
Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast
The official podcast of ChessDojo (IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM David Pruess, & GM Jesse Kraai). Most episodes are streamed live to twitch.tv/chessdojo.
Interested in improving your chess? Welcome to the Dojo! A structured plan to hold yourself accountable to and a group to do it with. - https://chessdojo.club
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
Latest episodes

Apr 1, 2024 • 56min
EP 112 | Ranking the 2024 FIDE Candidates
Join the training program - https://dojoscoreboard.com
Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojolive
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Who will be the next World Chess Champion? How do the 2024 FIDE Candidates stack up? GM Jesse Kraai, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, and IM David Pruess weigh in and rank the 2024 FIDE Candidates.
Want to support the channel?
Find all of our chess book 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.)
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
0:55 - Initial Thoughts on 2024 Candidates
7:32 - Ranking the 2024 Candidates
11:39 - Nijat Abasov
12:54 - Vidit Gujrathi
17:33 - Gukesh D.
22:12 - Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
25:17 - Ian Nepomniachtchi
32:15 - Alireza Firouzja
38:44 - Hikaru Nakamura
45:15 - Fabiano Caruana
52:52 - ChessDojo Membership Promo
53:44 - Bonus questions
#chess

Mar 18, 2024 • 56min
EP 111 | Openings
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Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojolive
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The Dojo (IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM David Pruess, and GM Jesse Kraai) discuss openings and blitz chess in this podcast episode of Dojo Talks. This episode dives into the critical aspects of chess study, particularly the emphasis on openings and the allure yet potential pitfalls of blitz chess. We also explore the balance between studying chess for enjoyment versus serious improvement. Whether a beginner under 1500 or an advancing player, this discussion sheds light on how to approach chess study effectively.
Want to support the channel?
Find all of our chess book 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.)
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
Don't forget to subscribe for more chess analysis, rapid games, and expert insights into the world of chess. Whether it's mastering chess openings or getting the upper hand in blitz chess, ChessDojo is your go-to for enhancing your chess strategy and skills.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro to Dojo Talks
0:50 - Importance of Studying Openings
3:45 - Opening Study: Fun vs Compulsion
8:12 - Negative Impacts of Opening Study
14:01 - Active vs Passive Learning Strategies
18:35 - Chess Engines and Opening Preparation
22:48 - Optimal Time for Opening Study
23:39 - Global Trends in Opening Study
28:10 - Ideal Level to Begin Opening Study
30:50 - Effective Opening Study Techniques
32:50 - Blitz for Opening Practice
38:20 - Risks of Blitz for Opening Study
41:41 - Ben Johnson’s Insights on Blitz
43:10 - Evaluating Blitz's Effectiveness in Learning
49:00 - Generational Changes in Chess Study
51:12 - Blitz Playing Styles
51:54 - Closing Remarks on Openings
#Sparring #OnlineTraining #RepertoireTechniques #PositionPractice #Chessable
#Chessable #Improvement #Openings #PositionPractice #Tactics

Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 17min
EP 110 | The FIDE Rating Boost ft. ChessNumbers
Join the training program - https://dojoscoreboard.com
Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojolive
Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop
GM Jesse Kraai, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, and ChessNumbers (Tai Pruce-Zimmerman) talk about the FIDE rating conversion/update and deflation, and the statistics and math involved.
Want to support the channel?
Find all of our chess book 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.)
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
0:00 Chess Rating Deflation and FIDE's Rating Boost
7:28 Minimum Ratings and National/Local Ratings
15:54 How Many Points Were Just Added?
24:51 How Will This Affect High Rated Players?
34:44 Is It Easier or Harder to Gain Rating?
48:54 ChessDojo Training Program Changes
#chess

Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 40min
EP 109 | Ranking the Best Money Spent on Chess
Join the training program - https://dojoscoreboard.com
Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojolive
Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop
Not sure how to spend money on chess? GM Jesse Kraai, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, and IM David Pruess rank the best and worst ways you can spend your money on chess, and share what they believe are the top investments in chess.
Want to support the channel?
Find all of our chess book 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.)
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
0:00 How The Episode Will Go
3:07 Books
9:13 Camps
16:00 Tournaments
26:49 Coaching
34:23 Courses
41:10 Online Programs
46:57 Clubs
53:08 Chess.com
1:02:19 Group Classes
1:05:11 Free Content
1:13:08 ChessBase
1:22:38 Online Sites
1:25:28 Nice Chess Sets
1:30:12 Magazines
1:37:26 Ranking Recap
#chess

Feb 21, 2024 • 57min
EP 108 | Spaced Repetition
The ChessDojo sensei, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM David Pruess, and GM Jesse Kraai, talk about using spaced repetition in chess training (the next topic from NM Ben Johnson's book, "Perpetual Chess Improvement"). Get your copy of Ben's book here: https://amzn.to/3I3PjrM.
Want to support the channel?
Find all of our chess book 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.)
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
0:00 Spaced Repetition, or The Spacing Effect
5:05 How to Use Spaced Repetition
28:24 Repetition in the Dojo Training Program
48:31 Intensity of Study
51:56 Final Points and What's to Come
#chess

Feb 19, 2024 • 1h 2min
EP 107 | The Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge
Join the training program - https://dojoscoreboard.com
Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojolive
Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop
IM David Pruess, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, and GM Jesse Kraai talk about Magnus Carlsen's tournament, the Freestyle Chess GOAT Challenge, the future of Chess 960/Fischer Random/Freestyle Chess, World Champion Ding Liren's performance, and much more in today's episode of the ChessDojo podcast, Dojo Talks!
Want to support the channel?
Find all of our chess book recommendations (& more!) o n 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.)
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
0:00 What is the Freestyle Chess GOAT Challenge?
2:29 Thoughts on the Name
6:34 Why The Colored Jackets?
8:17 Format of the Event
9:33 Will Freestyle Chess Take Over?
21:24 Knockout Matches
24:22 Who Gets to Compete
26:28 What Should Chess 960/Fischer Random/Freestyle Chess Be Called?
29:58 How Are the Players Performing?
30:59 Ding Liren’s Performance
38:57 Magnus Carlsen’s Performance
40:28 Can You Be Much Better or Worse at Variants?
47:54 Will Fischer Random Take Off?
#chess

Feb 12, 2024 • 54min
EP 106 | Once Great Chess Companies
GM Jesse Kraai, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, and IM David Pruess talk about chess companies that were once great.
Interested in improving? Check out the Dojo Training Program: https://chessdojo.club
Chess is more than a game, it's a lifestyle. Live it with ChessDojo merch: https://www.chessdojo.club/shop
Want to support the channel? Donate here - https://streamelements.com/chessdojolive
Find all of our chess book recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo
Follow ChessDojo here:
Website: https://chessdojo.club
Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chess_dojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/

Feb 1, 2024 • 54min
EP 105 | How Much is Enough?
GM Jesse Kraai, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, and IM David Pruess talk about how much is enough - How do you know when you have done enough work, or how do you know you have achieved enough? The Sensei discuss life and chess today, and what it means to pursue things.
Find all of our chess book 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/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
#chess
0:00 Intro
0:45 How High of a Chess Rating is Enough?
10:24 How Many Hours of Chess per Day is Enough?
18:39 How Much is Enough for the Dojo?
37:22 How Much Income is Enough?
48:00 Wrap-up

Jan 29, 2024 • 51min
EP 104 | Handshakes
Watch "Closing Gambit" https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07DPWCW7C/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojolive
Join the training program - https://dojoscoreboard.com
Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojolive
Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop
Want to support the channel?
Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojolive/tip
GM Jesse Kraai, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, and IM David Pruess talk handshakes in chess.
Find all of our chess book 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/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips
0:00 Ukraine, Russia, Karpov, Korchnoi, and 'Closing Gambit'
7:10 Should You Ever Refuse a Handshake?
14:49 Should FIDE Require Handshakes?
18:24 Rude Tournament Behavior
23:17 Famous Handshake Deniers
31:36 Who the Sensei Wouldn't Shake Hands With
48:44 David and Jesse Try to Get Banned
#chess

Jan 17, 2024 • 1h 5min
EP 103 | Can Neal Bruce Make Master?
Neal Bruce of #chesspunks fame has been diligently studying and pursuing chess as an adult improver. The ChessDojo sensei GM Jesse Kraai, IM David Pruess, and IM Kostya Kavutskiy discuss whether Neal Bruce will be able to make his goal of National Master (NM) in today's episode of the DojoTalks Podcast.
0:00 David vs Coffee
0:18 Chess Rating Gains as an Adult
9:37 Making Predictions About Goals
13:57 Poll Results: Can Adult Improvers Make NM?
20:24 Chess Training as an Adult
34:39 Rating Baselines, Age, and Improvement
51:41 Value of Playing OTB Chess Games
53:23 Kostya's GM Quest
54:12 How Many OTB Games per Year?
56:21 Can You Prove Jesse Wrong?
1:01:05 New in the Dojo Training Program
Want to support the channel?
Patreon -
/ chessdojo
Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojol...
Find all of our chess book 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/chessdojolive
Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo
Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chess_dojo/
Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com/
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