Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast cover image

Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast

Latest episodes

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Jun 12, 2025 • 43min

EP 155 | What Made Norway Chess So Good?

The recent Norway Chess tournament takes center stage, showcasing a top player's triumph amidst wavering motivation. Intriguing match-ups, especially between Gukesh and Magnus, highlight the tournament's impact on chess. A shift in time controls from 30 to 10 seconds alters gameplay dynamics dramatically. A viral match sparks emotional responses from competitors, while the psychological aftermath of victory reveals unexpected vulnerabilities. Young talents like Arjun and Gukesh showcase contrasting styles, emphasizing chess's evolution as a battle of intellect and endurance.
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Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 5min

EP 154 | Is Chess an eSport?

The podcast dives into whether chess qualifies as an eSport, sparked by its inclusion in the Esports World Cup. The hosts debate ethical dilemmas surrounding sponsorships from controversial nations, like Saudi Arabia. They explore the changing dynamics between traditional chess and faster formats, alongside the implications for player demographics. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of chess in the context of political influences, raising important questions about the sport's future and its moral responsibilities.
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May 27, 2025 • 1h 23min

EP 153 | How To Improve Your Positional Play w/ GM Aagaard

Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo 0:00 Intro 1:51 How to improve your positional play 6:05 Book recommendations  8:18 Recognizing weaknesses in positional play 12:22 How to work with a coach 15:48 Killer Chess Training Camp 20:15 How Aagaard learned positional play 24:12 Certainty of action vs. certainty of outcome 26:06 Working with Sam -Shankland 29:58 Improving specific aspects of positional play 31:52 Certainty of action vs. certainty of outcome  35:16 How much should adult improvers play classical? 39:35 Micro-pains 45:46 How Renier Castellanos made GM 50:11 What's the best process for reviewing your games? 56:10 Solving simple tactics vs. difficult problems 57:28 What is calculation 1:05:17 Simple tactics vs. difficult problems 1:11:56 The #1 rule of training 1:14:00 The cycle of improvement 1:19:08 Whats next for Killer Chess Training Check out GM Aagaard at https://killerchesstraining.com! Ready to join the Dojo? Use code DOJO to get 40% off your first month, valid until June 15 https://chessdojo.club Thumbnail photo: Eric Rosen Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
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May 15, 2025 • 55min

EP 152 | Visualization and Aphantasia

Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo IM David Pruess has long been famous for reaching a high level in chess while having aphantasia. We talk about how this could be and what it says about visualization in chess. Visualization test - https://aphantasia.com/study/vviq/ Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
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11 snips
Apr 19, 2025 • 52min

EP 151 | Teaching Chess To Kids

Matan Prilletensky, the Executive Director of the National Scholastic Chess Foundation, shares his insights on teaching chess to kids. He discusses the balance between personal instruction and AI tools, emphasizing the importance of fostering passion over pressure. The conversation also delves into the evolving role of technology in chess education, the impact of screen time on focus and critical thinking, and the necessity of tournaments for motivation. Prilletensky's experiences highlight the importance of making chess accessible and enjoyable for young players.
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Apr 16, 2025 • 44min

EP 150 | DOJOVERSARY 5 - Origin Story

Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM David Pruess, and GM Jesse Kraai celebrate 5 years of ChessDojo with episode 150! ChessDojo's first video launched on March 14, 2020. The sensei talk about how the Dojo started, how it's evolved, and what's coming next in today's episode of Dojo Talks, the ChessDojo podcast. Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. 0:00 Intro 0:30 Origin Story 23:39 What's Next For Dojo  Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/7Uq2f5JAWb Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips #chess #chesspodcast
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11 snips
Apr 14, 2025 • 1h 1min

EP 149 | The Chess Revolution w/ Peter Doggers

Peter Doggers, a seasoned chess journalist and author of 'The Chess Revolution,' dives into the significant shifts in chess today. He explores the interplay of technology and journalism, shedding light on the evolving landscape of chess media. Doggers discusses the decline of engagement on Twitter and the rise of alternatives like Reddit, while emphasizing the need for journalistic integrity amidst commercial pressures. He also reflects on the challenges traditional chess faces as online rapid formats surge, highlighting the future of the game.
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Apr 1, 2025 • 51min

EP 148 | State of Scholastic Chess with WFM Elizabeth Spiegel

Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop The ChessDojo sensei GM Jesse Kraai and IM David Pruess sit down with WFM Elizabeth Speigel and talk about the state of scholastic chess in today's episode of Dojo Talks, the ChessDojo podcast. Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips #chess #chessmaster  CHAPTERS 0:00 Scholastic Chess with WFM Elizabeth Spiegel 15:33 Pedagogical Goals 22:20 Chess as School Subject 26:10 Brooklyn Castle and Bringing Chess Into Schools 32:00 Chess and Deep Thinking 39:13 The Impact of Chess on Children 44:16 Do More Girls Play Chess Than Before? 46:46 Strongest Players from WFM Spiegel's Program
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14 snips
Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 6min

EP 147 | FIDE Ratings & The Stats of Cheating (ft. Dr. Kenneth Regan)

Dr. Kenneth Regan, a computer scientist specializing in chess cheating detection, dives into the fascinating world of FIDE ratings. He reveals how recent changes have led to inflated ratings, particularly for players under 2000. The conversation touches on the challenges of accurately measuring skill and detecting cheating, where statistical analysis plays a crucial role. Regan shares insights on discrepancies faced by players post-pandemic and discusses the critical need for reliable data in both online and over-the-board chess.
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19 snips
Mar 14, 2025 • 57min

EP 146 | Is Chess 99% Tactics?

The hosts dive into whether chess is really 99% tactics, unpacking its historical significance. They explore the crucial difference between tactics and strategy, highlighting how modern tools shape gameplay. Discussions on the evolution of chess strategy reveal the narrative aspect often overlooked in tactics. The balance between long-term positioning and immediate moves is emphasized, alongside the limitation of focusing solely on tactical puzzles for improvement. Personal insights offer a fresh perspective on how to approach chess learning holistically.

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