John Hartmann is the CIO and Editor of Chess Life Magazine, and has spent nearly a decade reviewing chess books and writing articles for the magazine. He even does a podcast for the US Chess Federation with the subject of Chess Life's cover each month! John was gracious enough to share an hour of his time with me in what has been my favorite interview to date on this week's episode of "64".

We talk about John's editorial philosophy, as he tries to craft a magazine for all kinds of chess players from beginners to grandmasters. We talk about good chess journalism and the state of tournament play today. As someone with a massive chess library, John explains the importance of reading chess books and actively engaging with material. We also talk about the return of OTB chess across America, as I share my recent experience at the Marshall Chess Club.

John has been inviting listeners to come check out the U.S. Open Tournament later this summer in Cherry Hill, NJ. Until then, with a USCF membership you get Chess Life for free, which is one of the most widely read chess magazines in the world.

64: A Chess Podcast is sponsored by Aimchess. Use code "DAVID30" to get 30% off of your first month with Aimchess.