The Chess Cognition Podcast

Lars' Chessable Courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/LarsSchandorff/00:00 Intro01:00 How Lars Creates His Opening Courses07:31 The First Key Decision When Creating an Opening Course15:03 The Importance of Openings in Chess18:46 A Story About Rook Endgames21:43 Where to Stop in an Opening Course25:47 Chess as a Lifestyle: Freedom and Identity27:52 Can Beginners Benefit from His Courses?34:33 The Role of Engines in Modern Chess Preparation40:13 His Weekly Radio Show 'Nimzowitsch'45:19 The Cultural Significance of Chess in Literature50:46 Nimzowitsch's Influence55:32 Chess Improvement in Modern Times58:40 How GM Schandorff Coaches People1:03:29 Future Plans and CoursesIn this engaging interview, Danish chess author GM Lars Schandorff shares insights into his successful courses, the art of opening preparation, and the cultural significance of chess. Lars has recently become the Chessable Author of the Year 2025, and that is very inspiring.We discussed the following topics:Lars Schandorff's approach to creating accessible and deep chess coursesThe importance of opening repertoire and strategic choicesThe influence of Nimzowitsch on modern chess ideasThe role of technology and engines in chess preparationThe cultural and historical significance of chesskeywordsChess, Chess Courses, Opening Repertoire, Chess Strategy, Chess Culture, Chess History, Chessable, Nimzowitsch, Chess Improvement, Chess Tools, Lars Schandorff

00:00 Intro01:31 The Chessbrah Journey09:40 The Impact of the Chess Boom12:57 The Educational Value of the Channel18:33 Building Habits Series30:11 The Role of Blitz in Improvement36:08 Creating the London System Course40:48 Unique Aspects of his London Course45:59 Connecting Openings to Middlegame54:33 Conceptual Approach and Knowing Crucial Ideas58:09 Balancing Engine Lines and Practical Play01:03:36 Speed Chess Championship Live Commentary01:12:20 The Future of Chess Content CreationGrandmaster Aman Hambleton joins the podcast to unpack the real origin story of Chessbrah, from two Canadian juniors casually “streaming” to each other with one viewer, to building a long-running, community-first brand that’s now approaching 400K subscribers. He reflects on the 2020 chess boom (lockdown + Queen’s Gambit) as an accelerator, but emphasizes that Chessbrah’s durability comes from stickiness: entertainment that keeps people watching, and instruction embedded naturally in real games, blunders, and commentary.The conversation then shifts to Aman’s first Chessable opening course, the London System repertoire, covering why system openings are realistic for most improvers, how his London is differentiated, and why practical, human-centered choices sometimes beat “engine purity.” Finally, he discusses commentating elite speed chess events, the role of the evaluation bar for spectators, and the direction of chess content into the future.

FM Tarık Selbes, a FIDE Master and youth coach who worked with Evgeny Romanov, explains how Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş became a chess prodigy. He describes the puzzle-heavy training that built extraordinary calculation. He contrasts skill vs knowledge, breaks down positional fixes and key games, and shares insights on training methods, psychology, and the rise of Turkish chess.

Sam Belnap, an adult improver who climbed from beginner levels to 2000+ Chess.com Rapid in about 3.5 years. He shares his disciplined study routine and clear process goals. They cover keeping openings simple with plans over memorization. Topics include targeted drills for weaknesses, rook endgame training, pregame/postgame rituals, and habits to reduce tilt and stay focused.

Surya's Chessable Page: https://www.chessable.com/author/suryaganguly/Surya's 1. e4 Repertoire Part 1: https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-suryas-1e4-part-1/course/353840/Surya's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SuryachessProChess Training: https://prochesstraining.com/GM Ganguly on the Perpetual Chess Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLy5B3n5aOQ00:00 Intro02:29 Understanding vs. Memorization09:13 Opening Advantage is Not Everything11:19 How Surya Structures His Opening Courses18:30 Explaining Strange Looking Moves in the Najdorf22:27 Lessons From Team Anand25:20 Stories From Training Indian Top Players34:22 System Openings vs. Mainlines48:40 His YouTube Journey53:01 Pro Chess Training56:15 WHY We Play ChessIn this episode, I’m honored to welcome Surya Ganguly, one of India’s most respected grandmasters and opening theoreticians. A former child prodigy, six-time Indian Champion, Asian Champion, and former world #55 with a peak rating of 2676, Surya was also a key member of Viswanathan Anand’s World Championship team—achieving a remarkable 100% score as part of the preparation squad. Many chess fans also know Surya from his deep, principled work as a coach and author, including his latest Chessable course: Lifetime Repertoire: 1.e4 – Part 1 vs the Sicilian.Instead of repeating questions from his excellent appearances on the Perpetual Chess Podcast, this conversation goes deeper into how openings should be learned and taught. We explore understanding vs memorization, the importance of asking why in opening study, integrity and consistency in building a repertoire, system openings versus main lines, and how Surya adapts his teaching from 1400-rated players to elite stars like R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi.keywords: chess openings, Surya Ganguly, chess education, Chessable, opening preparation, chess strategy, memorization vs understanding, chess courses, chess training, creativity in chess, Anand

Info on CoachChamps 2025: https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-coachchamps00:00 Remembering Daniel Naroditsky02:59 Podcast Begins05:55 Takeaways from Different Rating Bands11:08 Opening Preparation17:20 Training Plans25:30 Time Management and Checkpoints27:06 Chesstempo Blitzset34:43 Psychological Aspects of Coaching37:56 Reflections on Coaching Styles45:51 How Much They Can Improve in a Month49:24 Future Improvements and Feedback51:37 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsIn this conversation, NM Robert Ramirez, an acclaimed chess coach and the CoachChamps 2025 champion, discusses his experiences and insights from CoachChamps 2025. He shares his coaching techniques, the importance of adapting to students' needs, and the psychological aspects of chess training. The conversation delves into specific strategies for different rating levels, the significance of tactical training, and the impact of preparation on performance. Robert emphasizes the need for consistency and clarity in coaching, while also reflecting on the challenges and successes of his students during the tournament.Keywords: chess coaching, tournament strategies, student performance, chess techniques, coaching methods, psychological aspects, chess tactics, training plans, time management, chess improvement

Info on CoachChamps 2025: https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-coachchampsFollow David: https://x.com/dpruess?lang=enhttps://www.youtube.com/c/ChessDojo00:00 Intro04:15 A 14-Year-Old Idea06:12 Surprising Takeaways from Coach Champs17:05 Psychological Training25:52 David's Most Proud Moments29:55 Unfairness 34:43 The Impact of Tie Breaks on Coach Standings41:04 Coaching Preparation and Strategies52:02 Sebu's Incredible Result59:15 Improving Skills in a Limited Time1:06:35 Draft Choices and Their Importance1:25:12 How CoachChamps Can Get More Attention1:31:50 Training Insights with LoganSeason 3 of The Chess Cognition Podcast opens with International Master David Pruess, reflecting on lessons from the first-ever Coach Champs tournament. In this episode, I sit down with David to unpack what made this event so unique, what we both learned as coaches, and our training approaches.The conversation delves into the unique challenges faced by coaches, the psychological aspects of player performance, and the importance of tailored strategies based on individual player strengths and weaknesses. David discusses surprising outcomes from the tournament, the significance of emotional management, and the need for constructive feedback in coaching. We discuss various aspects of chess coaching, focusing on the psychological impact of losses, effective strategies for tournament preparation, and the importance of time management and identifying weaknesses in players. We examine the impact of drafting choices and luck on tournament outcomes, as well as the importance of flexibility in coaching methods. The discussion also highlights the importance of teaching basic principles and endgame skills, and the role of audience engagement in chess events. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into improving chess performance and coaching effectiveness.Keywords:chess coaching, tournament insights, coaching strategies, psychological preparation, emotional management, player improvement, coaching feedback, chess competition, coaching experiences, opponent analysis, chess, coaching, tournament preparation, psychological impact, player profiles, time management, endgame skills, strategy, audience engagement, coaching effectiveness

Dr. Benjamin Portheault, a performance coach blending psychology and meditation to help players manage pressure. He talks about using meditation to create mental distance, spotting and defusing toxic self-talk, handling rating anxiety and time trouble, and pre-game rituals to preserve love for the game. Short practical tools and mindset shifts for staying present and resilient in high-pressure situations.

Season 2 of the Chess Cognition Podcast comes to a close with this wrap-up episode. From cognitive science and chess psychology to positional mastery and historic match insights, we covered a wide range of powerful conversations with nine brilliant guests. As we prepare for Season 3 launching in August, I’d love to hear your feedback—what was your favorite episode, what topics do you want more of, and who should I invite next?Thank you for being part of your exciting journey.

Join cognitive scientist and chess candidate master Christopher Chabris as he dives into the cognitive challenges chess players face. He explains concepts like inattentional blindness and how they lead to missed opportunities on the board. Chabris offers practical strategies for enhancing decision-making, including a structured 'blunder check' approach. He also discusses cognitive biases, such as overconfidence and the sunk cost fallacy, which can cloud judgment. Explore how memory can distort perceptions and learn to improve your chess through better awareness and critical thinking.