Perpetual Chess features weekly conversations with the chess world's best players, trainers and accomplished amateurs about their careers, current projects, best practices and the latest in chess news. Learn more at PerpetualChessPod.com
EP 309- Dr. Joel Sneed- An Author and Psychology Professor on How to Regain One's Chess Motivation, Curbing "Blitz Tilt" and How he Made Unusual Rating Gains as an Adult
This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is author, psychology professor and avid chess player, Dr. Joel Sneed. In the professional realm, Joel’s research focuses on the topics of late life depression and cognitive impairment, and he is also a practicing clinical psychologist. Since being introduced to competitive chess by a patient, Joel has also always found time for the game, both as an author and a competitor who has achieved very unusual gains for an adult learner. Joel began tournament chess at age 33 with a 1200 rating, and at age 48 is rated over 2000! Joel thinks that part of the reason for his success has been his emphasis on the psychological side of chess, as discussed in his latest collaboration with GM Boris Gulko, Analyzing the Chess Mind. The book provides both traditional game analysis from GM Gulko as well as more general advice about chess psychology from both the GM and the Professor. It was fascinating to hear Joel’s story and there is lots to learn from his book and from our conversation! Please read on for timestamps and topics discussed.
01:00- Joel tells the story of his starting to discover tournament chess through working with a patient at a psychiatric hospital.
07:00- What has chess taught Joel about himself? Why was he initially attracted to the game?
Mentioned: Episode 300 with GM Ulf Andersson
13:00- Joel hasn’t played a tournament since May, why not?
17:00- Joel discusses how he began to collaborate with his co-author, legendary GM Boris Gulko.
19:00- What advice would Joel give to a hypothetical friend who was having trouble finding the motivation to return to tournament chess?
Mentioned: IM John Watson
25:00- Patreon mailbag question: What advice does Joel give to get into a beneficial mindset before a tournament?
35:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.
Or use this link for the same discount:
https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12
37:00 Patreon mailbag question: What is Joel’s advice for someone prone to bullet chess addiction and tilt?
Mentioned: Episode 216 with Dr. Jana Krivec
50:00- How has studying his own chess tendencies helped Joel away from chess?
57:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
58:00- What chess lessons did Joel learn from the golf book, Golf is not a Game of Perfect?
1:07:00- What were the biggest contributors to Joel’s slow and steady rise from 1200 to 2000 USCF?
1:11:00- What are Joel’s favorite chess books, besides his own Lessons with a Grandmaster collaboration with GM Boris Gulko?
Mentioned: The Giants of Strategy by GM Neil McDonald, How to Reassess Your Chess by IM Jeremy Silman
1:17:00- What is meant by “Ego is a limited resource?”
1:22:00- Thanks so much to Joel for joining me. You can email him at prof.sneed at gmail dot com
Be sure to check out his books with GM Boris Gulko as well:
Analyzing the Chess Mind:
Forward Chess: https://forwardchess.com/sample/analyzing-the-chess-mind
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https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess
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