The Chess Cognition Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with FM Midas Ratsma from the Netherlands, a renowned Chessable author with eight successful courses. Midas is known for his practical and engaging approach to teaching openings, making his courses favorites among club players and beginners. We dive into his opening philosophy and the strategies behind his course design. We also explore Midas’s chess coaching philosophy, where he emphasizes interactivity, consistent plans, and repetition for effective learning. Midas shares how his experience as a coach has shaped his courses, ensuring they address real-world struggles of students while offering actionable solutions. Along the way, we tackle topics like how to link opening preparation to middlegame strategies, the importance of chunking and pattern recognition, and the critical role of tactics in chess improvement. In addition, Midas tests us with some of the toughest puzzles from his Beginner's Guide to Chess Tactics, offering a glimpse into the depth and creativity of his course content. We also chat about the collaborative process of creating courses, and his upcoming Jobava London repertoire.

In this very special episode, I had an insightful conversation with the legendary chess coach NM Dan Heisman. With an illustrious career spanning decades, Dan has authored 14 books, developed a Chessable course, and helped thousands of students improve since he began coaching in 1996. His expertise shines through as we delve into the nuances of chess improvement, from bridging the knowledge-skill gap to the importance of thought process and time management. Dan shares valuable insights into his journey, including his work with renowned players and groundbreaking contributions to chess coaching, such as coining terms like "hope chess", "handwaving", "ABC Error", "counting" and "wise adult syndrome." A major focus of our discussion revolves around the critical skills needed for chess improvement, such as blunder-check and criticality assessment. Dan emphasizes the importance of improving both knowledge (patterns and principles) and skills (analysis, time management, and perseverance). Drawing on his decades of coaching, Dan recounts fascinating anecdotes, like the curious case of a student with perfect visualization but flawed analysis. We also discuss practical strategies for players, such as balancing blitz and classical games, and how to train effectively by focusing on process-oriented methods. This episode is packed with actionable advice for players of all levels, particularly adult improvers navigating the challenges of chess growth. Dan's dedication to helping players reach their potential shines throughout the conversation, offering viewers a wealth of strategies and motivation to refine their approach to the game. Whether you're struggling with transitioning from knowledge to skill, managing time effectively, or avoiding blunders, this discussion provides a masterclass in practical chess improvement. 00:00 Dan Heisman: A Brief Introduction 04:25 Common Misconceptions About Chess Improvement 09:37 The Role of Knowledge vs. Skills in Chess 16:22 How Blitz Chess Can Help (or Hurt!) Improvement 21:23 Time Management 27:12 Is There Luck in Chess? 29:42 Ideal Thought Process 37:11 Checklists 44:00 Diagnosing Thought Process Mistakes with De Groot Exercises 56:33 The Evolution of Chess Content for Beginners 1:03:43 Dan's Career Highlights and Coaching Philosophy 1:23:12 Visualization/Board Vision/Tactical Vision 1:36:46 The Woodpecker Method 1:46:50 Learning Chess Notation 1:54:43 Creating a Chess Legacy

In this episode, we’re joined by Aiden Rayner, a chess coach and visualization expert, from Australia. Aiden discusses the critical role of visualization in chess, explaining how most resources overlook direct training in this skill and why he decided to design targeted exercises to fill this gap. Aiden’s innovative approach, blending structured cognitive training with practical exercises, has helped players of all levels, even influencing grandmasters to incorporate his techniques. We delve into the nuances of working memory and its limitations in chess, shedding light on how cognitive bottlenecks lead to blunders. He offers actionable advice on creating personalized checklists and forming habits that interrupt automatic, often flawed, intuitive responses during games. The discussion also explores how visualization doesn’t have to mean visualizing in the literal sense, emphasizing that players should lean into how their brain naturally processes chess information—be it through verbal narratives, spatial awareness, or other personal methods. The conversation takes a deeper dive into training methodologies, focusing on isolating and intensifying specific skills to enhance overall performance. Aiden shares practical exercises, including a blindfold chess drill designed to stretch cognitive capacity, and discusses the importance of prioritizing key patterns for improvement. The synergy between cognitive science and chess improvement is highlighted throughout the episode, providing listeners with a treasure trove of insights and tools to elevate their game, whether they’re beginners or seasoned players. 00:00 Who Is Aiden Rayner? 07:11 Visualization Training/Chess Improvement 10:58 Conceptualization/Visualization 12:18 Aphantasia 20:53 Working Memory 24:03 Freezing/Forgetting/Freewheeling 29:10 Intuition 33:24 Ghost Pieces 37:38 Building Habits 41:24 How to Best Learn Chess Patterns and Chunks 49:05 Checklists 53:08 Who is Your Daddy and What Does He Do? 1:02:26 First and Second-Order Effects 1:09:12 Ideal Training Intensity 1:20:33 Blindfold Exercise

In this podcast episode, I talked to FM Dalton Perrine, an accomplished chess player, Chessable author, and coach from the United States. Dalton has five Chessable courses, with a sixth on the way. A former student of GM Sam Shankland, Dalton reflects on the process of creating high-quality instructional content. GM Shankland collaborates with Dalton on his courses by providing video coverage. We also discussed Dalton's latest Chessable project, Seal the Deal: How to Gain and Convert Middlegame Advantages, which is about gaining and converting long-term strategic advantages. Dalton emphasizes the importance of breaking down complex games into trainable segments to help learners practice and understand key concepts in manageable steps. He also shares a sneak peek of positions from the course. Beyond chess courses, Dalton provides insights into his current pursuit of the Woodpecker Method to sharpen tactical skills and shares anecdotal evidence of its potential benefits, including a recent 200-point blitz rating surge. 00:00 Introduction 03:27 Survive & Thrive: How to Blunder Less and Defend Better 08:17 Blunder Check 13:56 4-Step Thinking Process 19:51 Seal the Deal: How to Gain and Convert Middlegame Advantages 25:11 How He Structured the Course 30:44 Sneak Peek into the Course: Space Advantage 47:15 Collaborating with GM Sam Shankland 50:16 The Woodpecker Method

This discussion features Benjamin Balas, a visual cognition expert from North Dakota State University. He uncovers how our visual system contributes to chess blunders, particularly through visual crowding that confuses players, especially beginners. Prof. Balas shares practical strategies for enhancing blunder-checking skills, emphasizing the importance of effective board scanning and developing memory chunks. He also discusses eye-tracking research that highlights how experts manage complex positions, offering listeners valuable insights to improve their game.

In this episode, I’m excited to host Dan Bock, also known as Bold Move by Dan on X. Dan’s journey is truly inspiring—he achieved a 400-point rating increase as an adult improver, documenting every step of his path to success in his popular blog, Chess Improvement Lab. In our conversation, we dig deep into his unique approach to learning, his use of flashcards for improving his game, and how structured thinking, deliberate practice, and checklist routines shaped his path to improvement. Dan shares invaluable advice for chess enthusiasts, highlighting how he leverages detailed self-analysis and carefully constructed personalized checklists to eliminate blunders and refine his thought process. We discuss the importance of targeted improvement, how repetition and review play a role in learning, and why he believes in prioritizing one’s own mistakes as the best path to growth. With over 2,000 custom flashcards, Dan takes a practical and organized approach to chess that keeps him motivated and consistently improving. We also dive into some of Dan’s most effective strategies, including his innovative “Move Highlighter” tool and how he learns from his blitz games. This episode covers crucial improvement techniques and is packed with actionable tips on everything from blunder checking to cognitive habits that any adult improver can apply. 00:00 Introduction 02:02 Dan's Brief Chess History 04:42 11 Things I Did to Gain 400 Points 05:47 The Role of Blitz 09:22 Flashcards 11:20 Engine Feedback 12:16 Move Highlighter 15:09 Anki 19:25 Learning From Own Mistakes 23:12 Checklists 25:58 Checks Captures Threats 30:05 Dan's 3 Checklist Questions 31:42 What Does Their Move Unblock? 38:08 What Does My Move Unprotect? 40:07 The Importance of Playing Games 42:53 If I Make This Move, Am I Allowing a Check? 48:32 What is Becoming Loose If I Make This Move? 50:50 Did I Carefully Check For Alignments Before Making My Move? 53:53 Wishful Thinking 54:20 Loose Piece + Alignment 56:28 If I Make That Move Am I Allowing a Knight Fork? 59:31 If I Make That Move Am I Allowing a Pawn Fork? 01:01:19 Can They TRAP One of My Pieces If I Make That Move? 01:02:42 If I Make That Move Am I Allowing an Unstoppable Passed Pawn? 01:04:41 Simplifying & Focusing on Fundamentals

National Master Robert Ramirez, a respected Chessable author and educator, shares his journey from novice to coach. He discusses the benefits of system openings, which simplify learning for busy adults and kids alike. The conversation highlights cognitive strategies like chunking and pattern recognition in mastering chess. Robert emphasizes productive failure in learning and the importance of tailored teaching methods. He also shares insights on tracking progress and the joy of teaching chess, along with upcoming projects like his new course on strategy.

Dr. Nick Vasquez, a medical doctor and avid chess improver, shares his journey from a 1650 to a 1913 rating, driven mainly by visualization techniques. He discusses how these methods unlock potential for adult players facing unique learning challenges. Nick emphasizes the value of productive failure as a learning tool and the need for personalized teaching approaches. He highlights how psychological insights can help in overcoming chess plateaus, making the learning process both engaging and effective.

In this exciting episode, I sit down with Solveig Friberg, also known as Rookie Redhead, a rising chess star from Norway who started playing chess in 2022 and has already made impressive strides, reaching a FIDE rating of 1570! But Solveig is more than just a chess enthusiast—she's a professional educator. She shares her unique insights into education and psychology, blending them with her chess journey. Whether you're an adult improver, a chess learner, or a coach, this conversation will offer valuable lessons about learning chess, overcoming barriers, and enhancing your educational approach. Solveig shares her fascinating story of falling in love with chess after watching the World Chess Championship on Norwegian TV and realizing the game's incredible depth. From setting a New Year's resolution to learn chess to working with coaches, playing in tournaments, and crafting her popular Chessable course, "Breaking 1000," Solveig opens up about the dedication and mindset it takes to improve. We also discuss the social side of chess learning, group dynamics, and how these pedagogical principles can boost anyone’s chess progress, especially for adult learners navigating rating anxiety and psychological barriers. 01:38 How Solveig Rediscovered the Game 07:40 Chessable Course: Breaking 1000 13:57 Misconceptions Around Chess Improvement 20:42 Productive Failure: Why Reflection and Feedback Are Crucial 27:52 Social Aspect of Chess Learning 32:14 Advantages of Group Lessons 38:54 Solveig's Upcoming Course on Cultivating Courage Over the Board 47:28 What Makes Chess So Fascinating? 52:00 How Chess Teaches Us About Ourselves

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Chessable with an expert guest, Benner, a Danish chess player with above 2000 ELO rating otb and Chessable superuser with over 1700 study streak days and five published courses. Benner moved from 700 to 2200 ELO (online) in only 5 years by extensively studying Chessable courses! Benner shares valuable insights on how to navigate Chessable, discussing the MoveTrainer technology, spaced repetition, and how to best use Chessable for both openings and general chess improvement. The discussion highlighted personalized study materials and focusing on one’s weaknesses, whether through tactical exercises or understanding common chess patterns, and the potential pitfalls of attempting to memorize thousands of variations. Benner stressed the value of studying recurrent tactical, positional, or endgame patterns, like those found in "Common Chess Patterns" and "Checkmate Patterns," which help players build a solid foundation for improvement. He also gave good tips on studying strategy courses and which Chessable study settings are best suited for those courses. He showed us all the good tools on Chessable that maximize learning and make learning intentional.