Book Recap #37- My System (Fast Track Edition) with GM Alex Fishbein

Chess Books Recaptured returns to revisit an old book which now has a modern twist. My System by Aron Nimzowitsch is one of the best-selling and most recommended chess books of all time, but the original version has not aged well in some respects. In Book Recap #18, IM Christof Sielecki and I highlighted some of the classic book’s shortcomings as viewed through a modern lens. Luckily, GM Alex Fishbein decided to update the book for a 21st-century audience. The result is My System: Fast Track Edition, from Russell Enterprises (also available via Forward Chess). During my recent trip to the National Open in Las Vegas, Alex joined me to discuss My System’s legacy, his personal history with the book,  and why he decided that the chess world needed a better version. Following our chat, Alex took some questions from the audience, and briefly shared his thoughts on my book, Perpetual Chess Improvement. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to download the Episode

You can hear my discussion of prior editions of My System with IM Christof Sieleki in Book Recap #18-

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lkGXPkegq9flj5zEoGAxi?si=f82aa751388a4476

0:02- GM Alex FIshbein joins! How does My System compare to Nimzo’s other classic, Chess Praxis? 

3:30- What was the genesis of Alex deciding to edit/create the fast-track edition of My System?

12:00 - What were the challenges of translating the book?

27:00- What did Alex do with variations that modern engines say were incorrect?

Mentioned: Simple Chess by GM Michael Stean 

35:00- Audience question- “Would Alex consider editing a “fast track edition” of any other classic books?’

Mentioned: Alekhine 1924

39:00- Audience question- “Did Alex include other concepts to the book in addition to those that were written about in the original?” 

41:00- Audience question: “What foundational chess concepts are excluded from this book?”

43:00- Audience questions:  “Is Alex familiar with the book by Raymond Keene, Nimowitsch: A Reappraisal?”  “What about The Blockade?”

44:00- Audience question:  “How much shorter is the fast track edition compared to the regular?”

44:00- Audience question; “Would he do a fast track edition of “Praxis” by Nimzowitsch?”

46:00- Audience question: “Do older books still matter as learning tools, as compared to playing games?” 

49:00- Audience question:  ‘What is the best way to read a chess book?’ 

Mentioned: The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 

53:00- Alex shares his thoughts on my book, Perpetual Chess Improvement. 

Thanks to GM Alex Fishbein for joining me in Las Vegas! 

You can check out the new edition of My System, as well as his other books on Amazon, Forward Chess and other booksellers. 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alex-Fishbein/author/B075N1DG4Z?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

https://forwardchess.com/product/my-system-fast-track-edition

EP 387- Stories and Chess Advice from the National Open with GM Ben Finegold, GM Kayden Troff, Kamryn Hellman, Kyle Boddy & many more!

This week’s pod is a special edition featuring 10 different short interviews from the 2024 National Open in Las Vegas. We feature stories and perspectives from GM Ben Finegold, adult improver return guests, other chess podcasters, and even two different Grandmasters named Daniel Fernandez! Big tournaments like the National Open are great opportunities to bond over a shared love of chess, and I hope this episode helps encapsulate the many ways that chess can touch our lives,  teach us lessons, and bring us together. Timestamps and a brief description of each interview and guest can be found below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

1. GM Ben Finegold- 6:45  (recorded Wednesday, June 5) -Ben discusses his personal history at the National Open, the Nimzo-Indian defense, and dispenses some chess advice 

2. Glenn Panner- 17:30-   (recorded Friday, June 7) The tournament co-organizer discusses the tournament history , the recent cheating story from the Chicago Open, and the cheat detection methods being used at the National Open.  

3. GM Daniel Fernandez (US) 31:00-  (recorded Friday, June 7) The first of our GM Danil Fernandez guests, a Houston based player and trainer discusses how the stresses of playing compare to the stresses of coaching, and the advice he gives to his students who are competing in the tournament. 

4. Kamryn Hellman 37:15  -  (recorded Saturday June 8) The popular streamer and YouTuber reflects on her first big tournament and the recent chess lessons that she has learned. You can hear more from Kamryn in Episode 314. https://open.spotify.com/episode/30F7kQGQGyqi64sh3hdCmU? si=6cb9062c05134a7d And check our her YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@kamrynheidi

5. Kevin Scull-  -46:50  (recorded Saturday June 8) - The host of the Chess Journeys podcast reflects on the highs and lows of an ongoing tournament and discusses why he is trying to read fewer chess books!  Check out the Chess Journeys podcast here:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1kNbZLQE6JvbAyfOlv7ZNY?si=755f03091b9e462c

6. Lennart Ootes- 56:30- (recorded Saturday June 8) - The renowned chess photographer and multimedia maestro compares photographing amateurs to photographing his usual subjects, the top pros of chess. Check out Lennart’s beautiful photos here: Lennart Ootes And his National Open photos here: https://www.chessphotoshop.com/National-Open-2024-Las-Vegas

7. Kyle Boddy-  1:07:00 (recorded Saturday June 8) -I am rejoined by the founder of Driveline Baseball to discuss why he makes time for the National Open in the middle of the baseball season,and to share the lessons he has learned from IM Calvin Blocker, IM Marc Esserman and others. You can hear more of Kyle’s chess story in Episode 303. 

8. GM Daniel Fernandez (UK)- 1:19:00 -(recorded Sunday, June 9) The U.K. based player, author and trainer discusses what he is doing in an effort to push through mental barriers and the importance of physical training at the GM level. 

9. GM Kayden Troff- 1:29:15 (recorded Tuesday June 11)- Kayden’s primary role at the National Open was to provide free post-mortem analysis of amateur games. What type of mistakes did he see recur after reviewing dozens of games over a long weekend?  Check out Kayden’s epic game here:

   https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1709061

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETcq8kmlMic  You can find the Chesssharkz Twitch stream with Tony Padron here: https://www.twitch.tv/chesssharkz

10. ElaynahTV - 1:44:30-  (recorded Friday,  June 14) The popular chess streamer and newly minted podcaster discusses how the women’s tournament compared to the Open event, and the challenges of streaming a tournament. 

Check out Elaynah’s Twitch stream here:

https://www.twitch.tv/elaynah

And her new podcast with Dylan Quercia here:

https://chesslounge.podbean.com/ 

Photo in thumbnail of ElaynahTV by Lennart Ootes-

https://www.chessphotoshop.com/National-Open-2024-Las-Vegas

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 386- GM Arturs Neiksans- Coaching Gotham Chess, His own Journey to the GM Title & Advice for Choosing Openings

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Click here to Download the Episode

This week I am pleased to be joined by 4-time Latvian champion, GM Arturs Neiksans. In addition to his accomplished, (and ongoing)  competitive career, Arturs is a respected coach, commentator, Twitch streamer,  and Chessable Author. Arturs recently added a new line to his resume as he became the trainer of IM Levy Rozman! As Levy trains for the GM title, he has been posting instructive excerpts of his frequent lessons with Arturs. In our conversation, we hear Arturs’ perspective on the origins of their collaboration and what Levy needs to work on in order to potentially ascend to the next level. Arturs also reflects on his own bumpy journey to the GM title and shares plenty of general improvement advice and . Lastly, as chess cheating has (again) been in the news, Arturs provides his personal perspective on the unfortunate fall from grace of his fellow Latvian player, GM Igors Rausis (who later changed his name to Isa Kasimi, and is now deceased). It was a pleasure to talk chess with Arturs, and I look forward to learning more from him both on his own channels, and on that of Gotham Chess!  

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

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

0:02- How did GM Arturs Neiksans become Levy Rozman’s coach? What does Levy need to work on to become a GM?

17:00- Arturs quit chess at 18 and came back at 27. What drove him away and what brought him back? 

23:00- How will Arturs balance responsibilities like playing on the Latvian national team with coaching Levy?

28:00- How challenging was it for Arturs to become a GM in his late 20s?

35:00- It was Arturs who saw GM Igors Rausis (who was caught cheating during an OTB tournament) attempting to compete under a new identity. What was the story behind that?

44:00- What was Arturs approach to chess study as a kid? 

48:00- Does Arturs play a narrow or broad opening repertoire?

51:00- Thanks to Arturs for joining me! 

Here is how to keep up with him:

Chess.com

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

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChrqQ5BlmmGkaVmraYQw-IQ

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/gmneiksans

Chessable courses:

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

EP 385- GM Eugene Perelshteyn: Recent Online Cheating Drama, Tips for Facing Dodgy Gambits & the Future of Professional Chess

Click here to Download the Episode

This week I got the chance to catch up with author, trainer and Chessable author, GM Eugene Perelshteyn. We begin by discussing a recent online cheating controversy. An anonymous account was banned from Chess.com after beating GM Daniel Naroditsky in an online bullet match using only the “Meadow Hay” Gambit. Is this gambit so bad that it makes cheating likely? This controversy served as a springboard to discuss both online cheating and dodgy gambits. Eugene has recently released a course “Every Gambit Refuted” so he also shared general advice on how to react when you face an unknown gambit. These days, gambits can be particularly dangerous, as creators like IM Eric Rosen and GothamChess teach their audiences tricky openings. Finally, Eugene and I discuss some issues from the world of professional chess, including a lack of affordable opportunities to compete for the non-elite, the FIDE Candidates (which Eugene attended) and “the great eval bar debate.” Eugene is always insightful, and it was great to catch up with him! 

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

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

0:01- Eugene Perelshteyn joins me! We begin by discussing recent cheating controversies. This includes a recent controversy involving an account being banned after winning a bullet match against GM Daniel Naroditsky. GM Brandon Jacobson was playing the Meadow Hay Gambit. Is this gambit any good? 

More info on Chess Reddit: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1claxsm/its_me_viih_sou/

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1ctu6qc/question_what_happened_in_full_with_brandon/

Mentioned: Jospem on Chess.com, Episode 368 with Erik Allebest 

18:00- How have creators like IM Eric Rosen changed the paradigm when it comes to gambits?

Mentioned: Fight Like Magnus, Lifetime Repertoires: Hyper Accelerated Dragon 

22:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Eugene’s advice for how to approach playing against gambits you don’t know?” 

Mentioned: Eugene’s Chess.com Lesson plan on Gambits is here:

https://www.chess.com/lessons/every-gambit-refuted

32:00- What is different about how a player like Pragganandhaa uses surprise openings compared to how they are used by club players?

37:00- Eugene shares his own perspective on attending the FIDE Candidates in Toronto. 

42:00- Does Eugene think evaluation bars should be used during chess broadcasts?

48:00- Has Eugene been pleased with the reception of his collaboration with FM Nate Solon Evaluate like a Grandmaster? 

51:00- What else is Eugene working on?

Mentioned: Chess Openings for Black, Explained,GM Lev Alburt, GM Roman Dzindzichashvilli 

55:00- What does Eugene think of recent discussion about a lack of financial opportunities for “middle-class” Grandmasters? 

Mentioned: GM Jorden van Forreest tweet here:

https://x.com/jordenvforeest/status/1790333612874666440

 1:08:00- Thanks to Eugene for joining me! 

Check out his Chessable courses here:

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

Contact him via Twitter

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

Or Chess.com

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

Book Recap #36- The King: Chess Pieces by GM Jan Hein Donner (with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam)

The Perpetual Chess Book Review series, Chess Books Recaptured is finally back! I am honored to be joined by renowned author and chess journalist Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam to discuss GM Jan Hein Donner’s The King: Chess Pieces. The book is widely considered a 20th century classic and has been recommended by the likes of GMs Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson. It is a compilation of chess columns from a 3-time Dutch national champion, who spanned the chess generations between Max Euwe and Jan Timman. Donner is a brilliant, prescient and provocative writer who chronicles his own career, and also opines as the careers of Fischer, Spassky, Tal and others unfold in his proximity. Reading The King is a fun way to retrace 20th-century chess history, and the life and career of Donner. But, in my opinion, the book is not without its flaws. Donner’s writing is sometimes offensive, particularly when he bombastically shares his views about women in chess. I was grateful to have Dirk Jan help me discern whether Donner was being sarcastic in some of his more scathing columns. After we finish discussing the book, I chat with Dirk Jan a bit about his current projects, and his work on New in Chess’ excellent new podcast. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:

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

0:02- What is Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam’s personal history with The King and with its author, GM Jan Hein Donner? 

Mentioned: Dutch novelist Harry Mulisch

0:09- How is the English edition of The King, connected to the history of New in Chess publishing?

Mentioned: Allard Hoogland, Taylor Kingston’s review of the 1997 edition of The King:

https://www.chesscafe.com/text/donner.txt

12:00- We discuss Donner’s personal life, including the one, short-lived, real job that he had at IBM. 

Mentioned: 

Hein Donner: The Biography by Alexander Munninghoff 

18:00- Some of Donner’s most famous writing is very sexist- how was it viewed at the time? 

Mentioned: GM Jan Gustafsson 

23:00- Did Dirk Jan work directly with Richard de Weger, the book’s translator? 

24:00- Likes and dislikes from the book, starting with his acquaintance with Donner’s beautiful reflections on Fischer and Spassky. 

Mentioned: Richard James’ review of Hein Donner, The Biography:

https://britishchessnews.com/2020/08/07/hein-donner-the-biography/

42:00- What was Donner’s opinion of legendary Dutch World Champion, Dr. Max Euwe? 

43:00- What did Donner mean by his famous quote “Chess is a game of chance?” We also discuss a few other memorable quotes. 

48:00- Was Donner being sarcastic when he wrote at length that “women cannot play chess”? 

54:00- Why is Donner’s rivalry and demeaning writing about Dutch champion Lodewijk Prins, such a famous part of Dutch chess history? 

Mentioned: GM Ben FInegold’s video on Donner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXqpyLUt6mM

59:00- Closing thoughts on The King

1:03:00- Dirk’s thoughts on the Candidates and his other current big project

Mentioned: The Real Paul Morphy by FM Charles Hertan, Games and Goals 

1:08:00- How is Dirk Jan enjoying podcasting?

Mentioned: New in Chess Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Mj990NfwvaOh4GCKWLMJ7?si=2ec5f58435f44686

Episode 207 with Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam 

Thanks to Dirk Jan for sharing his knowledge and experiences with this book! Be sure to sub to the New in Chess Podcast! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2Mj990NfwvaOh4GCKWLMJ7?si=eb1eca7173d44ae2

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 384- IM Levy Rozman (GothamChess) on renewing his GM title pursuit, lessons learned from his first attempt, and what we need to do to improve.

This week IM Levy Rozman (Gotham Chess) makes his annual return to Perpetual Chess to discuss what is new with him. I was particularly excited to chat with Levy as he recently announced his renewed pursuit of the GM title. Levy has been sharing lesson snippets and discussing his tournament plans on his channel, but I wanted many more details. What did he learn from his first norm-chasing experience? What will he do differently this time? Does he think he will be able to stick with it? Although most of us will never make GM, Levy’s quest to make it to the next level is relatable for me and for many other chess players. Aside from his OTB comeback, we discussed the swift rating-rise of popular gamer, Tyler 1, and the successes and lessons learned from Levy’s book.   Levy shared a few stories from meeting celebrities in recent months. It's always fun catching up with Levy, and I am especially excited to follow his renewed pursuit of the GM title! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below.

Click here to Download the Episode

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

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

0:02- What will be different about Levy’s second public quest for GM? Will his mental health be ok? How will he study?

Mentioned: Road to GM Episode 3 with GM Arturs Neiksans 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFILafuQgPg&t=1704s

11:00- What will Levy do to address the weaknesses that GM Neiksans highlighted? 

Mentioned: IM Alex Ostrovskiy 

15:00- Levy discusses his upcoming tournament in Spain. 

17:30- Will Levy stream his tournament games? What tournaments is he planning to play? 

26:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What can Levy’s fans do to support his renewed GM quest?” 

29:00- Will Levy hire a sports psychologist? 

31:00- Does Levy have a timeframe in mind for this GM pursuit? 

34:00- Levy has been covering popular Twitch streamer and gamer Tyler1’s unusual chess progress. What interests him about this story? 

Mentioned: 

Tyler1 is a ChessGM!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gler9fDuhRY

41:00- What led Levy to work on his fitness? 

43:00- Has Levy been pleased with the reception to his book?

Mentioned: Rey Enigma, Blitzstream 

49:00- What was the story behind meeting NBA superstar Luka Donkic? 

53:00- What was it like to finally meet Magnus Carlsen IRL? 

55:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Can Levy tease any upcoming collaborations?”

Mentioned: More info in an article from Tarjei Svensen here:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/4-million-buy-in-tournament-wadim-rosenstein-abdusattorov-caruana-nepomniachtchi-niemann

58:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How will Levy work on positional evaluation in his renewed GM quest?” 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagard’s books 

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Jacob-Aagaard/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJacob+Aagaard

1:00:00- Thanks, as always to Levy for joining me! 

In addition to the usual channels, you can get inside access to his GM quest via his Patreon here:

https://www.patreon.com/gothamchessofficial

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 383- Dan Bock: An Accomplished Adult Improver on How He Leveled Up in his 40s.

Photo by Dan Schipper of the Charlotte Chess Center

This week the Adult Improver Series returns with an extremely insightful guest. Dan Bock is a North Carolina-based software engineer and dad, who finally got serious about chess improvement in 2021. At this time, Dan began to compete frequently, utilize digital flashcards, and make a conscious effort to make “chess friends” to help make his hobby more fulfilling. Dan’s results have been rare and inspiring, as he has seen USCF rating rise from the high 1500s to the high 1900s (USCF) in the last 3 years. As Dan explains, while he is very directed in his decisions of how to approach chess study, he does not put in an outlandish number of hours of study per day. He is very focused on what actually decides the outcomes of his own games and has made constant progress by keeping that as his North Star. I find Dan’s story very inspiring and am excited to see his continued progress! 

Click here to Download the Episode

You can find the Adult Improver Spotify Playlist here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=29035838af4d4345

0:00- You can find more information about the National Open here:

https://www.vegaschessfestival.com/national-open/

The live “My System” podcast with GM Alex Fishbein will be on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 PM. 

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

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

0:02- When did Dan decide to get serious about chess improvement? How did he know how to approach studying? 

Mentioned: Chess Journeys Episode 93 with Dan:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Xg3JotQTg4NoThsn9pPhw?si=14bfea1e50df4df5

Mentioned: Dan’s post: 11 Things I did to Take my USCF Rating from 1547 to 1976 

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/p/11-things-i-did-to-take-my-uscf-rating

09:00- Why did he decide to emphasize OTB chess for improvement? 

10:45- How does Dan use checklists to help his thinking processes?

Mentioned: Dr. Nick Vasquez’s post discussing checklists:

https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/simpler-chess-ask-questions

16:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Dan suggest spending one hour per day on chess?

Mentioned: Anki flashcard app:

https://apps.ankiweb.net/

23:00- Aside from using digital flashcards, what else would Dan recommend? 

Mentioned: Dan’s Post: “What Really Decides Games at the 1900 Level?” 

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/p/what-really-decides-games-at-the

28:00- How did Dan cure his time-trouble habit?

33:00- What is Dan’s approach to openings, and especially the Dubov Italian?

Mentioned: Chessbook.com, CM Han Schut and GM Jan Gustaffson’s Chessable courses on the Dubov Italian 

https://www.chessable.com/dubovs-explosive-italian/course/80152/

https://www.chessable.com/gustafssons-aggressive-1e4-part-1/course/207313/

41:00- Does Dan still work without a coach? 

42:00- Dan and Ben’s improvement takeaways from the FIDE Candidates

45:00- We discuss Dan’s approach to the Italian Opening

Mentioned: TheOnoZone’s Blog:

https://lichess.org/@/TheOnoZone/blog/learning-to-learn/Xg3xJ4qX

Ono’s HowtoChess interview:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fKVmwuQZkWV9orWqnnchF?si=090bccbf5a284f85

52:00- What does Dan look for when choosing a chess tournament? 

Mentioned: My Two Favorite Chess Tournament

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/p/my-two-favorite-chess-tournaments

56:00- How does Dan balance socialization with chess study at tournaments? Does Dan exercise during tournaments? 

58:00- Closing thoughts!

Mentioned: How to Reassess Your Chess 

1:00:00- 

Subscribe to Dan’s blog here:

https://chessimprovementlab.substack.com/

Follow him on X here:

https://x.com/boldmovebydan

EP 382- WIM Anna-Maja Kazarian: Why she is All-in on OTB Chess. WGM Title Pursuit, Study Recs + "Shoegate" Reflections

Click here to Download the Episode

This week I am excited to be joined by the popular chess streamer, YouTuber,  commentator, and champion player, WIM Anna-Maja Kazarian. Anna-Maja joined me from her home in the Netherlands after concluding a busy few months of competitive chess. Although she had her share of setbacks, these tournaments were largely successful, as Anna-Maja recently earned her first WGM Norm! 

Our conversation gave Anna-Maja the chance to reflect on the recent lessons she has learned, as well as her goals, both as a chess player and content creator. As she told me, Anna graduated from university somewhat recently and feels that this gives her an opportunity to devote all of her energy to chess improvement. She reflected on what aspects of the game she needs to work on, and also shared recommendations and advice for listeners. Last, and possibly least, we reflected on “Shoegate,” the bizarre scandal in which Anna-Maja somewhat unexpectedly made global headlines for her choice of footwear during the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz tournament. I am excited to see Anna-Maja’s continued norm pursuit, and Ii enjoyed chatting with her. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

02:00- What is the status of Anna-Maja’s quest to earn the WGM title? 

Mentioned: Anna-Maja’s The Chess Experience Podcast Interview 

Anna-Maja’s game recap of earning her norm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVm2KeXwzds

09:00- Is it challenging for Anna-Maja to focus on her tournament games while she is streaming them? 

Mentioned: Episode 326 with Dina Belenkaya 

18:00- What is Anna-Maja’s approach to openings? 

20:00- Does Anna-Maja have a study plan? What books is she studying? 

Mentioned: Zurich 1953, 100 Endgames You Must Know, Van Perlov’s Endgame Tactics, GM Jacob Aagaard’s Attacking Manual, The Steps Method 

25:00- What are Anna-Maja’s upcoming tournaments? 

Mentioned: Sharjah Masters 

26:00-Anna discusses her professional plans after finishing university last year. 

27:00- How does Anna-Maja manage to combine studying with streaming chess?

Mentioned: StudyTime Twitch 

https://www.twitch.tv/studytme

33:00- What are Anna-Maja’s reflections on “shoegate”? 

Mentioned: NY Times-

“Chess Federation Fines Player over her Sports Shoes” 

40:00- What other tournaments does Anna-Maja have coming up? 

44:00- Anna-Maja describes her work with the Chessqueens Foundation 

49:00- What are Anna-Maja’s favorite open tournaments? Does she do a lot of socialzing during rounds? 

52:00- Is Anna-Maja working with a coach? 

55:00 Anna-Maja’s closing thoughts. 

Mentioned: Alliance E-Sports 

Thanks to Anna-Maja for joining me! Here is how to keep up with her:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/amkazarian/

Twitch

https://www.twitch.tv/annamaja

YouTube-

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIKOoBA2bTAVj_MaPHzMSdg

X/Twitter-

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

EP 381- CM Azel Chua- Calculation Advice, Improving Chess Intuition, and is the concept of “Checks, Captures & Threats” overrated?

Azel Chua is a 21-year-old Singapore-based self-taught Candidate Master who has built his own chess skills from the ground up. As Azel explains, he began working on his visualization skills as he sought a way to study chess during high school classes that did not especially interest him.. From there, Azel has developed a unique framework for calculating in chess that he calls “The Burger Technique,” as covered in his popular Chessable courses on Calculation.  In our interview, we discuss this technique, as well as hearing Azel’s thoughts and experiences with utilizing resources such as YouTube, and Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual. Azel also shares some helpful tips on ways to improve one’s chess intuition, and he delves into his background and the chess scene in Singapore. As always, timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

Click here to download the Episode

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

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

03:00- What did Azel learn from studying the classic book Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual during high school classes? 

Mentioned: Calculation Masterclass with Chessgoals

7:00- What was Azel’s approach to chess improvement? 

10:00- Why does Azel think that the common tactic-solving advice of looking for “checks, captures and threats” might be bad advice? 

12:15- What is”the Burger technique?” 

17:30- Where did he come up with the name for “the Burger technique?” 

21:00- What was Azel’s mix of studying vs. competing as a tournament player? 

22:00- How does Azel describe the chess culture of Singapore?

25:00- What were the biggest contributors to Azel’s improvement?

27:30- What can we do to improve our chess intuition?

32:00- What was Azel’s approach to openings?

36:00- Does Azel follow professional chess? Or read about chess history?

37:00- How does Azel find teaching material? 

39:00- What is reciprocal thinking? 

Mentioned: IM John Bartholomew‘s Video: The Power of Reciprocal Thinking 

45:00- Thanks to Azel Chua for joining me! You can check out his Chessable courses here:

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

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 380- FIDE Candidates Wrap Up with GM Erwin L'Ami: Gukesh Ascends as Caruana Suffers a Heartbreaking Setback

We are back for one more 2024 FIDE Candidates reflection as we start to take stock of a historic tournament. Joining me (again) to discuss it is renowned trainer, opening theoretician, Chessable author, and 2022 Dutch National Champion, GM Erwin Lami. Erwin has frequently collaborated with GM Anish Giri, and he was on the World Championship preparation team for GM Veselin Toplov. Erwin shares his thoughts on GM Gukesh’s impressive ascendance, Fabiano and Nepo’s disappointment, and what this result does and does not mean for the trajectory of professional chess. We also discuss the performance of the other players, the Women’s Candidates, and Erwin’s plans for 2024. I always love to hear Erwin’s perspective, and discussing this tournament was not an exception. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com! Check out what they have to offer, and if you sign up for Chessable Pro (as you should), use this link to help support Perpeutal Chess:

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

0;00- Upcoming events and info:

1. Chess in the Schools Poker Fundraiser;

https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-poker-night-fundraiser

1. National Open/Las Vegas Chess Festival Info:

https://www.vegaschessfestival.com/national-open/

4:30- GM Erwin L’Ami joins me! What does he think made this tournament was so compelling? 

10:00- How surprised was Erwin by Gukesh’s performance? What should we expect from him from here? 

18;30- Patreon mailbag quesiton: “How can Caruana recover from his devastaiting loss to Nepo? “ 

.27:00- What did Erwin think of Nepo's performance?

29:30- Where does Nakamura go from here? Will this be his last Candidates? 

38:00- What went wrong for GM Alireza Firouzja? 

43:00 What are Erwin’s thoughts on Pragganandhaa’s performance? 

46:00- What were Erwin’s thoughts on the Women’s Candidates? 

49:00- Where might the World Championship be held? Would it help or hurt Gukesh if it were in India? 

53:00- Who does Erwin think would be the favorite in Gukesh vs. Ding?

Mentioned: Gotham City Podcast with GM Gukesh 

57:00 Does the format for the Candidates or Candidates qualification need to be changed? 

Mentioned: IM Greg Shahade’s blog post 

1:08:00- What are Erwin’s remaining 2024 plans? 

Thanks as always to GM Erwin L’ami for providing his perspective! 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 379- IM Renier Castellanos on How he Earned the GM Title at Age 41.

41-year-old IM Renier Castellanos had all but given up on earning the Grandmaster title. His life was getting busier, and after 2 potential GM norms were not ratified by FIDE, he felt like it just wasn’t meant to be. But his friends and Killer Chess Training co-workers, GM Jacob Aagaard and Kallia Kleisarchaki, convinced him to keep trying. It turned out that was all it took! Two weeks ago, Renier got his final GM norm, to earn the title of Grandmaster at age 41. In our interview, Renier reflects on the lessons he has learned, and why he thinks he was still able to earn the title in this challenging era, despite not working on chess as much as he did in his 20s. Renier also shares his own advice on chess improvement, some book recommendations, and discusses what he observed from facing Super GM level players like GM Vladimir Fedoseev. This interview was conducted while the Candidates was still ongoing, but you can even hear Renier’s Candidates prediction to see how it played out. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com 

New courses include - Michael Roiz’s Fighting the Grunfeld and King’s Indian 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

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

0:01- Renier discusses why he had given up on the GM title 

Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard of Killer Chess Training, Killer Chess Training Review of Renier’s Game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeI0AazBw1I

0:08- What shortcoming in his game did Renier need to overcome in order to earn the title?

9:45- How did he think about the expense of pursuing the GM title?

16:00- What is Renier’s approach to the opening? What else did he do to train?

Mentioned; KillerChessTraining.com

22:00- How did Renier’s wife, WGM Raluca Sgircea, help him with his daily habits? 

25:00- Renier discusses his early years growing up in Cuba, moving to Chile and then to Spain in his teens and 20s 

Mentioned: GM Lazaro Bruzon Batista, Chess Reddit thread about Renier’s GM title  

31:00- We discuss the congratulatory notes Renier has gotten, including this tweet from GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming 

Mentioned: Episode 184 with GM Kevin Goh Wei Ming 

34:00- Did an emphasis on physical fitness help his chess? What about community?

43:00- What is the best way to spend one’s chess improvement time?

46:00- Renier’s recommended open tournaments, based on his time on as a traveling chess professional:

Mentioned: Benasque, Spain Chess Open, Menoraca, Sitges 

51:00- Renier’s favorite chess books

Mentioned: Perfect Your Chess, Dynamic Chess Strategy by GM Mihai Suba 

54:00- What did Renier learn from playing Fedoseev and other super GM-level players? 

1:03:00- Renier’s most memorable game

Mentioned: Video of his World Bitz victory vs. GM Peter Svidler 

1:10:00- Thanks to Renier for sharing his inspiring story! 

You can reach him via his Lichess coaches page or find his classes at KillerChessTraining:

https://lichess.org/coach/RenierChess

KillerChessTraining.com

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 2)- FM Mike Klein on the Player’s Mindsets, Historical Context, and the Alireza Shoe Controversy

For the final FIDE Candidates bonus pod, award-winning Chess.com journalist, FM Mike Klein joins me from Toronto. We cover  topics including the atmosphere in the playing hall, the presence of seconds and family members of the players, what to expect in rounds 13 and 14,  and Mike provides his perspective on the controversy surrounding GM Alireza Firouzja's father. Thanks, as always, to Mike for providing so many behind-the-scenes details.

Click here to Download the Episode

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 1)- An Epic Finish Awaits, as Naka, Nepo and Gukesh are Tied!

As we enter the final rest day, The FIDE Candidates tournament is set up for maximum drama with a three-way tie for first place and two rounds remaining. Joining me from Toronto to discuss it is FM Dalton Perrine. We highlight the continued trend of surprising opening choices and results, as well as the increased tension in the room as the tournament builds to a climax. In the women's section, we are down to two contenders for the Candidates title, as Tan Zhongyi and Lei Tingjie are separated by a half a point.Dalton and I discuss all of the key matchups and surprises we have seen, as we look forward to the final chapter of an entertaining tournament. I will be back with one more bonus pod later on Friday, as Chess.com’s FM Mike Klein joins me from Toronto. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Mentioned in pod:

@ponysunrise photos:

https://twitter.com/sunrise_pony

@chessnumbers tweet -

https://x.com/ChessNumbers/status/1781113720212742568

Calib Wetheralll's Tournament Simulations-

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c7iy1g/fide_candidates_tournament_updated_predictions/

Thanks to FM Dalton Perrine for joining me! Here is how to reach him: 

Chessable Author page:

https://www.chessable.com/author/mattydperrine/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzuOx_63p9AIVkElyCh0z-A53EAAYASAAEgJY5vD_BwE

Chess.com

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

 His Coaching Services:

https://nextlevelchesscoaching.com/fm-dalton-perrine/

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

https://www.patreon.com/PerpetualChess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Jan Timman on the tournament so far.

It is always an honor to hear 9-time Dutch Champion and former “best of the west” standout, GM Jan Timman discuss elite chess. In this interview he shares his thoughts on the 2024 FIDE Candidates. Topics include: 

• Who he favored going in

• Who he favors now

• Why the opening surprises? 

• His thoughts on Firouzja’s disappointing performance

• His next book

  Its always a pleasure to speak with GM Timman!

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Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out GM Oliksiyenko’s course for Chessable pro members on the Candidates here:

https://www.chessable.com/chess-candidates-2024/course/243222/

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

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

0:03- GM Timman joins me! 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 378- Lou Hays- Spending weekends with Fischer and Spassky, Getting to 2100 from Scratch as an Adult, Chess Publishing Then and Now

For this week’s (non-Candidates) podcast I am honored to be joined by Lou Hays. Lou Hays is a businessman, accomplished chess author, and the founder of Hays Publishing, which published many popular books beginning in the 1990s. Lou also is an accomplished amateur player, who began tournament chess in his 20s and made it up to near master level. Lou has had the opportunity to meet some of the true legends of the game, and shares some amazing stories about his time spent with Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky and David Bronstein. We also discuss how chess improvement has, and has not changed over the decades, as well as Hays Publishing’s most successful books, and how the chess publishing industry has changed. I greatly enjoyed hearing Lou’s stories, and I am confident that you will as well. 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00-  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include GM Romain Eduoard’s Lifetime Repertoires: King’s Indian Attack. 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

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

Mentioned:

Winning Chess for Juniors 

 https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Chess-Tactics-Juniors-Hays/dp/1880673932

0:03- In 1992, Lou got to spend the weekend with Bobby Fischer. How did that come about, and what was the experience like?

Mentioned: Bobby Fischer, Complete Games of the World Champion, Zita Rajcsanyi, Ken Smith (founder of Chess Digest and the Smith-Morra Gambit), Fischer voicemail is on YouTube here:

https://youtube.com/shorts/CCa15k61MLY?si=igrs2WYVuyYHbltj

25:00- Lou shares his own chess story, including how chess improvement has, and has not changed 

Mentioned: Hastings 1895 (Out of print), NM John Jacobs, Hal Bogner, IM Anatoly Lein 

37:00- What was it like to spend a weekend with Boris Spassky?

46:00- Lou tells the story of playing legendary blitz player Israel Zelber. 

49:00- How did Lou get into the chess publishing business? 

Mentioned: My System: 21st Century Edition, Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors, Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, Stuart Margulies, Yasser Seirawan 

55:30- Patreon mailbag question: Would Lou consider putting Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors on Chessable? 

Mentioned: James Stallings 

1:00:00- Lou is also an accomplished improver at golf! Are there any parallels to chess improvement?

Mentioned:Lou’s book Make Your Golf Dream a Reality , 

1:01:00- What was it like to spend time with legendary GM David Bronstein?

Mentioned: The Rise and Fall of David Bronstein by Genna Sosonko, Mikanes Bronstein 1965 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Gukesh lead Narrowly as Naka and Fabi are in Pursuit

Heading into the penultimate rest day, I provide a quick rundown of the standings and key stories of a closely contested and entertaining FIDE Candidates. Plus I briefly share my thoughts on the drama surrounding GM Alireza Firouzja's noisy shoes.

Watch this feed for part 2, which will feature an interview about the Candidates with legendary former Dutch Champion, GM Jan Timman.

Click here to Download the Episode

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Daniel King on the Tournament So Far

We are back for with an in-depth breakdown of the first half of the FIDE Candidates. I am honored to be joined by commentator, author, Chessable author and Excellent YouTuber, GM Daniel King to discuss all that has transpired so far. What makes Nepo so good in these tournaments? Does Fabi have another gear? What has surprised Daniel the most? Tune in for this, plus player-by-player analysis. Timestamps of topics discussed below as always! 

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00- Brief big picture thoughts on the tournament

0:05- Nepo! What stands out about his performance?

Mentioned: The Chess Mind’s Blog Post:

https://thechessmind.substack.com/p/candidates-round-7

21:00- Fabiano 

Mentioned: Anthony Levin’s Round 7 Recap:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-7

27:00- Gukesh

Final moments of Firouzja-Gukesh:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c1sxzb/final_moments_of_gukesh_vs_firouzja/

34:00- Firouzja 

38:00- Pragganandha

45:00- Nakamura 

50:00- Vidit

53:00- Abasov 

55:00- Final thoughts on Open Section 

56:00- Women’s sections 

1:01:00- Viewer Q & A- Daniel’s next projects, Genna Sosonko, Collusion 

Mentioned: Daniel’s Anti-Sicilian Chessable Course (forthcoming to New in Chess as a book) , The Essential Sosonko

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Tan Zhongyi Lead after a Dramatic First Half of the Tournament

We are at the halfway point of a wildly entertaining 2024 FIDE Candidates! Ian Nepomniathchi continues to lead the Open Section, while Tan Zhongyi is in front in the Women’s Candidates This is the first part of what will be 2 podcasts discussing the tournament through 7 rounds. In this solo pod, I briefly run through the standings, upcoming pairings and share a few thoughts on the tournament. For part 2 (coming soon to this feed), I will be interviewing GM Daniel King of the Powerplay Chess YouTube Channel. 

Click here to Download the Episode

Links Mentioned:

Live stream of my chat with GM Daniel King Friday at 9AM EDT/1PM GMT on the Powerplay Chess YouTube Chess 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiOR9OnXOEk

(and later to this feed)

Mentioned: 

Final moments of Firouzja-Gukesh:

https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1c1sxzb/final_moments_of_gukesh_vs_firouzja/

Be sure to tune in for tomorrow Candidates interview with GM Daniel King, as well as our regular Tuesday weekly pod. 

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

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

EP 377- NM Dan Heisman and NM Laura Smith. Two Accomplished Trainers on Capturing, Counting, and other Chess Concepts To Know

For this week’s regular edition, (no FIDE Candidates talk) of Perpetual Chess, we are honored to be joined by two highly respected trainers and Chessable Authors. NM Dan Heisman is an engineer, turned author, YouTuber and trainer, who is particularly insightful regarding topics of adult chess improvement. I am a particular fan of his book, A Guide to Chess Improvement: The Best of Novice Nook. NM Laura Smith is a school teacher, chess trainer and former youth champion, who was the highest rated 13 year-old in the United States in 2002. Together, Laura and Dan have just collaborated on a new Chessable course, Can I Take It? A Beginner's Guide to Capturing Pieces. The course is geared toward beginner players and provides a comprehensive guide to an important tactical concept that Dan Heisman calls “counting.” In addition to discussing lessons from the course, we discuss some of the other original chess terms Dan has coined, Laura’s recent return to OTB chess, and upcoming projects for both authors. As always, timestamps of topics discussed are below.

Click here to Download the Episode

0:00-  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

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

Prior interviews with our guests:

Episode 138 with NM Dan Heisman 

Laura Smith on How to Chess 

0:01- How did Laura and Dan decide to collaborate? 

Back to Basics Chess Tactics by Dan Heisman 

5:30- What does Dan mean by the term “counting”? 

Mentioned: GM John Nunn’s Learn Chess Tactics 

10:30- What is the genesis of the term “Reinfeld values”

Mentioned: GM Larry Kaufman, The Evolution of Material Imbalances by IM Larry Kaufman, FM Charles Hertan 

12:30- Dan and Laura on the differences between how adults and kids learn

Mentioned: NM Dan Benjamin, IM Josh Waitzkin, Everyone’s Second Chess Book by NM Dan Heisman 

19:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Dan’s advice for improving visualization? 

Mentioned: Evaluate like a Grandmaster by FM Nate Solon and GM Eugene Perelshteyn 

Chessable’s Visualize Courses 

25:00- Laura’s lessons learned from a recent OTB tournament, her first in years. 

28:00- We discuss some of our favorite books.

Mentioned: Dan’s recommended book page, My recommended book page, Chess Steps books, Interviews mentioned IM Jop de la Marre, NM Han Schut, Chess Steps Walk-Through with Han Schut, 

30:00- Dan and Smith discuss forthcoming books and projects 

Mentioned: Laura Smith’s Forcing Moves for Beginners 

39:00- What is a floobly? 

46:00- Thanks to Dan and Laura for rejoining! Here is how you can reach them:

https://www.danheisman.com/lessons.html

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

Get their course here: https://www.chessable.com/can-i-take-it-a-beginners-guide-to-capturing-pieces/course/174891/

Sub to Dan's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/danheisman

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

Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates First 4 Round Breakdown. Nepo leads (As usual). Plus a Fan's Toronto Trip Report

Denis Markov and Vishy Anand Reminiscing About Their Appearances on Perpetual Chess

The 2024 FIDE Candidates tournament is off and running with some entertaining chess and plenty of surprises. (Although perhaps the identities of the leaders in the Open and Women’s sections aren’t as surprising.) I have been riveted by this tournament and am hoping to provide audio analysis and perspective from different guests on each rest day. In today’s pod, I briefly share my early impressions, than welcome recent guest Denis Markov back to the podcast. Denis had just returned from attending Rounds 1 and 2 in Toronto and described what it was like to attend the event. We went into everything from FIDE’s cheat prevention methods, to what the viewing experience is like within the venue. Whether you are thinking of making a last minute trip to Toronto, or just want to live vicariously through Denis, I think you will enjoy his report of a trip that Denis says he definitely will not regret. We will be back with more coverage of this fantastic tournament on the next rest day, Friday April 12. 

Click here to Download the Episode

00:02 - Introduction and Plan for Perpetual Chess Coverage

02:00- Tournament Standings and Ben’s early Impressions

11:00 -Preview of Round Five Pairings

13:30- Denis Markov joins for a trip report from Toronto  (previously heard on Episode 359)

13:57- Buying Tickets and Ticket Options

15:40- VIP Tickets and Balcony Experience

17:32- What it is like watching the players 

19:50- Player Interactions and Autographs

23:00- The Fan Zone and Chess Personalities

26:47 -Spotting Chess Personalities

31:41-Meeting Gukesh and Viswanathan Anand

33:57-- Comparing the Candidates Tournament with attending the 2016 World Championship Match

36:57- Denis' Final Thoughts 

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

Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon