Perpetual Chess Linkfest #107, January 3, 2025

Forgetting

I am still recovering from the World Rapid & Blitz, both in a metaphysical sense, and a physical one as I got a mild case of Covid on my last trip to New York. I did have a lot of thoughts about the tournament though, after briefly attending, and then watching from home. In fact, I had so many I wrote about it in a separate post. As for other people’s thoughts, news, annotations and advice- here is the best I could find on the chess internet. Enjoy.

Chess Improvement

NM Matt Gross brings in the New Year with some big-picture thoughts about how to get better at stuff. “The number one reason that people don’t improve at the things they want to do better is this: Failure can really hurt.” (MoveLibrary)

In his always-excellent blog, FM Nate Solon Explores the Difference between “move-based” and “idea-based” thinking through the lens of the above position.

Nick Visel on some helpful changes he made to his opening review/Chessable routine. (Nick Plays Chess)

“NDPatzer’s” work as a professor led him to conjure up an intriguing new computer-assisted chess variant. (LiChess Blog)

Speaking of Chess variants, Jen Shahade hereby unveils “Chessball.” (Jennifer’s Substack)

Chess Books

ForwardChess reviews the classic chess book, Simple Chess, by GM Michael Stean. (ForwardChess Blog)

White to Move and Win Material. This position is taken from a New in Chess blog post by FM Frank Erwich, whose related book 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know, has drawn rave reviews. (answer within the post)

Ben Graff of the ECF discusses the book Zwischenzug with Matthew Ball and WIM Natasha Regan (ChessMoves)

“SimaginFan” is back in action, highlighting his favorite annotators. How can you not love legendary GM David Bronstein writing that as he sat down to play an OTB game, late in his career “My main goal was to forget how old I was.” (Chess.com Blog)

Podcasts and Videos

This week’s Perpetual Pod is with GM-elect Mark Heimann. Mark is a 31-year-old research scientist and powerlifter who somehow just earned the GM title in his spare time. Mark’s main messages were to work to disassociate our senses of personal worth from our chess results, and to focus on making a training regimen that you will actually do. Impressive guy with sound advice! (Perpetual Chess Podcast) (Also please Sub on YouTube)

GM Matthew Sadler’s Silicon Road to Chess Improvement Channel is a hidden gem. In this one he explains Magnus’ smooth positional win over young GM Brewington Hardaway (Silicon Road to Chess Improvement YouTube)

Chess News

If you are among the fortunate few who needs a primer on the controversies that occurred at the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz, Leonard Barden is here for you. “The audience on Wall Street applauded the decision, but the considerable online reaction from professional players and fans has been mostly critical.” (The Guardian)

Amidst a depressing week for professional chess,I enjoyed this wholesome interview by Ken Lee with top US player WIM Megan Lee. “I think that chess is beautiful . It has helped me connect with many of the most important people in my life. I can't imagine my life without my friends and the game of chess .”

Magnus is getting married. (Tarjei Svensen for Chess.com)

Martin Justesen wrote about the developing power struggle between FIDE and Magnus (Say Chess)

Here was another “Feel-good” story from NYC, Chessbase India and IM Eric Rosen did a meet up at the famed chess park, Washington Square, during the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz. Noah Z attended and shares some photos. (LiChess Blog)

“Megadalon777hs” also shared his experiences from attending the World Rapid for a day (LiChess Blog)

That’s all for this time, have a good weekend everyone!- Ben