EP.350- CM Can Kabadayi: A self-taught Candidate Master and Cognitive Scientist on Calculation, The Chess Aging Curve and his Favorite Chess Books

Can Kabadayi is a cognitive scientist, a self-taught Candidate Master, and a popular and prolific Chessable author. Given his academic background, Can is especially interested in the challenges of adult chess improvement, and devotes his chess work to helping adult learners. 

In our conversation, we discuss the origins of Can’s interests in chess and cognitive science, his Chessable courses, his OTB plans, and notable research related to chess and cognitive science. Can is an avid bibliophile and also shares plenty of book recommendations.  All in all, there is lots to learn from this conversation, as there is from Can’s courses and YouTube channel. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

0:00- Can retells the story of how he got into chess at the age of 17, and how he attained a first rating of approximately FIDE 2100! 

Mentioned; Capablanca’s Fundamentals of Chess 

0:07- Can describes the chess scene in Turkey. 

Mentioned: GM John Nunn, GM Jonathan Rowson, Instructive Chess Miniatures 

11:00- Can describes how he became interested in cognitive science. 

Mentioned: Fernand Gobet’s The Psychology of Chess, Thought and Choice in Chess by Adrian de Groot 

Mentioned:  Take a chess cognitive test via Dr. Can’s YouTube channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyOpUyss3Sc, Think Like a Super GM 

24:00- We discuss chess calculation, which is the topic of Can’s new Chessable course. 

Mentioned: Under the Surface by GM Jan Markos 

30:00 What are the most common types of mistakes Can sees in adult players? 

32:00- More book and author recs!

Mentioned: The Secret Ingredient, NM Dan Heisman 

34:00- Patreon mailbag question: “Is it still good advice for amateurs not to study openings?” 

41:00- Patreon mailbag question: “All things being equal, what is the best age to start playing chess?” 

Mentioned: Can’s Reddit Q and A, YouTube video: How good can I become if I start chess at age 30?, Episode 346 with NM Todd Bryant 

49:00- Does Can have any plans of returning to competitive chess? 

Mentioned: Episode 309 with Dr. Joel Sneed 

Thanks to Can for joining me! Be sure to sub to his YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.CansClinic

Can’s Chessable page:

https://www.chessable.com/author/Can_Kabadayi/

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