The Chess Cognition Podcast

Kamil's 1. e4 course: https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-plichtas-1e4-part-1-sicilians/course/383069/

Two games Kamil mentioned: https://lichess.org/broadcast/european-individual-chess-championship-2026--boards-127-186/round-6/tOTpwfDr/7Z18O2ET

https://lichess.org/broadcast/european-individual-chess-championship-2026--boards-1-66/round-4/NxEg1ofB/nHwDXHB6

00:00 Intro
04:02 Beating Magnus Carlsen in Blitz
07:15 Feedback and Course Development
09:11 How Kamil Found Chessable
14:50 Winning Best Author Support Awards
22:45 A Typical Day in Kamil's Life
29:47 Typical Author Mistakes
37:39 Creating Problems for Both Sides
43:46 Chessable's Evolution
51:29 Kamil's New Course: 1.e4 LTR
01:01:10 Grenke Chess and European Individual Championship
01:19:38 Everybody is a Fighter These Days

This podcast episode features FM Kamil Plichta, one of Chessable’s most recognizable opening authors, known for his tricky sidelines, practical repertoires, humor, and unusually strong course support. Kamil explains how his opening philosophy is built around creating early problems for the opponent, avoiding predictable main lines, and choosing positions where both sides may feel uncomfortable—but where he has more experience. He also shares how he became a Chessable author, how his course-making process evolved, why good explanations matter more than endless variations, and how he thinks about target audiences, quick starters, model games, and long-term course support.

The conversation also explores Kamil’s return to over-the-board chess, including his recent tournaments, the challenges of modern preparation, rating deflation, defensive weaknesses he discovered in his own play, and his ambition to become an International Master. Along the way, he discusses beating Magnus Carlsen in blitz, the changing landscape of Chessable, why blitz can be useful for some players, and his new 1.e4 repertoire course against the Sicilian. This is a funny, honest, and practical conversation about openings, chess improvement, authorship, and the realities of competitive chess today.

Lars' Chessable Courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/LarsSchandorff/

00:00 Intro
01:00 How Lars Creates His Opening Courses
07:31 The First Key Decision When Creating an Opening Course
15:03 The Importance of Openings in Chess
18:46 A Story About Rook Endgames
21:43 Where to Stop in an Opening Course
25:47 Chess as a Lifestyle: Freedom and Identity
27:52 Can Beginners Benefit from His Courses?
34:33 The Role of Engines in Modern Chess Preparation
40:13 His Weekly Radio Show 'Nimzowitsch'
45:19 The Cultural Significance of Chess in Literature
50:46 Nimzowitsch's Influence
55:32 Chess Improvement in Modern Times
58:40 How GM Schandorff Coaches People
1:03:29 Future Plans and Courses


In this engaging interview, Danish chess author GM Lars Schandorff shares insights into his successful courses, the art of opening preparation, and the cultural significance of chess. Lars has recently become the Chessable Author of the Year 2025, and that is very inspiring.

We discussed the following topics:

Lars Schandorff's approach to creating accessible and deep chess courses
The importance of opening repertoire and strategic choices
The influence of Nimzowitsch on modern chess ideas
The role of technology and engines in chess preparation
The cultural and historical significance of chess

keywords
Chess, Chess Courses, Opening Repertoire, Chess Strategy, Chess Culture, Chess History, Chessable, Nimzowitsch, Chess Improvement, Chess Tools, Lars Schandorff

Kamryn's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCYUOoqtGaRgUeUta134aUyw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ9gkF840Vk&t=1s
Kamryn's Chessable course: https://www.chessable.com/50-essential-chess-concepts-an-improvers-blueprint/course/233222/
Kamryn's Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/kamrynheidi
https://bsky.app/profile/kamrynheidi.bsky.social
https://kamrynheidichess.substack.com/

00:00 Intro
01:54 The Chess Bug and the Very Short Summary of the Journey to 2000 ELO
08:57 The Thought Process
10:47 Blunder-Check
15:16 'Why Am I Losing?' Document
23:07 How Blitz Helped
26:00 Study Advice for 0-1500 ELO
29:16 Study Advice for 1500 - 2000 ELO
37:18 Her Chessable Course
41:40 Her New Openings
44:47 Final Advice for Beginners
45:40 Final Advice for Intermediate Players
46:34 The Weekly Training Schedule

In this special year-end episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Kamryn Helman, an extraordinary adult improver who achieved a chesscom rapid rating of 2000 in just two years, starting from absolute zero. Kamryn shared her inspirational journey, which began in 2021 after watching The Queen’s Gambit. Despite balancing her undergraduate studies and later a full-time job, she devoted around 20 hours per week to chess and made remarkable progress. Kamryn's disciplined approach combined playing, tactical exercises, and joining a chess club, where she set goals to compete with stronger players. Her story is a testament to how dedication and a structured approach can yield extraordinary results in a short time.

During our conversation, Kamryn offered valuable insights into her improvement methods. She talked about her "Why I Am Losing" document, a weekly habit of analyzing losses to identify patterns and guide her studies. We also discussed her thought process, including a mental checklist to avoid blunders, and the critical role of breaks in consolidating knowledge. Kamryn's ability to stay intentional and disciplined about her chess journey is both inspiring and instructional for players at all levels.

Toward the end, we explored her educational contributions to the chess community, including her Chessable course, 50 Essential Chess Concepts: An Improver's Blueprint. She shared the challenges of designing clean, instructive puzzles that minimize cognitive overload and maximize learning. Kamryn's passion for chess and commitment to improvement was evident throughout our discussion, leaving me—and hopefully you—with fresh ideas and inspiration to tackle our own chess journeys. I’m thrilled to see what Kamryn accomplishes next and I look forward to another conversation as her chess story unfolds.

Benji's website: https://mindcreaser.com/
Benji's substack: https://mindcreaser.substack.com/
Benji's course 'Mindfulness for the Tournament Player': https://mindfulness-for-the-tournament-player.teachable.com/

Follow Benji: https://bsky.app/profile/benjiportheault.bsky.social

His piece on discipline: https://mindcreaser.substack.com/p/discipline

Under the Surface: https://amzn.to/4hnw7EU
Life and Games of Mikhail Tal: https://amzn.to/42r4c2O
The Seven Deadly Chess Sins: https://amzn.to/4joJzu3
Think Like a Super-GM: https://amzn.to/3E59kPU

Benji later recommended the books by Wojciech Moranda.

00:00 Intro
12:03 Pressure
14:37 Alan Watts' Fantasy
17:53 Meditation
21:04 Playing the Position in Front of You
27:01 Toxic Self-Talk
30:24 Rating Anxiety
33:42 Confidence and Self-Efficacy
41:23 Handling Losses
45:21 Pain = Suffering x Resistance
52:35 Time Trouble
55:07 Giving up Control
58:00 Self-Adopted Identities
1:00:28 Beauty in Complexity
1:03:46 Preserving the Love for the Game
1:15:31 Pre-Game Rituals


Benji Portheault, a seasoned performance coach with experience working with chess players of all levels, including super grandmasters, joined the podcast to discuss the mental aspects of chess. Throughout the conversation, he explored topics such as meditation, dealing with tilt, tournament preparation, and the psychology of chess success. Benji gave insights into how identity, confidence, and mindset play crucial roles in a player's performance. His approach combines modern psychology with meditation techniques to help players build resilience and manage the stress of competition effectively.

A major focus of the discussion was on managing emotions during games, particularly in high-pressure situations. Benji explained the importance of developing self-awareness, identifying negative thought patterns, and learning how to reset mentally after mistakes. He introduced techniques such as open monitoring meditation and mental reframing to help players regain focus and prevent one mistake from snowballing into further blunders. He also emphasized the need for practical routines before and during games, including recognizing the feeling of playing well and recalling past successful experiences to build confidence.

The conversation also touched on broader topics like rating anxiety, tournament nerves, and the importance of maintaining a love for the game. Benji encouraged players to cultivate a healthy relationship with chess, understanding that improvement requires embracing both wins and losses as learning experiences. He highlighted how professionals and amateurs alike struggle with the psychological challenges of competition, making mental training just as crucial as tactical and strategic preparation.

Dan's Website: https://www.danheisman.com/
Dan's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/danheisman
Follow Dan on X: https://x.com/danheisman
Dan's Chessable Author Profile: https://www.chessable.com/author/Dan_Heisman/

The Improving Chess Thinker: https://amzn.to/3OtKDyE
Is Your Move Safe? https://amzn.to/4g77Z8Z
Elements of Positional Evaluation: https://amzn.to/4fOc5TA
Thought and Choice in Chess: https://amzn.to/4fMoCqO

00:00 Dan Heisman: A Brief Introduction
04:25 Common Misconceptions About Chess Improvement
09:37 The Role of Knowledge vs. Skills in Chess
16:22 How Blitz Chess Can Help (or Hurt!) Improvement
21:23 Time Management
27:12 Is There Luck in Chess?
29:42 Ideal Thought Process
37:11 Checklists
44:00 Diagnosing Thought Process Mistakes with De Groot Exercises
56:33 The Evolution of Chess Content for Beginners
1:03:43 Dan's Career Highlights and Coaching Philosophy
1:23:12 Visualization/Board Vision/Tactical Vision
1:36:46 The Woodpecker Method
1:46:50 Learning Chess Notation
1:54:43 Creating a Chess Legacy

In this very special episode, I had an insightful conversation with the legendary chess coach NM Dan Heisman. With an illustrious career spanning decades, Dan has authored 14 books, developed a Chessable course, and helped thousands of students improve since he began coaching in 1996. His expertise shines through as we delve into the nuances of chess improvement, from bridging the knowledge-skill gap to the importance of thought process and time management. Dan shares valuable insights into his journey, including his work with renowned players and groundbreaking contributions to chess coaching, such as coining terms like "hope chess", "handwaving", "ABC Error", "counting" and "wise adult syndrome."

A major focus of our discussion revolves around the critical skills needed for chess improvement, such as blunder-check and criticality assessment. Dan emphasizes the importance of improving both knowledge (patterns and principles) and skills (analysis, time management, and perseverance). Drawing on his decades of coaching, Dan recounts fascinating anecdotes, like the curious case of a student with perfect visualization but flawed analysis. We also discuss practical strategies for players, such as balancing blitz and classical games, and how to train effectively by focusing on process-oriented methods.

This episode is packed with actionable advice for players of all levels, particularly adult improvers navigating the challenges of chess growth. Dan's dedication to helping players reach their potential shines throughout the conversation, offering viewers a wealth of strategies and motivation to refine their approach to the game. Whether you're struggling with transitioning from knowledge to skill, managing time effectively, or avoiding blunders, this discussion provides a masterclass in practical chess improvement.

Azel's Chessable Courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/AzelChua/
Azel's Course on Calculation: https://www.chessable.com/calculation-a-complete-guide-for-tournament-players/course/53691/

Fundamental Chess Calculation Skills: https://www.chess.com/course/fundamental-chess-calculation-skills-123333

00:00 Intro
02:01 Why His Calculation Course Was a Huge Success
05:13 Checks, Captures, and Threats: Why It Falls Short
11:03 The Burger Technique
12:10 Position 1
21:00 Position 2
26:24 Position 3 Enters Magnus the Superhuman
29:26 Position 4
38:26 Position 5
42:39 Position 6
50:06 Position 7
54:25 Position 8
58:35 Transfer of Patterns to Different Contexts
1:04:40 Conceptual Patterns - Position 9
1:06:48 Position 10
1:11:30 Visualization
1:31:48 How Best to Learn Patterns
1:33:34 The Endgame Riddle

In this episode, I sit down with Candidate Master and Chessable author Azel Chua to dive deep into the intricacies of chess calculation and thought processes. Azel's Calculation course broke records on Chessable. He shared concrete positions and concepts to clarify his "Burger Technique"—a systematic approach that breaks down calculation into three essential steps. We explored why traditional approaches like "checks, captures, and threats" (CCT) can often fail, and how context-driven techniques provide a more robust, scalable method for players of all levels.

Throughout the discussion, Azel showcased several illustrative positions that demonstrated the power of identifying loose pieces, critical squares, and exposed lines of attack. We learned how chess targets—whether pieces, squares, or alignments—can continually expand in complexity as players improve.

Azel concluded with insightful exercises on visualization, introducing the concept of "visualization decay" and how to overcome it. He demonstrated that improving calculation involves spotting patterns and expanding one’s ability to recall and connect conceptual similarities across seemingly different positions.

Aiden's Website: https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/
Aiden's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FdBsG9UsLeTbBt18kI6lk

The Moves of the Blindfold Game: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4 d6 5.Qxg7 Nf6 6. Qxf7+#

Also see Prof. Benjamin Balas episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzblptGNjw

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, 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. Throughout the episode, the synergy between cognitive science and chess improvement is highlighted, providing listeners with a treasure trove of insights and tools to elevate their game, whether they’re beginners or seasoned players.

Invisible Gorilla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo
The Door Study (Change Blindness): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWSxSQsspiQ
https://www.chabris.com/
Their Study on Overconfidence in Chess Players: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/yd5he_v1
https://amzn.to/437DXhz
https://amzn.to/44Mrh0O

00:00 Intro
02:48 Enters Dr. Christopher Chabris
06:15 Inattentional and Change Blindness
18:38 Checklists
21:26 Categorizing and Labeling Things
22:59 Visual Crowding
24:36 Blunder-Check
30:23 Cognitive Biases and Decision Making in Chess
38:30 Sunk Cost Fallacy
42:01 Truth Bias
43:45 Trusting Authority
50:53 Practical Decision Making
54:37 Overconfidence in Chess
1:00:27 The Dunning-Kruger Effect
1:12:07 The Illusion of Memory and Its Impact on Chess
1:14:20 Causal Attribution and Learning from Mistakes
1:19:39 The Role of Engines in Chess Analysis
01:29:46 Scientific Studies Involving Chess

In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Christopher Chabris—a cognitive scientist, bestselling author, and chess candidate master—whose groundbreaking work on attention, decision-making, and cognitive biases has deeply shaped our understanding of the mind. Known especially for The Invisible Gorilla experiment, which exposed the phenomenon of inattentional blindness, Chris shares insights on how these cognitive limitations directly affect our chess decisions. We discuss how chess players often miss threats that are right in front of them due to selective attention, and how ideas like gradual change blindness can lead to missed information even under careful observation.

We then explore how these principles translate into practical advice for chess improvement. Chris discusses metacognitive tools like checklists and conscious blunder checks as remedies for attentional blind spots. We reflect on the power of naming patterns—like “sniper bishop” or “loose pieces”—to aid memory and pattern recognition, and how habits of structured thinking can eventually become automatic. We also connect this to broader life patterns: why multitasking reduces performance and how expertise shapes perception.

Finally, we dive into Chris's recent scientific study on overconfidence in chess players. Analyzing data from hundreds of players, they discovered that most chess players believe they’re underrated, especially lower-rated players—a real-world instance of the Dunning-Kruger effect. We unpack how confirmation bias, sunk cost fallacy, truth bias and motivated reasoning influence not just how we play chess, but also how we evaluate our own skill level. Chris shares powerful reminders that chess is fundamentally a game of decision-making under uncertainty—and that metacognitive awareness, realistic self-assessment, and embracing discomfort are key to long-term growth in both chess and life.

keywords: cognitive science, chess, metacognition, attention, cognitive biases, decision making, change blindness, inattentional blindness, learning strategies, memory, cognitive biases, confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, sunk cost fallacy, overconfidence, truth bias, chess decision making, authority trust, uncertainty, Dunning-Kruger effect, chess, overconfidence, Dunning-Kruger effect, memory, skill assessment, causal attribution, chess engines, learning, cognitive bias, player ratings, chess, psychological resilience, tactics, scientific experiments, chess ambitions, cognitive science, performance, skill, learning, expertise

https://killerchesstraining.com/
https://www.newinchess.com/
https://amzn.to/4igE5Qg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Aagaard
https://www.chessable.com/author/JacobAagaard/

The Art of Exchanging Pieces:https://www.chessable.com/the-art-of-exchanging-pieces/course/82374/

00:00 Intro
02:20 Mastering Chess Exchanges
06:46 Woodpecker Method
13:45 Jacob Tests Me: Position 1
16:28 Jacob Tests Me: Position 2
22:44 Effective Decision-Making
31:46 Jacob Tests Me: Position 3
34:26 Rules/Principles vs. Concepts
40:08 Improving Tactical Vision
47:19 Volume and Focus
55:40 Jacob Tests Me: Position 4
01:05:52 Jacob Tests Me: Position 5
01:12:23 Abdusattorov's Bad Decision
01:13:33 Jacob Analyses His Recent OTB Game
01:30:07 I Test Jacob: Position 1
01:30:58 Chess Instructor's Most Valuable Quality
01:34:34 3 Questions
01:40:44 When We Should Stop Calculating
01:41:50 Gelfand's Almost-Religious Insight
01:48:25 I Test Jacob: Position 2
02:03:20 Why Modern Engines Are Crap
02:07:51 I Test Jacob: Position 3

I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard—one of the most prolific chess authors in the world—for a conversation that quickly became one of the most meaningful episodes I’ve recorded. Jacob was incredibly open, thinking out loud through challenging positions and showing what high-level problem-solving really looks like in real time.

Jacob and Reiner Castellanos recently published the book 'Mastering Chess Exchanges'. We tested each other with positions—Jacob using exercises involving piece trades, and I brought a few from my upcoming course, Workbook for the Art of Series. We discussed exchanges in depth, including themes like good vs. bad pieces, positional vs. tactical justifications, and how to make sense of tension on the board. What stood out most was Jacob’s emphasis on clarity: how simple questions, if asked at the right moment, can organize your thinking and lead to better decisions.

Beyond strategy, we explored how players learn. I shared insights from cognitive science, including how reducing extraneous cognitive load helps players process ideas more efficiently. Jacob spoke about the power of volume and focus—how long-term memory, built through serious, undistracted effort, allows strong players to recognize relevance instantly. If you’ve ever wanted a front-row seat to how a world-class coach thinks about chess, this episode is for you.

Alex's Chessable courses: https://www.chessable.com/author/Astaneh/
Alex's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@alexastaneh


00:00 Intro
02:19 Why He Created "The Positional Chess Patterns Manual"
15:03 The Difference Between Positional Chess and Strategic Play
27:17 Power Outpost
46:06 The Course Creation Process
54:43 Carlsen's Blitz Games (Color Complex)
01:15:40 How to Build Up the Knowledge (Weak Square)
01:24:01 Pseudo Outpost
01:25:42 How to Teach Beginners
01:37:32 Power Outpost and Pseudo Outpost Combo
01:46:45 Pseudo Outpost in the Classical Structure
01:52:29 Exchange Sacrifice
01:53:54 Schematic Thinking
02:02:44 Outro & Future Plans

In this episode, I sat down with IM Alex Astaneh to explore the fundamentals of positional chess and discuss his Chessable course, "Positional Chess Patterns Manual." Alex's course is designed to help players internalize essential positional concepts through repeatable patterns. We analyzed instructive examples from Magnus Carlsen's games, particularly how he leverages color complexes, weak squares, and outposts to systematically dominate his opponents. Alex emphasized how pattern recognition and structured thinking allow strong players to find the right plans quickly, even in complex positions.

Beyond strategy, we discussed how to train positional understanding more effectively, focusing on clarity in learning, board vision, and structured study techniques. I shared my approach to cleaning up positions for better learning outcomes, removing unnecessary distractions so students can focus on the core strategic ideas. Alex also highlighted the importance of reverse-engineering winning positions, especially in endgames, by identifying ideal setups and working backward to achieve them.
This episode is packed with insights that can help you develop a deeper understanding of chess strategy.