Episodes

  • EP 146 | Is Chess 99% Tactics?
    Mar 14 2025

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    GM Jesse Kraai, IM David Pruess, and IM Kostya Kavutskiy talk about chess tactics and whether chess is really 99% tactics in today's episode of Dojo Talks, the ChessDojo podcast.

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chesstactics #chessstrategy

    CHAPTERS 0:00 Is Chess 99% Tactics? 14:22 Calculation vs Evaluation 31:10 Strategy and Story 40:52 Strategy vs Positional Play 49:31 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know 51:37 What's Most Important for Under 1250 Elo? 54:47 Chess and Go

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • EP 145 | Does Freestyle Chess Have A Future?
    Mar 7 2025

    GM Jesse Kraai, IM David Pruess, and IM Kostya Kavutskiy discuss the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, and recent and ongoing issues between FIDE and Freestyle Chess in today's episode of Dojo Talks, the ChessDojo podcast!

    Get ChessDojo's first book, How to Analyze Your Games, here: https://amzn.to/3Ds5r78

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chess #chesstraining

    Chapters:

    CHAPTERS 0:00 Freestlye Chess, FIDE, and Magnus 2:40 Do Fans Like Freestyle Chess? 8:36 Will Kids Get Into Freestyle Chess? 16:54 Looking at the Data 26:18 Magnus Carlsen and Freestyle Chess 54:40 Wrap-Up

    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • EP 144 | Online vs. OTB Chess
    Feb 25 2025

    GM Jesse Kraai, IM David Pruess, and IM Kostya Kavutskiy discuss the differences and pros vs cons between Online Chess and Over the Board (OTB) Chess in today's episode of Dojo Talks, the ChessDojo podcast!

    Get ChessDojo's first book, How to Analyze Your Games, here: https://amzn.to/3Ds5r78

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chess #chesstraining

    Chapters:

    0:00 Online vs OTB Chess 15:50 Anecdotes 25:21 Using Boards for Online Chess 29:17 Blitz Chess 32:08 Thinking Online vs OTB 42:37 Being Too Online 46:09 Discrepancies Between Online and OTB Chess

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • EP 143 | Who Will Qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates?
    Feb 21 2025

    GM Jesse Kraai, IM David Pruess, and IM Kostya Kavutskiy discuss who will qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates cycle in today's episode of Dojo Talks, the ChessDojo podcast!

    Get ChessDojo's first book, How to Analyze Your Games, here: https://amzn.to/3Ds5r78

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chess #chesstraining

    Chapters: 0:00 Who Will Qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Cycle? 1:12 FIDE Candidate Cycle Rating Spot Changes 8:50 FIDE Cycle Results 14:37 Points and Tie-Breaks 18:11 Jesse's List 19:20 Top 6 from the 2024 FIDE Circuit 31:44 This Coming Year in Chess

    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • EP 142 | Kostya's Heresy
    Feb 12 2025

    The sensei debate Kostya’s controversial claim that all major chess tournaments should switch to rapid, exploring its potential impact on classical chess, player improvement, tournament structure, and fan engagement, ultimately leaving Jesse and David unconvinced.

    Get ChessDojo's first book, How to Analyze Your Games, here: https://amzn.to/3Ds5r78

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chess #chesstraining

    Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction – Discussion on Kostya’s controversial quote about switching major tournaments to rapid. 01:16 – Context of the Quote – Explanation that it was a short Q&A answer, not a detailed proposal. 03:18 – Future of Classical Chess – Kostya argues that classical chess may become obsolete over time. 04:06 – Online Growth vs. OTB Decline – Discussion on why rapid and Blitz are growing online but not in classical tournaments. 06:06 – Opening Preparation Issues – Classical chess demands extensive opening prep, making it less enjoyable for some players. 10:25 – Classical for Beginners, Rapid for Pros? – Kostya suggests longer time controls are useful for improvement but not ideal for elite events. 12:07 – Rapid Chess Popularity – Historical attempts to promote rapid chess and why it hasn’t taken over. 22:49 – World Championship & Classical Chess – Arguments for why classical chess remains the gold standard for top-level competition. 30:55 – Quality of Games in Different Formats – Whether faster time controls lead to better or worse chess quality. 41:23 – Closing Thoughts – Debate recap with Jesse and David still unconvinced by Kostya’s stance on rapid chess.

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • EP 141 | The Psychology of Goals w/ Dr. Joel Sneed
    Feb 6 2025

    Dr. Joel Sneed, a psychologist and dedicated adult chess improver, discusses the challenges of learning chess later in life, his struggles with perfectionism and obsession over openings, and how psychological techniques like ACT and CBT can help manage chess-related anxiety.

    Get ChessDojo's first book, How to Analyze Your Games, here: https://amzn.to/3Ds5r78

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chess #chesstraining

    Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to Dojo Talks; guest Dr. Joel Sneed's background in psychology and chess. 00:38 – Discussion on Sneed’s chess journey, starting late and reaching a 2000+ rating. 01:54 – Sneed’s transition from Freudian psychoanalysis to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and ACT therapy. 03:49 – Adapting to new technology as an older adult and learning struggles. 05:57 – Comparison between changes in psychology and changes in chess over time. 13:54 – Sneed’s crisis moment: forgetting opening prep in a Blitz game and quitting chess. 17:11 – The frustration of learning but failing to apply knowledge in real games. 33:15 – Dealing with an "action crisis"—considering quitting chess and reevaluating goals. 53:16 – Focusing on process-oriented goals instead of rating-based goals. 1:16:35 – Sneed’s new goal: playing more tournament games and prioritizing enjoyment over rating.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 18 mins
  • EP 140 | Should There Be A SuperGM Title
    Jan 31 2025

    The sensei debate whether FIDE should introduce an official Super-GM title, discussing its potential requirements, the impact of rating inflation, and how chess titles should evolve to reflect modern competitive standards.

    Get ChessDojo's first book, How to Analyze Your Games, here: https://amzn.to/3Ds5r78

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chess #chesstraining

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • EP 139 | Who Decides The World Championship? ft. GM Jacob Aagaard
    Jan 23 2025

    The sensei are joined by GM Jacok Aagaard to discuss who decides the world championship.

    Get ChessDojo's first book, How to Analyze Your Games, here: https://amzn.to/3Ds5r78

    Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop

    Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip

    Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo

    Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you.

    Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips

    #chess #chesstraining

    Chapters

    [00:00] - Introduction [01:06] - Historical Tradition [02:19] - 1990s Split Era [04:54] - Kasparov vs. FIDE [07:49] - Counting World Champions [15:37] - Importance of Qualification [28:46] - Reunification Match (2006) [36:28] - Critique of Recent Cycles [45:22] - Who is a World Champion? [56:01] - Modern Challenges in Defining Champions [1:08:22] - Expiration of Lineage [1:37:07] - Ding Liren and Nepomniachtchi Match Issues [1:55:26] - Freestyle Chess World Championship [2:00:05] - Conclusion

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs