EP 377- NM Dan Heisman and NM Laura Smith. Two Accomplished Trainers on Capturing, Counting, and other Chess Concepts To Know

For this week’s regular edition, (no FIDE Candidates talk) of Perpetual Chess, we are honored to be joined by two highly respected trainers and Chessable Authors. NM Dan Heisman is an engineer, turned author, YouTuber and trainer, who is particularly insightful regarding topics of adult chess improvement. I am a particular fan of his book, A Guide to Chess Improvement: The Best of Novice Nook. NM Laura Smith is a school teacher, chess trainer and former youth champion, who was the highest rated 13 year-old in the United States in 2002. Together, Laura and Dan have just collaborated on a new Chessable course, Can I Take It? A Beginner's Guide to Capturing Pieces. The course is geared toward beginner players and provides a comprehensive guide to an important tactical concept that Dan Heisman calls “counting.” In addition to discussing lessons from the course, we discuss some of the other original chess terms Dan has coined, Laura’s recent return to OTB chess, and upcoming projects for both authors. As always, timestamps of topics discussed are below.

0:00-  Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. New courses include Introduction to Chess Calculation, and GM Ganguly’s Lifetime Repertoires: Sidelines and Flank Openings for Black 

 If you use the link below to sign up for a Chessable pro membership, it helps to support the pod! 

https://www.chessable.com/pro/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=benjohnson&utm_campaign=pro

Prior interviews with our guests:

Episode 138 with NM Dan Heisman 

Laura Smith on How to Chess 

0:01- How did Laura and Dan decide to collaborate? 

Back to Basics Chess Tactics by Dan Heisman 

5:30- What does Dan mean by the term “counting”? 

Mentioned: GM John Nunn’s Learn Chess Tactics 

10:30- What is the genesis of the term “Reinfeld values”

Mentioned: GM Larry Kaufman, The Evolution of Material Imbalances by IM Larry Kaufman, FM Charles Hertan 

12:30- Dan and Laura on the differences between how adults and kids learn

Mentioned: NM Dan Benjamin, IM Josh Waitzkin, Everyone’s Second Chess Book by NM Dan Heisman 

19:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Dan’s advice for improving visualization? 

Mentioned: Evaluate like a Grandmaster by FM Nate Solon and GM Eugene Perelshteyn 

Chessable’s Visualize Courses 

25:00- Laura’s lessons learned from a recent OTB tournament, her first in years. 

28:00- We discuss some of our favorite books.

Mentioned: Dan’s recommended book page, My recommended book page, Chess Steps books, Interviews mentioned IM Jop de la Marre, NM Han Schut, Chess Steps Walk-Through with Han Schut, 

30:00- Dan and Smith discuss forthcoming books and projects 

Mentioned: Laura Smith’s Forcing Moves for Beginners 

39:00- What is a floobly? 

46:00- Thanks to Dan and Laura for rejoining! Here is how you can reach them:

https://www.danheisman.com/lessons.html

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

Get their course here: https://www.chessable.com/can-i-take-it-a-beginners-guide-to-capturing-pieces/course/174891/

Sub to Dan's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/danheisman

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:

Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices