This week I am joined by longtime friend of the podcast Neal Bruce. Neal, learned chess from scratch at the age of 40, and is immersed in a multi-year chess study plan that currently focuses on studying the games of some of some of chess’ greatest players. As bibliophiles, Neal and I are particularly interested in books featuring legendary games, but one can also study classics through online databases or YouTube serieses. In this podcast, Neal updates us on his study routine, and we rank some of the best “game collection” books we have come across. We also weigh the importance of studying games. Is it an indispensable part of any chess player's routine? Is there a “right way” to study them? What will be next for Neal? It is always inspiring to hear of Neal’s commitment to lifelong learning! Please read on for timestamps of topics discussed and books referenced. 

Neal Bruce’s prior appearances: 

Book Recap #6- Discussing the Woodpecker Method and Rapid Chess Improvement with Neal Bruce . 

Book Recap #11- Discussing Winning Chess Strategies with Neal Bruce 

Episode 240- “Pawn Book Championship”

How to Chess 04- What to Expect when Attending a Chess Tournament with Neal Bruce 

02:00- Why did Neal decide to study a bunch of game collection books? How many games has he played through? 

06:00- Why should one study annotated games? What has doing so taught Neal?

17:00- How should one study games? Digital? Board? Two Physical Boards? 

Mentioned: Chessable, Forward Chess, New in Chess Book Reader 

26:00- What can one expect to gain from going through games? 

28:00- 

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30:00- We review specific books. Starting with ones for newer players 

Mentioned: First Book of Morphy, Logical Chess Move by Move, Masters of the Chessboard, Winning Chess Brilliancies, Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking, The Most Instructive Chess Games Ever Played  (Neal’s highest recommendation) 

39:00- What intermediate level books has Neal reviewed? What struck him about Alekhines games?

Botvinnik’s 100 Selected Games, Understanding Chess Moves by Move, Alekhine’s Chess Games 1902-1946, How I Beat Fischer’s Record by GM Judit Polgar, Karpov’s Strategic Wins by Tibor Karolyi, Karpov Move by Move, Ivanchuk Move by Move

48:00-  Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out all of their latest offerings here: 

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

49:00- How do we approach playing through variations? 

Mentioned: Perpetual Chess YouTube Channel 

53:00- What are Ben’s favorites out of the 32 books that have been reviewed on the podcast?

Mentioned: The Mammoth Book of the World’s Greatest Chess Games, How I Beat Fischer’s Record , Logical Chess Move by Move, Chess Tactics from Scratch 

1:02- What is my favorite chess history book that I have reviewed? 

Mentioned: Book Recap #20- Korchnoi’s Chess is My Life 

1:07:00- What is Neal learning to code at age 53? 

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