The Chess Cognition Podcast

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.

In this fascinating discussion, we delve deep into the cognitive science behind chess blunders with Professor Benjamin Balas from North Dakota State University. As an expert in visual cognition, Ben sheds light on how our visual system, with all its strengths and limitations, plays a crucial role in our chess performance. We discuss how visual crowding and peripheral vision contribute to common mistakes, especially for newer players. Ben also explains practical strategies for enhancing blunder-checking skills and shares insights on his ongoing research, offering invaluable tips that all players can apply. One of the key takeaways is understanding why certain blunders, like missing "sniper bishops," often occur due to our visual system's natural constraints. Ben dives into the concept of "visual crowding," where surrounding pieces make it harder to detect distant threats, and reveals how experts overcome this by developing rich chunks and patterns in memory. Together, we explore how checklist processes and deliberate board scanning can help mitigate these blind spots, making blunders less likely and visual processing more effective. Throughout our conversation, Ben also highlights groundbreaking research studies on chess expertise and visual cognition, detailing how experts use eye-tracking and attentional techniques to manage complex positions efficiently. From practical advice on blunder-check processes to a discussion of the psychological and visual nuances that define expert play, this conversation is packed with insights that every chess player will find enlightening.

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.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting National Master Robert Ramirez, a renowned Chessable author, YouTuber, and educator. We delve into various chess topics, starting with Robert’s unique journey in the chess world, from his humble beginnings to becoming a well-respected coach. We also discussed the advantages of system openings, such as the King’s Indian/Pirc Defense and the Reverse Stonewall. Robert shares his insights on why system openings can be particularly useful not only for busy adult learners but also for kids, cutting down on preparation time and allowing more focus on chess fundamentals. Our conversation shifted towards cognitive science, highlighting the role of chunking and pattern recognition in chess improvement. Robert shared his thoughts on how system openings foster familiarity with recurring structures, aiding long-term retention of key chess ideas. We explored the differences between teaching kids and adults. Robert emphasized that consistent practice, especially in tactical exercises and real games, is essential for meaningful progress, regardless of age. Lastly, we discussed Robert’s approach to teaching and the importance of productive failure in chess learning. He shared how he tracks his students' progress and uses setbacks as opportunities for growth. We wrapped up with a look into Robert’s upcoming projects, including a new Chessable course on strategy, and reflected on the rewarding aspects of coaching and teaching chess. Whether you're an adult improver, a competitive player, or simply passionate about chess, this conversation offers valuable insights into the learning process and the tools necessary for success.

In this episode, I talked to Nick Vasquez, a medical doctor, adult chess improver, and author of the insightful blog Chess in Small Doses. Nick has been featured on the Perpetual Chess Podcast and brings a unique perspective to chess learning through cognitive science. We'll be diving deep into topics such as working memory, visualization, and how these concepts can help adult chess players unlock their potential. Nick shares his personal journey in chess, including how he started taking the game seriously in 2020, progressing from a 1650 chess.com rating to an impressive 1913 in classical games on lichess. Along the way, Nick overcame plateaus by embracing visualization exercises that significantly boosted his performance. In our discussion, he explains how targeted visualization training can be a game-changer, especially for adult players who often struggle with seeing ahead on the board, and why this approach is key to building stronger chess habits. We also explore evidence-based learning methods, discussing the balance between direct instruction and productive failure. Nick’s experience highlights the importance of making chess learning personal and relevant, emphasizing that true growth often comes from hands-on experimentation and learning from mistakes. Whether you're an adult chess improver or a coach, this episode offers valuable insights into the science of learning and practical strategies for breaking through barriers in your chess journey.

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.

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.

In this episode, I'm joined by the legendary chess coach Andras Toth for a deep dive into improving your chess thinking process. We discuss the key questions you should ask during a game to sharpen your decision-making. Andras and I cover essential topics like identifying threats, calculation techniques, and positional decisions. This episode is especially valuable for beginner and casual players who are still developing their thought processes in chess. These essential questions serve as a guide, helping you navigate the complexities of our royal game. With consistent practice, these questions will become second nature, allowing you to focus more on your game without needing to consciously recall them (thus leading to lower cognitive load). Chess, with its immense complexity and infinite possibilities, resists being fully captured by any single algorithm or set of rules. While chess questions and principles provide valuable frameworks for guiding our decisions, they should be seen as tools for enhancing our thinking rather than definitive solutions. These questions encourage us to explore different strategies, recognize patterns, and develop a deeper understanding of the game while aiding practical decision-making. Depending on your weaknesses and playing style, some questions may be more relevant for you than others. 03:15 What would they play if I did not make a move right now? 13:11 Does my move allow a devastating check? 17:43 Does my move create a loose piece? 21:12 What is the drawback of my opponent's last move? 25:10 Did I reassess for better moves at each step of my calculated line? 30:59 What ELSE can I do? 34:00 Does it REALLY work? 40:23 What move is in line with my strategic goal? 43:45 Am I wasting time on irrelevant calculations? 46:10 Do I really need to defend that pawn? 51:31 Do I need to take any risks here? 56:19 What is my opponent’s plan? 01:01:18 Can I transition into a winning endgame? 01:10:18 Can I exchange on my own terms? 01:12:42 What is my worst-placed piece? 01:13:51 Where are the weaknesses? 01:16:38 Does this pawn move improve my pieces or my opponent's?

In this episode, we explore the age-old debate: Is Blitz chess good for improvement? Joining me is FIDE Master Nate Solon, a chess coach and Chessable author, to discuss Blitz chess's benefits and potential drawbacks. We discuss how Blitz can be a powerful tool for developing chess intuition, sharpening opening repertoire, and quickly identifying recurring mistakes through high-volume play. Nate highlights the advantages of quick feedback loops and how Blitz can be an integral part of a balanced training regimen. However, we also delve into the opposing viewpoint: the risks of Blitz creating bad habits, especially for beginners. We discuss the importance of deliberate practice, focusing on slower, more thoughtful games to solidify essential chess processes like deep calculation, positional understanding, and endgame technique.