EP 353- GM Davorin Kuljasevic: Chess Improvement Q & A (plus discussion of his great new book on GM Ding Liren)

GM Davorin Kuljasevic is a renowned author, trainer and player, best known for the excellent book, How to Study Chess on Your Own. Because GM Kuljasevic has worked with players of varying ages and skill levels, and has written a book on the topic of chess study, he is the perfect person to field questions for a Chess Improvement Q & A. In our far-reaching conversation, we cover topics ranging from budgeting study time, to analyzing games, to playing against kids, and many others. We also discuss Davorin’s excellent forthcoming biography on GM Ding Liren, DIng Lirens Best Games: A Chess Biography of the World Champion. Ding, of course, is a fascinating and admirable player and there's so much to learn both from his games and from his approach to chess. Timestamps of topics discussed can be found below. 

0:01- Thanks to our presenting chess education sponsor, Chessable.com

Check out GM Fabiano Caruana’s course here: 

https://www.chessable.com/caruanas-ruy-lopez-dark-archangel/course/188495/

And GM Kuljasevic’s course, Beyond Material :

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

And some of my favorites: 

https://go.chessable.com/perpetual-chess-podcast/

Prior interviews with Davorin: 

Episode 229, June 2021 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1nllqVtGfVA9gqdELutNpP?si=2d9ad8336bbb4cbc

How to Chess Episode 09

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4tS4dfBFfxnOBmuLqnSfj3?si=2d75dd2c90ba4e61

0:02- GM Kuljasevic joins me! 

Pre-order his book: 

https://www.amazon.com/Ding-Lirens-Best-Games-Biography/dp/9083336689

DIng Liren’s Best Games: A Chess Biography of the World Champion:

https://www.newinchess.com/ding-liren-s-best-games-hardcover

03:30- First topic- Budgeting Your Chess Study Time

Mentioned: Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual 

13:00- Do chess books still have value?

Mentioned: IM Mark Dvoretsky, IM Jeremy Silman, Think Like a Grandmaster, The Life and Games of Smyslov 

16:30- Tactics

20:00- Game analysis

Books: Logical Chess Move by Move, The Most Instructive Chess Games,Instructive Chess Miniatures 

22:00- Dealing with nerves at critical moments

Mentioned: Ding Liren-Nakamura 2022 

30:00- Tips for how much time to spend analyzing games 

32:00- Finding "model games"

Mentioned: Chess Structures

34:00- Tips for those that struggle with time trouble 

Mentioned; How to Chess Episode 14 with Peter Svidler 

41:00- Was Davorin surprised by the strength of a particular element of Ding’s play?

48:00- What is the ideal time control for newer players? 

51:00- What calculation improvement resources are recommended for intermediate players?

Mentioned: Calculation: A Complete Guide for Tournament Players by Azel Chua, Fundamental Chess Calculation Skills by CM Can Kabadayi 

54:30- Advice for playing against kids 

Mentioned: Qatar Open, Nakamura, Carlsen, Kaidanov-Van Foreest 2023 

1:01:00- If a study approach isn’t working, like a particular opening or emphasis on a phase of the game, how do we know if we should stick with it or change the approach? 

1:03:00- Davorin discusses his workbook series and plans for a 2100 level edition, How to Study Chess on Your Own Workbook 

Mentioned: Workbook , 1500-1800, Workbook 1800-2100 

1:06:00- What does Davorin mean when he suggests that a player should study one’s openings deeply? Does it change at different levels? 

1:09:00- What were the origins of Davorin’s Ding Liren book?

1:20:00- Thanks so much to GM Kuljasevic for joining, you can reach out to him via the Lichess or Chess.com Coaches pages:

https://lichess.org/coach/GrandmasterThinking

https://www.chess.com/member/davorinkuljasevic

Pre-order my book, Perpetual Chess Improvement: Practical Chess Advice from World Class Players and Dedicated Amateurs. It will be available soon from Amazon and other major retailers. 

https://www.amazon.com/Perpetual-Chess-Improvement-Practical-World-Class/dp/9083336549/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NC8JT9EJX0R&keywords=perpetual+chess+improvement&qid=1686853259&sprefix=perpetual+chess+improvement%2Caps%2C291&sr=8-1

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