How to Learn Chess Without Being Spoonfed

i've been reading this book called it stick am. It's a guide to the science of learning and sort of like how we remember things. And they had a quote that resonated with me as i was sort of grappling with these questions. The process of trying to solve a problem without the benefit of being taught is called generative learning. That sometimes only failure can reveal its trusting, even if we fall short in our first attempts at an answer.

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Chess Books Recaptured is back for another monthly book review/recap. This month I am joined by UX designer and recently-minted chess enthusiast, Jessi Shakarian to discuss the 1921 classic, Chess Fundamentals by former World Champion, Jose Raoul Capablanca. Jessi provides the perspective of someone new to chess who was looking to learn some basics from one of the all time greats of the game. I try to give some historical perspective on the book, as well as to detail why this did not turn out to be my favorite book, despite its being written by one of my favorite players. Of course, there are still many useful insights and beautiful chess moves in the book, and we try to share a few highlights in our conversation. As always, you can find more details and timestamps below.

0:00- We introduce this month's guest co-host Jessi Shakharian. Jessi shares a bit about her background and her recent deep dive into the chess world, and chess books in particular.

3:45- Patreon mailbag question- “What approach has Jessi taken to reading chess books?”

8:30- Patreon mailbag question- “What tips can Ben share for how to analyze games?

Mentioned: How to Chess” interview with GM Davorin Kuljasevic

10:00- We discuss Jose Raoul Capablanca’s background and the context of the book’s publication in 1921.

Mentioned: GM Mikail Botvinnik, LiChess study with Chess Fundamentals, GM Nick DeFirmian’s Chess Fundamentals Revised

Book Recap #18 of My System with IM Christof Sielecki, Everyman’s Chess Fundamentals, Martin Justesen’s new version of Chess Fundamentals

17:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out whats new from them here: New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

18:00- What do we think of Capablanca’s famed “learn the endgame first” philosophy? What are the pros and cons of the book itself?

Jostein Langstrand’s Review of Chess Fundamentalsi, Edward Winter’s Capablanca: A Compendium

30:00- What insights does Capablanca share about the relative value of the chess pieces, especially about how the bishop compares to the knight?

39:00- Chessmood offers a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

39:30- Perpetual Chess is also brought to you in part by AImchess.com. Check out the site,

and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%

40:00- What did “Friend of the Show” Fred Wilson think of this book? What alternative books might we recommend?

Mentioned: Fred Wilson books in NYC, Episode 86 with Fred Wilson, Learn to Play Chess Like a Boss, A First Book of Morphy, Capablanca’s Best Chess Endings, Logical Chess Move by Move, Make it Stick, Episode 242 GM Surya Ganguly, How Grandmasters Memorize Opening Variations by GM Avetik Grigoryan

55:00- What grade would we give Chess Fundamentals?

Mentioned: Episode 240 Pawn Book Championship with Neal Bruce

58:00-Coming next month- Chess is My Life with John Fernandez

Thanks to Jessi Shakarian for helping out this month!

I will be making another donation to Chess in Slums on her behalf.

You can follow her on Twitter here.

1:00:00- Blindfold Puzzles!

Puzzle #1-