Perpetual Chess Podcast

Ben Johnson
  • 4.8 (613)
  • 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. 1d ago

    EP 492: Mr. Dodgy on Improving at Classical Chess + Chess Fam

    ⁠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 aside from 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/ Photo in thumbnail by David Llada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. Jul 21

    EP 491: Lessons from the Naroditsky Memorial with FM Dalton Perrine, GM Eugene Perelshteyn and NM Mike Mahoney

    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

  3. Jul 14

    EP 490- Bruce Pandolfini on 50 Years of Teaching Chess 

    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

  4. Jun 30

    EP 489- IM Rose Atwell on Discipline, Improvement, and Chess Psychology 

    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

  5. Jun 23

    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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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
    582
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Perpetual Chess LLC
  • Show Website
    Perpetual Chess Podcast