Perpetual Chess Podcast

By: Ben Johnson
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  • Summary

  • 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
    2023 Perpetual Chess LLC
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Episodes
  • EP 402- GM Axel Smith on Draw Offers, Managing the Clock, and the Return of the Woodpecker Method.

    EP 402- GM Axel Smith on Draw Offers, Managing the Clock, and the Return of the Woodpecker Method.
    Oct 1 2024
    This week’s returning guest is the renowned author, Chessable author and trainer, GM Axel Smith. Axel, of course is best known for the groundbreaking tactics manual, The Woodpecker Method, and is finally releasing its much-anticipated sequel, The Woodpecker Method 2: Positional Play. While the first Woodpecker volume focused on tactics, this one helps readers learn critical positional patterns. In our conversation, we discuss the challenges of and logistics behind selecting over 1000 positional puzzles. We also have a wide-ranging discussion about Axel’s latest thoughts about chess improvement, a topic he has covered in excellent books like Pump Up Your Rating and Street Smart Chess. We touch on how Axel’s chess goals have evolved now that he has a family, his advice regarding offering draws, and even the parallels between trying to improve at distance running and at chess. As always links of topics referenced are below. Book available from Quality Chess and Forward Chess, coming soon to Chessable https://forwardchess.com/product/the-woodpecker-method2 PFD Sample of the book: https://forwardchess.com/sample/the-woodpecker-method2 Forward Chess: https://forwardchess.com/product/the-woodpecker-method2 02:00- GM Axel Smith joins the show. Was it challenging to make a compilation of “positional puzzles”? Mentioned: GMs Christopher Yoo, Renier Castellanos, Sam Shankland, Nordirbek Abdusattorov Simple Chess, Winning Chess Strategies, The Power of Pawns 14:00- Patreon mailbag question: When will Woodpecker 2 be available on Chessable? Mentioned: FM Nate Solon’s post, Woodpecker Revisited https://zwischenzug.substack.com/p/the-woodpecker-method-revisited?utm_source=publication-search 21:00- Check out the app of our new sponsors Chess Universe in your app store. https://chess-universe.sng.link/Dqw52/kbhh 22:00- We revisit some of the most memorable chess improvement advice from Axel’s classic book Pump Up Your Rating. What advice would he change? Mentioned: My Chessable course, Identifying Critical Moments in Chess https://www.chessable.com/identifying-critical-moments-in-chess/course/248353/ 31:00- Axel quit his job to focus on distance running training, and runs 20 Kilometers a day. We discuss his training regimen 38:00- Returning to chess, we discuss Axel’s philosophy regarding draw offers. 40:00- Has the success of The Woodpecker Method changed Axel’s life? 43:00- Why does Axel think adults often struggle to improve? 47:00- Has Axel’s overall improvement philosophy changed since Pump Up Your Rating? 48:00- Thanks to Axel for rejoining us, you can keep up with his work via Chessable and Quality Chess. https://www.chessable.com/author/axelsmith/ https://qualitychess.co.uk/products/improvement/446/_the_woodpecker_method_2_by_axel_smith/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • EP 401- Sam Kahn: Advice for Taming Chess Degeneracy and The Lessons We Can Learn from Past Chess Greats

    EP 401- Sam Kahn: Advice for Taming Chess Degeneracy and The Lessons We Can Learn from Past Chess Greats
    Sep 24 2024
    Sam Kahn is a writer and film producer by day with a passion for chess, and particularly, the lessons we can learn from chess history. Sam is especially fascinated by the distinct chess styles that one can see by playing through the games of prior greats like Lasker, Pillsbury and Capablanca. He writes about the lessons we can learn from these players in his excellent new collaboration with IM Cyrus Lakdawala, A Century of Chess Book 1: 1900-1909. Of course, before Sam became consumed by chess history, he obsessively focused on his own game. Sam has his share of stories from all-nighters at NYC chess dens, and reflects on how he achieved the 2100 USCF level, and why he thinks it will be challenging to reach a highe level. Based on his own experiences, Sam also shares tips for navigating the narrow path from “degenerate” chess obsessive to healthy chess hobbyist. As an avid reader of Sam’s blogs (both chess and non-chess), I was excited to hear him reflect on his own chess story. Timestamps of topics discussed are below. Check out the app of our new sponsors Chess Universe in your app store. https://chess-universe.sng.link/Dqw52/kbhh 0:02- What makes some chess players better than ourselves? Mentioned: Sam’s post My Insane, Degenerate, Overpowering Chess Hobby https://samkahn.substack.com/p/my-insane-degenerate-overpowering 0:07- Has AI changed the romanticism of players representing competing schools of thought? 11:30- As a 2100 level player, why is Sam dismissive of his own chess abilities? Mentioned: Edward Winter’s post about the famous quote “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.” https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/proverbs.html 16:00- Why does Sam call legendary NYC IM Jay Bonin his “White Whale”? 18:00- What does Sam think are the best ways to improve at chess? 24:00- Thanks to our sponsors: Check out new Chessable courses by me, GM Nils Grandelius, and GM Sam Shankland- if you sign up for Chessable Pro, be sure to use this link: https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro 25:00- What is the story behind Sam’s chess history blog being turned into a book? Mentioned: Colin Stapcynzcki A Century of Chess Book 1: 1900-1909, IM Cyrus Lakdawala 33:00- Who is Sam’s favorite chess player covered in the book? Mentioned: Lasker, Maroczy, Pillsbury 38:00- How does Sam ascertain the stylistic tendencies of historical chess players? Mentioned: Nimzowitsch, Janowski, New in Chess Podcast with GM Tiger Hillarp Persson https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hmw6yMC1u2mwYo5HUjNPG?si=43cd8d56debb4319 48:00- Is there much overlap between Sam’s non-chess blog and his chess blog? https://samkahn.substack.com/p/my-insane-degenerate-overpowering 55:00- Sam’s advice for finding a balanced approach to chess. 57:00- In his late 30s, is Sam too old to make the master level? Mentioned: Episode 400 with NM Matt Gross 1:03:00- Sam’s favorite chess history writers: Mentioned: Richard Reti’s Masters of the Chessboard, Irving Chernev, GM Andy Soltis, My Great Predecessor’s, On the Origin of Good Moves by IM Willy Hendriks, Ink Wars by IM Willy Hendriks 1:09:00- Thanks to Sam for joining. Here is how you can check out his work. Book- A Century of Chess Book 1: 1900-1909, Chess.com History Blog- https://www.chess.com/member/kahns Non-Chess Blog- https://samkahn.substack.com/ 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 podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Olympiad Bonus Pod- Mr. Dodgy on the Atmosphere, Controversies and Notable Stories so far from Budapest

    Olympiad Bonus Pod- Mr. Dodgy on the Atmosphere, Controversies and Notable Stories so far from Budapest
    Sep 21 2024
    As the FIDE Chess Olympiad enters the homestretch, it has been as entertaining as ever. It is hard to keep up with all of the emerging storylines, but Chessable's Mr. Dodgy joined me from Budapest to discuss a few, as well as to describe the atmosphere in Budapest and at the playing hall. Topics covered include: the cell phone camera controversy, GM Ding Liren's disappointing performance, India's dominance, and the inspiring story of Eman Sawan. You can find links to all of the stories referenced below. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the tournament! 0:00- Welcome 3:00- How Budapest compares to the 2022 Chennai Olympiad 5:55- The Women in Chess Foundation 08:56- The Kramnik camera phone controversy 12:00- GM Ding Liren’s uninspiring performance at the tournament 15:00- Final thoughts: Is India inevitable? Find out more about the phone in the playing hall controversy here: https://x.com/chess24com/status/1837226230082588923 Chessbase India shorts: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChessBaseIndiachannel/shorts Check out FM Mike Klein’s interview with Palestinian star performer Eman Sawan here: https://x.com/chess24com/status/1836815099614400866 Magnus arrival by bicycle to an early round: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1ffxngn/twitter_photochess_magnus_carlsen_arrives_late/ GM Peter Svidler’s Ding Liren comment: https://x.com/FIDE_chess/status/1836397064143438001 Thanks to Mr. Dodgy for joining, Check out the Women in Chess Foundation here: https://www.womeninchess.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    25 mins

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Profile Image for L Joubert

Great host and great guests

If you like chess, then this is the best podcast.
The adult improver series is perfect for people like me, who started playing in their 40s, while all the other discussions with GMs, etc. are interesting.

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