#68. James Altucher Talks About Rediscovering Chess, Sam Reshevsky And More!

This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features an interview with American chess player and businessman James Altucher.  

James Altucher is an investor, a venture capitalist and a firm believer in AI and cryptocurrency. He’s also a bestselling author – you may know his book Choose Yourself – and he has a popular podcast with 50 thousand subscribers, The James Altucher Show. In his podcast, he dives into the world of entrepreneurship, personal development and out-of-the-box thinking. Or, as he puts it himself, he interviews the world’s peak performers in every area of life. 

James has been writing a column for New In Chess Magazine for the past four years, in which he describes his struggle to regain his old chess strength after he returned to our game following a ‘sabbatical’ of more than twenty years. His articles are witty, perceptive and full of humour and insights.

The interview, conducted by Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, took place on the day when James was to be a co-commentator next to five-time World Champion Vishy Anand in the Norway Chess studio, a privilege he was thrilled about. With his contagious enthusiasm, he spoke about Anand and the other chess greats he has encountered, from Kasparov, Judit Polgar and Hikaru Nakamura to the legendary Sammy Reshevsky. 

Enjoy this week's episode of the New In Chess Podcast!

 0:00 – Intro

1:47 – Welcome James!

3:24 – Where does James’s natural curiosity come from?

5:00 – How James became obsessed with chess

9:15 – James’s memory of the late and great Samuel Reshevsky

10:25 – Did James ever aspire to a pro chess career?

12:52 – James’s hiatus from chess

16:05 – Does chess skill translate into other areas of life?

18:49 – What is James’s biggest achievement in business?

21:11 – James’s writing

30:36 – AD BREAK

31:09 – How The Queen’s Gambit got James back into chess

33:40 – The challenges of improving your chess at a later age

46:24 – What does James find special about chess players?

49:38 – Having chess superstars on his podcast

53:25 – Hikaru’s entrepreneurial talent

58:11 – AD BREAK

59:11 – Robert Greene, the laws of power, and James’s next book

1:02:38 – James’s own tournament and writing for New In Chess

1:05:12 – Commentating alongside Vishy Anand

1:05:58 – Outro