Perpetual Chess Podcast

EP 366- GM Raven Sturt: Chess Improvement Deep Dive with a Self-Taught Grandmaster. Board Visualization Tips, Book Recs & Lots more.

Jan 23, 2024

GM Raven Sturt shares chess improvement insights, board visualization tips, and book recommendations. Discusses unique life journey from NYC to Paraguay. Highlights the Bird Opening as an underrated White weapon. Explores strategies, visualization, and age factors in chess mastery.

01:14:33

Episode guests

Raven Sturt

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Highlights

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Improving chess skills requires honing board visualization and pattern recognition, emphasized by GM Sturt's Chessable course.

Consider the Bird Opening (1. f4) as an underrated weapon for White, according to GM Raven Sturt.

Reflecting on global experiences, GM Raven Sturt highlights the value of cultural exploration and diverse perspectives.

Deep dives

Importance of Indeed for Hiring Processes

Indeed is highlighted as a fundamental platform for hiring processes, boasting over 350 million global monthly visitors and an effective matching engine to find quality candidates swiftly. It offers tools for scheduling, screening, and messaging to streamline candidate interaction. Employers attest that Indeed delivers top-quality matches in comparison to other job sites, showcasing its efficiency in hiring processes.

Positional Understanding of Neural Network Chess Engines

01:20

The Importance of Focusing on Openings and Visualization in Chess Improvement

01:29

Quality over Quantity

01:04

Introduction

3min

Insights on Chess Improvement from a Self-Taught Grandmaster

3min

The Importance of Objectivity and Self-Criticism in Chess Analysis

13min

Chess Improvement Strategies and Development of Intuition Discussed

3min

Mastering Positional Play in Chess

3min

Excitement for Course Content and Teaser for Conversation

2min

Mastering Chess: Time Management and Age Factors

8min

Mastering Visualization in Blindfold Chess

14min

Exploring Chess's Social and Competitive Elements with Grandmaster Ravenstirt

2min

10.

Chess Book Recommendations and Global Adventures

14min

11.

Exploring Chess Strategies and Tournament Experiences

2min

12.

Exploring Chess Tournaments and Unique Playing Strategies

9min

This week’s guest is Grandmaster and Chessable Author, Raven Sturt. Raven was a National High-School champion, but considers himself a late bloomer in chess because he had to work very hard to earn the Grandmaster title in his 20s. During this period, GM Sturt intensively trained his board visualization and pattern recognition skills, and he shares the fruits of his labor in his excellent Chessable Course, Developing Chess Intuition: Domination & Other Lesser Known Positional Concepts. During our conversation, we discuss the course, his book recommendations, and his unique approach to studying openings. Raven is working on a course on the Bird Opening (1. f4) , and has come to believe it is an underrated weapon for White. We also discuss Raven’s unique life trajectory. Raven grew up in New York City, went to McGill University in Canada, and has recently settled in Paraguay after traveling extensively. I really enjoyed chatting with Raven, and if you are interested in improving your chess game, you will definitely enjoy this conversation!

Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsors, Chessable.com!

Be sure to check out their new courses including IM Christof Sielecki’s new course, and if you use this link to sign up for Chessable Pro, and/or make a Chessable purchase, it will help support Perpetual Chess.

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

02:00- What does Raven think are the core tenets of chess improvement?

07:00- What has Raven noticed in the differences in how kids and adults learn?

09:00- After graduating from McGill University, Raven ended up pursuing chess full-time. What went into that decision? How did he approach his chess study?

11:00- Raven offers helpful visualization and calculation advice

Mentioned: Evaluate Like a Grandmaster

16:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “Does Raven find that his focus on improving intuition resonates with adult students?”

22:40- Is competing OTB overrated as a method of chess improvement?

25:00- How did Raven get better at practical play without competing frequently?

Mentioned: MVL on C-Squared Podcast, GM Giga Qupardaze

31:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “What tips does Raven have for getting good at blindfold visualization?”

Mentioned: Book Recap #10- Blindfold Chess, Improve Your Chess Now by GM Jonathan Tisdall

Domination by Kaspayan

38:00- How does Raven recommend dividing chess study time?

Mentioned: Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual

45:00- Raven’s favorite chess books:

Chess for Zebras, Dvoretsky’s Positional Play, Book Recap #32- Chess for Zebras, Strategic Play by GM Jacob Aagaard, Shankland’s Small Steps to Giant Improvement

50:00- What made Raven decide to study at a university outside of the U.S., to travel extensively, and to relocate to Paraguay?

53:00- What international open tournaments are Raven’s favorites to attend?

Mentioned: Sitges International, Floripa Chess Open, Paleochora International Chess Tournament in Crete

1:00:00- Patreon Mailbag Question: “Why doesn’t the U.S. offer more tournaments with one round per day?”

1:03:00- Is Raven training and competing right now?

1:04:00- Why is the Bird opening underrated for White?

1:06:00- What are Raven’s plans for his Youtube channel?

1:08:00-

Thanks to Raven for joining! Here is how to keep up with him:

Chessable course

YouTube

Blog