The Chess Cognition Podcast

00:00 Why the Same Chess Lesson Produces Different Results01:27 Prior Knowledge: The Mental Hooks That Make Ideas Stick02:23 Chess Knowledge as a Network03:16 Chess Example: Why the Minority Attack Confuses Some Players04:34 Why Good Chess Advice Can Arrive Too Early06:00 How Multiple Contexts Create Flexible Knowledge07:06 Chess Example: Learning the Pin08:48 Spiral Learning: Revisiting Ideas at a Deeper Level09:46 Chess Example: Pawn Breaks Can Also Create Weaknesses10:15 Why Reviewing Basic Chess Concepts Still Matters11:27 How to Make Chess Lessons StickWhy do two chess students watch the same lesson, pay equal attention, and get completely different results? In this video, we explore how prior knowledge shapes chess improvement and why new ideas often fail to stick when they have nothing to connect to. Using insights from cognitive science and educational psychology, we examine how long-term memory, mental “hooks,” pattern recognition, and knowledge networks determine whether a chess lesson becomes usable over the board or quickly disappears.You will also learn why random chess advice can arrive too early, how multiple focused exposures create flexible understanding, and why spiral learning is more effective than studying a concept once and moving on. Whether you are an adult chess improver, coach, or course creator, this video offers practical ways to build stronger foundations, study chess concepts in the right sequence, and turn passive understanding into knowledge you can actually apply in your games.SCIENTIFIC REFERENCES: Nuthall, G. (2007). The Hidden Lives of Learners. NZCER Press.Chi, M. T. H., Feltovich, P. J., & Glaser, R. (1981). "Categorization and representation of physics problems by experts and novices." Cognitive Science, 5(2), 121-152.Schmidt, R. A., & Bjork, R. A. (1992). "New conceptualizations of practice: Common principles in three paradigms suggest new concepts for training." Psychological Science, 3(4), 207-217.Harden, R. M., & Stamper, N. (1999). "What is a spiral curriculum?" Medical Teacher, 21(2), 141-143.Dochy, F., Segers, M., & Buehl, M. M. (1999). "The relation between assessment practices and outcomes of studies: The case of research on prior knowledge." Review of Educational Research, 69(2), 145-186.Gobet, F. (2019). The psychology of chess. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315441887

00:00 Intro00:51 The Learning Illusion01:55 Prior Knowledge: Why Adults Need the "Why"03:03 Working Memory: Your Brain's Biggest Bottleneck04:24 Worked Examples vs. Discovery Learning06:27 Desirable Difficulty: Why Comfort Zones Kill Progress07:23 The Illusion of Transfer: Bridging the Gap Between Study and Play08:44 Metacognition and Targeted Training09:58 SummaryWhile children have real advantages like pattern absorption, unlimited time, and fearless play, adults possess a different set of strengths that are often overlooked. The key isn't to compete with kids on their terms, but to leverage how adult brains actually learn. Children are pattern machines who improve through massive exposure, but adults are optimization engines who excel at reasoning, reflection, and structured learning. Understanding this difference is the first step to unlocking your true potential.Adult brains work differently. They need meaning and context to build lasting memory, benefit enormously from worked examples over blind discovery, and improve fastest when cognitive load is reduced through structured training. While working memory declines with age, adults can compensate through superior metacognition: keeping blunder journals, identifying recurring mistakes, using checklists, and designing targeted practice. Research in educational psychology consistently shows that novice adult learners benefit more from studying worked examples than solving problems from scratch. The path to adult chess improvement isn't about volume—it's about architecture. Adults need compression, structure, and high-quality practice that bridges the gap between study and real games. By focusing on causal understanding, desirable difficulty, retrieval practice, and self-awareness, adult players can transform their supposed disadvantages into powerful advantages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvohttps://www.chabris.com/https://amzn.to/437DXhzhttps://amzn.to/44Mrh0O00:00 Intro02:48 Enters Dr. Christopher Chabris06:15 Inattentional and Change Blindness 18:38 Checklists21:26 Categorizing and Labeling Things22:59 Visual Crowding24:36 Blunder-Check30:23 Cognitive Biases and Decision Making in Chess38:30 Sunk Cost Fallacy42:01 Truth Bias43:45 Trusting Authority50:53 Practical Decision Making54:37 Overconfidence in Chess1:00:27 The Dunning-Kruger Effect 1:12:07 The Illusion of Memory and Its Impact on Chess1:14:20 Causal Attribution and Learning from Mistakes1:19:39 The Role of Engines in Chess Analysis01:29:46 Scientific Studies Involving ChessIn this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Christopher Chabris—a cognitive scientist, bestselling author, and chess candidate master—whose groundbreaking work on attention, decision-making, and cognitive biases has deeply shaped our understanding of the mind. Known especially for The Invisible Gorilla experiment, which exposed the phenomenon of inattentional blindness, Chris shares insights on how these cognitive limitations directly affect our chess decisions. We discuss how chess players often miss threats that are right in front of them due to selective attention, and how ideas like gradual change blindness can lead to missed information even under careful observation.We then explore how these principles translate into practical advice for chess improvement. Chris discusses metacognitive tools like checklists and conscious blunder checks as remedies for attentional blind spots. We reflect on the power of naming patterns—like “sniper bishop” or “loose pieces”—to aid memory and pattern recognition, and how habits of structured thinking can eventually become automatic. We also connect this to broader life patterns: why multitasking reduces performance and how expertise shapes perception.Finally, we dive into Chris's recent scientific study on overconfidence in chess players. Analyzing data from hundreds of players, they discovered that most chess players believe they’re underrated, especially lower-rated players—a real-world instance of the Dunning-Kruger effect. We unpack how confirmation bias, sunk cost fallacy, truth bias and motivated reasoning influence not just how we play chess, but also how we evaluate our own skill level. Chris shares powerful reminders that chess is fundamentally a game of decision-making under uncertainty—and that metacognitive awareness, realistic self-assessment, and embracing discomfort are key to long-term growth in both chess and life.keywords: cognitive science, chess, metacognition, attention, cognitive biases, decision making, change blindness, inattentional blindness, learning strategies, memory, cognitive biases, confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, sunk cost fallacy, overconfidence, truth bias, chess decision making, authority trust, uncertainty, Dunning-Kruger effect, chess, overconfidence, Dunning-Kruger effect, memory, skill assessment, causal attribution, chess engines, learning, cognitive bias, player ratings, chess, psychological resilience, tactics, scientific experiments, chess ambitions, cognitive science, performance, skill, learning, expertise

The game: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044387Spassky drew lessons from this loss in the same match: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1129672Spassky - Portisch (1977): https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1113732🔵 My Chessable Courses: https://chessable.com/drcan♟️ Find me on Chess.com: DrCanChess♟️ Find me on Lichess: cantosh🏆 2022 Chessable Community Author of the Year! https://www.chessable.com/blog/announcing-the-winners-of-the-2022-chessable-awards/🏆 2023 Chessable Best Tactics Course of the Year! https://www.chessable.com/fundamental-chess-calculation-skills/course/123333/🏆 2024 Chessable Author of the Year! https://www.chessable.com/blog/annoucing-the-winners-of-the-2024-chessable-awards/00:00 Intro04:17 Andras Joins07:03 Spanish Tabiya08:00 A Fun Story by Andras 16:30 Major Transformation of the Pawn Structure23:46 Identifying Key Plans and Strategies32:41 Don't Try This at Home39:11 Why Did Fischer Play Ne2?50:00 Discovering but Not Believing in the Winning Plan50:38 Good Bishops vs. Bad Bishops01:01:27 An Explosive Pawn Break01:05:53 How Super GMs Differ From Us Mortals01:38:04 SummaryIn this episode, IM Andras Toth and I dive deep into a fascinating game: Fischer vs Spassky, 1992. But this isn’t just a game analysis—it’s a full-blown Guess the Move training session. We pause at every move, think out loud, and try to step into the shoes of Spassky. Sometimes, our ideas align beautifully with the masters; other times, our egos are shattered by their brilliance. That’s the beauty of this exercise: it exposes your blind spots, forces you to calculate deeply, and helps you ask better “why” questions with every decision.Guess the Move is one of the most effective—and underrated—forms of chess training. Instead of passively watching, you're actively guessing, evaluating, and engaging with the position like you would in your own games. From positional maneuvers to wild tactical shots, this game had it all—and we felt every twist and turn. You’ll also hear the contrast between our thought processes, offering insight into how a Candidate Master and an International Master see the board.

The Perpetual Chess Pod: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/Perpetual Chess Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@perpetualchesspodcast9143Perpetual Chess Improvement: https://amzn.to/4i4JsmpPerpetual Chess Link-fest: https://benjohnson.substack.com/Ben's Chessable Course: https://www.chessable.com/identifying-critical-moments-in-chess/course/248353/00:00 Intro01:49 The Art of Guest Selection and Preparation09:39 Insights from Years of Podcasting Experience12:30 Memorable Conversations and Unique Stories16:08 The Chess Linkfest Newsletter19:06 Chess Scandals & Drama22:59 Writing 'Perpetual Chess Improvement' 27:56 Structured Learning in Chess30:33 Minimizing Blunders for Improvement33:30 Ben's Next Book Project38:33 His Recent OTB Tournament Experience51:08 Blitz Chess52:58 Ben's Chessable Course 'Identifying Critical Moments in Chess'In this episode, I’m thrilled to host Ben Johnson, the voice behind the Perpetual Chess Podcast and one of the most connected figures in the chess world. With over eight years of experience interviewing top players, coaches, and adult improvers, Ben has a unique perspective on what it takes to improve at chess. We dive deep into his journey as a podcaster, the art of selecting guests, and the lessons he’s distilled into his book, Perpetual Chess Improvement. Ben shares valuable insights that every chess enthusiast can learn from.We also explore the key themes from his book, including the importance of community, effective training methods, and how to sustain improvement as an adult. Ben's candid reflections on the state of chess content and his thoughtful approach to interviews make this conversation useful for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of chess improvement. Please check out his book and listen to his podcast for deep chess wisdom.

This episode was recorded on a truly special day for me—I’ve been honored as Chessable’s Author of the Year for 2024! It’s an incredible milestone, and I’m deeply grateful for all the support along the way.But this episode isn’t just about celebrating—I'm joined by the amazing WIM Luciana Morales, a highly accomplished chess player, educator, and Chessable author. We dive into her Chessable course "Queens of the Chess Board," which explores the lives and games of the first five Women’s World Champions, bringing to light some of chess history’s most fascinating and underappreciated players.Beyond her chess achievements, Luciana is a true multi-talent—she’s working on a children’s chess book, managing social media for Chessable and Chess.com, and has played a key role in various chess education projects, including the FIDE Chessable Academy with legendary trainers like Artur Yusupov. In this episode, we explore the styles of Women’s World Champions, discuss how chess connects generations, and even touch on her creative work on social media.By the end of the video, we show games of five World Champions to explore their chess styles. And a gem of a game from Luciana against an international master!Queens of the Chess Board: https://www.chessable.com/queens-of-the-chess-board/course/102010/Follow Luciana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsgambit/Follow Luciana on X: https://x.com/LucianaMoralesFollow Luciana on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/drcanchess.bsky.social00:00 Intro02:12 Background Story and Early Years08:49 The Making of 'Queens of the Chess Board'23:15 Her Upcoming Chess Book35:55 Fide Chessable Academy39:43 Chessable Classroom45:27 Social Media & The Art of Chess Memes56:14 Menchik - Sir George Thomas, 193201:03:50 Menchik - Price, 192701:08:43 Rudenko - Bruce, 194601:13:16 Bykova - Keller, 195201:19:46 Rubtsova - Vaisberg, 195101:25:12 Gaprindashvili - Beliavsky, 197701:33:36 Luciana's Masterpiece

In this special year-end episode, I had the pleasure of hosting Kamryn Helman, an extraordinary adult improver who achieved a chesscom rapid rating of 2000 in just two years, starting from absolute zero. Kamryn shared her inspirational journey, which began in 2021 after watching The Queen’s Gambit. Despite balancing her undergraduate studies and later a full-time job, she devoted around 20 hours per week to chess and made remarkable progress. Kamryn's disciplined approach combined playing, tactical exercises, and joining a chess club, where she set goals to compete with stronger players. Her story is a testament to how dedication and a structured approach can yield extraordinary results in a short time.During our conversation, Kamryn offered valuable insights into her improvement methods. She talked about her "Why I Am Losing" document, a weekly habit of analyzing losses to identify patterns and guide her studies. We also discussed her thought process, including a mental checklist to avoid blunders, and the critical role of breaks in consolidating knowledge. Kamryn's ability to stay intentional and disciplined about her chess journey is both inspiring and instructional for players at all levels.Toward the end, we explored her educational contributions to the chess community, including her Chessable course, 50 Essential Chess Concepts: An Improver's Blueprint. She shared the challenges of designing clean, instructive puzzles that minimize cognitive overload and maximize learning. Kamryn's passion for chess and commitment to improvement was evident throughout our discussion, leaving me—and hopefully you—with fresh ideas and inspiration to tackle our own chess journeys. I’m thrilled to see what Kamryn accomplishes next and I look forward to another conversation as her chess story unfolds.01:54 The Chess Bug and the Very Short Summary of the Journey to 2000 ELO08:57 The Thought Process10:47 Blunder-Check15:16 'Why Am I Losing?' Document23:07 How Blitz Helped 26:00 Study Advice for 0-1500 ELO29:16 Study Advice for 1500 - 2000 ELO37:18 Her Chessable Course41:40 Her New Openings44:47 Final Advice for Beginners45:40 Final Advice for Intermediate Players46:34 The Weekly Training Schedule