The Woodpecker Method and Rapid Chess Improvement

The Adult Improver Series returns with two insightful guests joining the podcast. WIM Natasha Regan is an author and actuary who among many other chess accomplishments recently became the British over 50 Women’s National Champion! Natasha recently collaborated on a Chessable course with Matthew Ball, who is a chess dad and dedicated improver who has made significant rating progress since returning to competitive chess in recent years. Natasha and Matthew shared lots of helpful chess study tips covering topics ranging from The Woodpecker Method, to the Chess Steps series, to whether one should alter their approach to a game against a younger opponent. We also discussed their fun and instructive new course, Zwischenzug: A Comprehensive Guide to Intermediate Moves. You can find timestamps for all of the topics discussed below. 

0:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! 

Check out Natasha and Matthew’s new CHessable course here: :

https://www.chessable.com/zwischenzug-a-comprehensive-guide-to-intermediate-moves/course/139623/

You can check out some of my recommended courses here: https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/ 

0:03- Matthew Ball and Natasha discuss their shared background as junior players, and how their paths recrossed in recent years. 

7:30- Patreon mailbag question- Does Natasha have any different strategies when playing against kids as compared to adults? 

17:00- Matthew came back into chess a few years back and his seen some rating gain. He discusses his training regimen. 

Mentioned: Chess for Life, Chess Steps Books, Woodpecker Method 

22:00- More on the Woodpecker Method 

Mentioned: Pump Up Your Rating by GM Axel Smith, Book Recap #6 on the Woodpecker Method 

23:00- How does Natasha tune up for a tournament? 

26:00- Natasha discusses some similarities between Shogi and Chess. 

Mentioned: Karolina Styczyńska of the Shogi Harbor Twitch Channel 

32:00- Matthew shares a few more improvement recommendations. 

35:00- Why did Natasha and Matthew decide to do a course on intermediate moves? 

45:00- Natasha and Matthew discusses their approaches to openings 

52:00- Do they work with coaches? 

56:00- Natasha and Matt discuss their tournament and summer plans. 

Thanks so much to Natasha and Matt for joining the show! 

Check out their course here:

https://www.chessable.com/zwischenzug-a-comprehensive-guide-to-intermediate-moves/course/139623/

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess

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