https://killerchesstraining.com/https://www.newinchess.com/https://amzn.to/4igE5QgThe Art of Exchanging Pieces:https://www.chessable.com/the-art-of-exchanging-pieces/course/82374/

I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard—one of the most prolific chess authors in the world—for a conversation that quickly became one of the most meaningful episodes I’ve recorded. Jacob was incredibly open, thinking out loud through challenging positions and showing what high-level problem-solving really looks like in real time.Jacob and Reiner Castellanos recently published the book 'Mastering Chess Exchanges'. We tested each other with positions—Jacob using exercises involving piece trades, and I brought a few from my upcoming course, Workbook for the Art of Series. We discussed exchanges in depth, including themes like good vs. bad pieces, positional vs. tactical justifications, and how to make sense of tension on the board. What stood out most was Jacob’s emphasis on clarity: how simple questions, if asked at the right moment, can organize your thinking and lead to better decisions.Beyond strategy, we explored how players learn. I shared insights from cognitive science, including how reducing extraneous cognitive load helps players process ideas more efficiently. Jacob spoke about the power of volume and focus—how long-term memory, built through serious, undistracted effort, allows strong players to recognize relevance instantly. If you’ve ever wanted a front-row seat to how a world-class coach thinks about chess, this episode is for you.

00:00 Intro02:20 Mastering Chess Exchanges06:46 Woodpecker Method13:45 Jacob Tests Me: Position 116:28 Jacob Tests Me: Position 222:44 Effective Decision-Making31:46 Jacob Tests Me: Position 334:26 Rules/Principles vs. Concepts40:08 Improving Tactical Vision47:19 Volume and Focus55:40 Jacob Tests Me: Position 401:05:52 Jacob Tests Me: Position 501:12:23 Abdusattorov's Bad Decision01:13:33 Jacob Analyses His Recent OTB Game01:30:07 I Test Jacob: Position 101:30:58 Chess Instructor's Most Valuable Quality01:40:44 When We Should Stop Calculating01:41:50 Gelfand's Almost-Religious Insight01:48:25 I Test Jacob: Position 202:03:20 Why Modern Engines Are Crap02:07:51 I Test Jacob: Position 3

John Austin

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