Épisodes

  • EP 458: Pawel Kacprzak: The Founder of ChessVision AI on Scanning Chess Diagrams, Digital Flashcards, and Building a Chess Business
    Nov 11 2025
    Polish programmer and chess enthusiast Pawel Kacprzak joins me to share the story behind ChessVision AI. ChessVision AI is a helpful app and browser extension that can scan chess diagrams and connect them to related YouTube videos and chess books, and allows you to easily turn these positions into digital flashcards. We talk about how Pawel’s side project grew into a full-time business, what it takes to build tech tools for chess players, and what Pawel has planned next for his growing platform.Pawel also discusses his enthusiasm for following professional chess, and his own approach to chess improvement. I have become a big fan of Pawel’s product, and I enjoyed chatting with him. Thanks to our sponsor Chessable.com, check out their Black Friday sale here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/?utm_source=chessable&utm_medium=shop_hero_banner&utm_campaign=enblackfriday2_2025 0:02- Pawel Kacprzak joins me! Mentioned: NM Han Schut’s video overviews of Chessvision AI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqwK8Q1NEjg 03:00 The Impact of Daniel Naroditsky 06:00 Pavel's Journey into Chess and Programming 10:30 Evolution of Chess Vision AI 17:00 Patreon mailbag question: Can one use chessvision ai to scan diagrams from physical chess boards? 19:00 Patreon mailbag question: What features will Pawel work on developing next? 23:00 Subscription Models and Accessibility 28:00 Community Engagement and Support 29:30- Patreon mailbag question: Does Pawel consider himself an adult improver? 33:30 Chess Resources and Learning 35:30 Closing Thoughts and Advice Thanks to Pawel for joining me! Here is how to reach him, as well as how to find out more about ChessvisionAI: Email- Pawel at chessvision.ai Twitter/X- https://twitter.com/ChessvisionAI Discord- https://discord.gg/zkcBPhWhme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • Bonus Pod- After Plenty of Upsets- 32 Players Remain in the FIDE World Cup (with IM Michael Rahal from Goa)
    Nov 10 2025
    The 2025 FIDE World Cup has been as dramatic as ever. Top seeds like GM Gukesh D, Ian Nepomniatchtchi, and Anish Giri have been eliminated, but we still have some top 10 stalwarts remaining, as well as many surprise advancers to the Round of 32. Joining from Goa, FIDE Press Officer IM Michael Rahal helps break it all down. We discuss: Should we be surprised by the number of upsets? The performances of veterans like GM Peter Leko (still in) and GM Vasyl Ivanchuk (eliminated) Whether the reports of poor playing conditions in Goa are well-founded Key matchups to watch when play resumes tomorrow, and who might clinch a FIDE Candidates spot Timestamps for topics discussed are below. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the World Cup 04:00- IM Michael Rahal joins 06:32 Patreon mailbag question- Does the number of upsets suggest that the top players are protected? Mentioned: Chessnumbers-data https://x.com/ChessNumbers/status/1986634183415111831?s=20 Peter Leko interview with Chessbase India- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Fh1lQBmGI&t=3s 09:00 Notable Matches 11:30 The Impact of Player Preparation and Conditions 15:30 Match Predictions and Player Insights 18:00 Reflections on Chess Legends and Their Influence 23:00 Reflections on Ivanchuk’s Press Conference 25:00 Reflections on Daniel Naroditsky 28:00 Tournament Conditions and Player Experiences Tweet from GM Neiksans: https://x.com/GMNeiksans/status/1986117054911684978?s=20 37:00 Upcoming FIDE Candidates in Cyprus 39:00- Breaking down the brackets https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1osncpq/world_cup_2025_pairings_for_final_32/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button 46:00 Rest Day Activities and Team Spirit 48:00- Thanks to IM Michael Rahal for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him: X: https://x.com/Rahal_Michael Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelanthony.rahal/ FIDE YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 min
  • EP 457- IM Carissa Yip: Her Memories of Danya, Pursuing Chess Professionally and Reflecting on her 4th US Women’s Championship
    Nov 4 2025
    Fresh off her third consecutive (and fourth overall) U.S. Women’s Championship title, I was honored to catch up with 22-year-old IM Carissa Yip. Carissa has taken a gap year from Stanford University and is immersed in a demanding schedule of training and competition. She’s had some excellent results this year and is now ranked #21 among women in the world. Despite her success, Carissa has also experienced the emotional ups and downs that every serious chess player can relate to. In our conversation, she discusses: Her personal recollections of GM Daniel Naroditsky, including how he once went out of his way to help her prepare during a major tournament. The helpful opening advice recently shared with her by her friend and coach, GM Awonder Liang. How she overcame sluggish starts to win both the 2025 U.S. Women’s Championship and the Cairns Cup. Carissa shared a mix of funny stories and thoughtful reflections on her training regimen, the gender gap in chess, and her advice for improvement. She even recommended a novel to read and touched on her passion for writing. I really enjoyed catching up with Carissa and am excited to see her bright future continue to unfold. 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/ 0:02- Carissa joins the pod. She begins by sharing her recollections of GM Daniel Naroditsky Mentioned: Zatonskih-Yip 2020 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2011266 0:05- Carissa had slow starts at both Cairns Cup and this US Champs- Why? 0:07- Carissa’s training regimen Mentioned: Killer Chess Training 0:09- Carissa’s Opening Approach Mentioned: GM Awonder Liang Check out Carissa’s US Championship Games here: https://lichess.org/study/etqoyX0E/QRi8cCdw 17:00- How to approach a new opening 19:00- Carissa’s approach to training games 22:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Would Carissa prefer a corporate career or to pursue chess professionally?” 24:30- Carissa retells the story of a funny bet between GM Awonder Liang and GM Sam Shankland Mentioned: February 2025 Chess Life Magazine https://new.uschess.org/magazine/feb-25-chess-life 28:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How can I overcome a slow start, as Carissa has done repeatedly?” 36:00- Carissa’s fiction recommendation: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan 38:00- Carissa’ passion for writing 40:00- How does Carissa describe the e-sports experience of the recent USA vs. India match? l 48:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Why does Carissa think no female player subsequent to Judit has reached her level of dominance?” 54:00- Patreon mailbag question: “If Carissa could ask men in chess to do one thing differently, what would it be?” 57:00- Carissa discusses her friendship with rising American star, IM Alice Lee 59:00- Carissa’s upcoming tournaments 1:01- Carissa’ chess improvement advice! Thanks to Carissa for joining me again! Be sure to follow her on X and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carissayip/ https://x.com/carissayipchess?lang=en Image in thumbnail by Lennart Ootes for the St. Louis Chess Club https://www.flickr.com/photos/stlchessclub/54876804247/in/album-72177720329882462 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 8 min
  • EP 456- GM Andy Soltis on Plateaus, Dual Careers, and his Many Brushes with Chess Legends
    Oct 28 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 10 min
  • [Replay] GM Daniel Naroditsky's 2020 Perpetual Chess Interview
    Oct 21 2025
    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 23 min
  • EP 455- Marcos Patricio Macedo: A Forensic Detective’s Reflections on Chess, Balance, and Burnout
    Oct 14 2025
    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 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min
  • EP 454 — Hanging Pawns (Stjepan Tomić) Shares Chess Book Recs for Every Level & Discusses His Big New Project
    Oct 7 2025
    Stjepan Tomić has built a sizable following through his beloved Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel, but good old-fashioned chess books remain his true passion. That passion has led to his ambitious new project, ChessReads.com, a free platform designed to help players of all levels find the right book for their needs through crowdsourced reviews. The project already features its own YouTube channel, Discord server, and a growing website filled with helpful writeups. To celebrate the site’s launch, Stjepan joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about the enduring value of chess literature. We answered listener questions about whether books are still as vital as ever, how Stjepan chooses what to read next, and we shared recommendations across nearly every rating band. Stjepan also updated us on his own chess improvement goals and upcoming tournaments. As a fellow chess bibliophile, I’m excited about the ChessReads project and enjoyed catching up with Stjepan. Timestamps for all topics and rating ranges are below, along with Amazon affiliate links to the books mentioned. 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. Below are shortened show notes, for more complete show notes with links for all of the book recs, click here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Io2RMjGWDpncNDRcUMOlNmYHKMvdxUP1TGmGJFtdB4/edit?tab=t.0 0:03- Stjepan joins the pod! What is the chessreads.com origin story? Mentioned: Chessreads Discord- https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4 0:07- Patreon mailbag question: 1) Are chessbooks useful/optimal as chess improvement tools in the modern digital era? 2) Are modern books and older classics equally useful? 19:00- Patreon mailbag question: Could Stjepan recommend a few books that can be read without a chessboard? Mentioned: Perpetual Chess Improvement, Thinking Inside the Box 23:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Stjepan select which chess book to read next? 25:00- Patreon mailbag question: What recommendations does Stjepan have for books about thinking processes? 30:00- Book Recommendations by rating range, starting with under 1000 36:00- Recommendations for the 1000-1200 level 37:00- - Recommendations for the 1200-1400 level 41:00- Recommendations for the 1400-1600 level 45:00- Recommendations for the 1600-1800 level 49:00- Recommendations for the 1800-2000 level 52:00- Recommendations for the above 2000 level 1:01:00- Chess improvement update from Stjepan 1:06:00- Impromptu discussion- what makes some countries better at chess (and other competitive endeavors) than others? 1:11:00- Check out Stjepan’s interview with me about my book on the Chessreads channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMpTaO3Z2Y 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 1:17:00- Thanks to Stjepan for joining me again, here is how to keep up with him and the ChessReads project. Hanging Pawns YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HangingPawns Chessreads YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChessReadsCom Chessreads Discord- https://discord.gg/gbFZGDw4 Chessreads chessreads.com X x.com/chessreads Instagram instagram.com/chessreads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 18 min
  • EP 453- IM-elect Tatev Abrahamyan on the Long Road to her New Title.
    Sep 30 2025
    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: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 h et 2 min