The Chess Cognition Podcast

Can Kabadayi
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The Chess Cognition Podcast

A deep dive into the world of chess through the lenses of cognitive science, psychology, and teaching. Join the leading players, coaches, and scholars as they explore the intricacies of chess and the mental processes that drive success on and off the board.

  1. 22 FEB

    IM Alex Astaneh - The Ultimate Guide to Positional Chess Mastery

    In this episode, I sat down with IM Alex Astaneh to explore the fundamentals of positional chess and discuss his Chessable course, "Positional Chess Patterns Manual." Alex's course is designed to help players internalize essential positional concepts through repeatable patterns. We analyzed instructive examples from Magnus Carlsen's games, particularly how he leverages color complexes, weak squares, and outposts to systematically dominate his opponents. Alex emphasized how pattern recognition and structured thinking allow strong players to find the right plans quickly, even in complex positions. Beyond strategy, we discussed how to train positional understanding more effectively, focusing on clarity in learning, board vision, and structured study techniques. I shared my approach to cleaning up positions for better learning outcomes, removing unnecessary distractions so students can focus on the core strategic ideas. Alex also highlighted the importance of reverse-engineering winning positions, especially in endgames, by identifying ideal setups and working backward to achieve them. This episode is packed with insights that can help you develop a deeper understanding of chess strategy. Alex's Chessable courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/Astaneh/Alex's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@alexastanehIn My Chessable Courses: https://chessable.com/drcan 00:00 Intro 02:19 Why He Created "The Positional Chess Patterns Manual" 15:03 The Difference Between Positional Chess and Strategic Play 27:17 Power Outpost 46:06 The Course Creation Process 54:43 Carlsen's Blitz Games (Color Complex) 01:15:40 How to Build Up the Knowledge (Weak Square) 01:24:01 Pseudo Outpost 01:25:42 How to Teach Beginners 01:37:32 Power Outpost and Pseudo Outpost Combo 01:46:45 Pseudo Outpost in the Classical Structure 01:52:29 Exchange Sacrifice 01:53:54 Schematic Thinking 02:02:44 Outro & Future Plans

    2h 13m

  2. 8 FEB

    WIM Luciana Morales: The Untold Stories of Women’s World Champions

    This episode was recorded on a truly special day for me—I’ve been honored as Chessable’s Author of the Year for 2024! It’s an incredible milestone, and I’m deeply grateful for all the support along the way. But this episode isn’t just about celebrating—I'm joined by the amazing WIM Luciana Morales, a highly accomplished chess player, educator, and Chessable author. We dive into her Chessable course "Queens of the Chess Board," which explores the lives and games of the first five Women’s World Champions, bringing to light some of chess history’s most fascinating and underappreciated players.Beyond her chess achievements, Luciana is a true multi-talent—she’s working on a children’s chess book, managing social media for Chessable and Chess.com, and has played a key role in various chess education projects, including the FIDE Chessable Academy with legendary trainers like Artur Yusupov. In this episode, we explore the styles of Women’s World Champions, discuss how chess connects generations, and even touch on her creative work on social media.By the end of the video, we show games of five World Champions to explore their chess styles. And a gem of a game from Luciana against an international master! Queens of the Chess Board: https://www.chessable.com/queens-of-the-chess-board/course/102010/Follow Luciana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsgambit/ Follow Luciana on X: https://x.com/LucianaMorales Follow Luciana on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/drcanchess.bsky.social 00:00 Intro 02:12 Background Story and Early Years 08:49 The Making of 'Queens of the Chess Board' 23:15 Her Upcoming Chess Book 35:55 Fide Chessable Academy 39:43 Chessable Classroom 45:27 Social Media & The Art of Chess Memes 56:14 Menchik - Sir George Thomas, 1932 01:03:50 Menchik - Price, 1927 01:08:43 Rudenko - Bruce, 1946 01:13:16 Bykova - Keller, 1952 01:19:46 Rubtsova - Vaisberg, 1951 01:25:12 Gaprindashvili - Beliavsky, 1977 01:33:36 Luciana's Masterpiece

    1h 49m

  3. 25 JAN

    Dr. Benjamin Portheault on Chess Psychology: Overcoming Rating Anxiety & Mental Barriers

    00:00 Intro 12:03 Pressure 14:37 Alan Watts' Fantasy 17:53 Meditation 21:04 Playing the Position in Front of You 27:01 Toxic Self-Talk 30:24 Rating Anxiety 33:42 Confidence and Self-Efficacy 41:23 Handling Losses 45:21 Pain = Suffering x Resistance 52:35 Time Trouble 55:07 Giving up Control 58:00 Self-Adopted Identities 1:00:28 Beauty in Complexity 1:03:46 Preserving the Love for the Game 1:15:31 Pre-Game Rituals Benji Portheault, a seasoned performance coach with experience working with chess players of all levels, including super grandmasters, joined the podcast to discuss the mental aspects of chess. Throughout the conversation, he explored topics such as meditation, dealing with tilt, tournament preparation, and the psychology of chess success. Benji gave insights into how identity, confidence, and mindset play crucial roles in a player's performance. His approach combines modern psychology with meditation techniques to help players build resilience and manage the stress of competition effectively. A major focus of the discussion was on managing emotions during games, particularly in high-pressure situations. Benji explained the importance of developing self-awareness, identifying negative thought patterns, and learning how to reset mentally after mistakes. He introduced techniques such as open monitoring meditation and mental reframing to help players regain focus and prevent one mistake from snowballing into further blunders. He also emphasized the need for practical routines before and during games, including recognizing the feeling of playing well and recalling past successful experiences to build confidence. The conversation also touched on broader topics like rating anxiety, tournament nerves, and the importance of maintaining a love for the game. Benji encouraged players to cultivate a healthy relationship with chess, understanding that improvement requires embracing both wins and losses as learning experiences. He highlighted how professionals and amateurs alike struggle with the psychological challenges of competition, making mental training just as crucial as tactical and strategic preparation.

    1h 25m

  4. 11 JAN

    Coach Ono - A Deep Dive into Adult Chess Progress

    In this first episode of 2025, I’m joined by Ono, an experienced coach, blogger, and adult improver. Ono shares his journey from picking up chess during the Queen’s Gambit boom to becoming an active participant in the Dutch chess scene. We discuss his experiences with plateaus, rating anxiety, and the challenges of adult improvement, offering practical advice for players navigating similar struggles. This conversation highlights several key topics for chess enthusiasts, including Ono’s two-part approach to blunder-checking, his thoughts on building a sustainable repertoire, and how to transform knowledge into skill. We also delve into the psychological side of chess, exploring ways to manage frustration, embrace the learning process, and find meaning in the game. Whether you’re a beginner looking for guidance or an experienced player refining your approach, this episode provides thoughtful insights and actionable takeaways to help you on your chess journey. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for future episodes featuring more voices from the chess community. 01:21 Ono's Chess Journey 04:42 The Blunder-Check 08:57 The Pen Trick 13:10 Adult Improvement: Struggles and Solutions 19:25 Building an Opening Repertoire and the Value of Specialization 23:15 Endgame Study 30:44 Training Plans and Why We Train 39:22 Chess Psychology 51:01 Coping with Losses 56:44 Why is Chess so Captivating?

    1h 4m

  5. 28/12/2024

    Kamryn Hellman - How She Moved From 0 to 2000 ELO in Two Years

    In this special year-end episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Kamryn Helman, an extraordinary adult improver who achieved a chesscom rapid rating of 2000 in just two years, starting from absolute zero. Kamryn shared her inspirational journey, which began in 2021 after watching The Queen’s Gambit. Despite balancing her undergraduate studies and later a full-time job, she devoted around 20 hours per week to chess and made remarkable progress. Kamryn's disciplined approach combined playing, tactical exercises, and joining a chess club, where she set goals to compete with stronger players. Her story is a testament to how dedication and a structured approach can yield extraordinary results in a short time. During our conversation, Kamryn offered valuable insights into her improvement methods. She talked about her "Why I Am Losing" document, a weekly habit of analyzing losses to identify patterns and guide her studies. We also discussed her thought process, including a mental checklist to avoid blunders, and the critical role of breaks in consolidating knowledge. Kamryn's ability to stay intentional and disciplined about her chess journey is both inspiring and instructional for players at all levels. Toward the end, we explored her educational contributions to the chess community, including her Chessable course, 50 Essential Chess Concepts: An Improver's Blueprint. She shared the challenges of designing clean, instructive puzzles that minimize cognitive overload and maximize learning. Kamryn's passion for chess and commitment to improvement was evident throughout our discussion, leaving me—and hopefully you—with fresh ideas and inspiration to tackle our own chess journeys. I’m thrilled to see what Kamryn accomplishes next and I look forward to another conversation as her chess story unfolds. 01:54 The Chess Bug and the Very Short Summary of the Journey to 2000 ELO 08:57 The Thought Process 10:47 Blunder-Check 15:16 'Why Am I Losing?' Document 23:07 How Blitz Helped 26:00 Study Advice for 0-1500 ELO 29:16 Study Advice for 1500 - 2000 ELO 37:18 Her Chessable Course 41:40 Her New Openings 44:47 Final Advice for Beginners 45:40 Final Advice for Intermediate Players 46:34 The Weekly Training Schedule

    51 min

  6. 21/12/2024

    CM Azel Chua - Mastering Chess Calculation with the Burger Technique

    In this episode, I sit down with Candidate Master and Chessable author Azel Chua to dive deep into the intricacies of chess calculation and thought processes. Azel's Calculation course broke records on Chessable. He shared concrete positions and concepts to clarify his "Burger Technique"—a systematic approach that breaks down calculation into three essential steps. We explored why traditional approaches like "checks, captures, and threats" (CCT) can often fail, and how context-driven techniques provide a more robust, scalable method for players of all levels. Throughout the discussion, Azel showcased several illustrative positions that demonstrated the power of identifying loose pieces, critical squares, and exposed lines of attack. We learned how chess targets—whether pieces, squares, or alignments—can continually expand in complexity as players improve. Azel concluded with insightful exercises on visualization, introducing the concept of "visualization decay" and how to overcome it. He demonstrated that improving calculation involves spotting patterns and expanding one’s ability to recall and connect conceptual similarities across seemingly different positions. 02:01 Why His Calculation Course Was a Huge Success 05:13 Checks, Captures, and Threats: Why It Falls Short 11:03 The Burger Technique 12:10 Position 1 21:00 Position 2 26:24 Position 3 Enters Magnus the Superhuman 29:26 Position 4 38:26 Position 5 42:39 Position 6 50:06 Position 7 54:25 Position 8 58:35 Transfer of Patterns to Different Contexts 1:04:40 Conceptual Patterns - Position 9 1:06:48 Position 10 1:11:30 Visualization 1:31:48 How Best to Learn Patterns 1:33:34 The Endgame Riddle

    1h 42m

  7. 14/12/2024

    FM Midas Ratsma - Tactics-focused Opening Courses and How We Create Our Puzzles

    In this episode, I sit down with FM Midas Ratsma from the Netherlands, a renowned Chessable author with eight successful courses. Midas is known for his practical and engaging approach to teaching openings, making his courses favorites among club players and beginners. We dive into his opening philosophy and the strategies behind his course design. We also explore Midas’s chess coaching philosophy, where he emphasizes interactivity, consistent plans, and repetition for effective learning. Midas shares how his experience as a coach has shaped his courses, ensuring they address real-world struggles of students while offering actionable solutions. Along the way, we tackle topics like how to link opening preparation to middlegame strategies, the importance of chunking and pattern recognition, and the critical role of tactics in chess improvement. In addition, Midas tests us with some of the toughest puzzles from his Beginner's Guide to Chess Tactics, offering a glimpse into the depth and creativity of his course content. We also chat about the collaborative process of creating courses, and his upcoming Jobava London repertoire.

    1h 7m

  8. 30/11/2024

    NM Dan Heisman - The Legacy of a Chess Coach: 30 Years of Chess Coaching Wisdom

    In this very special episode, I had an insightful conversation with the legendary chess coach NM Dan Heisman. With an illustrious career spanning decades, Dan has authored 14 books, developed a Chessable course, and helped thousands of students improve since he began coaching in 1996. His expertise shines through as we delve into the nuances of chess improvement, from bridging the knowledge-skill gap to the importance of thought process and time management. Dan shares valuable insights into his journey, including his work with renowned players and groundbreaking contributions to chess coaching, such as coining terms like "hope chess", "handwaving", "ABC Error", "counting" and "wise adult syndrome." A major focus of our discussion revolves around the critical skills needed for chess improvement, such as blunder-check and criticality assessment. Dan emphasizes the importance of improving both knowledge (patterns and principles) and skills (analysis, time management, and perseverance). Drawing on his decades of coaching, Dan recounts fascinating anecdotes, like the curious case of a student with perfect visualization but flawed analysis. We also discuss practical strategies for players, such as balancing blitz and classical games, and how to train effectively by focusing on process-oriented methods. This episode is packed with actionable advice for players of all levels, particularly adult improvers navigating the challenges of chess growth. Dan's dedication to helping players reach their potential shines throughout the conversation, offering viewers a wealth of strategies and motivation to refine their approach to the game. Whether you're struggling with transitioning from knowledge to skill, managing time effectively, or avoiding blunders, this discussion provides a masterclass in practical chess improvement. 00:00 Dan Heisman: A Brief Introduction 04:25 Common Misconceptions About Chess Improvement 09:37 The Role of Knowledge vs. Skills in Chess 16:22 How Blitz Chess Can Help (or Hurt!) Improvement 21:23 Time Management 27:12 Is There Luck in Chess? 29:42 Ideal Thought Process 37:11 Checklists 44:00 Diagnosing Thought Process Mistakes with De Groot Exercises 56:33 The Evolution of Chess Content for Beginners 1:03:43 Dan's Career Highlights and Coaching Philosophy 1:23:12 Visualization/Board Vision/Tactical Vision 1:36:46 The Woodpecker Method 1:46:50 Learning Chess Notation 1:54:43 Creating a Chess Legacy

    2h 3m
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A deep dive into the world of chess through the lenses of cognitive science, psychology, and teaching. Join the leading players, coaches, and scholars as they explore the intricacies of chess and the mental processes that drive success on and off the board.

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