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
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EP 331- Adult Improver John Neely (aka Benedictine) on lessons learned and recommendations from a long journey to 1800.
The Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series returns to hear some more reflections from an accomplished chess amateur. This week we are joined by John Neely. John started competitive chess at the age of 36 in 2011 and has had a long road to the ECF equivalent of about 1800. John has put in plenty of hours, both as a student of the game, an OTB competitor, and as a Chessable community author who created the popular series Visualize. In our interview, John reflects on the lessons he has learned in his years of studying chess. John is pleased with his approach in some aspects of his study, but he also thinks he could have done a few things differently. Finally, we discuss John’s new project, as he is taking a break from competitive chess in order to work on a series of mystery novels. You can find timestamps of topics discussed below. 0:00- Be Sure to Sub to the Free Newsletter, The Perpetual Chess Linkfest! https://benjohnson.substack.com/ 0:01- Thanks to recent Perpetual Chess Patreon subs, you can join the community here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess 0:02- My Recommended Chessable Courses Fire on Board GM Niclas Huscenbeth;s 1. E4 Repertoire Benedictine’s Chessable Courses 03:00- John Neely joins the show! He begins by discussing how he got into competitive chess at age 36 in 2011. 12:00- What did John do to improve his game? Mentioned: Dan Heisman’s YouTube channel, ChessTempo Tactics Trainer 16:00- How do team leagues work in Great Britain? 21:30- When John was playing online games as a training method, did he feel like they worked as well as training by playing OTB League games? 26:00- How did John come up with the idea for his Visualize series on Chessable? https://www.chessable.com/visualise-1/course/25695/, Episode 327 with Geert van der Velde 35:00- John shares his approach to analyzing his games Mentioned: How to Batch Analyze Your Games, Blunder Busters 44:00- What would John do differently if starting serious chess all over again? Mentioned: Silman’s Endgame Course, Alekhine’s Best Games of Chess 50:00- How did John get into writing mystery novels? Mentioned: Lavender and Brown: York Mysteries 56:00- What was it like to play GMs like David Howell, Luke McShane, GM Simon Williams and Mickey Adams in simuls? If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP 330- Chess Improvement Q and A with Top Trainer and Author, GM Wojciech Moranda Topics Include: Annotating Games, Improving Positional Chess, and Learning from Playing vs. Learning from Studying
GM Wojciech Moranda is an insightful author, trainer, and one of the top players in Poland. He rejoins Perpetual Chess this week to do a deep dive on all things related to chess improvement. Wojciech answers questions related to memorizing and annotating games, improving at positional chess, the value of playing compared to reading, plus many more questions that can help your game and study routine. In the second half of the interview we expand our conversation to discuss Wojciech’s excellent new book Supreme Chess Understanding, Wojciech discusses his experience coaching IM Levy Rozman, he shares advice for becoming a chess trainer, and of course, shares his thoughts on Nepo-Ding. I always learn a great deal when speaking with Wojciech, and this week’s pod is no exception. You can find timestamps for the many topics discussed below. Wojciech’s Prior Appearance, Episode 203 Universal Chess Training Supreme Chess Understanding 0:00- Check out some of my favorite Chessable courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ Stomp the Stafford Gambit Shankland’s Neo-Catalan 2 03:00- Chess Improvement Q and A begins- Is it worthwhile to memorize complete games as a chess improvement method? Mentioned: Rapid Chess Improvement, Book Recap #6- Woodpecker Method/Rapid Chess Improvement with Neal Bruce 08:00- Is it worthwhile for amateurs to annotate GM games as an improvement method? Mentioned: Zurich 1953, San Luis 2005, The Power of Defence and the Art of Counterattack in 64 Pictures, The Road to Chess Improvement 18:00- Wojciech shares his thoughts on the AI revolution 22:00- How should a 1600 level player with little opening knowledge approach learning them? Mentioned: Everyman Move by Move Series 27:00- Should a lower-rated player study imbalances? (The topic of Wojciech’s new book) 33:00- What method is the most effective for getting better at positional chess? Mentioned: GM Johan Hellsten’s Mastering Chess Strategy (on Amazon) (and on Chessable) 38:00- What are the traits of Wojciech’s most successful students? 45:00- What are the most common mistakes that Wojciech sees students making in different phases of the game? (Openings/Tactics/Endgames) Mentioned: 100 Endgames You Must Know (on Amazon) (and on Chessable) 51:00- Should Dr. Kevin Scull of Chess Journeys stop reading chess books and play more in order to improve? 1:00:00- We discuss Supreme Chess Understanding. How does Wojciech find so many original and creative puzzle positions? Mentioned: Available on Forward Chess, Free Preview of the Book via Thinker’s Publishing 1:08:00- What are the “three types of chess players” when it comes to sacrificing material? Mentioned: Beyond Material (on Amazon) (and on Chessable) 1:12:00- What was it like to coach Gotham Chess? 1:20:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What resources would Wojciech recommend for someone thinking of becoming a chess trainer?” Mentioned: WFM Michalina Rudzińska, Episode 201 with FM Peter Giannatos, Episode 66 with Adam Weissbarth, The Chess Instructor 2009, Chess Training for Budding Champions by IM Jesper Hall, How to Study Chess on Your Own, For Friends and Colleagues by IM Mark Dvoretsky, Thinking Inside the Box by GM Jacob Aagaard , Chess for Educators by Karel van Delft 1:42:00- Wojciech’s World Championship Thoughts Mentioned: Sean Ingle’s story on Nepo’s Missing Sleeping Pill, written for The Guardian 1:47:00- Thanks to Wojciech for joining the pod! You can contact him via his Lichess and his Chess.com Coaches Pages: https://lichess.org/coach/gmmoranda https://www.chess.com/member/gmmoranda If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here. https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP 329- GM Sam Shankland: One of the US’ top Players on How he Improved His Rapid Game and his Endgame Play, His 2023 Tournament Plans and his Advice for Overcoming Setbacks in Chess
This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is one the United States’ top players, GM Sam Shankland. Sam is a two- time Olympic Gold Medalist, the 2018 US Champion, and an acclaimed author and Chessable creator. A dedicated teacher, Sam is also a lead trainer and the co-founder of Killer Chess Training. As a late starter by the standards of a chess professional, Sam is always especially insightful on the topic of chess improvement. In our conversation, we reflect on his own ups and downs in recent years, as well as the common traits of his most successful students. Sam also shares his thoughts on the first half of the World Championship match, discusses what he did to improve at endgames and at rapid chess, and outlines his 2023 tournament schedule. There is always lots to learn from chatting with Sam, and I greatly enjoyed our discussion! Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. Interview Recorded on Monday, April 24, 2023. Prior interview with Sam, Episode 8 0:00- Check out some of my favorite Chessable courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ 02:00- How does Sam follow the World Championship? What were his impressions after Round 11? 09:00- How is Sam feeling about his own chess game at the moment? What is his study routine? Mentioned: Prague Masters, FIDE World Cup 15:00- What inspired Sam’s choice to write the forthcoming book, Theoretical Rook Endings? Mentioned: GM Jacob Aagaard, FM Nate Solon’s blog post, What’s the Point of Studying the Endgame 21:00- What was Sam’s approach to endgames as an up-and-coming player? Mentioned: GM Alex Yermolinsky’s Every Russian School Boy Knows 24:45- Does Sam think he can make another leap forward as he did in 2018? 27:00- Does Sam track the progress of his students? Mentioned: GM Abhimanyu Mishra, IM Shahil Dey 29:00- Sam discusses the explosion of chess learning tools 32:00- Who from the younger generation does Sam think might someday be World Champion? 35:00- Will Sam make it a priority to try to get into the 2023 Candidates? Mentioned: 2021 FIDE World Cup 41:00- What did Sam do to strengthen his rapid game? 41:30- What, in Sam’s opinion, is the best way for adult amateurs to try to improve? 43:30- Does Sam think one should do “Puzzle Rush” type tactics as well? 46:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Should strong amateur players try to find less-explored opening moves to gain an edge on their opponents?” 51:00- What is Sam’’s advice for how to study opening structures? 55:00- How is Sam using engines? 58:00- What is Sam’s advice for overcoming setbacks? 1:04:00- What advice did Sam give IM Levy Rozman when he was mired in an OTB chess slump? 1:08:00- Does the explosive growth of chess affect Sam’s life at all? Should top GMs be jealous of lower rated chess content creators with big followings? 1:14:00- What can we expect in Sam’s new Chessable course on the Neo-Catalan? 1:16:00- Is Sam watching any new TV shows? 1:20:00- Thanks to Sam for joining me! Here are the links to keep up with Sam and his educational material: Chessable courses Books Killer Chess Training Twitter Sam’s Website If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP 328- Ding delivers in dramatic fashion! World Championship wrapup with Dutch National Champion and Top Trainer, GM Erwin L’Ami.
On the heels of a thrilling rapid playoff, I am joined by GM Erwin L’ami to discuss the crowning of GM Ding Liren as the FIDE 17th World Chess Champion. Erwin is a return guest, and a popular Chessable author, who has worked on the team of former FIDE World Champion GM Veselin Topalov, and of GM Anish Giri. In our interview, Erwin shares his impressions of the dramatic playoff, the opening choices, and the psychological ups and downs that both players endured over the course of a long and closely contested match. We also take an early look ahead at the next World Championship cycle and discuss Erwin’s plans for a busy 2023. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. GM Erwin L’Ami’s Prior Appearances: Episode 186 Episode 257 0:00- Check out some of my favorite Chessable courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ 0:04:30- GM Erwin L’Ami joins the pod. We begin by discussing the clinching game in the rapid tiebreak. Mentioned: Kasparov-Topalov 1999 16:00- What did Erwin think of Ding’s opening choices? 23:00- What about Nepo’s propensity to move too quickly at times? 30:00- Were they playing at a higher level in the rapid than the classical? 32:00- Patreon mailbag question: As a high level trainer, what would Erwin do to try to help coach his player to avoid some of the psychological pitfalls on display in the Ding-Nepo match? 38:00- Should they change the format of the press conferences? 40:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Erwin think that Ding caused Nepo’s difficulties in game 12 or was it the pressure of the moment? 47:00- What does Erwin think of the format of the match, and of the existence of the Rapid playoff in particular? 54:00- Early discussion of the next Candidates/World Championship cycle. Will Magnus return? 1:03:00- What are Erwin’s plans for the rest of 2023? Mentioned: Norway Chess 2023, TePE Seigman 2023 in Malmo, Sweden If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bonus Pod- Tied with just one classical game to go! GM Alex Lenderman helps break down the Blunders and the Bouncebacks of this Fascinating FIDE World Championship
0:00- Check out some of my favorite Chessable courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ Check out what’s new from Chessable here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 01:30- Ben goes over some programming notes and does a quick rundown of recent games 05:30- GM Alex Lenderman joins the pod! We begin by discussing how to recover from difficult losses, a recurring theme in this match. Mentioned: Video of Ding and Rapport walking to the hotel elevator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvtdAgLW1xo 17:00- Openings- Will the unusual opening choices continue? Mentioned: Naroditsky-Lenderman 2023 17:00- Openings- Will the unusual opening choices continue? Mentioned: Naroditsky-Lenderman 2023 23:30- What openings might we see in Game 14? 25:00- Is one player a favorite if it goes to rapid tiebreak? Is it possible nervousness might subside for the players in a rapid tiebreak? 29:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Alex have any advice for players who misevaluate positions and thus misplay positions as a result?” Mentioned: Analyzing the Chess Mind by Dr. Joel Sneed and GM Boris Gulko 37:00- What advice would Alex have given Nepo coming into today if he were on his team? 46:00- Does Alex have trouble sleeping during tournaments? Might that be a factor again for Nepo? 53:00- Chess improvement talk- Why does Alex disagree with IM Andras Toth’s recent statement that he doesn’t believe anyone suffers from a problem of calculating too much? Mentioned: ChessDojo interview with GM Avetik Grigoryan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JVfoM6kkaVw&t=83s 1:01:00- Alex recommends a chess book! Mentioned: The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, also on Chessable, Book Recap #14 discussing The Seven Deadly Chess Sins 1:07:00- Final thoughts on the match and goodbye! You can email Alex at: Alexlenderman33 at hotmail.com Here is his Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076504712336 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP 327- Geert van der Velde, CEO of Chessable, on the Chess.com Merger, “Chessable 3.0,” Including the Courses and Improvements Chessable Users Can Expect this Year
Recorded in Washington Square in New York City on April 8, 2023. This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is the CEO of Chessable, Geert van der Velde. As longtime listeners know, Geert is a former rock star, devoted chess improver, dad, and avid runner. We recorded on location from the “chess tables” at Washington Square Park on April 8, 2023, in NYC, where Geert was visiting. In our interview, we discussed Geert’s “visitor’s perspective” on the iconic chess tournaments in Reykjavik and Wijk an Zee, forthcoming Chessable courses, the many user interface upgrades that are coming for Chessable, and the impact of Chessable’s recent merger with Chess.com. We also discussed Geert’s own chess game. As a bonus, we were briefly visited by National Master Han Schut, Chessable Author, who was in New York playing a tournament. As always, links and topics of timestamps discussed can be found below. Geert's Prior Appearance- Episode 161 0:00- Check out some of my favorite Chessable courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ 0:02- Introduction: Geert’s recent travels to NYC, filming content with Gotham Chess 0:08- Geert shares a quick trip report on the Reykjavik Open, which he attended in a non-playing capacity. 14:30- Geert discusses the transition in the wake of the acquisition of Chessable by Chess.com 22:00- How will Chessable’s focus shift with multiple courses on all of the major openings now available? Mentioned: How to Chess Podcast, IM Alex Banzea, IM Christof Sielecki 27:00- Is there still room for non-titled community members to create Chessable courses? Mentioned: The Checkmate Patterns Manual 29:00- How does Geert respond to critics who say that Chessable opening courses are too voluminous? 33:00- What is Chessable 3.0? What upgrades is Chessable planning? Mentioned: Email Chessable at hello at Chessable.com 43:00- Geert’s own chess study and play: What was it like to play in an amateur section of Wijk an Zee? 48:00- Special guest, Chessable Author, and Chess Steps Trainer, NM Han Schut joins the interview! Mentioned: Benji Portheault’s Blog, Han’s Forthcoming Course is on The Milner Barry Gambit Geert Van Der Velde Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bonus Pod - World Championship Round 9 Update- Dramatic Games, Leaked Prep and Chess Improvement Takeaways for Amateur Players with IM Andras Toth
We are back with another "bonus pod" discussing the unpredictable and riveting World Championship Match between GM Ian Nepomniatchtchi and Ding Liren. After Round 9, Nepo clings to a one game lead as they head into a rest day Saturday. To discuss this eventful match, I am joined by return guest, the popular YouTuber, Twitch Streamer and Chessable Author, IM Andras Toth. Andras is especially insightful when it comes to helping amateur chess players, so I thought he was the perfect person to discuss all of the drama of the match, as well as what we can lessons we can learn for our own games. You can find timestamps of topics discussed below. 0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable. Check out IM Andras' Toth's excellent courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/ChesscoachAndras/ Check out some of my favorite Chessable courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ 2:00- Big picture - What has made this match so compelling? 14:30- Patreon mailbag question- what does Andras think of the approach the players have taken to opening prep 20- Patreon mailbag question why haven’t we seen a Sicilian or a Kings Indian Attack? 24- We discuss the “leaked prep” via anonymous Lichess accounts that were playing several opening lines that subsequently appeared in the match- More info here 30- What are the chess improvement lessons to be taken from the match so far? 1:04- Closing thoughts on the match Thanks to Andras for joining again, be sure to sub to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChessCoachAndras/videos If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 326- Popular YouTuber and Streamer WGM Dina Belenkaya on Lessons Learned from Recent Tournaments, Twitch Streaming OTB Games and her Content and Chess Goals for 2023
This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is the ever popular Commentator, Streamer, YouTuber and traveling chess professional, WGM Dina Belenkaya. Dina is a 4 time Women's champion of St. Petersburg, which is no small feat given her native city's rich chess legacy. These days, Dina is based in France, represents Israel internationally, and competes frequently in various locations. Dina joined me shortly after returning home from the Reykjavik Open, an annual open tournament which is always popular among professionals and amateurs alike. This year several streamers competed and streamed their games, including Dina, Alexandra Botez, Eric Rosen and Simon Williams. In our interview, Dina discusses her recent tournaments, her study regimen, and how she balances streaming, content creation and her competitive chess goals. We also discuss her “chess upbringing” including her study tips and learning methods,and her childhood interactions with GM Anish Giri who was an early chess student of her mother’s. You can find timestamps for all of the topics discussed below. Professional Chess Player (4 time St. Petersburg Women’s CHampion) Commentator, and This episode was recorded live on April 7 on Dina’s Twitch stream (before the World Championship started) 02:00- Reykjavik Open- trip report. How did Dina decide to attend and compete along with other streamers such as Alexandra Botez, Eric Rose, Anna Cramling and Simon Williams? Mentioned: Charlotte Chess Center and Scholastic Academy, Johnson-Belenkaya, Belenkaya-Gajewski 2023, Dina’s YouTube 26:00- What has changed since Dina switched from representing Russia to Israel? 30:00- Who is Dina’s secret chess trainer? What advice does he give her? Mentioned: GM Brendan Jacobsen, The GM Ran Away From Me 36:00- What will Dina do to work on her chess? Does Puzzle Rush help her calculation abilities? Mentioned: Puzzle Rush 42:00- What was Dina’s chess upbringing like in the chess mecca of St. Petersburg? Mentioned: IM Andrey Praslov, Asya Kovalyova (Dina’s Mother), Anish Giri, Endgame Studies 101 50:00- Does Dina remember GM Anish Giri as a kid in St. Petersburg? 1:01:00- What are Dina’s 2023 Chess and Content plans? 1:05:00- Does Dina get nervous when playing OTB games on stream? 1:07:00- Dina trash talks my chess skills (mildly) 1:11:00- If DIna had children would she encourage them to play chess? 1:12:00- Does Dina have a favorite chess “destination” tournament? Mentioned: Reykjavik Open, Sunway Sitges Open 1:14:00- Thanks to Dina for joining the show! Check out her YouTube channel here: Dina’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/thebelenkaya Dina’s Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/thebelenkaya Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinabelenkaya/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/DinaBelenkaya If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bonus Pod- Ding Deadlocks the World Championship Match after 4 games, with FM Mike Klein of Chess.com
An ongoing World Championship match means more bonus coverage from Perpetual Chess! I am joined by FM Mike Klein from on-site in Astana, Kazakhstan. Mike and I chat about the surprising turns that have taken place in a match that has already seen 2 decisive results in 4 games, as GM Ding Liren looks to have overcome a rocky start. In addition to discussing the openings, Mike shares details about what the venue is like and how it compares to the other World Championships he has attended. You can find brief notes and timestamps below. 02:00- What is the venue like, are there lots of fans there? Which chess personalities are at the match? 10:00- Ding’s mindset- has he turned the tides in the match after a slow start? 18:00- We have seen a different opening in all 4 games, will we start to see some variety? 23:00- How does Astana compare to Dubai and the other World Championships Mike has attended? 28:00- Thanks to Mike Klein for joining me! Follow him on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ChessMike?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 325- Adult Improver Chris Duncan on the Popularity of Chess in the Military and the Connective Power of the Game to bring Cultures Together
The Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series returns to spotlight another amateur from the chess community. This week’s guest is Chris Duncan. Chris is a 24 year old Army logistician and Psychology Graduate Student who shares a powerful story of the power of chess to bridge cultural gaps.In our interview, we discuss Chris’ background and “on/off” relationship with chess, but we primarily focus on the way that chess became a welcome distraction from the stresses of being stationed abroad in 2022. As Chris explains, a shared interest in chess amongst many military members culminated in a memorable chess tournament that brought together US and Polish military members. Chris also discusses some of his favorite chess learning resources, and the role that he hopes chess will play in his life in future years and decades. I really enjoyed hearing Chris’ unique story and thank him for sharing it with us. Timestamps for topics discussed and relevant links can be found below. 0:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com. You can check out some of my favorite Chessable courses for different rating levels here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ Sign up for Patreon here https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess To be considered as an Adult Improver Guest, please fill out this form here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Adult Improver Webpage: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Adult Improver Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=d3cb77595b0049e7 0:03:00- What was Chris’ introduction to chess, and how did he get back into it? 0:05:00- What is the chess scene like within the US Armed War Forces? 10:00- What did Chris do to work on his game? Mentioned: Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, Seirawan Winning Chess Series, The Seirawan series is also available on Chessable, Episode 303 with Kyle Boddy 14:00- Chris tells the remarkable story of how he and other members of the US Armed Forces got to play a tournament with members of the Polish military while stationed there. 28:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does chess improve Chris’ graduate school studies in psychology? Mentioned: Logical Chess Move by Move 31:00- Would Chris ever try an OTB tournament? 35:00- How does Chris approach following chess content that is a bit complex for his chess level? Mentioned: St. Louis Chess Club YouTube Channel 40:00- Thanks again to Chris for coming on to the podcast, and for his service in the US Military. If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 324- IM Levy Rozman/Gotham Chess on Surpassing 3 Million YouTube Subs, Retiring from OTB, his DMs with Magnus, and his Future Plans
We are honored to be joined this week by the most popular chess content creator in the world, IM Levy Rozman aka Gotham Chess. Levy is a previous guest, and we are glad that he could take a break from his busy schedule to reflect on another year of explosive growth in his content. His YouTube channel recently passed 3 million subs, and Levy’s TikTok account went from 0 to 1 million+ followers in about 3 months! In our interview, Levy takes us behind the scenes of the work that goes into the growth, and speculates about what type of chess fans might be driving the latest surge in popularity. It has been almost 2 years since my last interview with Levy, so there are many other topics to catch up on, including the FIDE World Championship, his retirement from OTB chess, his new Chessable course and forthcoming book, and much more. It is always entertaining and enlightening to hear Levy reflect on chess and on his success! Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Perpetual Chess Linkfest 0:00- You can check out some of my favorite Chessable courses for different rating levels here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ Sign up for the Perpetual Chess Linkfest- https://benjohnson.substack.com/ Prior Levy appearances: Episode 233 (YouTube) Episode 180 (YouTube) 0:02: How much does Levy know about his audience? 0:08- What drives him to keep trying to grow his channel? 0:16:00- Does Levy think this recent growth is propelled by high school kids? 21:00- Does Levy still do his own editing? Who else helps him? 27:00- Has Levy interacted with Magnus one-on-one? 33:00- Levy’s thoughts on the Ding-Nepo World Championship 40:00- How does Levy reflect on his abandoned pursuit of the GM title? 47:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Levy’s advice to a parent who may be trying to encourage a scholastic player to stick with tournament chess? 56:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Does Levy still have opening novelties he keeps to himself?” 58:00- What lines does Levy recommend in his new Chessable course? What rating range does it target? 1:04:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What differentiates Levy’s course from other Chessable 1. E4 courses?” 1:07:00- How did Levy’s visit to YouTube headquarters come about? 1:12:00- Has Levy’s daily life in New York changed much since our 2021 interview? 1:13:00- Life as a dog dad 1:15:00- Levy discusses his upcoming book, How to Win at Chess. 1:17:00- Levy’s 2023 plans 1:19:00- Thanks again to Levy for catching up with us! You should check out his YouTube channel! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 323- Ding-Nepo World Championship Match Preview Double Episode- GM Daniel King on the Players and Historical Context, NM Matt Jensen on the Match Analytics. Also Discussed: Rating Deflation, The Sicilian Defense, and Chess Improvement
With the 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship less than 2 weeks away, we bring you a double episode dissecting the match between GM Ian Nepomniatchtchi and GM Ding Liren. Since we feature 2 knowledgeable guests, we also discuss topics ranging from chess improvement, to the Sicilian defense, to online rating deflation. First up is popular YouTuber, commentator, author and Chessable Author, GM Daniel King. Daniel has attended multiple World Championships and was able to provide helpful context on a match that many feel ambivalent about given the historical and geopolitical circumstances. Despite many valid reservations, Daniel points out that this is an extremely compelling chess matchup between the #2 and #3 players in the world. Daniel also discusses his new Chessable course, King’s Anti-Sicilians, recalls the first Kasparov-Karpov match, and shares some reflections on what his passion for guitar and bass has taught him about chess improvement. Guest #2 (1:22:00) is NM Matt Jensen, a statistician and the co-founder of the chess education site, Chessgoals.com. Matt gives us a look at the analytics of the match. Who do his mathematical projections favor? How likely is a tiebreak? Who would be favored in a tiebreak? Matt has done extensive research on ratings comparisons across chess sites, and with Chessgoals, designs study plans for different level players, so we also talk some chess improvement and chess books. As always, timestamps for all of the topics discussed with both guests can be found below. 0:00- You can check out some of my favorite Chessable courses for different rating levels here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ 01:00- Basic facts on the match including venue, time control, dates from Ben 06:00- GM Daniel King joins the show. We begin by discussing the Ding-Nepo match. 22:00- Should Nepo be allowed to play in a World Championship, given his past ties with the Russian government? Mentioned: Nepomniatchtchi Signed Open Letter to Putin by Peter Doggers 28:00-Patreon Mailbag Question: “What does Daniel think of the possibility of selecting Openings for the World Championship in order to limit draws”? 39:00- How does Daniel compare the modern era to prior eras during which the highest rated player was not the undisputed champion, such as with Kasparov in the 1990s? 44:00- Daniel's thoughts on the Carlsen-Niemann scandal Mentioned: Professor David Franklin on the Hans Niemann Lawsuit 50:00- Daniel's recommendations against the Rossolimo and Alapin Mentioned: Episode 315 with World Correspondence Champion, Dr. Jon Edwards, King’s Kalashnikov Sicilian 1:05:00- Daniel shares his memories of attending the 1985 Kasparov-Karpov World Championship match, and he talks about a memorable game he played against Mikhail Tal. Mentioned: GM Jon Tisdall, IM David Goodman, King-Tal 1985, How to Win at Chess by GM Daniel King 1:13:00- What has playing music taught Daniel about Chess Improvement? 1:21:00- Thanks, as always to GM Daniel King for joining me! Check out his Chessable courses here: https://www.chessable.com/author/DanielKing/ Subscribe to Power Play Chess here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBATpFb--uLNAODOVWvCTA 1:22:00- NM Matt Jensen joins the show, and we dive into what his predictive model says about the Ding-Nepo match, including the odds of a tiebreak, and who would be favored in the tiebreaks? 1:36:00- Has Matt seen ratings deflation on Lichess and Chess.com? Mentioned: Episode 249 with Dr. Mark Glickman, Chessgoals’ Rating Comparison Data here 1:43:00- What does Matt’s research reveal about how best to study chess? 1:46:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “Has Matt’s thinking on the best study plans evolved as he has worked with more students? 1:49:00- Matt’s favorite Chess Books Mentioned: Yusupov Build Up Your Chess Series, Reassess Your Chess by IM Jeremy Silman, Silman’s Endgame Course 1:53:00- Thanks to Matt for sharing his insights! Check out his study plans at Chessgoals.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 322- IM Willy Hendriks- The Groundbreaking Author and Trainer Discusses his Chess Improvement Philosophy and Discusses What is Often Misunderstood about the First World Championship Match Between Steinitz and Zukertort
IM Willy Hendriks is a Netherlands based chess trainer, and an author of three books: Move First Think Later ( 2012 ECF Book of the Year), On the Origin of Good Moves, and his new book, Ink War: Romanticism vs. Modernity in Chess. Ink War is an entertaining and informative look at the first World Championship Match between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort. As we discuss the two players had some common biographical traits, but were bitter rivals away from the board. Willy explains why the job of a chess professional was harder in those days, and shares some common misconceptions about the contributions that each player made to the advancement of chess. Since Willy is an accomplished player, trainer and improver, we also discuss Willy’s chess improvement philosophy, his own OTB game, and a few of his favorite chess books. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 0:00- Thanks to our presenting Chess Education sponsor, Chessable! You can check out their new courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ Info on GM Daniel King’s upcoming March 24 Masterclass here: https://www.chessable.com/using-the-outpost-masterclass/course/156548/ Episode 182 - IM Willy Hendriks’ Prior Appearance 3:00- How is Willy’s OTB game progressing? 06:30- Does Willy have an overall chess improvement philosophy? 16:30- What gave IM Hendriks the idea to write about the Steinitz-Zukertort Match? 21:00- Patreon Mailbag Question- What led to Zukertort’s 2nd half collapse in the match against Steinitz, and what is Zukertort’s chess legacy? 28:00- Why does Willy think that the writings of Lasker, Euwe and Reti led to a misinterpretation of chess history? Mentioned: Masters of the Chessboard, Lasker’s Manual of Chess 33:00- Where does the title The Ink War come from? 41:00- Did the famous game, Grimshaw-Steinitz actually occur or was it made up? Mentioned: Grimshaw-Steinitz https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1718604 46:00- Patreon Mailbag Question- Does Willy know what his next book project will be? 50:00- What Chess Books were influential for Willy? Tarrasch’s 300 Games, Nunn’s Secrets of Practical Chess, Pawn Power in Chess, Kotov’s Think Like a Grandmaster 53:00- Does Willy have favorite players or personal favorite games? 57:00- Patreon Mailbag Question- When Willy evaluates a position does he consciously count material? Mentioned: Move First Think Later 1:04:00- As someone who has just written about the first World Championship, what does Willy think of the potential phasing out of the Classical World Championship tradition? Mentioned: Episode 319 with Dr. Howard Burton Thanks to IM Hendriks for joining us! Links for his books are here: New in Chess: https://www.newinchess.com/the-ink-war Free Sample Here- https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9134.pdf Move First Think Later On the Origin of Good Moves If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here: Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 321- GM Cristian Chirila on Past and Upcoming World Championship Matches, his OTB game, and the Growth of the C Squared Podcast
This week on Perpetual Chess we catch up with GM Cristian Chirila. A former Romanian youth champion, GM Chirila is now based in Missouri and has many roles in the chess world including commentator for the Grand Chess Tour, coach of the St. Louis University Chess Team, and co-host, with GM Fabiano Caruana, of the C-Squared podcast. On C Squared, GM’s Chirila and Caruana are often joined by prominent guests to discuss top-level chess news. The podcast is highlighted by its excellent production and has quickly found a large audience. In our interview, we discuss the origins of and future plans for C Squared. We also touch on World Championships, past and present, Cristian’s OTB game and lots more. We also briefly talk about the sexual assault allegations against GM Alejandro Ramirez although, to hear Cristian and Fabiano’s full thoughts, one should listen to the latest episode of C Squared. The notes to topics discussed can be found below. Episode recorded February 28, 2023 0:00- Brief addendum regarding the allegations against GM Alejandro Ramirez (Recorded March 9, 2023) 04:00- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com! Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/#!/new 05:00- Cristian joins! What lessons has Cristian learned from launching the C Squared Podcast? Mentioned: Episode 47 with GM Cristian Chirila 15:00- Patreon mailbag question:” Do Chirila and Caruana have a long-term vision for C Squared?” Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon 18:00- Is Cristian surprised by how forthcoming Fabiano has been on the podcast? 20:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Cristian worry that professionally collaborating with Fabiano could impact their friendship? 24:00- Cristian discusses C-Squared’s plans for the World Championship and his own thoughts on the Ding-Nepo match 29:00- Cristian discusses his experience of working as one of Fabiano’s seconds during the World Championship match. 34:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Were there moments in the 2018 World Championship where Cristian thought Fabiano would take the lead in the match?” 41:00- What was your day-to-day life like as a second during the match in London? 46:00- Patreon mailbag question:” Does Cristian think we will continue to see Rapid and Blitz elevated over classical chess?” 51:00- Cristian discusses his recent OTB tournament and upcoming plans. 57:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What is Cristian’s role as head coach of the University of Missouri?” 1:03:00- We discuss the allegations against GM Alejandro Ramirez (recorded February 28) 1:08:00- Cristian discusses his upcoming tournament plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
EP 320- Adult Improver Ben Hunt of “Chess Boot Camp" YouTube Channel on going from 0-1500, “The Goldfish Method” and Transitioning to OTB Chess
This month, The Adult Improver Series welcomes Ben Hunt of the Chess Boot Camp YouTube Channel. Through his channel and a Chess.com forum, Ben has built a community around helping players rated 500-1200 improve. Ben started pursuing chess seriously in 2019 and shares tons of helpful reflections including his favorite content creators, the challenges of transitioning to OTB, and what he has learned from creating a YouTube channel geared towards fellow chess amateurs. Ben’s enthusiasm for chess is contagious, and I really enjoyed hearing his perspective. 0:00- Thanks to recent Patreon subs, if you would like to join the community you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Sub to the Perpetual Chess linkfest here: https://benjohnson.substack.com/ 02:00- Ben got very interested very quickly in chess in 2019- what precipitated that? Mentioned: Chess.com Lessons 07:00- Who are Ben’s favorite chess content creators? Mentioned: Ginger GM, IM Alex Banzea, GM Daniel Naroditsky, St. Louis Chess Club, Jonathan Schrantz, IM John Bartholomew 10:00-Patreon mailbag question: “What is the goldfish method?” Why does Ben sometimes struggle to implement it?” Mentioned: Ben’s Goldfish Method Video, Move First Think Later, Chess Steps Method 17:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/ 18:30- What has it been like for Ben to try out OTB play in the UK? 23:00- Ben discusses his opening repertoire a bit as we discuss whether openings are overemphasized for club players. Mentioned: IM Andras’ Toth’s The Beginners 1. D4 Repertoire, SImon Williams’ The British Grand Prix, The Dvoretsky Endgame Manual, Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, 100 Endgames You Must Know 34:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What advice does Ben give to those who are struggling translating increased knowledge to an OTB performance above the 1000 level?” 42:00- What is Ben’s tactics regimen? Mentioned: Chessbootcamp.club, The Woodpecker Method, Book Recap #6: The Woodpecker Method 50:00- 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 51:00- What kind of material does Ben present on his YouTube channel? 55:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What are Ben’s chess goals?” 1:01:00- Patreon mailbag question: “When you are showing a tactical puzzle, how important is it to show the moves that preceded the puzzle?” 1:05:00- What are Ben’s interests outside of chess? 1:07:00- As we say our goodbyes, Ben gives 3 tips for getting to 1000. Thanks to Ben for joining! Here is how to keep up with him: Chess.com profile https://www.chess.com/member/benhunt72 Chess Bootcamp YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/ChessBootCamp Chess Bootcamp Live https://chessbootcamp.club/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices