Great interview. He had a lot of good advice. I like that he said older players don't need to learn lots of openings, but play an opening you like and learn it very well. Also his parting advice to not get discouraged, which is easy to do after a losses.
Being adult improver i love the adult improvement episodes especially. But your almost all interviews are very helpful. Thank you very much for such great work. And hoping to come many adult improvement relating episodes in future.
Great interview. As he said playing the world senior is an amazing experience. Legends still playing, and very well! I have played in some of the tournaments and every time it was a thrilling experience.
Thank you for this great interview. This is one of my favs from the adult improver series. It's insipiring to see adult players going from amateur to master.
Has this gentleman reappeared on the podcast? At the time of recording, it looks like this gentleman’s FIDE rating was around 2150, but most recently (May 2024) it was 1950. I’d be curious to learn more about how to handle such setbacks (I imagine it would be quite demoralizing to lose 200+ points of rating) and his strategy (if he has one) of climbing back up
Honestly at his (former) rating- losing 200 points not far from the median outcome here in the US if you are playing actively. I also went from around 2100 FIDE to 1950 without really losing USCF points. The FIDE deflation is severe in the US at the non-elite level. Having said that, it would be good for me to do a catch-up episode with some prior adult improver guests, including Nathan.
Cool that Mr. Resika's first tournament was the Pillsbury Memorial! That was one of my first tournaments while living in the Boston area. And I believe Alex Ivanov won that one, too. Going to check out the Berlin Classical now - I'm playing a lot of 1...e5 as Black and struggling against the Ruy. I want to stick with 1...e5 to get the tactical practice without changing my entire repertoire at once.
Digital resources are a revolution, for sure. However, I find that I have a better memory when playing on a physical board vs a computer. It's probably partially muscle memory and other factors, but I prefer it and enjoy studying book material because of that. I'm far from being able to follow moves (beyond a few) without any kind of set at all, though. Perhaps one day.
Hey Tim, Thanks for your interest. I actually just was interviewed on that topic for the Cover Stories with Chess Life podcast with John Hartmann. It's not on CZcams, but you can stream it at the link or get it on the podcast apps- new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-32-ben-johnson?fbclid=IwAR2Y0auKt5ASJCG4MhUUZpujUDQ7pqiAkzdrQabxhkPK21EVFEnK7tBvkf8
Very interesting interview. Igor Ivanov, who is mentioned in your interview, was also a very talented pianist.. intriguing, is it not? Smyslov was also an opera singer (baritone).
There is no Dvoretsky book of that title, my guess is that Chernin (the coach he referenced) got the puzzles either from Recognizing Your Opponent's Resources, or from Attack and Defense by Dvoretsky. You could try emailing Nathan, but he might not know either since Chernin was presenting the puzzles
11:49 There was an old description notation book by IH Horowitz from 1974 called 'Solitaire Chess' that you would guess each move from a famous game and had a scoring point system going to 100 where the marks depended on the difficulty of the move. The hardcover is selling for like $6 used on Amazon if you'd care to do a review Ben! :D
Listen to these on apple podcasts but thought I’d come here to leave a comment for the algorithm. “Watch your back, alpha zero” 🤣🤣 Wish he would expose the master saying “you’re not gonna make it” “7 straight” what a nasty person!
Why is people so obssesed with openings? I guess it's due to laziness, they just want a quick win by playing something not worked out by themselves. I find this attitude not even ethical.
I think you're mistaken. You can't win in the opening. Unless you're playing a total beginner, or you play an extremely dubious yet venomous gambit and opponent falls for it. You can get a winning position, but then you have to convert it. Opening knowledge won't do that for you. I'm a beginner. I can't even get to an endgame when my opponent outplays me in the opening and demolishes me in the middlegame. Knowing openings allows one to keep fighting. Allows one to react properly to dubious gambits. Besides, you mention working out things yourself. How much of an opening theory can a beginner figure out on their own? How much time would that take? Why even do that when one can go and read a 500 pages thick book going through all major variations explaining the strategy and tactics available? If anything I find it arrogant to ignore what the masters of the past have left us and thinking one can and should repeat their feats on their own. Perhaps you're alluding to kids who memorize a line 20 moves deep, play like a GM, and suddenly start blundering all over the place once they're out of book? That does happen. But that doesn't let them win the games. So eventually they'll realize that simple memorization doesn't cut it. And start learning the openings for real. For real as in in conjunction with possible middlegame positions leading to certain endgames.
Great interview. He had a lot of good advice. I like that he said older players don't need to learn lots of openings, but play an opening you like and learn it very well. Also his parting advice to not get discouraged, which is easy to do after a losses.
Fascinating interview really enjoyed his passion and enthusiasm for the game. Nathan motivated and inspired me to keep on learning and growing at 65
This is amazing, so inspiring! I also play classical guitar: Brouwer, Tárrega, Barrios, etc. I'm 43 and want to get to 2300 FIDE, currently I'm 2024.
Being adult improver i love the adult improvement episodes especially. But your almost all interviews are very helpful. Thank you very much for such great work. And hoping to come many adult improvement relating episodes in future.
Great interview. As he said playing the world senior is an amazing experience. Legends still playing, and very well! I have played in some of the tournaments and every time it was a thrilling experience.
David, I'll see you there in 7 years! :)
Excellent!! Even with thin computer speakers his great voice shines!
Thank you for this great interview. This is one of my favs from the adult improver series. It's insipiring to see adult players going from amateur to master.
For an adult improver this is inspirational and very instructive.
Spectacular interview, you can hear Nathan's passion for chess.
Broooo let the man sing! 😂
Fair point! Next time I will 😀
@@perpetualchesspodcast9143 felt like I had to say something as a musician haha, great episode tho I’m a fan of your work 👍
I thought the same thing, lol. I was looking forward to it.
brilliant interview, thank-you, a chess playing Baritone, how great, he has a fabulous voice
Has this gentleman reappeared on the podcast? At the time of recording, it looks like this gentleman’s FIDE rating was around 2150, but most recently (May 2024) it was 1950. I’d be curious to learn more about how to handle such setbacks (I imagine it would be quite demoralizing to lose 200+ points of rating) and his strategy (if he has one) of climbing back up
Honestly at his (former) rating- losing 200 points not far from the median outcome here in the US if you are playing actively. I also went from around 2100 FIDE to 1950 without really losing USCF points. The FIDE deflation is severe in the US at the non-elite level. Having said that, it would be good for me to do a catch-up episode with some prior adult improver guests, including Nathan.
Good podcast
Cool that Mr. Resika's first tournament was the Pillsbury Memorial! That was one of my first tournaments while living in the Boston area. And I believe Alex Ivanov won that one, too.
Going to check out the Berlin Classical now - I'm playing a lot of 1...e5 as Black and struggling against the Ruy. I want to stick with 1...e5 to get the tactical practice without changing my entire repertoire at once.
it sounds like he has a above average memory and that probably played a good role. Still an incredible inspiration
Not according to his wife
Digital resources are a revolution, for sure. However, I find that I have a better memory when playing on a physical board vs a computer. It's probably partially muscle memory and other factors, but I prefer it and enjoy studying book material because of that. I'm far from being able to follow moves (beyond a few) without any kind of set at all, though. Perhaps one day.
Hey Ben! Would you consider doing an episode on your personal story in chess and how you climbed?
Hey Tim, Thanks for your interest. I actually just was interviewed on that topic for the Cover Stories with Chess Life podcast with John Hartmann. It's not on CZcams, but you can stream it at the link or get it on the podcast apps- new.uschess.org/news/cover-stories-chess-life-32-ben-johnson?fbclid=IwAR2Y0auKt5ASJCG4MhUUZpujUDQ7pqiAkzdrQabxhkPK21EVFEnK7tBvkf8
Thanks I really enjoy this series. What is the 'classical variation' of the Berlin opening? Does he mean the main line?
Watch out AlphaZero!😆 Great episode, very inspiring.
didnt Mihai Suba start chess at 19?
Very interesting interview. Igor Ivanov, who is mentioned in your interview, was also a very talented pianist.. intriguing, is it not? Smyslov was also an opera singer (baritone).
And Taimanov was the greatest 4 hands piano player. (4 hands=duo).
lol this is my friend's dad, great guy
when they try to break up the singing and he wouldnt stop all i could picture was Levy and Naka laughing their asses off .
Still searching the moment where he says he solves 182 puzzles per day.
Your link to Nathan's article does not work
Fixed, and here it is, thanks for the heads up -new.uschess.org/news/fm-resika-us-senior-singing-chess-icing-cake
Does anyone know the defensive combinations book he's referring to at the 1:12 mark? I can't find it online.
There is no Dvoretsky book of that title, my guess is that Chernin (the coach he referenced) got the puzzles either from Recognizing Your Opponent's Resources, or from Attack and Defense by Dvoretsky. You could try emailing Nathan, but he might not know either since Chernin was presenting the puzzles
@@perpetualchesspodcast9143 Thanks, Ben. Much appreciated.
11:49 There was an old description notation book by IH Horowitz from 1974 called 'Solitaire Chess' that you would guess each move from a famous game and had a scoring point system going to 100 where the marks depended on the difficulty of the move. The hardcover is selling for like $6 used on Amazon if you'd care to do a review Ben! :D
Listen to these on apple podcasts but thought I’d come here to leave a comment for the algorithm.
“Watch your back, alpha zero” 🤣🤣
Wish he would expose the master saying “you’re not gonna make it” “7 straight” what a nasty person!
Why is people so obssesed with openings? I guess it's due to laziness, they just want a quick win by playing something not worked out by themselves. I find this attitude not even ethical.
I think you're mistaken. You can't win in the opening. Unless you're playing a total beginner, or you play an extremely dubious yet venomous gambit and opponent falls for it. You can get a winning position, but then you have to convert it. Opening knowledge won't do that for you.
I'm a beginner. I can't even get to an endgame when my opponent outplays me in the opening and demolishes me in the middlegame. Knowing openings allows one to keep fighting. Allows one to react properly to dubious gambits.
Besides, you mention working out things yourself. How much of an opening theory can a beginner figure out on their own? How much time would that take? Why even do that when one can go and read a 500 pages thick book going through all major variations explaining the strategy and tactics available?
If anything I find it arrogant to ignore what the masters of the past have left us and thinking one can and should repeat their feats on their own.
Perhaps you're alluding to kids who memorize a line 20 moves deep, play like a GM, and suddenly start blundering all over the place once they're out of book? That does happen. But that doesn't let them win the games. So eventually they'll realize that simple memorization doesn't cut it. And start learning the openings for real. For real as in in conjunction with possible middlegame positions leading to certain endgames.