Perpetual Chess Podcast EP 448- NM Max Farberov on Beating Plateaus, Springing Opening Surprises, and Why Speed Chess Matters
NM Max Farberov is a 27-year-old chess instructor, Chessable author, and online speed-chess specialist with a Chess.com blitz rating north of 2600. He joined me after a busy chess summer that included his first European open and one of his best OTB results to date: winning clear first in the Under-2300 section of the Washington International. As Max explains, this breakthrough came only after months of frustration and feeling that he had reached a plateau, making the success all the sweeter.
In our conversation, Max and I discussed:
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Why he stays motivated to pursue tournament chess at an age when many slow down
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How he built an opening repertoire around the offbeat 1…d6
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What he gains from following lesser-known professional tournaments
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Why speed chess is underrated as a tool for improvement
Max’s passion for chess is infectious, and our conversation is full of helpful chess improvement advice. Timestamps are below.
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0:02- What led to Max’s recent tournament outcome, where he attained the best result of his life?
10:00- What keeps Max going when many players in their 20s stop playing tournaments?
12:00- The College Chess League
13:00- Congrats to IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan
14:00- Was Max tempted to quit after earning the NM title?
20:00- What was it like for Max to play in his first international tournament?
Mentioned: More on the Vila de Sitges here:
https://open.penyaescacscp.com/
22:00- The dangers of overpreparing for an opponent
24:00- Max’s approach to openings
26:00- GMs and top engines don’t like openings like the Philidor and the Pirc due to the concession of space. Has this been an issue for Max in his games?
28:00- Does Max consider himself a speed chess specialist? How can one get better at speed chess?
33:00- How to combat the London
35:00- Back to speed chess advice- Max’s advice for clock management
38:00 Opening prep war stories
40:00- The benefits of following and playing through the games from professional (non-elite) circuit tournaments.
43:00- Max’s friendship with GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez
Mentioned: EP 409 with GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez
46:00- How Max became a chess teacher and advice for getting into chess teaching
49:00- Max’s next chess goals
50:00- Is Max a regimented chess-studier?
52:00- Max’s chess improvement hot takes and book recs
Mentioned:
56:00- Thanks to Max for joining me!
Here is how to reach him:
X:
https://x.com/chessgainz?lang=en
https://www.chess.com/member/chess_gainz
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