IM Jop Delemarre is a former Dutch Youth Champion who has been a full-time chess trainer since 2004. Over the years, he has worked with many strong young players who went on to earn IM and GM titles.  Jop is an expert in the Chess Steps curriculum, and was a student of one of its founders, Rob Brunia. Due to his expertise in the Steps Method, Jop recently offered a Chess Steps Certification Workshop, that I and a few other U.S. based chess teachers completed and greatly enjoyed. Jop joined me to discuss this workshop, share plans for potential future workshops, and to reflect on his career in general. Jop shared plenty of great advice for chess improvers and teachers alike. Please read on for more details and show notes. 

0:00- Jop shares some details about his life background, and the background of the Chess Steps Method. 

Mentioned: GM Robin Van Kampen, Chess Steps Method, Rob Brunia, IM Cor van Wijgerdan, NM Matan Prilleltensky, Paul Swaney, NM Shawn Hoshall, NM Han Schut, US Chess Digital Editor John Hartmann 

11:50- A Patreon supporter of the pod writes in to ask if the Chess Steps Method can be used as a “stand alone” improvement method. 

Mentioned: Chess Steps Manuals, Chess Steps Workbook, Chess Tutor CDs

21:30- IM Jop Delemarre gives more details about how an opportunity for a Chess Steps Teacher Training Workshop came about, and discusses what the future plans are for more teacher certification workshops.  

Mentioned: Paul Swaney, Geert van der Velde 

26:40- Question from friend and former guest of the podcast, NM Han Schut, about whether the Steps Teacher Trainer program is sanctioned by the founder of the Steps Method, IM Cor van Wijgerdan

Mentioned: Han Schut on Perpetual Chess 

31:00- For the teachers listening, and for those interested in learning more about this generally, I share a few of the lessons that I learned from completing Chess Steps Teacher Certification Training. 

Mentioned: Email Jop here: [email protected], 

39:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable. You can check out FM Kamil Plichta’s new course, Four Horsemen: The Sicilian Four Knights here: https://www.chessable.com/four-horsemen-the-sicilian-4-knights-defense/course/33443/

39:30- Jop discusses the reasons why practicing things repeatedly is important to acquire chess skills. 

Mentioned: Peter Newhall, Susan Polgar series, Yusopov series  

47:00- Jop shares a few of his favorite chess books. 

Mentioned: Techniques of Positional Play, Chess Lessons by Popov, Tatiana and Nadhezda Kosintseva, Greatest 525 Puzzles by GM Csaba Balogh, IM Mark Dvoretsky’s books, Aagaard’s books, GM Boris Gelfand’s books, My Great Predecessors by GM Garry Kasparov , Tactics Time, Elizabeth Spiegel, IM Jeremy Silman, Mastering Opening Strategy by GM Johan Hellsten, IM Herman Grooten 

1:01:00- Jop shares a few highlights from his career as a chess competitor, including a mini match with Dutch chess legend GM Jan Timman. 

Mentioned: GM Alexey Dreev, GM Evgeni Bareev. GM Anatoly Karpov, Delemarre-Brodsky 1994,  Delemarre-Timman 1995, Sokolov-Delemarre 1997, GM Loek Van Wely 

1:06:00- As a polyglot, what language-learning practices is Jop able to apply to chess improvement? 

1:14:00- Thanks to Jop for joining the show! You can reach him via email here:

[email protected] Visit his website here:  https://schaaktrainer.nl/online-chess-lesson/

You can learn more about the Steps method on the official website here:

https://www.stappenmethode.nl/en/index.php

And you can order the Steps books in the U.S.here: https://www.chess-steps.com/home.php

If you would like to help support the podcast you can do so here:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/donate

 

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