Perpetual Chess Podcast

As a three-time Chess Olympian representing Chile, GM Mauricio Flores Rios, renowned author of Chess Structures, has fond memories of this timeless, biennial tournament. But these days, he is more interested in the instructive quality of the games than in the races for medals. In our conversation, Mauricio discusses some of the most instructive Olympiad games that he reviewed on his YouTube channel before we pivot to a broader conversation about the Olympiad, chess improvement, the challenges of interviewing chess prodigies, and the evolution of his chess startup, ChessMind AI. Before we say goodbye, Mauricio shares some improvement advice based on his interactions with countless amateur chess players. It’s always fun chatting with Mauricio! 0:00 IntroThanks to our sponsors, Claude.ai/chessCheck out Claude-coded Chris Wainscott’s chess site: guessthemove.net3:30 Mauricio joins and reflects on playing in three Chess OlympiadsCheck out Mauricio’s confusing Olimpbase page here:https://www.olimpbase.org/players/l9dxlxdl.html9:00 How Mauricio finds the most instructive Olympiad games12:30 Favorite games and lessons from the eventCheck out Mauricio’s bullet win over GM Vincent Keymer here:https://lichess.org/sVl59MdM?pov=ChessMindAIThe most interesting game:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3SxghzYRB0&list=PLfOXGLq2wea8&index=13Mauricio’s annotations of Abdusattorov-Caruana:https://chessmind.ai/events/chess-olympiad-2026/game-of-the-day/round-9/Mauricio’s Erdogmus-Oro annotations:https://chessmind.ai/events/chess-olympiad-2026/game-of-the-day/round-10/16:00 What stands out about today’s chess prodigies?18:00 What Mauricio has learned from interviewing top young players22:30 Patreon mailbag question: How does Mauricio differentiate his YouTube channelin a crowded field?  25:30 The evolution of ChessMind AI and what users want most32:30 The challenges of building a chess startup in the AI era47:30 Mauricio’s chess improvement advice and YouTube plans Thanks to Mauricio for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCafpDJknMf7fr1Wlw6jAEMQChessMind AI: https://chessmind.ai Email: mauricio.a.flores.math at gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Adult Improver series returns to spotlight another guest who has benefited from chess and improved significantly at the game. Chess was recommended to Leah Brown as a healthier outlet for a mind that, in Leah’s words, tends to “torture itself.” Leah began playing tournaments less than two years ago and already has a peak rating of over 1600 USCF. In our conversation, Leah shares the training approach that has helped propel these gains, including: A lot of OTB chess with comprehensive review A heavy reliance on books, particularly those by IM Jeremy Silman A painful adjustment to 1. e4 openings that will hopefully provide long-term benefits Leah also highlights the importance of finding a friendly chess community in Massachusetts and shares the story of beating a GM in a simul. Tune in to hear the rest of this inspiring story. 0:00- Intro Links Mentioned:  Perpetual Chess Patreon Spotify Adult Improver Playlist Website Form to be considered as an adult improver guest 1:45 Meet Leah Brown 2:39 How chess became a healthy outlet Mentioned: BIllerica Chess Club https://billericachess.42web.io/?i=3 FM Sandro Safar https://lichess.org/coach/Sandro970 The Real Paul Morphy by FM Charles Hertan 5:08 Finding a welcoming OTB chess community 7:11 Getting serious about improvement 10:28 Jeremy Silman and learning through chess books 15:28 What fueled Leah’s rapid rating gains? 20:42 Lessons learned the hard way and switching to 1. e4 31:38 Rating goals and the ambition to earn a title 35:34 Advice for adult improvers 37:09 The role chess plays in Leah’s life 40:31 Beating a GM in a six-hour simul game  Mentioned: GM Nadia Kosintseva 45:25 Closing Advice for Navigating the Chess Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan Henric Buettner is a German entrepreneur, co-founder of Freestyle Chess alongside Magnus Carlsen, and a candidate for FIDE President. In his business career he has worked in technology, venture capital and hospitality.  In our interview, we discuss: The logistical problems some participants encountered at the Olympiad and Jan’s own experience in Samarkand Why Jan believes chess still has vast untapped potential Whether Freestyle Chess can appeal to a wide audience Whether an outsider can defeat FIDE’s establishment candidate What Jan considers chess’s most undervalued commercial asset We also touch on lessons Jan has learned from his varied business career, the potential threats posed by AI, and why he believes chess is a great game to introduce to the next generation. 🕒 Timestamps 0:00 Intro and Episode 500 housekeeping This podcast is brought to you in part by Claude AI. You can try it out via the link below:  claude.ai/chess3:53 Jan Henric Buettner joins the show4:40 Early logistical problems at the Chess Olympiad9:00 Jan’s business background and what drew him to chess13:40 Building Freestyle Chess and attracting sponsors16:34 Is Freestyle Chess accessible to traditional chess fans?20:25 Jan’s own chess experience22:01 FIDE elections, corruption allegations, and Jan’s chances24:06 Jan’s platform and plans for making FIDE financially independent28:55 Women in chess, cheating, and rating reform34:00 Chess.com’s dominance and the possibility of new competitors35:30 Turning chess players into chess spectators38:00 Why Jan believes the FIDE brand is undervalued39:47 Wadim Rosenstein, Timur Turlov, and the possibility of a split vote40:41 What Jan would do if he loses the election42:09 Could FIDE postpone the election?43:53 Jan’s concerns about AI, venture capital, and the future49:42 Why chess offers an antidote to technology overload Thanks to Jan for joining me! You can learn more about his campaign here: https://janhenricbuettner.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM Thomas Willemze is a popular author, Chessable creator, and trainer who has worked with the Dutch National Youth Team, among countless other students. A data analyst by day, Thomas brings an analytical approach to thinking about the core components of chess improvement. In our conversation, we draw on Thomas's experiences as both a player and coach to tease out practical lessons for improving players. We discuss everything from game review and opening preparation to how to improve your focus while studying and playing. Thomas also shares some book recommendations, reflects on learning chess from the creators of the Steps Method while they were still developing it, and recounts what happened when, at age 40, he gave himself a year to seriously pursue his GM ambitions. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. Free perpetual Chess Discord: https://discord.gg/UpRTQfjQB Free Newsletter: https://benjohnson.substack.com/ 00:00 Introduction to the Interview with Thomas Willems Thanks to our sponsors, Claude AI, check them out at: Claude.AI/chess 02:01 Introduction to IM Thomas Willemze 04:07 The Intersection of Data Science and Chess 07:09 Thomas’ Training and Coaching Philosophy 09:55 The Chess Steps Method and Early Chess Education mentioned : Rob Brunia and IM Cor van Wijgerden 15:36 Addressing Weaknesses and Improving Skills Mentioned: Fundamental Chess Endings, Dvoretsky’s books, GM Yury Averbakh’s books 18:08 Common Pitfalls for Adult Players 20:51 Patreon mailbag question: How can we improve our focus when playing games and studying?  23:55 Defensive Awareness and Identifying Threats 27:00 Patreon mailbag question: Does Thomas see parallels between chess and football/soccer strategy? 28:48 The Balance of Attack and Defense in Chess 30:28 Effective Study Strategies for Ambitious Players 32:07 Reviewing Games: Learning from Mistakes 33:34 The Competitive Landscape of Modern Chess 38:26 Preparing for Upcoming Tournaments 40:05 Choosing an Opening Repertoire 42:01 Current Projects and Future Endeavors 44:08 Chess Content Recommendations and Personal Interests Mentioned: 100 Endgames You Must Know  50:00- Thanks to IM Willemze for joining me. You can reach him via his Chessable author’s page: https://www.chessable.com/author/Willemze/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IM David Vigorito is a three-time state champion, renowned opening theoretician and trainer, and the author of many highly regarded books and Chessable courses. His latest course, 1. e4: The Gold Standard, offers an ambitious, principled repertoire against all of Black’s major responses. In our conversation, we discuss: How David’s process for researching openings has changed as engines have grown increasingly powerful. What adult improvers can learn from David’s own unusual chess journey and the huge rating gains he made in his late teens, 20s, and 30s. Why players should sometimes deliberately play openings and positions that make them uncomfortable. The challenges of finding opportunities to compete while balancing chess with work and family obligations. David also shares a funny story about the unexpected chain of events that followed our first interview in 2019, explains some of the ambitious choices in his new 1. e4 repertoire, and shares his strong opinions on Chess960 and some recent trends in professional chess. It’s always fun to catch up with David, and there is lots of practical chess advice in this one. 0:00 Intro 2:30 David’s new 1. e4 course and how engine-era opening research has changed 6:55 Why David recommends ambitious, principled opening lines 15:15 How much opening theory do amateur players actually need? 20:40 Adult improvement: what helped David make huge rating gains 26:00 The New England chess scene and David’s tournament schedule 31:55 A funny story stemming from David’s first Perpetual Chess interview 38:20 Improving by working on your weaknesses 44:00 Following professional chess and David’s dislike of alternative scoring formats 45:40 Why David has no interest in Chess960 Vigorito-Aagaard 2025 https://www.chesshere.com/master-games/1822045?fen=r1bqk2r%2Fpppp1ppp%2F2n2n2%2F1B2p3%2F1b2P3%2F2N2N2%2FPPPP1PPP%2FR1BQK2R+w+KQkq+-+6+5 50:30 What’s next for David  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Valentin Dragnev is a two-time Austrian national champion and former chess Olympian who has had memorable OTB encounters with GM Magnus Carlsen, Vasyl Ivanchuk, and many other top players. After achieving so much over the board, he has increasingly focused his attention on chess training and a community-focused website he co-founded, Chessivity.com. We discuss: The story behind Valentin’s fast rise up the ranks after a relatively late start to tournament chess. The struggles he has observed that adult students have in developing consistent thought processes. The vision behind Chessivity, a website that aims to connect chess players and help them track and share their chess training. Stories from Valentin’s chess career, including nearly beating Magnus Carlsen and cycling from Austria to Budapest to compete in the Chess Olympiad. This was a very insightful conversation with lots of good stories and practical chess advice. 0:00- Ready to have an AI that can tackle real work? Try Claude Cowork today — Claude.ai/CHESS.  03:05 GM Dragnev’s rise up the ranks Mentioned: The Art of Planning in Chess by GM Neal McDonald https://www.amazon.com/Art-Planning-Chess-Move/dp/071349025X 12:14 Transitioning to Chess as a Career 15:31 Advice for Parents and Young Players 18:29 Coaching Adults vs. Kids 21:52 The Importance of Thought Process in Chess 26:53 The Birth of Chessivity 30:32 Integrating Chessivity with User Accounts Follow Ben here: https://chessivity.com/profile/bennyficial1 31:05 Future Features and User Feedback 33:11 Valentin's Chess Career Highlights 35:05 Playing Against Magnus Carlsen Check out the Sicilian game here: https://lichess.org/broadcast/european-team-championship-open/round-2/kLFgyBxS/QCqXtaGu 38:39 Training and Preparation Strategies 42:10 Working with Top Players 44:46 Balancing Coaching and Competitive Play 47:07 Misconceptions in Chess Improvement 52:22 Valentin tells the story of cycling from Austria to Budapest before competing in the Olympiad 56:03 Thanks to Valentin for joining! Find him on Chessivity: https://chessivity.com/profile/valentin Lichess coaches: https://lichess.org/coach/DrAgnevstein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Adult Improver Series returns to welcome back an accomplished guest. Kyle Boddy is the founder of Driveline Baseball, an influential company that provides training and performance guidance for professional and aspiring baseball players. Despite the demands of running a company and raising a family, Kyle values chess as a hobby and makes plenty of time for it. When I first interviewed Kyle in 2022, he was rated below 1000 USCF, but was working diligently and had a long-term hope of reaching USCF 2000. Four years later, he has stuck with it and made considerable progress, recently reaching a new peak of nearly 1550 USCF. In this follow-up, we discuss: Why he still loves openings, and how studying them deeply has given him a competitive advantage against many higher-rated opponents. How he combines old-school, analog training methods with sophisticated uses of AI and chess technology. The parallels he sees between improving at physical pursuits like baseball and improving at chess. The immense value he gains from being part of a vibrant chess community in the Pacific Northwest. It is inspiring to see Kyle’s continued dedication to chess, and I look forward to following his continued progress in the coming years. 0:00- Intro Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Join the free discord:  https://discord.gg/hN3CJsbGn More on the Adult Improver Series: Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=8fda103624514126 Website: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Check out our sponsor,  Claude Co-work at Claude.ai/chess 04:22 Kyle Boddy joins 06:05 What keeps Kyle playing and improving? 07:36 Switching to 1.e4 and open games Mentioned: Anand-Nunn 1990 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018185 08:43 Why Kyle still loves studying openings 10:45 How Kyle actually studies openings 12:12 Studying games blindfolded 16:00 How Kyle uses AI for chess 18:19 Engines, Maia Chess and practical preparation 20:34 Kyle’s tournament routine 24:19 How he trains tactics 26:48 Building a new opening repertoire 29:42 Daily chess habits 30:49 The importance of a chess community 34:17 Tournament chess in Seattle and beyond 35:20 Aging and adult chess improvement 37:45 Kyle’s path toward 1800-2000 40:11 Improving at endgames 42:50 Understanding vs. memorizing openings 44:35 The Joey Votto chess bet 45:33 Chess’s popularity among pro athletes 47:05 How much Kyle studies chess Can Adults Improve at Chess by NM Todd Bryant https://www.chess.com/article/view/can-adults-improve-at-chess 50:22 Blogging, AI and hiding your prep 52:53 Baseball vs. chess improvement 55:46 Will Kyle still be playing at 50?  56:00- Thanks to Kyle for joining and sharing his inspiring progress- follow his blog here: https://www.kyleboddy.com/blog/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the recent news of his passing, this week we look at the remarkable and wide-ranging chess legacy of FM Bill Goichberg. Among many other distinctions, Bill was the founder of the Continental Chess Association and the creator of the U.S. National Scholastic Championships, and he left an indelible mark on the U.S. chess scene. My guest is chess journalist FM Jon Jacobs, who is working on an independent biography of Bill. Jon grew up in New York and got to know Bill personally as a top young scholastic player, with a young Bill Goichberg directing some of his formative tournaments in Brooklyn. Decades later, Bill sat down for 15 hours’ worth of interviews with Jon, which Jon has been crafting into a book. In our interview, we discuss Bill’s business legacy, chess accomplishments, family life, and much more. Bill changed the course of American chess, and I am grateful to Jon for joining me and fleshing out his life story. 00:00 - Intro and remembering FM Bill Goichberg 0:02- Maurice Ashley tweet regarding Goichberg- https://x.com/MauriceAshley?lang=en06:13 - Jon’s first memories of Bill08:14 - How Bill got started organizing tournaments14:16 - Growing chess in the pre-Fischer era18:21 - Bill’s proudest contributions to US chess22:54 - Continental Chess and its competitors24:39 - How big a business did CCA become?29:50 - Bill’s wife Brenda and their life together35:35 - Bill’s beginnings as a chess player39:48 - How strong was Bill as a player?44:07 - Did Bill ever work outside of chess? Mentioned: CCA and Domainvision.com https://www.chesstour.com/aboutcca.htm47:38 - The Continental Chess business model51:54 - Why Jon is writing Bill’s biography57:01 - Where to follow Jon’s work 1:00:00- Thanks to Jon for coming on, you can follow his Facebook page here-  https://www.facebook.com/p/A-Pawn-Made-Flesh-61568668591626/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Jacob Aagaard is an award-winning author, a renowned trainer who has worked with GMs Sam Shankland, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and many others, and the co-founder of Quality Chess. Despite all of his accomplishments and the many demands on his time, Jacob retains his passion for chess books and chess improvement. He returns to the podcast to discuss: How to actually improve at calculation, including why many club players should spend more time solving simple tactics rather than difficult calculation exercises Some of the key concepts from his excellent new book, A Killer Guide to Attacking Chess How to categorize the mistakes in your games without overcomplicating the process Some of the forthcoming chess books he is most excited about Jacob also teases an exciting new project with GM Garry Kasparov and shares his thoughts on the Olympiad, the FIDE election, and the health of the chess publishing business, among many other topics. There is always so much to learn from Jacob, and I greatly appreciate his generosity with his time. This week’s podcast is brought to you by Chessiverse.com. Be sure to check out their many features, and use code “Perpetual30” to receive a 30% discount on premium offerings and IM John Bartholomew’s Scandinavian Course.  00:00 Introduction  0:02- GM Jacob Aagaard joins 0:08- The Upcoming  Chess books Jacob is most excited about Naroditsky Memorial Box Set Quality Chess Chess Metamorphoss by GM Nikita Vitiugov Grandmaster Training Camp with GM Sam Shankland Unlock Your Chess Creativity by IM Richard Palliser  Winning Chess Tactics by GM Yasser Seirawan The Evans Gambit by IM Andrew Martin 17:00 Jacob’s Writing Workflow and Challenges 21:30 The Role of AI in Chess Writing 30:00 Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob’s new book compare to his Excelling at Chess Series?  33:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob recommend one improve at calculation? 41:00 Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s advice for how to categorize the mistakes you make when reviewing and trying to learn from your games? 43:33 Categorizing Mistakes in Chess 45:00 Recommended Chess Books for Improvement Mentioned: Attack with Mikhail Tal Alekhine’s Best Games Books by GM Larry Christiansen Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 48:00 Working with GM Garry Kasparov on an updated The Great Predecessors Series  57:00  Patreon mailbag question: How is the chess publishing business doing? Does Jacob have any plans of streamlining the digital availability of the New in Chess Magazine archive?  01:10:00 Patreon mailbag question: Jacob’s thoughts on the Chess Olympiad, the FIDE election and Gukesh-Sindarov 1:16:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s motivation for continuing to compete occasionally  01:17:00- What Jacob learns from being an adult improver at guitar  Mentioned: Jake Workman is Jacob’s guitar teacher  01:24:00- Thanks to Jacob for joining the show again! Here is how to keep up his work: Killer Chess Training https://killerchesstraining.com/ Books https://www.newinchess.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?authors=Jacob+Aagaard+Madsen&q=%2A If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Jacob Aagaard is an award-winning author, a renowned trainer who has worked with GMs Sam Shankland, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and many others, and the co-founder of Quality Chess. Despite all of his accomplishments and the many demands on his time, Jacob retains his passion for chess books and chess improvement. He returns to the podcast to discuss: How to actually improve at calculation, including why many club players should spend more time solving simple tactics rather than difficult calculation exercises Some of the key concepts from his excellent new book, A Killer Guide to Attacking Chess How to categorize the mistakes in your games without overcomplicating the process Some of the forthcoming chess books he is most excited about Jacob also teases an exciting new project with GM Garry Kasparov and shares his thoughts on the Olympiad, the FIDE election, and the health of the chess publishing business, among many other topics. There is always so much to learn from Jacob, and I greatly appreciate his generosity with his time. 00:04 Introduction  0:06- The Upcoming  Chess books Jacob is most excited about Naroditsky Memorial Box Set Quality Chess Chess Metamorphoss by GM Nikita Vitiugov Grandmaster Training Camp with GM Sam Shankland Unlock Your Chess Creativity by IM Richard Palliser  Winning Chess Tactics by GM Yasser Seirawan The Evans Gambit by IM Andrew Martin 15:02 Jacob’s Writing Workflow and Challenges 19:25 The Role of AI in Chess Writing 26:58 Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob’s new book compare to his Excelling at Chess Series?  29:30- Patreon mailbag question: How does Jacob recommend one improve at calculation? 38:00 Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s advice for how to categorize the mistakes you make when reviewing and trying to learn from your games? 39:33 Categorizing Mistakes in Chess 41:57 Recommended Chess Books for Improvement Mentioned: Attack with Mikhail Tal Alekhine’s Best Games Books by GM Larry Christiansen Life and Games of Mikhail Tal 43:57 Working with GM Garry Kasparov on an updated The Great Predecessors Series  53:51  Patreon mailbag question: How is the chess publishing business doing? Does Jacob have any plans of streamlining the digital availability of the New in Chess Magazine archive?  01:06:00 Patreon mailbag question: Jacob’s thoughts on the Chess Olympiad, the FIDE election and Gukesh-Sindarov 1:11:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Jacob’s motivation for continuing to compete occasionally  01:12:43- What Jacob learns from being an adult improver at guitar  Mentioned: Jake Workman is Jacob’s guitar teacher  01:20:00- Thanks to Jacob for joining the show again! Here is how to keep up his work: Killer Chess Training https://killerchesstraining.com/ Books https://www.newinchess.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?authors=Jacob+Aagaard+Madsen&q=%2A Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Vasif Durarbayli is a former World Youth Champion and two-time champion of his native Azerbaijan. Now based in St. Louis after graduating from Webster University, Vasif has turned much of his attention to ChessEver, an app designed to make following live chess easier. In our conversation we discuss: •• Why he believes every serious chess player needs a coach, and how not hiring one nearly derailed his own career. • Vasif's outstanding performance at the Naroditsky Memorial blitz, including a near-upset of Hikaru Nakamura. • An unforgettable over-the-board encounter with legendary GM Viktor Korchnoi. • How chess broadcasting can be improved, and his ambitious long-term vision for ChessEver. This was a really enjoyable conversation, and I recommend ChessEver to anyone who enjoys following top-level tournaments. 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - Insights from a top 10 finish at the Naroditsky Memorial blitz tournament Check out Vasif’s Naroditsky Memorial games here: The Nakamura game is game 13, 35. Rxa7! Was mate in 12.  https://lichess.org/study/UoNAiYdm/TehrviPk 03:52 - Playing Korchnoi 05:02 - Playing style: aggressive opening choices and psychological play 06:45 - The influence of legendary players and their aura on Vasif 09:16 - Off-the-board aspects of chess improvement and coaching advice 12:37 - Strategies for handling lost positions and psychological tactics 15:08 - The significance of coaching and Vasif’s past mistakes in self-improvement Vasif’s thoughts on Gukesh’s slump here: https://x.com/durarbayli/status/2079565216413556923 24:52 - The power of strategic preparation stories from chess books Mentioned: The Random Book that Made me a Grandmaster https://durarbayli.com/a-random-book-made-me-a-grandmaster/ The Method in Chess by Josif Dorfman https://www.amazon.com/Method-Chess-Iossif-Dorfman/dp/2957289024 30:00- Why we should not emulate Sindarov’s study approach Mentioned: Fooled by Randomness 39:06 - The journey from competitive chess to creating Chess Ever 44:50 - The vision for Chess Ever: following games, broadcasting, and innovation 53:41 - Monetization plans and future features of Chess Ever 58:51 - How Chess Ever differs from other streaming and follow platforms 61:47 - The future of chess broadcasting, AI commentary, and competition 63:48 - Final thoughts and encouraging feedback from listenersResources: Chess Ever App Road to Mastery by Golovka Static and Dynamic by Dorfman Nasim Taleb - Fooled by Randomness Connect with Vasif Durabayi: LinkedIn Twitter Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

⁠Michael Duke (better known as Mr. Dodgy, or @chessproblem on X) is a Chessable author, the co-founder of Chessfam, and co-host of the Chicken Chess Club podcast. He has built a large online following through his passion for chess and his sharp sense of humor. But behind the jokes, Michael has become more serious about improving his own game. With a FIDE rating just shy of 2100, Michael was frustrated that he consistently performed much better in rapid than in classical chess. In order to change that, he sought out GM Alex Colovic for coaching after trying several instructors. He worked to address the biggest weaknesses in his game, including lazy calculation and overly ambitious opening choices. The work paid off as he defeated a grandmaster for the first time at age 38 and later held GM David Howell to a draw in a rapid game. In our conversation, Michael shares what he learned about improving as an adult, why his rapid results have always been better than his OTB results, and the practical changes that helped close the gap. We also discuss Chessfam, the ambitious new platform he co-founded to make finding and entering chess tournaments easier, as well as his observations from the recent European Chess Union Congress and the upcoming FIDE presidential election. (Please note this interview was recorded before Arkady Dvorkovich withdrew from the race.) As always, timestamps for all topics discussed are below. 00:04 Introduction to Mr. Dodgy  02:51 Chess Improvement Deep Dive and Dodgy’s recent achievements  Mentioned: GM Alex Colovic’s Substack 05:42 Lessons from Grandmaster Alex Colovic GM Alex Colovic- How to Become a Grandmaster https://www.quora.com/How-did-you-become-a-grandmaster/answer/Alex-Colovic?share=55b455d3&srid=hY2IT 08:49 Strengths and Weaknesses in Rapid vs Classical Chess 11:52 Opening Strategies and Learning Approaches GM Alex Colovic’s Suggestions for the Alapin- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6K0YFRN20U 14:38 Daily Practice and Calculation Work 17:49 Patreon Mailbag Question: Can We Expect another Mr. Dodgy Chessable course?  20:33 Recommended Resources for Improvement Mentioned: Improve Your Chess Calculation by GM RB Ramesh, Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams and Philip Hurtado, Perfect Your Chess by GM Volokitin and IM Grabinsky  25:20 Exploring Diverse Thinking in Chess 26:15 Influential Players and Their Styles 27:21 Dodgy's Grandmaster Victory Story 30:19 Chess Party: A Unique Event Experience 35:45 Introducing Chess Fam: A New Chess Platform Mentioned: Sligo International, Maia Chess Festival, Sitges International  39:55 The Business Model Behind Chess Fam 43:54 Navigating New Skills in Chess Fam 48:01 Getting Involved with Chess Fam 48:26 The Need for Chess Tournament Reviews 50:43 Creating a Welcoming Environment for New Players 52:39 The Rise of Casual Chess Events 54:07 Insights from the ECU Congress 55:40 Understanding the Role of the ECU 59:00 The Future of European Chess Mentioned: GM Peter Arnaudov from ModernChess.com, Business Meets Chess & Kids & GM Pontuss Carlsson 01:05:07 FIDE Elections and the Importance of Term Limits Thanks to Mr. Dodgy for joining! Here are links to his stuff: X: https://x.com/ChessProblem Chessable- https://www.chessable.com/courses/s/dodgy/ Chessfam- https://chessfam.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By all accounts, the Naroditsky Memorial was a touching tribute to the legendary streamer, educator and grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. This week I welcome three guests to share their stories from the memorable event in Charlotte. Popular Chessable author and coach FM Dalton Perrine reflects on the lessons and memorable experiences of the tournament. Dalton also shares chess improvement insights from his excellent Chess Chatter newsletter and discusses Chessalyz, the AI-powered chess improvement platform he co-founded. Following Dalton, GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney return to the podcast for an update on the "Chess Rocky" story. They discuss Mike's results after months of training for the event, along with unforgettable stories from the tournament, including their encounter with legendary GM Vasyl Ivanchuk. As always, I enjoyed hearing the stories and lessons from Dalton, Eugene and Mike, and I think listeners will find plenty to learn from their experiences. 00:04 Introduction and Background 01:01 The Narodzki Memorial Tournament Experience 04:01 Learning from Danya's Speedruns Mentioned: Chessbase India- Naroditsky Memorial Coverage https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2unSfeOdoM Chessbase India Interview with Danya’s Mother: Daniel Naroditsky's mother shares heartfelt message to the chess community 06:53 Atmosphere and Community at the Tournament 10:04 Performance and Reflections on Games 13:01 Simplicity in Chess Improvement 16:02 Chessalyze: The AI-Assisted Coaching Platform 22:12 Future of Chessalyze and User Feedback 27:57 Advice for Ambitious Club Players Mentioned: Survive and Thrive: How to Blunder Less and Defend Better https://www.chessable.com/survive-thrive-how-to-blunder-less-and-defend-better/course/80629/ 34:00- Upcoming Tournaments and Projects Thanks to Dalton for joining! Here is how to keep up with him: Chess Chatter Blog Chessalyz.ai DaltonPerrine.com 38:00 GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney join me Mentioned: Ivanchuk is here, GM Steven Zierk Sindarov-Woodward 2026 https://www.chess.com/events/2026-naroditsky-memorial-masters-rapid/03/Sindarov_Javokhir-Woodward_Andy IM Sagar Shah-Mahoney 2026- https://lichess.org/study/IgNM0rNc/ZiaxROGi 48:32 The Pressure of Competition: In-Person Challenges 54:37 Reflections and Future Aspirations 55:00- Thanks to Eugene and Mike for joining! You can keep up with Eugene via his Substack, https://eugeneperel.substack.com/ If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bruce Pandolfini is an American chess legend who has written many popular books, consulted on The Queen's Gambit and numerous other films and television projects featuring chess, and worked with countless future masters, including GM Fabiano Caruana and IM Josh Waitzkin. Bruce rejoined me to reflect on what he has learned from an incredibly varied career in chess, from helping cover the 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Championship for PBS to nearly fifty years as one of America's most influential chess teachers. In our conversation, Bruce discusses the nature of chess talent, what separates students who improve from those who don't, how technology has changed the way chess is taught, and shares memorable stories from his decades as a teacher, author, and film consultant. 00:00 Introduction and Bruce's background 00:23 Bruce's career highlights and teaching philosophy 06:06 Traits of successful chess players 09:10 Adults vs. kids in chess learning Mentioned:  Dream Moves by GM Miron Sher  19:28 Talent and hard work in chess Mentioned: Reveal Your Chess Style by GM Andy Soltis ,  Deadline Grandmaster  24:00- Working on the movies Searching For Bobby Fischer, and Fresh  31:58 The health and future of chess 40:15 Chess legends and historical stories 45:00- Patreon mailbag question: Would Bruce consider revising and updating any of  his books? 48:28 Bruce's involvement in media and films 56:16 Reflections on chess evolution and technology Mentioned: Thinking Sideways, Dark Squares, Bobby Fischer’s Chess Queen, Rebel Queen, The Seventh Seal, From Russia with Love, Casablanca  01:03:14 Advice for chess enthusiasts and closing thoughts If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17-year-old IM-elect Rose Atwell is one of the brightest young stars in American chess. She recently earned her International Master title, tied for first at the National High School Championship, and qualified for the U.S. Women's Olympiad team for the first time. Rose has also built a loyal following on social media by candidly chronicling her tournament experiences. She shares instructive positions and the lessons she learns from both her successes and setbacks. In our conversation we discuss: Her approach to reviewing games and systematically addressing weaknesses How she uses digital flashcards and "mixed tactics" to accelerate improvement Why she believes homeschooling has benefited both her chess and her education The chess advice she would give to her younger self  Rose is an impressive player and a great ambassador for the game. I appreciate her taking the time to join me during a very busy tournament schedule. 00:00 Introduction to Rose Atwell 03:23 Lessons Learned From a Disappointing Recent Tournament 06:24 Reviewing Games and Learning from Mistakes 09:29 Training Routines and Adjustments 12:33 Coaching Dynamics and Study Habits Mentioned:  Rose Atwell interview with GM Mauricio Flores Rios https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w-JQbZUIRs “Class in Session” with WGM Sabina Foisor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6YiEvust3k 15:24 Digital Tools and Flashcards for Improvement 18:23 Balancing Study and Physical Health 21:23 Family Background and Support 24:31 Competitive Mindset and Gender Dynamics in Chess Mentioned: Judit Polgar book trilogy  https://forwardchess.com/product/judit-polgar-how-i-beat-fischers-record 31:32 Upcoming Tournaments and Travel Plans 33:58 Meeting Chess Heroes and Inspirations 36:00 Balancing Chess and Education 39:01 The Future of College and Chess 39:52 Attributing Success and Overcoming Challenges 42:04 Social Media and Sharing Chess Experiences 43:57 Advice to Younger Self and Emotional Resilience 46:05 The Importance of Identity Beyond Chess 49:02 Reading and Maintaining Focus 51:22 Chess Training and Future Goals 57:00 Thanks to Rose for joining me! Here is how to keep up with her: X: https://x.com/atwell_rose?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseatwellchess/?hl=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renowned author and trainer GM R.B. Ramesh is one of the rare coaches who has worked extensively with the world's elite players while still providing practical advice for ambitious amateurs. Long respected as one of chess's leading trainers and authors, Ramesh has helped guide the development of stars such as GMs Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, and Aravindh Chithambaram. As his students continue to reach new heights, Ramesh remains committed to sharing lessons that can benefit players at every level. For that reason, it was exciting news when he recently announced the relaunch of his YouTube channel, where he plans to regularly share free instructional content. In our conversation, we discussed: • What he has learned from coaching elite players• When to focus on calculation versus pattern recognition• The risks of burnout for top young players We also discussed Ramesh's plans for future content, whether he has any new chess book recommendations, and how aspiring players can make the most of their limited study time. There is always so much to learn from GM R.B. Ramesh. Thanks to this week’s sponsors, Chessiverse.com. Use code “Perpetual30” to save 30% on premium offerings, and IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.  0:00 Introduction 2:10 GM Ramesh joins. Why is he relaunching his YouTube channel? 4:50 What Ramesh has learned from coaching elite players like Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram 7:45 Why young players focus too much on openings 10:00 How strong players think: candidate moves, objectivity, and avoiding analytical bias 13:30 Visualization, calculation, and why club players struggle to analyze deeply 16:15 Common problems even elite players face: time trouble, concentration, and handling losses Check out Ramesh’s interview with Praggnandhaa here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU0J3ftM8BQ 21:00 How coaches can help players overcome psychological obstacles 27:00 Patreon mailbag question: Might players like Praggnandhaa and Gukesh be dealing with issues like burnout, and a lack of balance in their lives? Mentioned: https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/right-now-it-s-a-challenge-to-enjoy-chess-gukesh-101781022470045.html 31:30 The dangers of playing too many tournaments 35:15 Long-term burnout concerns for today's generation of prodigies 37:20 Patreon mailbag question: What does Gukesh need to do to regain his best form? 44:45 Does being World Champion create unique psychological pressure? 48:45 Listener question: Pattern recognition vs. calculation 51:00 Analysis vs. calculation: an important distinction 54:10 How adults with only a few hours per week should spend their chess study time 55:30 Future books, Chessable courses, and long-term projects 57:30 What viewers can expect from Ramesh's YouTube channel 1:00:30 Training camps, teaching philosophy, and adapting to students 1:02:30 Why Ramesh stopped reading most chess books 1:04:00 The psychological side of coaching and improvement 1:06:30 Final advice for amateurs and aspiring professionals 1:07:40 Outro Thanks to GM Ramesh for joining me again! Be sure to SUB to his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@RameshRB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can a background as a professional jazz musician help you improve at chess? Matt Rathkey says “yes.”. Matt is this week's guest on The Adult Improver Series. Like many players, he fell back in love with chess during the COVID pandemic and soon found himself playing regularly, watching top-level broadcasts, and solving puzzles. Along the way, he drew upon lessons from years of studying music, particularly the role of pattern recognition, deliberate practice, and improvisation. After years of dedication,  Matt has raised his Chess.com blitz rating from roughly 1200 to over 1900.  Matt also has a fascinating day job. He is a learning designer on Duolingo's chess team, helping build what has quickly become one of the largest entry points into chess in the world. Launched last year, Duolingo Chess now has more than 7 million daily active users, most of whom are new to the game. Matt shares his improvement advice, discusses the parallels between jazz and chess, and reflects on what he has learned about the science of skill acquisition.  This was a fun conversation, and it is encouraging to see so many new players discovering chess through Duolingo. 00:00 Introduction  Join the free Perpetual Chess Discord here: https://discord.gg/7KxjmaTW Sub to my free newsletter here:  https://benjohnson.substack.com/ Join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here: https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess 02:00 Matt Rathkey joins 04:10 The Return to Chess: A Pandemic Story 07:04 Rediscovering Chess: The Queen's Gambit Effect 10:08 Setting Goals: The Journey to 1500 Matt’s USCF rating page: https://ratings.uschess.org/player/13412385 13:09 Learning Through Observation: Active Engagement 16:04 The Importance of Tactics in Chess 18:48 Understanding Openings: Beyond Memorization 21:41 Chess Culture and Personal Growth 24:42 The Future of Chess: Duolingo's Chess Course 34:56 Overcoming Chess Intimidation 36:48 Duolingo Chess: Making Chess Accessible 39:44 Engaging with Oscar: The Duolingo Chess Bot 42:53 Learning Pathways in Duolingo Chess 46:41 Designing Effective Chess Lessons 51:08 Personalized Learning in Chess 53:14 The Intersection of Music and Chess 01:02:06 Advice for Chess Improvement 01:08:24 The Journey of Continuous Improvement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a scholastic player, James Black Jr. was an All-American who won numerous national titles and trophies, both as an individual competitor and as part of the famed IS 318 chess program in Brooklyn, New York, as featured in the documentary Brooklyn Castle. Alongside FM Joshua Colas and IM Justus Williams, James became one of the youngest African-American National Masters in U.S. history. After stepping away from competitive chess for several years, James has recently returned to the game, both as a player and as a coach and mentor. In a full-circle moment, he is now teaching at the same school where he first made his name while also building his own organization, KnightShift. James joins me to discuss: • Why he came back to competitive chess, and his goals for the future • The "four pillars" he emphasizes when teaching young players • How chess training has changed since his rise in the early 2010s, and what he needs to do to catch up Plus, we discuss a unique chess book recommendation, his memories of Webster University, and his reaction to the news that its chess program is coming to an end. This was a fun conversation, and I am excited to see James's comeback unfold. 00:00 Intro+ What brought James back to chess after an OTB hiatus Mentioned: Brooklyn Castle https://www.rescuedmedia.com/brooklyn-castle GM Alex Lenderman, GM-elect Liam Putnam Background info we mentioned: https://grokipedia.com/page/james_black_jr 10:59 Teaching and Learning: Evolving Chess Education Watch James vs. Magnus in 2012 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfbpC3dQWw 17:16 Opening Strategies: Adapting to Modern Chess 23:25 Inspiration from Legends: Shaping a Chess Career 29:28 Beyond the Board: Life Lessons Through Chess 34:36 Reflections on Growth: Embracing the Journey 36:12 Impact of Mentorship in Chess 38:48 Teaching Chess to Young Minds 43:00- Favorite chess book!  Mentioned: WNYC video featuring James as a kid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOVyiR5jUU Knight Moves by Charles Alexander- https://www.ebay.com/itm/126711532470?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOopTKnSuidd7Eg5M3-xYtoYzP97-jcvhVtZSPv1S1T25hE9dzgcXGsU 48:58 Experiences at Webster University Webster terminates chess program: https://www.chess.com/news/view/spice-chess-program-terminated 53:49 Advice for Aspiring Chess Players Thanks to James for sharing his story! You can email him at  JamesBlackChess at gmail dot com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knightshiftofficial_/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GM Simon Williams returns to Perpetual Chess for the first time in several years. Simon is one of chess's most recognizable personalities, known as the Ginger GM through his work as a streamer, commentator, author and Chessable creator. He is also an accomplished tournament player, having shared first in the 2010 London Chess Classic and finished second in the 2004 British Championship. Simon joined me for a wide-ranging conversation covering both chess and life. We discussed: • His candid reflections on becoming involved with a pension company that later collapsed, the mistakes he made, and how he has worked to move forward • His new role helping revitalize Chesspublishing.com, and why he believes its archive of opening analysis remains an underappreciated resource • How modern opening preparation has changed, and why Simon increasingly relies on offbeat ideas to avoid preparation battles • His love of creative, attacking chess and the memorable games he has played at the Reykjavik Open We also discussed the Stonewall Dutch, rising British star Bodhana Sivanandan, the losses of IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins, and even Simon's thoughts on Las Vegas. As always, it was great catching up with Simon, and I am glad to see him creating chess content again.   00:00 The 2026 Reykjavik Open and Simon’s flair for the dramatic chess game  Check out Simon’s epic queen sacrifice in this article by NM Anthony Levin: https://www.chess.com/news/view/2023-reykjavik-open-williams-sacrifices-queen#:~:text=Williams%27%20Brilliancy,he%20played%20the%20interesting%205. 04:45 How Simon has adapted his approach to openings in the engine age  Mentioned: Simon’s game vs. Bodhana Sivanadan https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=3124933 07:35 Playing Against Younger Opponents 10:38 The State of British Chess 13:32 Exploring the Stonewall Dutch Mentioned: Bronstein’s famous blunder-  https://www.chess.com/blog/ThummimS/the-1951-world-chess-championship 16:32 The Impact of Computer Analysis 19:39 Experiences playing against legends at the 2025 European Club Cup 22:26 Simon’s Involvement with Chess Publishing More background info here: https://www.chess.com/news/view/simon-williams-ordered-to-pay-back-900-000-to-pension-scheme 26:30 Innovative Chess Solutions 28:11 Lessons learned from working for a pension firm that went bankrupt.  35:42 Navigating Financial Mistakes 40:17 The Importance of Chess in Life 44:48 Content Creation and Future Projects Keep an eye out for The Ginger and The Bear podcast! 48:54 Remembering IM Adam Hunt and GM Jonathan Hawkins  50:00- How to keep up with GM Simon Williams Suggestions for Chesspublishing.com  https://www.chesspublishing.com/contact X: https://x.com/ginger_gm?lang=en YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/gingergm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Himelfarb is an award-winning editor for the Toronto Star and an avid games player who became fascinated by elite chess during the pandemic. That fascination eventually led to his excellent new book,  Interregnum : Inside the Grueling and Glamourous Battle to Become the Next King of Chess, a detailed and highly readable chronicle of the 2024 FIDE Candidates cycle. Jordan traveled to events including the World Cup, Grand Swiss, Candidates Tournament and World Championship match, gathering revealing first-hand reflections from many of the game’s top players along the way. We discuss: Why the Candidates cycle makes for such compelling sports drama The emotional and physical toll of professional chess Which players and personal stories resonated with him most Ding Liren, Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh and the shifting generational landscape in chess The controversies, chaos and unforgettable moments of the 2024 cycle I recommend Jordan’s book to anyone looking for “bedtime chess reading”, and this was a really fun conversation. 00:00 Project Origins, Jordan’s Chess and Games Background 03:48 The Structure and Narrative of the Book 07:01 Experiences at Major Chess Events 09:54 Challenges and Insights in Reporting 12:46 The Physical and Mental Toll of Chess 15:58 Gender Dynamics in Chess 19:00- Patreon mailbag question: Which Candidates’ story resonated with Jordan the most?  22:16 The Weight of the Crown: Mental Health in Chess 23:40 Compelling Stories of Chess Players 25:30 The Agony and Ecstasy of Chess 30:07 The Relentless Grind of Chess Tournaments 31:09 Drama and Controversy in the Chess World 36:20 Expectations and Surprises in the Candidates Cycle 38:13 The Future of Young Chess Players 39:54 Personal Reflections on Chess 40:00- Thanks to Jordan for joining me, here is where to get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/1639369910 Audiobook: https://www.amazon.com/Interregnum-Inside-Grueling-Glamorous-Battle/dp/B0GCPR89VZ/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices