

Perpetual Chess Podcast
Ben Johnson
Perpetual Chess features weekly conversations with the chess world's best players, trainers and accomplished amateurs about their careers, current projects, best practices and the latest in chess news. Learn more at PerpetualChessPod.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 28, 2025 • 1h 10min
EP 456- GM Andy Soltis on Plateaus, Dual Careers, and his Many Brushes with Chess Legends
GM Andy Soltis is a U.S. Chess Hall of Famer, prolific author, and longtime Chess Life columnist who has left a lasting mark on American chess while balancing a decades-long career as an editor at the New York Post. His recent memoir, Deadline Grandmaster, retraces those parallel paths and shares remarkable stories such as playing a 16-year-old Vishy Anand, meeting Mikhail Tal, corresponding with Irving Chernev, and unknowingly crossing paths with Bobby Fischer. In our conversation, Andy revisits several of these moments and reflects on the challenges of chess improvement. We explore why players plateau, how to identify their own chess styles, and what today’s players can learn from history’s greats. Toward the end, Andy mulls his next project and discusses how chess publishing has evolved through the decades. It’s always a privilege to hear Andy’s stories, and I highly recommend Deadline Grandmaster for many more of them.
This episode was recorded on October 16, 2025 and thus does not discuss the tragic news of GM Daniel Naroditsky’s passing.
0:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
And you can check out their new offerings here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
0:00-
Perpetual Chess Improvement is finally available on Audible!
https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Chess-Improvement-Practical-World-Class/dp/B0FHWWC2ZX/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0
0:02- GM Andy Soltis joins! He begins by sharing his thought on rating plateaus.
Mentioned:
Note on FM Nate Solon’s unusual rating gains:
https://substack.com/@zwischenzug/note/c-166416052?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=1juy4
11:00- We discuss Andy’s excellent memoir Deadline Grandmaster- did Andy ever seriously consider becoming a chess professional?
Mentioned:
14:00- How did Andy earn the Grandmaster title?
Mentioned: IM Norman Weinstein, IM Sal Matera, IM Jack Peters
16:00- Vishy Anand stories
Mentioned: More on Andy’s early encounter with Vishy in Calcutta here:
https://en.chessbase.com/post/vishy-anand-a-passionate-portrait-part-three
20:00- Mikhail Tal stories
22:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is a good first book about Soviet Chess history?
Mentioned:
Soviet Chess: 1917-1991 by GM Andy Soltis
24:00- Andy’s recollections of the famed Lone Pine tournament
30:00- GM Walter Browne stories
35:00- Patreon mailbag questions: a) Why didn’t Alekhine play a rematch with Capablanca? b) Can Andy recommend an Alekhine biography?
Mentioned: Alexander Alekhine- THe Russian Sphinx: Volume 1
The Real Paul Morphy
38:00- Patreon mailbag question: Are there any plans to do an updated edition on Andy’s US Championship?
https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Chess-Championship-1845-1996/dp/0786402482/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DC5Q7FF5MKY6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IYZoPqWvJ0bdS3_2d3Qewg.tinoi7uw9EjPATAcLC1Pqdxp0hjkvFqcFvkoPdUzENc&dib_tag=se&keywords=soltis+us+championship&qid=1760732231&s=books&sprefix=soltis+us+championship%2Cstripbooks%2C87&sr=1-1
40:00- Bobby Fischer stories
Mentioned: GM Peter Biayasis, IM Anthony Saidy
42:00- Andy’s interactions with legendary author Irving Chernev, also mentioned Fred Reinfeld
50:00- What can we learn from figuring out our chess styles?
Mentioned: Reveal Your Chess Style
Reveal Your Chess Style: Soltis, Andrew: 9781849949965: Amazon.com: Books
57:00- The state of chess book publishing
Mentioned: GM James Tarjan
If you are interested in joining the Perpetual Chess Patreon community, you can find out more information here:
Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon
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Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 23min
[Replay] GM Daniel Naroditsky's 2020 Perpetual Chess Interview
As the chess world digests the devastating news of the passing of Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, I found myself thinking back to our first interview in August of 2020 (Episode 191). At the time, as chess boomed during the pandemic, Danya was ascending from promising young American player to chess commentating superstar. In the interview Danya’s eloquence, empathy, and hilarious impersonations were on full display. It is among the most listened-to Perpetual Chess episodes in the podcast's 9 year history. Danya's loss is immense and I extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and many fans. - Ben
00:00 – 03:15
Ben’s tribute and introduction following Danya’s passing (2025)
03:16 – 04:00
2020 Interview with Danya begins- Introduction to Danya’s chess background and early achievements
04:00 – 06:00
Danya on listening to Perpetual Chess and favorite episodes
06:00 – 10:00
Discussion of the Hikaru–Magnus finale and Armageddon tiebreaks
10:12 – 13:10
Early fascination with blitz and bullet chess; childhood training habits
13:10 – 16:00
Blitz addiction story and lessons from IM John Donaldson
16:00 – 21:40
Practical tips on blitz improvement — tactics, intuition, and time management
21:40 – 26:30
Deep dive into time management and “15-second rule” from Hikaru analysis
26:30 – 33:00
Stories of playing Magnus and Alireza online; Rebecca Harris account origin
33:00 – 36:15
Etiquette and psychology of elite bullet matches
36:15 – 38:10
What Danya works on to improve; paradox of bullet skill vs. classical weakness
38:10 – 40:10
Balancing streaming, teaching, and training during COVID
40:10 – 43:00
Untapped potential and thoughts on improvement as a 2600+ GM
43:00 – 45:30
The continuing value of classical chess in a fast-paced world
45:30 – 49:10
Teaching and streaming as dual passions; insights on Twitch culture
49:10 – 54:30
Streaming schedule, viewer expectations, and sustainability
54:30 – 56:30
The pressures and pitfalls of Twitch streaming; handling trolls
56:30 – 1:00:00
Patreon questions: notebooks, writing process, and early books
1:00:00 – 1:03:00
How Mastering Positional Chess came to be; influence of Russian literature
1:03:00 – 1:06:00
Formative chess books and lessons from Kasparov and Soviet literature
1:06:00 – 1:09:30
Advice for adult improvers: training priorities and tactical habits
1:09:30 – End
Reflections on commentary, pedagogy, and love of teaching
Photo in thumbnail via Charlotte Chess Center:
https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/staff/gm-daniel-naroditsky
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Oct 14, 2025 • 1h 2min
EP 455- Marcos Patricio Macedo: A Forensic Detective’s Reflections on Chess, Balance, and Burnout
The Adult Improver Series returns with a fascinating story that highlights the broad appeal of chess. Marcos Patricio Macedo is a Brasília-based forensic detective, dad, and chess enthusiast who rediscovered the game in 2018 and hasn’t stopped since. Chess has become a welcome escape from the pressures of his homicide-investigation work, and he’s helped build community both locally and among fellow officers.
Marcos believes in the game’s value so deeply that he helped restore chess as an event in the World Police & Fire Games, an international gathering for first responders. In our conversation, he shares:
What it took to bring chess back to the games
How it was received and what might come next
His mixed feelings about balancing chess with family, work, and improvement
Lessons from coaches, online study, and his first major OTB tournament
Marcos’ relatable story reveals both the rewards and the potential pitfalls of dedicating a lot of time to chess as a hobby.
Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
And you can check out their new offerings here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
Try Chess.com (try for free):
http://go.chess.com/Perpetual
If you know a scholastic player who could use high quality online group lessons, be sure to check out Silver Knights Chess Academy..
chessacademy.com/online
Use coupon code- "pod" to save 50% on the first month.
0:00- You can join the Perpetual Chess Patreon community here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess
02:00- What got Marcos back into chess in 2018?
07:00- Similarities and differences between chess analysis and forensic analysis
10:00- Marcos’ approach to improving at chess
Mentioned: GM Rafael Leitão, Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, GM Daniel Naroditsky
15:00- Chess as a stress reliever for a first responder
20:00- Marcos tells the story of his successful advocacy to get chess included in the recent World Police & Fire Games
30:00- Why does Marcos think his interest in chess waned when he returned from the World Police & Fire Games ?
Mentioned: Silman’s The Amateur’s Mind, Coach FM Juan Cruz Arias
40:00- Marcos’ previous OTB experiences
43:00- The chess scene in Brazil
44:00- Marcos’ next move
49:00- Closing thoughts
Mentioned: EP 429 with Omar Mills
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2025/4/8/ep-429-omar-mills-chess-and-life-lessons-learned-from-not-improving-as-much-as-he-expected
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 7, 2025 • 1h 18min
EP 454 — Hanging Pawns (Stjepan Tomić) Shares Chess Book Recs for Every Level & Discusses His Big New Project
Stjepan Tomić, creator of the popular Hanging Pawns YouTube channel and founder of ChessReads.com, shares his love for chess literature and the origins of his new project aimed at helping players find the perfect book. They discuss the ongoing relevance of chess books compared to digital courses and dive into how to effectively utilize literature for improvement. Stjepan also offers recommendations across various skill levels, highlighting essential reads for beginners to advanced players, while sharing insights about the chess scene in Croatia.

Sep 30, 2025 • 1h 2min
EP 453- IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan on the Long Road to her New Title.
Despite an impressive chess résumé as one of the U.S.’s top women players, Tatev Abrahamyan has had moments when she questioned whether it was all worth it. After a prolonged slump, she not only considered giving up on ever earning the International Master title, but she nearly quit competitive chess altogether. Fortunately, Tatev persevered. Earlier this year, she unexpectedly finished second in the Woman’s American Cup, and then in August, she delivered a standout result that earned her the International Master title at age 37 — more than 10 years after achieving her final required norm! Remarkably, Tatev’s performance was so strong that she also secured her first GM norm.
In our conversation, Tatev reflects on:
Why a timely vote of confidence from a mentor propelled her toward a $30,000 prize
Opening advice and the enduring value of endgame studies
What she has learned from this roller-coaster journey — and what she advises others facing slumps
Tatev’s story is both candid and inspiring, and I look forward to following her next chapter at the 2025 U.S. Women’s Championship and beyond.
0:00- Thanks to our sponsors Chessable.com:
Check out Tatev’s courses here- and if you sign up for Chessable Pro, be sure to use this link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
0:02- Late last year, after a slump, Tatev was “despondent” with her chess? Did she seriously consider quitting?
0:05- Once she didn’t quit, how did she prepare for the American Cup?
0:08- Tatev’s tournament routine and mindset
Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy, GM Josh Friedel, Endgame Labaratory by GM Jacob Aagaard
0:11- Why does Tatev think her results turned around at the American Cup?
Mentioned: GM Yasser Quesada Perez
0:15- Tatev’s next tournaments in Spain and Budapest
0:18- Tatev’s approach to openings
0:20- When did Tatev start to think that earning the IM title was becoming realistic?
0:24- Patreon mailbag question: Was there any change to Tatev’s mindset leading up to this breakthrough?
Mentioned: You can check out Tatev’s games from the tournament here:
https://www.chess.com/events/budapest-one-week-budapest-one-week-gm
FM Mike Klein’s article about Tatev’s title:
https://www.chess.com/news/view/abrahamyan-plays-best-tournament-of-career-earns-im-title-gm-norm
26:00- Meeting up with Judit after the tournament!
34:00- More reflections on Tatev’s tournament
Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s blog post about analyzing with Ivanchuk
https://hellokostya.substack.com/p/2025-spring-eurotrip
40:00- The US Women’s Championship
41:00- Tatev discusses her Chessable course and her fondness for endgame studies.
Mentioned:
Chess Studies: Solve to Evolve
https://www.chessable.com/chess-studies-solve-to-evolve/course/300770/
49:00 Tatev’s next projects
51:00- Will Tatev pursue the GM title?
Mentioned: Jeanne Sinquefeld prize for a woman earning the GM title
https://www.chess.com/news/view/jeanne-cairns-sinquefield-award-us-female-grandmasters
Also mentioned: GM Felix Blohberger
https://www.chess.com/news/view/being-a-chess-professional-in-europe-sucks-blohberger
55:00- Thanks to Tatev for joining us!
You can reach her via the Lichess coaches page:
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Sep 23, 2025 • 60min
EP 452: GM Daniel King — The Grand Swiss, Candidates Spots, and What It Takes to Win High-Stakes Swiss Tournaments
GM Daniel King, a prominent commentator and creator of chess content, dives into the thrilling outcomes of the FIDE Grand Swiss. He highlights the standout performances of GMs Giri and Blübaum, while discussing the surprising predictability of the Women's Grand Swiss. Daniel also shares insights on candidates qualification, potential favorites for the upcoming World Cup, and the evolving strategies in opening preparation. Finally, he touches on his exciting current projects and the importance of drama in tournament play.

Sep 16, 2025 • 60min
EP 451: GM Elshan Moradiabadi on Intuition, Coaching, and Why Fun Is Vital for Chess Improvement
North Carolina–based trainer and author Elshan Moradiabadi has won over 25 tournaments and was the 2001 National Champion of his native Iran. Despite his many accomplishments, Elshan is deeply reflective about the proper role chess should play in one’s life. While he has no regrets about the sacrifices he made, his experiences have given him valuable lessons to share, including:
Why you should keep chess enjoyment as your North Star
The importance of intuition, and the nine cues for evaluating a position
The tradeoffs that come with pursuing excellence
How chess parenting has changed since his own youth
We also touch on the professional chess landscape, and make a few predictions about the FIDE Grand Swiss (a tournament which is now over, but hadn’t started when we recorded on September 1). Whether you’re a chess hobbyist, parent, or coach, you’ll find plenty of wisdom and inspiration in this wide-ranging conversation. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.
Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
And you can check out their new offerings here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
0:02- Welcome Elshan to the pod- we begin by discussing a poignant post Elshan wrote about what chess has given him, and what is has taken away:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EExhz3qbC/
Prior interview with Elshan, Episode 58-
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2018/2/6/episode-58-gm-elshan-moradiabadi
0:09- Why Elshan has grown to love the English language as a non-native speaker
Mentioned: Cover Stories with Chess Life Episodes #44 and #48
https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-44-gm-elshan-moradiabadi
https://new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-48-gm-elshan-moradiabadi
0:11- Elshan’s typical day of coaching
0:13- The challenge of improving chess intuition
Read more about Elshan’s 9 cues for evaluating a position here:
https://gmelshan.com/how-to-master-chess-the-9-imbalances/
19:00- Elshan’s approach to helping new students
27:00- Elshan’s reflections on his OTB chess game
30:00- Reflections on a poor performance in the 2022 US Championship
Mentioned: So-Moradiabadi 2022
https://www.chess.com/events/2022-us-chess-championship/11/So_Wesley-Moradiabadi_Elshan
33:00- Does Elshan follow top chess tournaments?
Mentioned: Quantbox Chennai Invitational
https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-quantbox-chennai-grand-masters
37:00- Patreon mailbag question: What did Elshan like about the Chicken Chess Club Podcast (may it rest in peace)
Mentioned: GM Jan Gustafsson
39:00- Elshan’s plans for the rest of 2025
Mentioned: USA vs. India match in Dallas, Texas, October 2025
https://www.texaschesscenter.com/usa-vs-india?srsltid=AfmBOooUe_kOJfuugQMW1JtCezBWX7DPRYRK05I6w2LQ4Bzb6H9Pc9Lq
41:00- Elshan’s favorite players
Mentioned: GM Mikhail Tal, Capablanca, Fischer, Positional Decision Making in Chess by GM Boris Gelfand
45:00- Elshan’s big picture chess advice
Mentioned: Searching for Bobby Fischer
51:00- Last minute FIDE Grand Swiss predictions (this was recorded before it started)
55:00- Thanks so much to Elshan for joining me again! You can reach him via his website:
https://gmelshan.com/contact/
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Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 52min
EP 450 – Hikaru in Louisiana: Stories from His Surprise Appearance in the Louisiana State Championship
As you may have heard, GM Hikaru Nakamura made a surprise appearance at the Louisiana State Championship, as part of fulfilling FIDE’s World Championship qualification criteria. In return, the players he encountered gained memories and stories they’ll never forget. In this multi-guest special episode, I speak with several of Hikaru’s opponents, as well as the tournament’s organizer, to hear their firsthand accounts:
Senior Tournament Director Richard Campbell (13:00) – on why he and his team initially thought Hikaru’s registration was a prank, and how they realized it was real.
20-year-old college student Harry James (32:00) – on how being paired with Hikaru in Round 1 unexpectedly cured his hangover.
Tulane graduate student Nahum Villamil Garces (47:30) – on the lifetime memories he made after facing Hikaru in Round 3.
Five-time Louisiana State Champion FM Nick Matta (1:06:00) – on how he forced himself to play Hikaru with no fear, and how the opportunity to play him re-energized his passion for chess.
Baton Rouge-based NM Charles Campbell (1:34:00) – on the mixed feelings he had before his last-round showdown with Hikaru, as he vied for the state champion title.
It was so much fun hearing the stories of our guests, and I was touched by the galvanizing effect Hikaru’s visit had on the Louisiana chess community
Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
And you can check out their new offerings here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
0:00-Introduction
8:00- If you know a scholastic player looking for high-level interactive online instruction, check out the Silver Knights Chess Academy:
chessacademy.com/online
Use code “pod” to save 50% on the first month
13:00- The first guest is Richard Campbell, the tournament organizer. How did he find out Hikaru was registered, did he think it was real? What did they do about security and cheat detection?
Mentioned: NM Jude Acers
32:00- Harry James joins me, he is a 20 year old Tulane University student who was Hikaru’s first round opponent. It is not often a 1563 USCF player gets to play a super GM!
Mentioned: Watch Hikaru’s recaps of his games vs. Harry and Nahum here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJCsHU4NVh8
47:30- Nahum Villamil Garces, Hikaru’s 3rd round opponent, joins me. Nahum is graduate student at Tulane University who was playing his first tournament in the U.S.
Mentioned: Gelfand-Nakamura 2010
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1567841
1:06:00- 5-time Louisiana State Champion FM Nick Matta joined me to reflect on an instructive loss, and to compare the experience of playing Hikaru to his clashes against IM Levy Rozman and GM Hans Niemann.
Mentioned:
You can see Hikaru’s recaps of his games against FM Nick Matta and NM Charles Campbell here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWuOczem3I&list=PL4KCWZ5Ti2H48YIUpaiTp6jTlwflBLFjI&index=4
You can see Nick’s game with Hikaru in this chess.com article
https://www.chess.com/news/view/nakamura-wins-louisiana-state-championship-candidates
Also Mentioned:Thinking Inside the Box by GM Jacob Aagaard
You can reach FM Nick Matta via his Lichess coaches page:
https://lichess.org/@/Candychessmaster
1:34:00- NM Charles Campbell joins the podcast to discuss lessons from his 7th round showdown with Hikaru, and the chess scenes in Nigeria (his native country) and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (where he lives).
You can also see his game in the chess.com recap, or on Hikaru’s YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWuOczem3I&list=PL4KCWZ5Ti2H48YIUpaiTp6jTlwflBLFjI&index=4
You can reach Charles Campbell via Chess.com or Lichess
https://www.chess.com/member/charlescandycampbell
https://lichess.org/@/Candychessmaster
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Sep 2, 2025 • 1h 2min
EP 449- GM Jesse Kraai on Confronting Tournament Fears, Mental and Physical Fitness, and What’s Next for Him and ChessDojo
ChessDojo’s GM Jesse Kraai is always one of my favorite people to talk chess with, yet somehow it had been five years since his last visit to the pod. Jesse returned at a great time, having been both studying and competing actively, and recently achieving his goal of qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Closed Championship. His recent over-the-board activity provided a springboard for us to discuss a wide range of topics, including:
How he has learned to confront his fears in tough, “meat-grinder” weekend tournaments
Why he believes weight training—and even certain health supplements—are important for older players, and may be the next frontier for professionals as well
How the ChessDojo curriculum and philosophy have evolved in recent years
I am also a big fan of Jesse’s book reviews on the ChessDojo YouTube channel, so I couldn’t let him go without sharing a few recommendations. We even closed the conversation by discussing Intermezzo, a recent novel by award-winning Irish writer Sally Rooney. I always admire Jesse’s dedication to improvement, and it’s a pleasure to hear his thoughtful perspectives on chess and beyond. Approximate timestamps of topics discussed are below.
0:02- Does Jesse ever find it hard to stay motivated to keep studying and reading chess books?
0:03- Reflections on Jesse’s recent tournaments
0:05- What are the keys to GM Alex Fishbein’s recent success?
0:09- What does Jesse do to work on his own chess?
Mentioned: Jesse’s review of the book TurboCharge Your Tactics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLBMmqk8an0
Also Mentioned:
Perfect Your Chess
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Your-Chess-Ukrainian-Authors/dp/1915328063/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KXGHHH199SMQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XJTzNVQ4N6jtqAJlUh5KzvNBpaX4Cs6DkIe2E-15eIhEw6YsZYPA5HdNzRFsEzgzHHBYkJjSSdBddTS1PPcTP6iRXtOUrqULwf5Sc2JQUMHafGmhNIGcuYGQ8MyXxIkQhoxaHmbKuO0u94ls6vl8vhiehM-UnVvrZ17ce4FPjsd3ho3b08KJh-vPw89-SF0ccgo36HEXf7zwi__wKMmX8iO1_7DXOTHH5Pk9OgLrBUA.kPo0CC2fg8nMzpfrIKoCIvkTyNUwFvqAT7-k0iXzEmI&dib_tag=se&keywords=perfect+your+chess&qid=1756510333&sprefix=Perfect+Your+Chess%2Caps%2C267&sr=8-1
12:00- ChessDojo and Jesse’s fitness regimen
Jesse’s IG post here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMqT1jOuxcK/
Check out Dr. Nick Vasquez’s blog here:
https://nickvasquezmd.substack.com/p/clearing-the-fog
17:00- Are elite chess players likely taking cognitive supplements or other drugs to help their performances?
20:00- What have been the biggest lessons from co-founding the ChessDojo?
25:00- What has Jesse learned from reading the works of IM Willy Hendriks?
28:00- Patreon mailbag question: What non-chess books influenced Jesse’s philosophy of chess improvement?
Mentioned: Mindset by Carol Dweck
Deep Work by Cal Newport
30:00- Patreon mailbag question: Are books as effective as modern digital tools for chess improvement?
32:00- Does Jesse have set hours for studying chess?
36:00- The strengths and weaknesses of Jesse’s competitors in next year’s US Senior Closed Championship.
Mentioned: GM Larry Christiansen, GM Gregory Kaidanov, FM Doug Eckert
38:00- New developments in the dojo
42:00- Jesse’s rest of 2026 tournaments
44:00- We share our thoughts on the chess-adjacent novel Intermezzo by popular author Sally Rooney
https://www.amazon.com/Intermezzo-Novel-Sally-Rooney/dp/0374602638
54:00- Parting book recs
Mentioned: Polgar Chess
Logical Chess Move by Move
58:00- Thanks to Jesse, for rejoining me! You can find him at the ChessDojo. (use code "ben" at checkout to save 10%
https://www.chessdojo.club/signup
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Aug 26, 2025 • 1h 2min
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:
Why he stays motivated to pursue tournament chess at an age when many slow down
How he built an opening repertoire around the offbeat 1…d6
What he gains from following lesser-known professional tournaments
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.
Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! If you sign up for Chessable Pro in order to unlock discounts and additional features, be sure to use the following link:
https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro
And you can check out their new offerings here:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
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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
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2024/11/19/ep-409-gm-fidel-corrales-jimenez-a-tireless-tournament-circuit-grinder-on-overcoming-setbacks-managing-energy-the-risks-of-otb-cheating-amp-his-love-for-the-scotch-openingnbsp
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:
Practical Chess Exercises
Evaluate like a Grandmaster
Attack with Mikhail Tal
56:00- Thanks to Max for joining me!
Here is how to reach him:
X:
https://x.com/chessgainz?lang=en
Chess.com:
https://www.chess.com/member/chess_gainz
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