take to study openings?  

Mentioned: Chessable.com, GM Alexei Shirov, GM Kiril Alekseenko, GM Jan Gustafsson’s Lifetime Repertoires Course, GM Elshan Moriadibadi, The London System, IM Andras Toth, GM Magnus Carlsen 

10:00- A question from the Patreon mailbag. What is the best way for a beginner to study an opening repertoire? 

Mentioned: Fight like Magnus: The Sveshnikov Sicilian, Lifetime Repertories: Nimzo-Ragozin Defense, Sam Shankland’s 1. D4 Chessable course 

18:00- What is the status of Greg’s blitz game? 

Mentioned: GM Kirill Alekseenko, GM Conrad Holt 

22:00- What is the status of Greg’s Twitch streaming career? 

23:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Get Chessable’s IOS app if you haven’t already, and you can check out their latest offerings here:

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

23:45- Patreon question: “Dude, when is Greg going to start blogging again?” We also discuss the ongoing Chess.com I am Not a GM Tournament

Mentioned: IM John Bartholomew, I am not a GM Tournament, IM Levy Rozman, IM Tania Sachdev, IM Kostya Kavutskiiy, Alexandra Botez, IM Lawrence Trent 

30:00- Another Patreon question relates to the status and format of the 2021 Pro Chess League, which of course also leads to a discussion of the explosion of popularity in online chess. 

Mentioned: Klay Thompson, Lennox Lewis, Gordon Hayward, Leveon Bell

37:00- Another Patreon question: are there improvements to the Pro Chess League website in the works? 

39:00- Perpetual Chess is brought in part by AImchess.com which collates data from your online games and gives you actionable advice and lessons. Check out the site, and if you subscribe use the Promo code “Chess30” to get a 30% discount.

39:00- Patreon question- has Greg read any good books lately? This segues into a general discussion of how to study chess.  

Mentioned: Playing 1. E4 by GM John Shaw, GM Peter Svidler, 100 Endgames You Must Know 

Endgame Strategy by Mikhail Sherevsky, Vancura Defense, Frontal Defense, Jeremy Silman’s Endgame Course, GM Jacob Aagaard 

49:00- In his chess development, did Greg do any targeted blindfold chess training? 

Mentioned: Chessboard Magic by Irving Chernev, GM Jeffrey Xiong, GM Ray Robson, IM Christopher Yoo

56:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com! 

Check out their blog here: 

https://chessmood.com/blog

 and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

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

57:00- Greg answers a Patreon question pushing back against the importance of the idea that Classical Chess wouldn’t exist if chess were invented in modern times. (As Greg has previously said) 

Mentioned: GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Alexander Grishchuk, IM Andras Toth 

1:03:00- Greg makes his brief, shining singing debut on The Perpetual Chess! And then gives some shout outs. 

Mentioned: Episode 204 with FM Nathan Resika, Episode 12 with Christopher Yoo 

 Agadmator, Chessbrahs, IM Levy Rozman, Jennifer Shahade, The Botez Sisters, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM David Howell, GM Jovanka Houska, Kaja Snare, Mark Crowther, ChessDoJo YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsFJol3ToXA&list=PLH4lD9b6ZgbeAzMlaYoWSHL_lEF5BWZA0

Thanks as always to Greg for joining the show! You can follow him on Twitter here:

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

Episode 212- IM John Donaldson is back again!

Photo by James F. Perry via Wikimedia commons

In addition to being a strong player, and often the Captain of the US Olimpiad team, IM John Donaldson is a renowned chess historian and author. He has been researching the life of Bobby Fischer for over a decade, and he has been on the podcast in the past to discuss his prior publications on Fischer. Late in 2020, IM John Donaldson published his most comprehensive, and acclaimed Fischer work yet, Bobby Fischer and his World. This book was already named Chess.com’s 2020 book of the year, despite some stiff competition in a stellar year for chess books. I greatly enjoyed John’s work, which is a combination of biography and game analysis. In our conversation, of course we discuss details of Fischer’s life in some detail, with a particular emphasis on the new details John has uncovered. We also take time to remember the life and legacy of John’s friend, legendary GM Lubomir “Lubosh” Kavalek, and to discuss the state of John’s own chess game. As always, you can get lots more details and related hyperlinks in the description or on the Perpetual Chess webpage. Enjoy!

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- We begin by discussing the legacy of John’s friend, legendary player and trainer,  GM Lubomir “Lubosh” Kavalek who recently passed away. 

Mentioned: 

Episode 54 with IM John Donaldson

Episode 143 with IM John Donaldson 

Also Mentioned: GM Bobby Fischer, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Gata Kamsky, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Wesley So, GM Lubosh Kavalek, Fred Wilson’s interview with GM Lubomir Kavalek, GM Joel Benjamin, GM Lev Alburt, Jerry and Fran Weikel of the Western States Open, GM Kavalek’s Huffington Post archive,  Peter Doggers chess.com obituary of GM Lubosh Kavalek, Chess Life and Review of Archive, Milos Forman, Ivan Passer, Gufeld-Kavalek 1962, Portisch-Kavalek 1975, GM Andrew Soltis  

18:00- Perpetual Chess is brought in part by AImchess.com which collates data from your online games and gives you actionable advice and lessons. Check out the site, and if you subscribe use the Promo code “Chess30” to get a 30% discount. 

18:45- Are there any fact that John and his friend and fellow eminent Fischer biographer Frank Brady disagree on? 

Mentioned: GM Boris Gelfand’s Technical Decision Making in Chess, FM Andrey Terekhov’s The Life and Games of Vasily Smyslov, IM Stuart Rachels’ The Best I Saw in Chess, GM William Lombardy, Dragoljub Minec, Jackie Beers 

27:00- John’s book is published by the publishing company of IM Jeremy Silman and his wife, Gwen Feldman- Did John work directly with Silman on this book? 

Mentioned: Silman-James press 

29:00- A question from the Patreon Mailbag: Which modern player most resembles Fischer in playing style? 

Mentioned: GM Peter Leko, Leko discussing studying with Fischer. GM Miguel Najdor

33:00- How would Bobby have enjoyed modern chess with faster time controls? 

Mentioned: GM Walter Shipman 

35:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Get Chessable’s IOS app if you haven’t already, and you can check out their latest offerings here:

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

37:00- How close was Bobby Fischer to playing a comeback match against GM Yasser Seirawan? Is John glad that Fischer did make a comeback? 

Mentioned: Lou Hays, GM Alex Sherzer, GM Larry Christiansen, GM Boris Spassky, GM Duncan Suttles 

43:00- Patreon question: Did Bobby have any students or proteges? 

Mentioned: GM Michael Bezold, Carmine Nigro, GM Reuben Fine, Episode 202 with Dr. Frank Brady, No Regrets, Fischer-Spassky 1992 

48:30- How is this book different from John’s prior publications about Fischer? 

Mentioned: A Legend on the Road

53:00- Will there be more Fischer projects forthcoming from John? What mysteries still remain from the details of Bobby’s life? 

Mentioned: World Chess Hall of Fame, GM Jesse Kraai’s interview with John Donaldson, David Delucia, GM Svetozar Gligoric, James Gore, IM Anthony Saidy, John Collins 

1:05:00- As an expert on American chess history, can John think of any historically accomplished adult improvers? 

Mentioned: GM Akiba Rubinstein, Jerry Hanken, GM Mihai Suba, Abe Turner, Carmine Nigro, 

1:09:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com! 

Check out their blog here: 

https://chessmood.com/blog

 and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

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

1:10:00- John discusses the underappreciated  chess legacy of IM Bernard Zuckerman 

1:13:00- From 1988-2000, John and GM Yasser Seirawan published a legendary chess magazine called Inside Chess, how does John recall those years? 

Mentioned: Hanon Russell, IM Nikolay Minev, GM Alexander Baburin, TheChessLibrary.com, FM Michael Shahade 

1:21:00- Now that this book has been published, will John be resuming OTB chess? If he were to resume chess training, what would he do to sharpen up? 

Mentioned: Mark Pinto, Your Jungle Guide to Chess Tactics by GM Peter Prohaszka, IM Yuriy Krykun, Quality Chess, Thinker’s Publishing, New in Chess Books, Russell Enterprises, GM Boris Gelfand 

1:29:00- What will John work on next?

Mentioned: IM Eric Tangborn, GM Hein Donner, GM Pal Benko

1:33:00- Book giveaway instructions!

1. Write a review of Perpetual Chess on ANY PODCAST REVIEW PLATFORM

2. Take a screenshot before hitting submit

3. Email the screenshot to Ben at perpetualchesspod.com

4. Winner will be announced on February 14, 2020

1:34:00- Thanks to John for joining the show! 

Order the book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Bobby-Fischer-World-John-Donaldson/dp/1890085197/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=john+donaldson+chess&qid=1612108311&s=books&sr=1-2

You can email John at imwjd at aol.com 

Book Recap: The Seven Deadly Chess Sins

Perpetual Chess is back with another monthly bonus edition of Chess Books Recaptured. This month  Chicago-based law professor, dad, and speed chess specialist, David Franklin joins me. Like me, David is a long-time fan of the writing of GM Jonathan Rowson, and of his 2000 book, The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, in particular.  Due to its  uniquely philosophical, digressive tone and its advanced chess subject matter, The Seven Deadly Chess Sins is not universally loved. Nonetheless, both podcast hosts and many other chess fans consider it to be a classic. In our conversation, we define and discuss each of GM Rowson’s 7 "chess sins", as well as sharing a bit of information about the author, the guest-co-host, and of course, a few of our favorite quotes. Please read on for many more details, links, and timestamps!

Click here to download the Episode.

0:00- Why does David love this book? Why is this book somewhat polarizing despite many rave reviews? 

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Episode 193 with Tom Murphy, Adult Improver Episode 151 with JJ Lang 

08:30- We discuss GM Rowson’s background and his other chess books briefly. 

Mentioned: Understanding the Grunfeld, Chess For Zebras, The Moves that Matter, Perpetual Chess Episode 150 with GM Jonathan Rowson, IM Andras Toth, IM John Watson’s review of Seven Deadly Chess Sins: Some Products and Two First-Rate Books

12:00- What other books might have been the intellectual inspirations of this unique book? 

Mentioned: Facebook Chess Collectors Group, The Chess Mind by Gerald Abraham,  Secrets of Practical Chess, Improve Your Chess Now, Genius in Chess, Improve Your Chess Now Book Recap Podcast with FM Alex Chua, Alex King, Godol, Escher and Bach, Emotional Intelligence, Richard James, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,  Dynamics of Chess Strategy, GM David Navara 

15:00- For what rating level is this book best suited? 

20:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com! 

Check out their blog here: 

https://chessmood.com/blog

 and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

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

20:45- We discuss Sin #1- “Thinking”- lack of faith in intuition, and “bureaucracy”

Mentioned: “Talking to Your Pieces”, Tom Murphy 

27:00- Sin #2- “Blinking” Identifying, missing critical moments 

Mentioned: Bobby Fischer, Russians vs. Fischer , GM Alex Yermolinksy’s The Road to Chess Improvement, The Road to Chess Improvement Recap Podcast, Episode 7 with GM Jon Ludvig Hammer 

31:00-  Sin #3- “Wanting” Attachment to results, carelessness, ‘chalking it up’ expectation 

Mentioned: “The Theory of Infinite Resistance,” FM Bill Jordan, GM Ian Rogers, GM David Smerdon, Jerry Wheeler 

42:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Be sure to download the much-anticipated Chessable app for IOS, and Seven Deadly Chess Sins will be available on Chessable later this year! 

43:00- Sin #4- “Materialism” Lack of dynamism, oversights

Mentioned: Plato’s Symposium, 

49:30- Sin #5- “Egoism” ‘forgetting the opponent’- fear - how many results am I playing for?

54:00- Sin #6- “Perfectionism”  time trouble, jam-lust (asking too much of your position), moralizing (punishing the opponent), copy-cat crime (trying to emulate another player)

Mentioned: GM Alexander Grischuk, Chess Explained’s YouTube Channel , GM Michael Adams 

1:03:30- Sin #7- Looseness-  losing the plot, drifting (playing without a plan), “neural hijackings” (emotions overwhelm the thinking brain, whether consciously or not), “tension transference” (relieve tension at all costs, uncomfortable with discomfort) 

Mentioned- Anand-Carlsen 2013, Kasparov-Sokolov 1999 

1:07:00- We share a few favorite quotes from the book. 

Mentioned: Endgame Strategy, GM Tiger Hillarp Person, GM Jonathan Levitt, GM Jan Gustafsson, GM Luke McShane 

1:11:30- A question from Patreon supporter and friend of the pod- is it a fair characterization  that Rowson characterizes this book in hindsight as “a good first draft?”

1:14:00- What were David’s personal interactions with GM Rowson like? 

1:18:30- Does David get more nervous before a tournament chess game or before arguing before the Supreme Court? 

1:19:30- Thanks to David for contributing his time and knowledge! You can keep up with David on twitter or Facebook. Next month will likely feature a recap of Attacking the Strongpoint by GM Igor Zaitsev

Twitter- https://twitter.com/DFranklinChi

Facebook- David Franklin | Facebook

Episode 211- IM Andras Toth

Photo Courtesy of IM Andras Toth

IM Andras Toth is a Canberra, Australia-based chess trainer who has built a loyal online following due to his no-nonsense YouTube chess videos and popular Chessable courses. Andras originally hails from Hungary, where he trained under the same trainer as the Polgar sisters and  was the two-time Hungarian Junior Champ. Andras’ background as a school teacher is evident in his engaging and energetic teaching style. As is clear from our conversation, Andras is not shy about expressing his hard-earned chess opinions. Andrey answers questions such as, should you play the London System?--do you need to hire a coach?--can one improve by focusing only on chess calculation?-- plus many more pertinent queries. This was a fun conversation that revealed many insights about chess improvement. Please read on for more details and relevant hyperlinks.  

 Click here to download the episode

0:00- Andras begins by discussing his chess and chess-training background a bit. 

Mentioned: IM Laszlo Hazai, The Polgar Sisters

0:8:15- Does Andras agree that club players should not learn much opening theory? 

Mentioned: The Road to Chess Improvement 

16:30- Andras answers the first of many questions from the Perpetual Chess Patreon mailbag: Neal Bruce asks, “ How important is it to have a chess coach?” 

23:00- Perpetual Chess is brought in part by Chessable.com! Be sure to download the much-anticipated Chessable app for IOS, and  you can check out Andras Toth’s courses here:

https://www.chessable.com/profile/ChesscoachAndras/

 24:00- Another Patreon listener question: “What is the proper way to analyze one’s own games and to study strategic concepts?” 

Mentioned: Alexander Alekhine: My Best Games of Chess, Paul Keres: The Road to the Top 

The book and game to which Andras refers can be found here: 

Mark Dvoretsky’s School of Chess Excellence, Tactical Play, Borkowski-Nunn 1974

 34:00- Why is Andras so blunt in his communication as a teacher and presenter?  

Mentioned: IM Jop Delemarre 

 41:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com! 

Check out their blog here: 

https://chessmood.com/blog

 and check out their YouTube, featuring Lessons with a Grandmaster here:

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

 42:00- How much can a 1500 player improve by working on calculation alone? How should we divide our study time?  

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard 

 55:30- Another Patreon question:   “How can one transition from slower games, like Correspondence chess, to rapid games?” 

Mentioned: Episode 191 with GM Daniel Naroditsky 

 1:05:00- What are the pros and cons of correspondence or “daily” games? 

IM John Bartholomew. Tata Steel Masters 

 1:14:00- What Chessable courses would we recommend for a player rated below 1000?

Mentioned: Jan Gustafsson’s Lifetime Repertoires 1. E4 e5, Endgame Bootcamp with IM John Bartholomew, Learn Chess the Right Way Series, with GM Susan Polgar, 100 Endgames You Must Know, The Checkmate Patterns Manual, Mastering Mates, 1001 Deadly Checkmates ,

Andras’s book recommendations, via YouTube videos, are here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCwQyNLblm0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg-u_HlZKco&t=1334s

 1:18:00- What books have informed Andras’ teaching style? What is his background? How did he end up in Canberra, Australia? 

Best Lessons of a Chess Coach. 

 1:30:00- Why has making Chess YouTube videos been frustrating for Andras? 

Check out his channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcYZTGsTO5TbCaA1O0wcBzw

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Episode 180 with IM Levy Rozman 

 1:34:00- Another listener question: “ What is the chess culture like in Australia and New Zealand?” 

Mentioned: GM Murray Chandler, FM Nicholas Croad

 1:43:00- One last Patreon question… “Why did Andras stop playing OTB chess?”

 Thanks to IM Toth for joining the show! Here are all the links you need in order  to keep up with him:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/chesscoachandra?lang=en

YouTube-https://t.co/RgSPMwU9Is?amp=1

Chessable- https://www.chessable.com/profile/ChesscoachAndras/

Twitch- https://www.twitch.tv/im_andras

Bonus Pod- GM Lubomir Kavalek (2003 Interview with Fred Wilson)

Photo from Amsterdam, 1969 via Wikimedia Commons

As chess fans may have heard, legendary GM Lubomir “Lubosh” Kavalek passed away this week at the age of 77. GM Kavalek was a fierce attacking player, who was a top 10 player in the world at his rating peak. He was 2 time winner of the Czechoslovak National Championship, and after emigrating to Virginia, went on to become US National Champion 3 times as well.

Unfortunately, I never got the chance to interview GM Kavalek, but Fred Wilson has given me permission to share an excellent long audio interview that he did with GM Kavalek with you all. The interview took place on September 10, 2003. In this conversation, they cover many of the highlights of GM Kavalek’s illustrious career as a player, trainer, and author. They discuss Kavalek’s beginnings in chess, and his work helping in the World Championship matches of Bobby Fischer (against Spassky in 1972), and assisting GM Nigel Short against Kasparov in 1993. In listening to this interview, I was struck by the the wit and personality of GM Kavalek. 

You can read on for brief timestamps, but of course you should listen to the entire interview with this chess legend! 

Click here to download the Interview

02:45- GM Lubomir Kavalek discusses his beginnings in the chess world,, and his experiences with some of the other great Czech and US players of his generation. 

17:00- What chess books influenced Lubosh?

23:30- Working as the second of Nigel Short in the 1990s. 

53:00-  Question from Alex Baburin. Did chess help him adapt to emigrating? 

58:00- What was his most pleasant and worst tournament? 

1:02:15- What are his thoughts on quick draws?

1:10:00- How to optimize one’s time preparing for a tournament? 

1:11:00- Did he have any plans for a book about his best games?

1:22:00- What was it like to play against Bobby Fischer? 

1:24:00- What was GM Kavalek’s role in working with Fischer in the 1972 World Championship Match against GM Boris Spassky? 

If you enjoy this interview, you could consider becoming a Perpetual Chess Patreon subscriber in order to access the entire audio archive of Fred Wilson’s great interviews.

Episode 210- Tom Vanderbilt

Photo courtesy of Knopf Doubleday

This week, bestselling author Tom Vanderbilt joins me to talk about his 5th book, the recently released, Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning. In this book Tom writes about his experience  learning a handful of new activities from scratch while in his late 40’s. These new adventures include learning chess, surfing, singing, juggling and drawing. Tom, like many adult chess enthusiasts, discovered chess through his school-aged daughter’s interest in the game. In our conversation, Tom reflects on what was like to be thrown headfirst into the chess world, and shares many of the resources that he found most helpful in accelerating his learning. Tom also shares broader conclusions from his learning experiences across disciplines. It was a fascinating conversation about an enjoyable book. As always, read on for more details, timestamps and relevant hyperlinks. 

Click here to download the episode.

0:00- Why is the pandemic a good time to release a book about starting new things? 

Mentioned: NY Times review of Beginners 

06:00- How was Tom’s interest in chess piqued? What were his first steps to learn more about the game? 

Mentioned: The Queen’s Gambit , Szymon Rudowski, GM Daniel Naroditsky’s YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielNaroditskyGM/playlists

Daniel King’s YouTube Channel-

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBATpFb--uLNAODOVWvCTA 

The Amateur’s Mindby Jeremy Silman 

IM Levy Rozman’s YouTube Channel-

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQHX6ViZmPsWiYSFAyS0a3Q

IM John Bartholomew’s Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6hOVYvNn79Sl1Fc1vx2mYA

19:00- Perpetual Chess is proud to  be brought to you in part by Chessable.com . To check out the many choices of beginner-oriented material they offer, go here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/for-beginners/

20:00- Tom mentions a few more resources that were helpful in his dive into chess. 

Mentioned: Chessable’s 100 Endgames You Must Know, The Brooklyn Strategist, The Marshall Chess Club 

25:00- How is his daughter progressing in chess during the pandemic? 

Mentioned: Her Move Next, US Chess’ Women in Chess Initiative

34:30- Was it more challenging to learn a mental game like chess or a physical endeavor like surfing? What other broader lessons did Tom draw from his learning adventures? 

Mentioned: William Finnegan’s Barbarian Days, The Passion Paradox, Mindset, Anders Ericsson,  Tim Krabbe’s The Rider, Perpetual Chess Episode 44 with GM Jesse Kraai, GM Robert Hess, Tim Krabbe’s Chess Curiosities Website:

https://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/chess/chess.html

54:00- Now that his book is finished, will Tom continue to play chess?  

Mentioned: Dreyfus Model of Skill Acquisition

57:00- Thanks so much  to Tom for the fascinating interview. 

You can find him on Lichess here:

https://lichess.org/@/wernerherzog

You can purchase his book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Transformative-Power-Lifelong-Learning/dp/1524732168/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=beginners&qid=1610383429&s=books&sr=1-2

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

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/donate

Episode 209- Martin Justesen (Adult Improver Series)

Photo courtesy of Martin Justesen

Welcome to another Adult Improver Edition of Perpetual Chess. My guest is Martin Justesen, who is a 34 year, Denmark-based father of 3. He works as an archivist in the Library of the Danish Parliament, but devotes a lot of his free time to chess improvement and chess-related projects. His efforts have paid off, as Martin has gained a few hundred points in the past years. Prior to the pandemic, Martin had ended a long plateau, as his Danish rating went from 1600 to 1820. During the covid shutdown, he has seen continued improvement, his Lichess classical rating is now up to 2200! In our interview, Martin reveals what he thinks to be the key contributors to his improvement success. Martin is also a blogger,  and has recently released a great new book called, Blindfold Endgame Visualization: 50 Chess Positions. We also discuss how Martin decided to take on this project and why we think that it’s an important study tool. Please read on for lots more details, timestamps, and relevant hyperlinks.

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- We begin by discussing Martin’s background and his entree into the chess world. 

Mentioned: GM Yasser Seirawan, Playchess.com , Winning Chess Series by GM Yasser Seirawan, Logical Chess Move by Move 

12:00- Check out our new sponsor Aimchess.com, which gathers your games from the major chess sites and generates reports to let you know which aspects of your game need work. If you decide to subscribe, be sure to use the promo code Chess30 to save 30%.

13:00- How has Martin’s approach to chess improvement evolved in recent years? 

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Episode 117 with Stjepan Tomic

17:30- A Patreon supporter writes in to ask Martin how his approach to openings has changed as he has improved. 

Mentioned: Chessable Short and Sweet Free Courses are Here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/s/short%20and%20sweet

Opening Tree.com

27:00- Another Patreon question: How does Martin find games and construct his opening repertoire? Did he adjust his repertoire choices due to time constraints?  

Mentioned: Chessgames.com, Bobby Fischer: The Career and Complete Games of the American Chess World Champion, Chess DoJo Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/ChessDojo, IM Kostya Kavuitskiy, GM Jesse Kraai, GM David Pruess 

Greg Shahade video: Chess Opening Study for Serious and Advanced Players:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93kO7OXn9Lc

37:00- - Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their holiday sale here. It ends in a few days: 

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

38:00- As a busy working father, has Martin experienced periods of burnout?

Mentioned: Neal Bruce 

43:00- Does he have trouble taking online games seriously? 

Mentioned: ChessDojo Discord, 

50:00- What was the idea behind Martin’s great new book, Blindfold Endgame Visualization: 50 Chess Positions? 

Mentioned: Alexey Troitsky 

59:00- What are the main lessons Martin has learned through his improvement efforts?

Mentioned: Mastering Pawn Endgames on Chessable, Chess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Ruiz, Pump Up Your Rating by Axel Smith, Atomic Habits by James Clear 

1:08:00- Thanks so much to Martin for joining the show, here are all of the links you need to keep up with him:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/saychess1?lang=en

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/say_chess

Blog- https://saychessblog.com/

Book- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QRB3H7M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_zzk3Fb7A3ZTE9

Twitch- https://t.co/hZvPmFCBdL?amp=1

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here:
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/donate

Book Recap- Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean

We are back with another bonus podcast edition of Chess Books Recaptured. This month I am joined by Jonathan of The Abysmal Depths of Chess Blog to discuss a classic book, Simple Chess, by GM Michael Stean. Simple Chess is an excellent positional primer which features succinct and helpful annotations for the club player. Over the past couple of months, Jonathan has been blogging about each of the 30 games in the book, so he knows the material inside and out, and I was very glad to have him share some highlights of what he has learned from studying Simple Chess so thoroughly. As always, we discussed improvement takeaways, favorite quotes and lessons distilled from this excellent book. You can get all of the details, timestamps and hyperlinks below.   

Click here to download the episode.

0:00- Why did Jonathan volunteer to discuss Simple Chess? 

Mentioned: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Perpetual Chess Episode 201 with FM Peter Giannatos, Perpetual Chess Episode 195 With GM Keith Arkell,  The Chess Dojo ranks: Classic Chess Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRETstfHyDE, Fred Wilson books 

6:30- What is the format of the book? 

GM Anatoly Karpov, GM Wolfgang Uhlmann, GM Lajos Portisch, GM Samuel Reshevsky, GM Tigran Petrosian, GM Bobby Fischer

12:30- What should we know about the author, GM Michael Stean 

Mentioned: Sicilian Najdorf by GM Michael Stean, GM Viktor Korchnoi , End Game: Kasparov vs. Short by Dominic Lawson, GM Ray Keene, William Hartston 

17:30- For what rating is this book most helpful? (Probably around 1300-1900)

Mentioned: Recap of Winning Chess Strategies with Neal Bruce,  Mastering Chess Strategy by GM Johan Hellsten, Link to Jonathan’s blog post about  Karpov-Westerinen 1974

24:00- Check out our new sponsor Aimchess.com, which gathers your games from the major chess sites and generates reports to let you know which aspects of your game need work. If you decide to subscribe, be sure to use the promo code Chess30 to save 30%.

25:00- Why is Karpov Westerinen from the book Jonathan’s favorite game ever?

Jonathan’s blog post about the game is here:

https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com/2020/12/sc-week-73-karpov-westerinen-nice.html

28:00- I read the opening paragraphs and we discuss the major themes and chapters of the book. 

32:00- We discuss some listeners questions relating to how this book compares to My System, Positional Decision Making in Chess, Mastering Chess Strategy, Chess Fundamentals 

37:00- Is it worth uploading the games from Simple Chess into Chessbase? What is the best way to study it? 

Mentioned: Chessgames.com list of games from Simple Chess:

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1038489 

The Passion Paradox,  Peak Performance, Chess Improvement: Its All in the Mindset 

46:30- What positional concepts are not covered in Simple Chess? 

Hanging Pawns, Isolated Queen Pawn, Karpov Spassky 1975

50:45- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable! Resources to work on your positional chess there include Winning Chess Strategies, and Chess Strategy for Club Players:

https://www.chessable.com/chess-strategy-for-club-players/course/27755/

51:30- We discuss a few of our favorite games from the book.

Mentioned: Fischer - Gadia, Unzicker - Fischer, Spassky-Fischer Game 5 1972, Andersson-Knaak, Vogt-Andersson, Recapping Reassess Your Chess with Todd Kennedy

55:00- We read a few favorite quotes from the book. 

56:30- What are the chess improvement takeaways? 

1:02:00- Do we have any quibbles with the book? 

Mentioned: Everyman Chess e-books, Fred Wilson, Martin Justesen

1:15:00- Thanks to Jonathan for joining the show and sharing his incredibly detailed knowledge of Simple Chess.

Follow him on twitter here: https://twitter.com/Berlin_Endgame

Read/Subscribe to his blog here: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com/

1:16:00- Blindfold puzzles are back! This month’s puzzles are courtesy of Martin Justesen’s book, Blindfold Endgame Visualization: 50 Chess Compositions

#1- 

White to move and draw

White: Kc6, Ba4 

Black: Kb1, Pb2

Link To Position, Turn Engine On for Solution

#2- White to move and win

White: Kc4, Pc6

Black: Kh2, Nd8

Link to Position, Turn Engine on For Solution

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

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/donate

Episode 208- FM Andrey Terekhov

Photo courtesy of FM Andrey Terekhov

This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is FM Andrey Terekhov, who has recently released the book, The Life and Games of Vasily Smyslov. (With Foreword by Peter Svidler!) This biography about the 7th World Champion is an excellent book that has critics raving. The book features both game analysis and biographical details, and our conversation also covers both life details, as well as takeaways for adult improvers from Smyslow’s games. Andrey had access to Smylov’s private archive and has been laboring during nights and weekends on this book for years. Away from the board, Andrey  has a Ph.D. in computer science, and works for Microsoft in its Singapore office. Andrey is also a devoted dad, and of course, an active chess player when time permits. Thanks to Andrey for sharing so many details from this great, multi-volume project! Please read on for more details, timestamps, and relevant hyperlinks. 

Click here to download the episode.

This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is FM Andrey Terekhov, who has recently released the book, The Life and Games of Vasily Smyslov. (With Foreword by Peter Svidler!) This biography about the 7th World Champion is an excellent book that has critics raving. The book features both game analysis and biographical details, and our conversation also covers both life details, as well as takeaways for adult improvers from Smyslow’s games. Andrey had access to Smylov’s private archive and has been laboring during nights and weekends on this book for years. Away from the board, Andrey  has a Ph.D. in computer science, and works for Microsoft in its Singapore office. Andrey is also a devoted dad, and of course, an active chess player when time permits. Thanks to Andrey for sharing so many details from this great, multi-volume project! Please read on for more details, timestamps, and relevant hyperlinks. 

0:00- To join or find out more about the North American Corporate Chess League, go here:

https://www.nacorporatechess.com/

0:02- FM Andrey Terekhov discusses his background and chess in Singapore, where he lives. He talks about the beginnings of his giant Smylov project. . 

Mentioned: John Hartmann, FM Carsten Hansen, Perpetual Chess Episode 184 with GM Kevin Goh, Andrey’s interview with Olimpiu Urcan is here: New Smyslov research project | ChessBase, Junior Tay, Find Andrey’s free course on The Two Knights Defense on Chessable here: https://www.chessable.com/two-knights-defense/course/18646/

11:30- Andrey reads the opening paragraphs of his book, The Life and Games of Vasily Smyslov, and discusses Smyslov’s amazing feat of making the Candidates semi-finals at the age of 63! 

16:00- What can club players learn from Smyslov’s approach to chess? 

1. Study the classics!

2. Focus on endgames

21:30- Is it true that Smyslov didn’t calculate that much during his game? 

Mentioned: Hans Kmoch, Max Euwe, GM Vladimir Kramnik 

26:15- What are some lesser known facets of Smylov’s playing style from which we can learn? 

29:00- What did Smyslov do better than other great players? How complex/understandable is Smylov’s style of play? 

Mentioned: Smyslov-Golombek 1947, Smyslow-Euwe 1946, GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Anatoly Karpov, GM Garry Kasparov, GM Peter Svidler 

34:30- How did the project of annotating the games compare to that of researching Smyslov’s life? 

37:00- How does this book compare to GM Genna Sosonko’s Smyslov on the Couch? 

41:30- Perpetual Chess is proud to be brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Chessable has a new course on the Najdorf by GM Anish Giri, and you should also check out Andrey’s free course on The Two Knights Defense here: https://www.chessable.com/two-knights-defense/course/18646/

42:30- What was it like to go to Moscow to visit Smyslov’s estate? 

Masterpieces and Dramas of the 20th Century by Sergei Voronkov

49:30- Was he hindered by the Soviet government?  Did Smyslov ever consider defecting? 

Mentioned: GM Mikhail Botvinnik 

54:00- What was Andrey’s experience like growing up in the Soviet Union?

Mentioned: Everything was Forever Until it was No More 

58- How much was Smyslov’s music career affected by his chess aspirations? 

1:03:00- How were Smyslov’s career, and chess generally, affected by World War 2? 

Mentioned: Bazya Dzagurov, Mikhail Botvinnik, Isaac Boleslavsky

1:08:00- How did it Andrey persuade GM Peter Svidler to write the foreword for his book?

Mentioned: GM Peter Svidler, GM Gata Kamsky, GM Vasily Yemelin, GM Aleksei Lugovoi, GM Sergey Klimov, FC Bayern Munich, and Baden-Baden Bundesliga teams, GM Pentala Harikrishna, GM Viswanthan Anand 

1:13:00- What has Andrey learned about chess from studying hundreds of Smyslov’s games? 

1:17:00- Andrey book giveaway! If you write a 5 star review on the Perpetual Chess Apple Podcasts page-

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/perpetual-chess-podcast/id1185023674

email a screenshot to Ben at Perpetualchesspod.com by January 8, 2020 to win a copy of the book 

1:18:00- Thanks so much to Andrey for writing this book and joining the show! You can keep up with Andrey the following ways:

Chess.com- https://www.chess.com/member/ddtru

Facebook-Andrey Terekhov | Facebook

Twitter- https://twitter.com/ddtru

If you would like to help support the podcast, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Episode 207- Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam

Photo courtesy of Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam

Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam is a Dutch  chess journalist, organizer and commentator who is best known as the Editor-in-Chief of New In Chess magazine.  New in Chess Magazine has been the industry leading chess magazine for decades and is known for its on-the-scenes reporting of major events, its high-level Grandmaster analysis of games, and insightful interviews and book reviews. In conjunction with his work for New in Chess, Dirk Jan has travelled the world and shared conversations and meals with many of the games most revered figures. In our conversation, Dirk shared several of the amazing stories he has collected over the years, and also discussed how New in Chess is being affected by the pandemic and the chess boom.  Please read on for more details and the timestamps. 

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- How have the pandemic and the online chess boom affected New in Chess, which as the preeminent chess print magazine often devotes lots of pages to elite OTB chess tournaments?

GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Wesley So, Magnus Carlsen interview with GM Jonathan Tisdall here: https://new.uschess.org/news/were-trying-grow-chess-interview-magnus-carlsen

14:00- What did Dirk Jan learn from interviewing the young phenom, GM Alireza Firouzja? 

16:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their holiday sale here: 

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

17:00- What was it like for Dirk Jan to spend a day with legendary GM Miguel Najdorf? 

Mentioned: The Day that Kasparov Quit, Finding Bobby Fischer, GM Viswanathan Anand

23:00- Dirk Jan shares his experiences spending time with the author of Zurich 1953  GM David Bronstein

Mentioned: The Rise and Fall of David Bronstein by GM Genna Sosonko, Zurich 1953 

29:00- Dirk shares a few Korchnoi and Botvinnik stories! 

Mentioned: GM Ljubomir Ljubojević, GM Vassily Smyslov, GM Mikhail Botvinnik, GM Hein Donner, GM Max Euwe, GM Tony Miles, GM Alexei Shirov 

38:00- A Patreon supporter of the podcast requested that Dirk share some stories about GM Vasyl Ivanchuk. 

Mentioned: GM Garry Kasparov, Haruki Murakami 

46:00- Check out our new sponsor Aimchess.com, which gathers your games from the major chess sites and generates reports to let you know which aspects of your game need work. If you decide to subscribe, be sure to use the promo code Chess30 to save 30%.

47:00- On the day that GM Vladimir Kramnik defeated GM Garry Kasparov for the World Championship in 2000, Dirk spoke to both the winner and the loser of the match. What is the story behind that? 

Mentioned: GM Jan Timman 

57:00- What was it like to spend time with Danish great, GM Bent Larsen? 

Mentioned: GM Nigel Short 

1:02:00- Thanks so much to Dirk Jan for sharing some amazing stories. 

You can learn more about or subscribe to New In Chess Magazine here:

https://www.newinchess.com/en_US/new-in-chess-2020-8

If you would like to help support the podcast, you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Episode 206- FM Carsten Hansen returns

Returning guest, FM Carsten Hansen, is one of the busiest chess authors in the business, as he writes a tactics column for Chess Life Magazine, a book review column for American Chess Magazine, and is a prolific chess author in his own right. Carsten has recently released a new book,  Marvellous Modern Miniatures, and has also collaborated with popular co-author, IM Christof Sielecki for the Chessable course, Lifetime Repertoires 1.c4 1.Nf3 Part 1. As 2020 nears a conclusion, I thought it would be a great time to catch up with Carsten on his new projects, the year in chess books, and on his own dreams of attaining the IM title as he nears the age of 50. Please read on for more details and timestamps of all that we discussed. 

Click here to download the episode.

0:00- What is Carsten doing to work on his own chess game?

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Episode 84 with FM Carsten Hansen- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-84-fide-master-carsten-hansen/id1185023674?i=1000416496522 , GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Loek Van Wely, GM Alexander Stripunsky, Chess Life Magazine, Episode 81 with FM Peter Giannatos , GM Jens Kristiansen

12:00- Carsten answers a question from the Perpetual Chess Facebook Group- How does the chess scene in the US compare with that in Carsten’s native Denmark? 

Mentioned: Info on the online US Amateur team tournaments can be found here 

16:30- Check out our new sponsor Aimchess.com, which gathers your games from the major chess sites and generates reports to let you know which aspects of your game need work. If you decide to subscribe, use the promo code Chess30 to save 30%.

17:30- Another listener question: What should I do to a make a new high on the chess.com tactics trainer? 

IM Cyrus Lakdawala, Chess Tactics for Improvers Volume 1 

23:30- What were Carsten’s favorite chess books of 2020? 

Mentioned: Carsten’s Chess.com Article- My Favorite Books of 2020,  Match of the Century, Rewire Your Chess Brain, My Chess World, Petrosian Year by Year,  The Complete Chess Swindler, Chess for Tigers, Technical Decision Making in Chess, Timman’s Triumphs, Emanuel Lasker Volume 2- Choices and Chances, Bobby Fischer and His World, A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns, Logical Chess Move by Move

36:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com Check out IM Christof Sielecki and FM Carsten Hansen’s new Lifetime Repertoires course on 1. C4 and 1. Nf3 here:

https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-1-c4-1-nf3-part-1/course/53985/

36:45- Carsten discusses self publishing and the chess book industry more broadly, including which of his books have resonated with readers the most.  

Mentioned: Catastrophes and Tactics in the Chess Opening, Chess Book Collectors Group

52:00- What draws Carsten to the English opening? Why would he recommend it? 

Mentioned: IM Christof Sielecki 

1:00:00- Another listener question:  Is it challenging to work on a course/book with a co-author, as Carsten has on different projects with IM Christof Sielecki and GM Peter Heine Nielsen? 

Mentioned: Stockfish 12

1:08:00- Another listener question: What led to the decline in popularity of the once popular chess site, ChessCafe.com? 

Mentioned: Hanon Russell, GM Karsten Muller, GM Lev Alburt, GM Tony Miles, GM  Hans Ree, GM Susan Polgar, FM Chris Despasquale

1:10:00- Thanks as always to Carsten for joining the show! Here is how you can keep up with his many projects:

Website- https://www.winningquicklyatchess.com/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/CazHansen?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Facebook- Carsten Hansen | Facebook

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

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Episode 205- WGM Katerina Nemcova

Photo by Andreas Kontokanis from Piraeus, Greece, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

WGM Katerina Nemcova is the 2 time  Women’s Champion of the Czech Republic and the winner of the 2008 European Youth Chess Championship. She now resides in the U.S. and is a frequent competitor in the US Women’s Championships, and has played for the Olympiad teams of both the U.S. and the Czech Republic. Katerina is also quite busy away from the chessboard, as she  has a BA and a Masters, and  is currently getting a Ph. D. in Communications at the University of Arizona. Katerina also finds time to teach chess classes, and is a regular and beloved lecturer for US Chess Women’s "Girl's Club" Zoom series of classes. We discussed all aspects of Katerina’s career, and of course we were eager to get the perspective of this top female player on the hit Netflix miniseries Queen’s Gambit. Please read on for more details and timestamps! 

Click here to download the Episode

0:00- 

You can subscribe to the new feeds of Cover Stories with Chess Life here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cover-stories-with-chess-life-32-ben-johnson/id1438797301?i=1000501070440

Or on Spotify  here:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1mNUGWcVB3GADGoy2k5kJ0

2:45- We begin by getting Katerina’s perspective on the Netflix breakout hit, The Queen’s Gambit. 

Mentioned: Jen Shahade in Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-chess/2020/11/20/529fb63a-2a79-11eb-9b14-ad872157ebc9_story.html

Also Mentioned: WGM Marsel Efroimski, GM Susan Polgar, 

Sign up for Jen Shahade and Adia Oyango’s Mad Woman’s Book Club here:

https://new.uschess.org/news/madwomans-book-club-announced-kick-book-queens-gambit

And girls can join the mailing list for girls’ classes here (classes are free to US Chess members):

https://forms.gle/zZw4sNCjGGCLkws57

For other US Chess Women related inquiries, email Jen Shahade at: jshahade@uschess.org

17:00- What was Katerina’s most difficult loss? What was it like to play GM Anatoly Karpov? 

Mentioned: GM Valentina Gunina, Nemcova-Gunina 2007-https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/share/?p=ACtgo9U2xWMaCrAi8ZQY7Opg/p5tXquV8kfmX9pETgFfzhm7p75HWdKc+hWQkrSB

Nemcova-Karpov 2008

https://share.chessbase.com/SharedGames/share/?p=ACtgo9U2xWMaCrAi8ZQY7ISyLL3tqDGnJQlCXM4B4CnfeuqdGFPE5vHBGaAl0dbd

23:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. There is a brand new course out from GM Yasser Seirawan , Winning Chess Brilliancies:

https://t.co/AllaghNiBJ?amp=1

24:00- What lessons does Katerina try to impart to the students of various ages in her classes for the US Chess School, US Chess Women, and the St. Louis Chess Club? 

Mentioned: The Chess Steps Method: https://www.chess-steps.com/home.php, The Mammoth Book of Chess 

36:30- Check out our new sponsor Aimchess.com, which gathers your games from the major chess sites and generates reports to let you know which aspects of your game need work. If you decide to subscribe, use the promo code Chess30 to save 30%. 

37:30- What is the status of Katerina’s chess playing career? 

Mentioned: 2019 World Team Championship, WGM Tatev Abrhamyan, WGM Carissa Yip, WIM Rochelle Wu, GM Darius Swiercz, GM Alexander Onishcuk, GM Robert Hess, GM Yasser Seirawan

50:30- Why didn’t Katerina play in the US Women’s chess championship this year? 

Mentioned: GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Jesse Kraai,  The Chess Dojo YouTube Channel

55:30- What does Katerina envision for herself professionally in the coming years? 

Mentioned: Anna Sharevich, IM Eric Rosen, Perpetual Chess Episode 36 with IM Eric Rosen  GM Le Quang Liem, GM Ray Robson, GM Alex Shimanov, GM Ilya Nyznhyk, IM Greg Shahade

Jennifer Yu-Nemcova 2015

1:06:00-- Thanks so much to Katerina for joining the show! Here are the ways you can reach/keep up with her. 

Follow her on Twitter here:https://twitter.com/Kate_Nemcova

Chess.com: PragueQueen

LiChess: KaterinaNemcova

Chessity: PragueQueen

ICC: PragueQueen

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Book Recap-Talking Improve Your Chess Now with FM Alex Chua

This is the original version, a new, 2023 edition is now available from New in Chess!

Welcome back to another edition of Perpetual Chess, Chess Books Recaptured, a monthly bonus book recap podcast. This week, I am joined by FM Alex Chua, a 32 year old Texas based dad, who works for a green chemical manufacturing startup called Solugen. Alex wanted to discuss the underrated gem, Improve Your Chess Now by GM Jonathan Tisdall, which he and I both love. We think it provides a great blend of instructive games, practical advice, philosophizing, and humor. It presents fairly challenging material, which is probably best suited to intermediate to advanced players, but anyone can pick up at least a few things from this book, as we hope they can from this podcast. Please read on for more details and timestamps. 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- FM Alex Chua and I begin by discussing why we love this book and wanted to talk about it. 

12:45- For what rating level is this book most appropriate? Alex thinks 1400-2000, I think 1800-2300. 

17:30- As always, Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Two great courses to improve your chess now are: The Checkmate Patterns Manual and the Visualize Series. Links below:

https://www.chessable.com/the-checkmate-patterns-manual/course/17841/

https://www.chessable.com/visualise-1/course/25695/

18:30- We list the chapters and then discuss our favorite chapters. 

Mentioned: The Complete Chess Swindler, The Seven Deadly Chess Sins 

26:30- Why discuss two of the key concepts investigated in the book, GM Alexander Kotov’s “tree of analysis”, and the idea of using “stepping stone diagrams” to improve blindfold/visualization skills. 

Mentioned: Book Recap Podcast of Think like a Grandmaster with NM Christopher Chabris, GM Alexander Kotov’s Think Like a Grandmaster, GM Anatoly Lein, GM Jacob Aagaard, Book Recap Podcast of Blindfold Chess with Jerry Wells, Zurich 1953 by GM David Bronstein, GM Lubosh Kavalek, GM Anatoly Karpov, GM Ljubomir Ljubovic, GM Efim Geller, GM Vassily Ivanchuk, GM Boris Gelfand 

48:00- We share a few of our favorite quotes and aphorisms from the book. 

Mentioned: GM Sam Shankland’s Small Steps to Giant Improvement 

1:00:00- What are favorite games shared in the book? What are the chess improvement takeaways?  

 Ljubobevic-Torre 1975 , Polugaevsky-Petrosian 1983, IM Cyrus Lakdawala’s Rewire Your Chess Brain, GM Baadur Jobava’s Twitch Channel, Chessable’s Checkmate Patterns Manual 

1:14:00- In lieu of payment, I am making a donation of Alex’s behalf to Lichess.org. Keep up the great work, Team Lichess! 

Mentioned: Simple Chess by Michael Stean, coming next month 

You can message FM Alex Chua on lichess. Here is his account:

https://lichess.org/@/highlama

Episode 204- FM Nathan Resika (Adult Improver Series)

Photo courtesy of FM Nathan Resika taken by Judit Resika, chess set made by IM Sandor Biro

FM Nathan Resika has accomplished one of the rarest feats in the annals of adult competitive chess, progressing  from rank beginner to FIDE Master. Along the way, Nathan has picked up many more titles: USCF Master at age 31, FM Title at age 40, rating high of 2318 and US Senior Open Champion at age the of 53. Despite some breaks along the way, at age 60, Nathan is still going strong, as he recently had a stellar showing at the 2020 Southwest Open, where he defeated a 2550 IM! 

How does Nathan continue to amass new titles, all  while he is working and helping to raise his twin children? What is his top chess advice? In  this very inspiring conversation, Nathan shares lots of tips, many book and opening recommendations, and even discusses the story of how he defied the odds in another field and became a professional opera singer in his 40s! As always, please read on for lots more details, timestamps, and relevant hyperlinks.  

Click here to download the episode

0:00- Nathan shares the story of his chess beginnings, playing in the park at Harvard Square in Boston at the age of 23, and mentions some books fundamental to his growth as a player. 

Mentioned: Logical Chess Move by Move, Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess , Lasker’s Manual of Chess, GM Eugene Perelshteyn, My 60 Memorable Games . Nathan’s article in US Chess about his career can be found here: https://new.uschess.org/news/fm-resika-us-senior-singing-chess-icing-cake, 

Mentioned: GM Boris Gelfand, GM Tigran Petrosian, GM Daniel King’s How Good is Your Chess, NM Bruce Pandolfini 

15:30- How much time was Nathan putting into the  study of chess in his early competitive days circa 1985? 

Mentioned: NM Murray Turnbull, GM Alexander Ivanov, NM Christopher Chabris, NM Danny Edelman, NM Girome Bono, IM Joseph Fang, IM David Vigorito, IM William Paschall, Secrets of Grandmaster Play by GM John Nunn,  Nathan also wanted to mention that Senior Master Jacob Rasin was instrumental to his progress.

24:00- Perpetual Chess is proud to be brought to you in part by Chessable.com. A few of the courses in which you might be interested, based on this interview, are: The Modern Defense Against Everything by CM Vjeokslave Nemec, and Lifetime Repertoires, 1.c4/ 1. Nf3 by IM Christof Sielecki and FM Carsten Hansen 

25:00- Nathan answers a question from the Perpetual Chess Patreon mailbag about whether adult improvers should consider playing less aggressive repertoires as they age, and another about the rating level at which opening knowledge begins to take on an added importance. 

Mentioned: The Berlin Opening, The Scotch Game, The English/Reti, How to Think Ahead in Chess by Fred Reinfeld , FM William Kelleher, Small Steps to Giant Improvement by GM Sam Shankland,  Pawn Power in Chess  by Hans Kmoch, GM Richard Reti’s Best Games, Grandmaster Repertoire by GM Mikhail Marin, Starting Out: The Reti by GM Neil McDonald, Howard Staunton, GM Mikhail Botvinnik, GM Tony Miles, NM Harry Lyman 

52:00- Nathan tells the story of how he became a professional opera singer past the age of 40. 

58:00- Nathan answers another question from a Patreon supporter of the podcast. How does  Nathan’s musical knowledge help his chess, if at all? 

GM Mikhail Tal, GM Mark Taimaino, GM Lajos Portisch, Andre Phillidor, Gregor Piatigorsky 

1:03:00- IM Kare Kristensen writes in to ask, “What is the biggest challenge of competing at a high level as an adult?” 

Mentioned: IM Ilya Figler, Perpetual Chess Episode 178 with IM Kare Kristensen, GM James Tarjan vs. GM Vladimir Kramnik 2017, GM Boris Gelfand, Nakamura-Resika, GM Alexander Chernin 

1:14:00 What went wrong when Nathan had a rating slump of nearly 130 points? How did he seek to correct it? 

Mentioned: Episode 201 with FM Peter Giannatos 

1:19:30- What was it like to play in a tournament in Texas amidst the pandemic? How did Nathan and his family get comfortable with the decision to play? 

Mentioned: 2020 Southwest Open, IM Justin Sarkar, IM Zurab Javakhadze, Raghav Kalyanaraman,  Check out the Whole Crosstable here:

http://www.dallaschess.com/2020SWOpen/OpenWallchart.html

1:30:00- What are Nathan’s current chess goals? Why does he think it's important to play stronger competition? 

1:34:00- Question from Neal Bruce! What are the minimum and maximum amount of hours per day/week that an improver should study?

Mentioned: GM Sam Shankland’s Method 1 and 2, GM Neil McDonald, GM Daniel King, GM John Nunn, IM Andrew Martin 

1:39:00- Closing summary of Nathan’s improvement advice! 

1. Don’t get discouraged

2. Study Structures

3. Keep up with Your Tactics, no matter your age

4. Read good chess books and great authors

5. Read biographies of great players

1:41:00- Thanks so much to Nathan for joining the podcast! You can reach him at nateresi@hotmail.com

Episode 203- GM Wojciech Moranda

Photo courtesy of GM Moranda

This week we are joined by top chess player, trainer and author GM Wojciech Moranda. GM Moranda is one of the highest ranked and most accomplished players in Poland, with a FIDE rating of 2618 and many tournament victories.  Wojciech has also been a frequent competitor in  the Pro Chess League, where he has beaten the likes of GM Fabiano Caruana and GM Alexander Grischuk. As a trainer, GM Wojciech has worked with both amateur adults and with top young players in conjunction with the  National Youth Chess Academy of the Polish Chess Federation. GM Moranda is a chess bibliophile who has developed a unique chess instruction style, which is on display in his excellent new book, Universal Chess Training, recently published by Thinkers Publishing. We talk about the book as well as chess improvement more generally, including getting Wojciech’s takes on the age old questions of what to study, how to study, and how much to study. If you are looking to improve your own game you are assured to pick up something both from Wojciech’s book, and from our conversation. Please continue reading for timestamps and relevant hyperlinks. 

Click here to download the episode.

0:00- We begin by discussing GM Moranda’s new book from Thinker’s Publishing, Universal Chess Training.  GM Moranda shares how he decided on the unique presentation style of this book, and what he likes and dislikes about other recent chess books. 

Mentioned: Reshevsky-Petrosian 1953 (25...Re6), Jon Edwards, My Great Predecessors, Kasparov-Topalov 1999, Episode 199 with Dr. Barry Hymer and GM Peter Wells 

24:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. One of their latest offerings is a Lifetime Repertoires course on the Taimanov Sicilian by GM Harikrishna. Check it out here:

https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-taimanov-sicilian/course/45749/?utm_source=chessable&utm_medium=tw

25:30- GM Moranda answers a question from the Patreon mailbag about whether playing blitz and rapid is bad for one’s chess development. 

Mentioned: Lichess.org, Episode 200 with GM Boris Gelfand,  GM Alireza Firouzja

34:30- We discuss how much one should study, and how one should allocate chess study time. 

Mentioned: Applying Logic in Chess by IM Erik Kislik 

41:00- Are the rumors true that GM Moranda has a law degree? How did Wojciech get into chess? 

Mentioned: FM Kamil Plichta 

48:30- GM Moranda answers another question relating to the state of the chess culture in Poland. 

Mentioned: GM Jan Krzysztof Duda, Paul Morphy, The Queen’s Gambit Series 

56:30- What are GM Wojciech’s favorite chess books? 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard’s Grandmaster Preparation Series, Beyond Material, GameChanger 

1:03:00- GM Moranda has some experience teaching blindfold chess and visualization. What advice does he usually give his students? 

1:19:00 Thanks so much to GM Moranda for sharing his chess wisdom!

You can reach him via chess.com here: https://www.chess.com/member/gmmoranda

You check out a teaser  of Universal Chess Training here:

https://thinkerspublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Teaser-PDF-Wojciech-Moranda-Universal-Chess-Training-1.pdf

and  you can buy it here:

https://thinkerspublishing.com/product/wojciech-moranda-universal-chess-training/

Its also available from Forward Chess here:  https://forwardchess.com/sample/universal-chess-training

Episode 202- Dr. Frank Brady

Photo courtesy of Dr. Frank Brady

Dr. Frank Brady has led a long and distinguished career both in and out of the chess world. Before retiring, he was the Chairman of the Department of Mass Communications, Journalism, Television and Film at St. John’s University. Frank is also the Founding Editor of Chess Life Magazine, and is well known for writing multiple books about Bobby Fischer, who Frank knew since Bobby’s teenage years, and about whom he is a leading authority. Dr. Brady is best known for his best-selling and brilliant 2011 biography of Fischer, Endgame: Fischer’s Rise and Fall from Remarkable Prodigy to the Edge of Madness. In our conversation, Frank shares many personal recollections about his interactions with Bobby, including a first-hand account of what it was like to be at the famed Fischer-Spassky Match of the Century in Reykjavik in 1972. Frank contextualizes the brilliance and the faults of Bobby Fischer, and tells some great stories from his personal experiences.  You will not want to miss this first hand account of chess history! Please read on for more details, relevant links, and timestamps.  

Click here to download the episode.

0:00- Dr. Brady's free Zoom lecture on the hit Netflix miniseries Queen's Gambit takes place November 17th at 7pm New York time. It is done in conjunction with the Marshall Chess Club, and you can register here.

02:00- What was it like to attend the “Match of the Century” between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in person in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1972? 

Mentioned: Shelby Lyman, Harold Schonberg, Fred Cramer, Don Schultz, GM Max Euwe, Jack Collins, GM William Lombardy, GM Larry Evans 

10:30- Frank discusses the question of whether Bobby knew who his father was, and whether he was aware of his Jewish heritage.  

Mentioned: FM Donny Ariel, Hans Gerhardt Fischer, Paul Nemenyi, The Wicked Son by David Mamet, IM Karl Burger, David Delucia, GM Pal Benko, Gardar Sverrisson

18:30- How would Frank describe Bobby’s personality? 

Mentioned: IM John Donaldson’s  interview with GM Jesse Kraai of ChessDojo: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEm8unB18EI , Chess World Magazine, Carmine Nigro, GM Samuel Reshevky 

28:00- What chess improvement advice did Bobby Fischer give to Frank Brady? 

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Episode 86 with Fred Wilson, Perpetual Chess Patreon page, GM Reuben Fine, Bernard Zuckerman 

32:30- Does Frank think that Bobby Fischer had Asperger’s Syndrome? How did Frank find out Fischer’s IQ? 

Mentioned: Stuart Margulies, Ariel Mengarini, Milton Hanauer, Gardar Sverrisson, Robert Mundell, Zita Rajcsányi

40:15- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. If you would like to learn about the chess brilliance of Bobby Fischer utilizing their patented Movetrainer technology, you can check out GM Garry Kasparov’s My Great Predecessor’s Volume 4, among other books and courses: 

https://www.chessable.com/my-great-predecessors-part-4/course/29726/

41:00- Frank answers a question from the Patreon mailbag relating to the history of The Log Cabin Chess Club. 

Mentioned: Elliott Forry Laucks 

47:00- More Patreon mailbag questions: What were Bobby’s political views before they became more radical?  When was Bobby’s chess peak? Does Frank think that Bobby was clinically insane? 

Mentioned: GM Tigran Petroisian, GM Mark Taimanov, GM Bent Larsen 

52:00- What did Bobby’s Icelandic friends from his later years think of Bobby? 

Mentioned: Magnus Skulason

53:30- Friend of the podcast Douglas Griffin asks Frank whether he is aware of Fischer being particularly influenced by GM Isaac Boleslavsky.

Mentioned: Douglas Griffin’s blog: https://dgriffinchess.wordpress.com/

GM Hein Donner  

56:00- What were Frank’s interactions with GM Boris Spassy like? 

Mentioned: Darnay Hoffman

1:00:00- In addition to knowing Fischer, Frank knew the famed artist and chess enthusiast Marcel Duchamp. Frank tells a story of a memorable encounter with the artist. 

1:04:00- Frank still plays the occasional tournament chess game, and he is in great health as an 86 year-old. What health advice can he share? 

1:05:30- As an expert on film and chess, Frank compares  the smash-hit Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit as it compares to other representations of chess in film/on television. How does the current chess boom compare to the Fischer boom?  

Mentioned: IM Jay Bonin, GM Patrick Wolff, IM John Donaldson 

1:10:00- To what does Frank attribute the success of Endgame outside of the chess world? 

Mentioned: IM John Donaldson’s Bobby Fischer and his World, Brad Darrah’s book 

1:17:00- Whom does Frank think I should interview?

FM Asa Hoffman, Gary Forman, Andy Ansel, David Delucia, Jeffrey Tannenbaum 

1:19:30- Where would Frank rank Netflix’s smash hit, The Queen’s Gambit,  compared to other film representations of chess? 

Mentioned: GM Peter Heine Nielsen,  Critical Thinking, The Royal Game by Stefan Zweig, whose film adaptation was called Brainwashed,  The Luzhin Defense 

1:25:00- Thanks so much to Dr. Brady for an amazing interview! You can reach him via email at bradyfm at msn.com

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

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/donate

Episode 201- FM Peter Giannatos

Photo courtesy of FM Peter Giannatos

FM Peter Giannatos,is the Founder and Executive Director of the Charlotte Chess Club and Scholastic Center (CCCSA), which is an award-winning chess club based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 2007, Peter has taken the club from a small group meeting in a local library to a thriving organization with a large scholastic program, indispensable international tournaments, and a rapidly growing Twitch presence. In our conversation, Peter shares a lot of his hard-won wisdom about how to help build a vibrant local chess community, and he also discusses the difficulty that the club has faced recently due to the pandemic. Given the exploding popularity of chess, Peter is optimistic that any “brick and mortar” chess organization which can survive the lockdown period will come out of the Covid period better than ever.  Lastly, Peter is a  very accomplished chess player (2390 USCF) and improver in his own right, so he concludes the interview with some chess improvement tips and a few great book recommendations. Many of the details and timestamps related to the topics we discussed can be found below. 

Click here to download the episode

0:00- We begin our conversation by getting into reliving the modest beginnings of the Charlotte Chess Center and Scholastic Academy, which has gone from being run at a local library to a beautiful brick and mortar facility, with city-wide outreach and international tournaments. 

Mentioned: Grant Oen, FM Mike Klein, GM Daniel Naroditsky, Bradley Juopperi, Ursula Smith

28:30- GM Ben Finegold has built a successful chess center in Atlanta and credited Peter with helping him get started. How did Peter help? In this segment Peter also discusses how the pandemic has affected the chess center. 

Mentioned: CBS Sunday Morning chess story featuring GM Maurice Ashley and WFM Alexandra Botez: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/online-chess-makes-its-biggest-move/, Silver Knights Chess Academy, Kids Chess, Chess Achieves, Raleigh Chess Academy 

40:00- Perpetual Chess is proud to be brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out one of their latest, Lifetime Repertoires, Sam Shankland’s 1. d4, from former US Champion Sam Shankland. The course is on sale for a limited time, check it out here: 

https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-sam-shanklands-1-d4-part-2/course/53465/ 

40:30- Peter discusses the rough beginnings and then growth of Charlotte’s International Norm tournaments, which are well-regarded tournaments that enable young talents to earn GM and IM norms. 

Mentioned: FM Yuriy Krykun, GM Michael Brown, IM Kassa Korley, Grant Oen. DGT Smart Boards, GM Pragganandha, GM Aman Hambleton, IM John Bartholomew, FM Gauri Shankar, IM Brandon Jacobsen

57:30- We discuss the Chess Center’s relationship with GM Daniel Naroditsky, Twitch Streaming, and their popular “Daniel Naroditsky vs. the World” Online events

Mentioned: Castle Chess Camp, Episode 191 with GM Daniel Naroditsky- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-191-gm-daniel-naroditsky/id1185023674?i=1000489096841

Charlotte Chess Center Twitch Channel- https://www.twitch.tv/charlottechesscenter, GM Wesley So, GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, GM Jan-Krzysctof Duda, GM Vladimir Fedoseev, GM Rauf Mamedov, GM Salem Saleh, GM David Bronstein 

1:10:00- Peter has made huge gains in his rating in his 20s. What advice does he give for improvement? Where did he learn about all of the chess greats that he covers in his Learn from the Legends Twitch Series.  

Mentioned: chessgames.com, Douglas Griffin’s twitter page, The Art of Sacrifice in Chess, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Magnus Carlsen, Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, GM Alexander Shabalov, GM Vassily Smylov, GM Tigran Petrosian, GM Mikhail Botvinnik, GM Vladimir Kramnik, Simple Chess, NM Matthew Noble, Perfect Your Chess (Out of Print but Available on Kindle!), 

1:22:30- Thanks so much to Peter for sharing so much of his experience and knowledge! 

Here are all of the ways to keep up with the CCCSA:

Email Peter here: peter.giannatos@charlottechesscenter.org

Charlotte Chess Center and Scholastic Academy- https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/charlottechesscenter/

Twitch- https://www.twitch.tv/charlottechesscenter

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/user/charlottechesscenter

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here:
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/donate