Cody Smith is a 31 year old Alabama- Twitch streamer, and chess instructor. 

Cody started serious chess at age 24 and has seen a slow and steady climb over the years to a Lichess blitz rating of about 2050 and about 2150 Rapid. Cody is self-taught, using free online resources and has barely ever cracked a chess book!  He recently has tried out OTB tournaments, and offers lots of useful reflections and advice for anyone interested in making a similar transition. Cody also offers lots of tips about how to get the most out of game review, and shares his approach to studying openings, tactics, and many other phases of the game. Please read on for many more details, timestamps, and any relevant links. 

Check out the rest of the Adult Improver series here

Or on this Spotify Playlist

0:00- Are you interested in appearing on Perpetual Chess as an adult Improver? Please fill out this form so that I can keep it for future reference: Potential Adult Improver Guest 

02:00- Cody’s chess beginnings 

Mentioned: GM Simon Williams YouTube, IM John Bartholomew’s Climbing the Rating Ladder, NM ChessNetwork’s Beginner to Chess Master, GM Ben Finegold, IM Levy Rozman, GM Daniel Naroditsky’s Speed Run 

09:00- Why didn’t Cody play much speed chess in his early chess days? 

12:00- Cody discusses his approach to engine game review. 

21:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess collects and analyzes your games and gives you actionable tips based on the data it gathers. Check the site out, and if you choose to subscribe, please use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%. 

24:30- Has Cody hit any major rating plateaus?  

26:00- How many hours a day does Cody spend on his chess?

28:00- Cody has recently begun playing an OTB live league in Alabama. What can he share about that experience? Was he nervous?

40:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest offerings here. 

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels - Chessable.com

41:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Cody’s approach to learning from videos?”

45:00- What is Cody’s approach to learning about openings? 

Mentioned: My blog can be read on Chess.com or LiChess 

50:00- Chesskid offers a safe environment for kids to learn chess, and provides opportunities to play against other kids and bots, watch instructive videos and lessons, do puzzles, and join clubs where coaches can run tournaments. 

You can receive a discount when you sign up or upgrade your child or students to a gold membership by using this link: https://www.chesskid.com/membership/promo/perpetual

CHESSKID CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS-

1. Play the Anand bot here, he’s the avatar on the bottom right 
2. If you win, draw, or last at least 40 moves, email the game or your Chesskid screenname to support@chesskid.com (with subject line Perpetual Chess)
3. The first 3 winners receive a free 1 yr gold membership both for themselves and 1 kid 

54:30- Patreon mailbag question: “What does Cody think about the issue of Twitch streamers and their followers potentially forming ‘parasocial relationships.’ ”

Mentioned: GM Ben Finegold 

1:01:00- What is Cody’s advice for getting into Twitch streaming? 

1:05:00- Cody has also gotten into scrabble, shogi, and go, how does learning these games compare to chess? 

Mentioned: Episode 263 with Oliver Roeder, GM Mathew Sadler, GM Peter Heine Nielsen

1:11:00- Thanks so much to Cody for sharing his tips and his story. 

Follow CLSmith15 on his Twitch channel here. 

Follow him on Twitter here. 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices