Perpetual Chess Podcast

Ben Johnson
  • 4.7 (76)
  • Hobbies
  • Updated Biweekly

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

  1. 2d ago

    EP 488- GM R.B. Ramesh on Calculation, Confidence, and Coaching Champions 

    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

    1h 13m

  2. Jun 16

    EP 487- Matt Rathkey on Chess Improvement, Jazz Improvisation, and Learning How to Learn 

    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

    1h 15m

  3. Jun 9

    EP 486: James Black Jr. on Going from Scholastic Star to Chess Mentor 

    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

    1h 1m

  4. Jun 2

    EP 485: GM Simon Williams on Mistakes, Revival, and the Future of Chesspublishing 

    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 Disclosure: Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Perpetual Chess may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    58 min

  5. May 26

    EP 484: Jordan Himelfarb on Interregnum and the Drama of the 2024 Candidates Cycle 

    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

    44 min

  6. May 19

    EP 483- Paulo SantAnna: What Happens When a Retired Adult Treats Chess Like a Full-Time Job?

    Paulo SantAnna is living the dream of many adult chess improvers. The retired software engineer has spent the past several years devoting serious time and energy to improving his game, and the results have been impressive. When Paulo rekindled his interest in tournament chess, his FIDE rating had fallen to a recent low of 1850. Through years of hard study, travel, disciplined training, and resilience, he recently reached a new high over 2100 FIDE in his mid-50s! We discuss: The moment Paulo decided to get serious about improvement The mistakes he made early in his comeback How he structures his training Study recommendations and practical advice for adult improvers Physical fitness, tournament selection, and maintaining motivation I found Paulo’s story inspiring, and it offers hope for the rest of us,  if we only could get rid of these pesky jobs. 0:00 Intro  More on the Adult Improver series here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover Thanks to those who keep the show running! Patreon  Check out Chessiverse.com (discount code- ‘Perpetual30’) 4:00 Paulo’s chess comeback story begins Check out Paulo’s FIDE history here: https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2027402 6:00 Why his rating rebounded after moving to Europe 8:00 Retirement, Spain trips, and dedicating serious time to chess 11:00 Studying 35 hours a week 13:00 The dangers of doing too much More about the Chessdojo  here (use code “Ben” at checkout to save 10%) : https://www.chessdojo.club/signup 17:00 Calculation training and daily routines 20:00 Openings, Chessable streaks, and training structure 23:00 Online blitz, model games, and coaching 25:00 How much he studies versus other adult improvers 27:00 Avoiding burnout and keeping motivation 29:00 Brazilian chess streamers and coaches Paulo has worked with: GM Rafael Leitao, GM Andres Rodriguez,GM Diego Flores, GM Lenderman, GM Izoria, GM Eugene Perelshteyn,GM Raven Sturt,  IM Jorge Bobadilla 31:00 Working with top trainers like Eugene Perelshteyn and Axel Bachmann 33:00 Blindfold training with GM Roven Vogel 36:00 What mattered most for improvement 38:00 Hiding online repertoires and preparation 40:00 Sparring games and training partners 41:00 His breakthrough tournaments 42:00 Tournament prep philosophy 46:00 Fitness, stamina, and nutrition for chess 49:00 Chess scenes in New York and California 52:00 Senior tournaments and future plans 54:00 Favorite chess books and resources Mentioned: Postional Play by GM Jacob Aagaard, Endgame Strategy by Shereshevsky  57:00 Advice for busy adult improvers 58:00 Rating goals and pursuit of FM 1:00:00 Why adults struggle to improve 1:03:00 Final thoughts 1:04:00- Thanks to Paulo for sharing his story! You can reach him at: psantann at gmail.dot.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 9m

  7. May 12

    EP 482- GM Ivan Sokolov on Talent, Training and Modern Chess 

    GM Ivan Sokolov is a former top-15 player who won major tournaments across multiple decades and became national champion of both Yugoslavia and the Netherlands. In classical chess, he scored memorable wins against Kasparov, Kramnik and Anand. In recent years, Ivan has become equally respected as a trainer and author. Most notably, he worked with the gold medal-winning Uzbek team at the 2022 Chess Olympiad, including GMs Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Given Sindarov’s recent success, Ivan reflects on how his game has evolved and why it was clear to him that Sindarov was both supremely talented and, at the time, somewhat unprofessional in his approach. Ivan recently released a new Chessable course, Self-Improvement for Advanced Players. We discuss chess improvement for professionals and amateurs alike, the proper role of a trainer in a player’s development, preparation in the Kasparov era versus today, and memories from his legendary career. This  includes reflections on his close friendship with the late GM Jan Timman. It is always an honor to hear GM Sokolov’s stories and perspectives. 00:00 Introduction to Ivan Sokolov Prior interview with GM Ivan Sokolov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2slrqqW7s&t=209s 02:21 Insights on the Uzbek National Team Interview with Chessbase India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnN00uNrBEQ&t=588s 09:10 Assessing Grandmaster Sinderov's Potential 12:57 The Importance of Chess History 15:56 The Role of a Trainer 19:28 Experiences Against Chess Legends 22:09 Preparing for Kasparov vs. Modern Players 28:18 The Future of Chess: Classical vs. Chess 960 32:10 Insights from Ivan’s course.  36:22 Memories of the 2012 World Open and other tournaments in the US Mentioned: Sokolov vs. Shirov 1999 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1010044 40:05 Talent vs. Hard Work in Chess 42:06 Remembering Grandmaster Yantum 46:40 Current Projects and Future Plans 50:00- Thanks to GM Sokolov for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: X: https://x.com/GMSokolovIvan Chessable Courses:  https://www.chessable.com/author/IvanSokolov/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    54 min

  8. May 5

    EP 481- IM Greg Shahade: Inside His Incredible Jeopardy Run 

    IM Greg Shahade has long been well known in the chess world as a three-time national scholastic champion and the founder of the Pro Chess League and the US Chess School. Recently, however, he reached a much broader audience with an impressive run on the syndicated trivia show Jeopardy!. Greg amassed over $75,000 in winnings, dethroning 31-time champion Jamie Ding along the way. He joined me after what he described as “the craziest week of his life” to discuss: The approach to adult learning that helped him go from trivia novice to Jeopardy! champion in just a few years Behind-the-scenes insights from the recording process, plus his reflections on his controversial on-stage mannerisms How his background in chess (and poker) shaped his strategy and decision-making under pressure There isn’t a ton of chess discussion in this episode, but Greg’s approach to learning and performance has clear applications across many domains. 00:00 Introduction  Check out our sponsors, Chessiverse.com , and you can use code Perpetual30 to save 30% on premium feature and/or IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.  Chessiverse.com 03:00- Greg Shahade joins the show, we begin by discussing adult learning and Greg’s late start to trivia.  Mentioned: Learned League  Thinking Sideways by Jennifer Shahade  Ducksters  07:43 Building Knowledge Structures 10:03 The Role of Intense Study 12:54 Flashcards and Review Techniques 15:43 Betting Strategies on Jeopardy 18:45 Reflections on the Jeopardy Experience You can review questions Greg faced here: https://www.j-archive.com/showseason.php?season=42 25:00-  Patreon mailbag question- Why does Greg know so little about current events? What is his approach to daily double hunting? 30:44 Daily Double Strategies and Insights 36:57 Patreon mailbag question- Why is Greg so expressive when playing Jeopardy? 42:16 Physicality and Focus in Jeopardy 49:25 Behind the Scenes of Jeopardy 52:40 Facing the Champion: Mental Strategies 55:11 The Weight of Anticipation: Media and Public Perception 57:02 Navigating Fame: Love, Hate, and Public Reaction 59:50 Preparing for the Tournament of Champions 01:03:51 Chess and Jeopardy: Cross-Disciplinary Insights 01:07:20 Reflections on Study Techniques and Memory 01:11:20 Final Thoughts: The Game and Its Emotional Toll Thanks to Greg for joining me at a busy time. Follow him here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregshahade/?hl=en X:  https://x.com/GregShahade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 21m
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4.7
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Ben Johnson
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    578
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Perpetual Chess LLC
  • Show Website
    Perpetual Chess Podcast

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