GM Andy Soltis is an award winning journalist,World Chess Hall of Fame member, a Chess Life Magazine columnist , and a  prolific author who has written over 50 books. In this interview, we discuss Andy’s most recents works,  Smyslov, Bronstein, Geller, Taimanov and Averbakh: A Chess Multibiography with 220 Games, and 500 Chess Questions Answered: for all new chess players.  We also discuss Andy’s own chess improvement journey, as well as the upcoming World Chess Championship. Andy is always fun to chat with due to his encyclopedic knowledge of all things chess. For lots more details, relevant links, and timestamps, please read on. 

Previous appearances by GM Andy Soltis:

Episode 91 with GM Andy Soltis 

Episode 172 with GM Andy Soltis 

Book Recap #17 - Discussing Zurich 1953 with FM Nate Solon and GM Andy Soltis  

0:00- We begin by getting Andy’s chess improvement advice, including a Patreon question about whether Andy thinks chess books are superior to online learning tools as means for improving your game.

Mentioned: DeGroot’s Thought and Choice in Chess, GM Hikaru Nakaura, GM Yasser Seirawan Weltgeschichte Des Schachs Lieferung 27- Boris Spassky, GM Daniel Gormally, GM Walter Browne 

12:45- What is the proper mix between studying and playing? 

Mentioned: GM Alireza Firouzja 

15:30- What most helped Andy improve at chess? 

Mentioned: GM Reuben Fine 

17:30- How did GM Yefim Geller go from Candidate Master to World Class player in his early 20s? 

Mentioned: GM Bobby Fischer, 

22:00-Patreon mailbag question:  What was Andy’s most memorable Marshall Chess Club Championship victory? 

Mentioned: FM Orest Popovich

26:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out what's new from them here: New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels- Chessable.com Don’t forget to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast as well!

26:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. ACT NOW to enter their free Magnus-Nepo challenge on this site: https://magnusnepo.com/

27:00- We discuss a bit about each player in GM Soltis’ beautiful new book, Smyslov, Bronstein, Geller, Taimanov and Averbakh  starting with former World Champion GM Vassily Smyslov. 

33:00- What should we know about GM David Bronstein?  Was his Candidates match with Boleslavsky in 1950 really fixed? 

Mentioned: Episode 80 with GM Genna Sosonko, Ruth Haring, GM Bobby Fischer  

42:00- What should we know about legendary Ukrainian GM, Yefim Geller? 

Mentioned: GM Boris Spassky 

44:00- Mark Taimanov was a world class pianist and chess player both. What else distinguished him from his chess contemporaries? 

Mentioned: I was the Victim of Fischer, Vspominiaia-Samykh-Samykh, GM Eduard Gufeld, Chessgames.com Taimanov-Matulovic “Caveat Emptor” 

53:00- What should we know about GM Yuriy Averbakh? 

Mentioned: GM Boris Spassky, GM Lubomir Kavalek 

59:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com. They offer a huge video library with instruction on every phase of the game. 

1:00:00- Patreon mailbag question: “What book would Andy love to write that he hasn’t written yet?”

1:03:00- What does Andy think are the most  important factors in which of his books sell the best? 

Mentioned: GM John Fedorowicz, GM Arthur Bisguier, GM Pal Benko: My Life Games and Compositions, Magnus Carlsen: 60 Memorable Games, Pawn Structure Chess, Chess Fundamentals, Episode 240: Pawn Book Championship with Neal Bruce 

1:12:00- Patreon mailbag question: What does Andy think of the World Championship match? Has Magnus been out of form recently? 

1:19:00- Thanks as always to Andy for sharing his immense chess knowledge. You can check out his latest books here:

500 Chess Questions Answered 

Smyslov, Bronstein, Geller, Taimanov and Averbakh 

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