How To Chess

The final episode of Season 3 of How to Chess is a rare solo pod, where Ben succinctly summarizes the key lessons about chess role models that were imparted by the How to Chess guests. As Ben notes, the guests have highlighted role models ranging from elite players to local players to renowned endgame specialists, and luckily we don't need to choose just one person to learn from in our chess studi...

Luciana Morales is a Peruvian Woman International Master with a resume full of impressive accomplishements! She has won the Pan-American Youth Championship no less than 3 times. She also won the Zonal Tournament 2.4 in São Paulo. The win qualified her for the 2004 Women's World Championship, making her the first Peruvian player to do so. And when she studied at the University of Texas - Brownsvill...

Alex Astaneh is an Irish International Master, chess coach, and author. Astaneh's chess journey began at a young age, and he quickly found success on the Irish chess circuit. At the age of 11, he represented Ireland at the World Youth Championships, which got him hooked on the game. His successes continued, having won the Irish Championship on three separate occasions (2010, 2017, 2018) and has re...

Jorden van Foreest is a well accomplished Grandmaster from the Netherlands. Some of the highlights of his career includes winning the Dutch Championship in 2016, winning the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Tournament in 2021, and serving as Magnus Carlsen's second in the 2021 World Championship. But what does he have to say about role models in chess? Lifetime Repertoires: Tarrasch Defense: https://w...

Laura Smith is an American chess teacher and educator. She began learning the game at the fairly young age of 5, taught by her father. By the time she was 6, she was already enrolled in chess classes. Her accomplishments include becoming the highest-rated 13-year-old, male or female, in the US in 2002. She competed in the US Women's Chess Championship in 2006, earned a silver medal in the Girls Un...

Ono is an Adult Improver, chess blogger, chess podcaster and chess coach. Some say he is obsessed with chess. But, what does he have to say about role models in chess? Mastering Endgame Strategy: https://www.chessable.com/mastering-e... Arkell's Endings: https://www.chessable.com/arkells-end... Ono's socials: https://www.theonozone.com/ Youtube:   h / @theonozone   X:...

Alex Banzea is a Romanian International Master, growing Twitch streamer, YouTuber, chess coach, and acclaimed Chessable author. Since early age, Alex has received coaching of the highest level: Grandmaster Constantin Lupulescu, one of the most accomplished Romanian players ever. What does Alex has to say about role models in chess? The Caro-Kann: Simplified: https://www.chessable.com/the-caro-kann...

International Master Yuriy Krykun is a chess player, coach, and author. This rising star of the chess world has shined so bright that he’s gotten attention from beginners and grandmasters alike. But, what does he has to say about role models in chess? IM Yuriy Krykun's author page: https://www.chessable.com/author/Yuri... Black is Back: Old Benoni: https://www.chessable.com/black-is-ba... Yuriy Kr...

Ben Johnson talks role models in chess with gold-winning player/trainer/coach, GM Ivan Sokolov. Ivan Sokolov is a Grandmaster, author, coach, and formerly one of the top-ranked chess players in the world. Sokolov was the coach and captain of the gold-winning Uzbek team in the 2022 Olympiad. GM Ivan Sokolov's author page: https://www.chessable.com/author/Ivan... Endgame Expertise: Rook Endgames htt...

Just a quick announcement that Season 3 is finally here! The topic of this season is chess role models.

CM Vjekoslav "Vjeko" Nemec is a Chessable Author, a chess blogger and journalist, and a fierce blitz player with ratings over 2600 on both Lichess and Chess.com. In our conversation, Vjeko shares some tips for improving your blitz game, but also discusses the dark side of a love for blitz, as it can be addicting and sometimes causes him to wonder if he is using his chess time optimally. In our con...

This week's guest on How to Chess is Chessable author and renowned trainer GM Johan Hellsten. He joins the podcast this week to share some tips about how to analyze one's one chess games. Johan touches on how to utilize engines, and the different types of mistakes he sees in his students games. Johan's landmark Mastering Chess books/ Chessable series is packed with instructive positions and is rev...

NM Bryan Tillis is a popular Chessable Author, an accredited FIDE trainer, and the founder of the Florida based chess academy, Palm Beach Chess. In our conversation, Bryan shares some practical tips to help adult chess players remember their openings. Bryan discusses the concept of "memory markers" and shares a few other tips that can help us make the most of our limited opening study time. You ca...

GM Sahaj Grover is an Indian born, South Africa based chess trainer and Chessable Author. He amassed many youth titles, and was the 2017 and 2018 South African Open Champion. Sahaj is also the co-author (with FM Daniel Barrish) of Timeless Technique: Strategic Endgames , a great practical guide to endgames for intermediate and advanced players. In our conversation, Sahaj shares some tips for blend...

Omar Mills is a Florida based Product Manager at Disney parks by day, and a recently converted chess die-hard by night. As a follow up to Neal Bruce’s suggestions before one’s first chess tournament (in Episode 4), I thought it would be fun to hear from a player after he had played his first tournament. Omar has quickly built a loyal Twitter following due to his evident passion for chess, so he wa...

Dr. Christopher Chabris is a renowned cognitive scientist and the best-selling co-author of the book The Invisible Gorilla . In this conversation, Chris discusses what it means to have "chess culture" and how one can go about acquiring it. Check out Dr. Chabris' website here: http://www.chabris.com/ In addition to the books we discussed, here are a few Chessable courses I would recommend to help y...

Andrew Webb works in Product Management for a software company and is also a "chess dad" and a dedicated chess amateur who has managed to gain about 250 FIDE points in his 40s. Andrew credits a lot of his success to lessons he learned from working with his coaches, NM Dan Heisman and GM Nigel Davies, and in this conversation he shares a few of those lessons. Relevant links below:   Andrews's...

USCF National Master, Chess Steps trainer, and Chessable Author Han Schut on how to learn from your chess mistakes. Links: Han Schut's Chessable Courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/HanSchut/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_17331070731&utm_content=&gclid=CjwKCAjwoMSWBhAdEiwAVJ2ndl04_FPMT5YzkK45f63EsAkp4ppCSFKDMrBi1_CBjthMlkYd_5ZBwxoCr88QAvD_BwE Han's Twitter...

I briefly discuss the pending return of How to Chess !! :)

Chessable author and Founder of Next Level Coaching, FM Dalton Perrine joins the pod to discuss an oft-neglected aspect of chess thinking- how to defend against tactics. Check out his Chessable course in the link below: https://www.chessable.com/survive-thrive-how-to-blunder-less-and-defend-better/course/80629/ Follow Dalton on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/MattyDPerrine

Popular Author, Trainer, and Founding Member of the ChessDojo, Kostya Kavutskiy stops by to discuss his excellent new Chessable course, Endgame Studies 101 . Check out ChessDojo's YouTube here Follow IM Kostya Kavutskiy's Twitter here

In his own words, GM Vladimir Kramnik answers the trivia question from How to Chess Episode 19 about the first time he beat a GM in a simul.

Legendary former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik stops by to discuss 3 things to think about when its your move in a chess game. As GM Kramnik details in his Chessable course, Thinking in Chess, A How to Guide , it can be useful to use the following framework when its your move... Look for tactics (can i win material?) Is there a threat? (are pieces hanging?) What is the plan of your opponent? (Wh...

FM Peter Giannatos is the Founder and Executive Director of the Charlotte Chess Center and Scholastic Academy (CCCSA), and an accomplished chess teacher and improver. Follow the CCCSA on Twitter here Twitch here Info on the Corporate Chess League here . Perpetual Chess Podcast Episode 241 with FM Peter Giannatos here Follow Ben Johnson on Twitter here https://twitter.com/Bennyficial1 If you want t...

IM Lawrence Trent shares some memorable advice that has been imparted to him from his GM friends, plus gives an update on his GM title chase and his rivalry with IM Greg Shahade. Ben Johnson https://twitter.com/Bennyficial1 Lawrence Trent https://twitter.com/LawrenceTrentIM Greg Shahade https://twitter.com/GregShahade/status/1430546789065658377 If you want to build your repertoire visit: www.chess...