Perpetual Chess Podcast

This week’s guest on the Adult Improver Series is Matt Biancuzzo. Matt is a 31-year-old New York City consultant who is very active in both the local chess scene and on social media. He has taken full advantage of New York’s many chess opportunities, regularly attending chess gatherings and pub nights while also competing in tournaments locally. Over the past few years he has improved from below 1400 USCF to a peak of over 1800! Matt has worked with multiple coaches, grinded tactics, and consumed countless chess videos, but he credits the majority of his improvement to building a social network that made chess fun for him.

Speaking of fun, Matt has also built a large online following thanks to his hilarious short-form videos. Posting as “byredofantome” on Instagram and “fantomechess” on TikTok, Matt creates impressions and humorous shorts that lightly satirize chess culture. In the second half of our interview, we shift our focus from chess improvement to the story behind Matt’s videos. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out the bonus video breaking down some of Matt’s best clips on the Perpetual Chess YouTube channel.


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Ben Johnson | creating Perpetual Chess Podcast | Patreon


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 https://discord.gg/gUPSsHMK


Check out Chessable’s Women’s Day sale here:

https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/all/offer/f/


Check out Chessiverse.com, use code “Perpetual30” to save 30% on premium offerings. 


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00:00 Introduction to Chess Improvement and Content Creation

04:45- Matt Biancuzzo joins the show! We begin by discussing how he got into chess in college. 

13:29 The Role of Community in Chess Improvement

Mentioned: GM Robert Hungaski, IM Denys Shmelov, Alex Pickett,  IM Jan van der Mortaal, Jonathan Williams, Pobo Efikoro

18:03 Coaching and Learning Strategies

23:04 The Impact of Online Chess and Content Creation

Mentioned: MaddiePlaysChess, GambitMan

25:00- Getting a chess coach

Mentioned: IM Sam Khanin, IM VIktor Matviishen

28:00 Personal Growth Through Chess

33:14 Final Thoughts on Chess and Community

40:16 The language and habits of chess players 

48:55 Content Creation in Chess

Mentioned: Matt’s article about Where to Play Chess in NYC

https://www.chess.com/blog/byredofantome/where-to-play-chess-in-nyc-and-how-to-gauge-a-good-club

POV When you are Prepping for the 2002 World Under 12 Championship:

https://www.instagram.com/byredofantome/reel/DT6A_OHDqTi/

What I learned Playing 130 Chess Tournaments in 2 Years

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-fgbeDmHY/

POV You are Spassky in 1971

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTOntmlDlEM/

49:54 The Art of Subversive Commentary

52:06 Impressions and Mannerisms in Chess

Matt’s Yasser/magnus video is here:

https://www.tiktok.com/@byredofantome/video/7240979768525573418?_r=1&_t=ZP-94OfoAItpk7

53:50 Translating Chess for the Average Person

55:15 Inspiration from Online Trends

Mentioned: POV Chess Players Training at the Gym

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRqJ2x_jvKs/

01:03:19 Monetization and Content Creation Challenges

01:05:26 Entrepreneurial Ventures in Chess

01:09:05 Colliding Worlds: Chess and Consulting

01:12:26 The Nature of Content Creation and Recognition

Matt’s linktree is here:

https://linktr.ee/byredofantome?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnKZHTvXc3y6vDxPUApYvPDxbUFpbNtVLXr58nVATFdTyrdu7mR6xgzob8An4_aem_SjGs6svkY3aTt1lbEPnWOg

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This week’s returning guest is NM Han Schut. Han is a former corporate executive turned Chessable author and trainer, known for his expertise in the Chess Steps Method and chess technology. Han joins me to reflect on the legacy of his fellow Dutchman, GM Jan Timman, who recently passed away. He shares personal anecdotes and discusses Timman’s impact as a world-class competitor, prolific author, and cultural icon in the Netherlands.

We also explore a fascinating recent project: Han built a custom chess database with the help of the LLM Claude, which handled all of the coding. He explains how players can use LLMs effectively for chess study and recommends other powerful digital tools.

Finally, Han offers evergreen advice on rest, mindset, and accurately assessing your own chess performance. As always, I came away inspired by Han’s wide-ranging knowledge and practical approach to chess.

Thanks to our sponsors, Chessable.com! Check out Han Schut's courses here:

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

00:00 Remembering Grandmaster Jan Timman

Mentioned: Read Peter Doggers’ obituary here:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/jan-timman-obituary

Timman-Ribli 1978-

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1142478

12:03 Exploring LLMs in Chess Coding

Check out Han’s video about coding with Claude here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSj69yLmwMg&t=3s

Download the Lichess Puzzle Database Here:

https://database.lichess.org/#puzzles

Link to download Han and Claude’s creation within this article:

https://lichess.org/@/HanSchut/blog/the-lichess-opening-puzzles-with-games-makes-them-searchable-from-any-position/BUHE9eQ3

Matt Shumer article “Something Big is Happening”-

https://x.com/mattshumer_/status/2021256989876109403

21:45 Creating Chess Tools with AI

27:56 The Rise of AI and Its Implications

34: 00 Han’s Chess Study Tool Recommendations:

Mentioned: 

Forward Chess

https://forwardchess.com/

Chessvision AI

https://chessvision.ai/

36:55 Patreon mailbag question: What is Han’s advice for how to approach chess puzzles? 

Mentioned: 

CT Art Puzzles- (Chessking App)

https://chesskingtraining.com/ct-art/

Chessbase Puzzles

https://tactics.chessbase.com/nl/Solve

45:40 Mindset and Mental Strength in Chess

Mentioned: Think Like a Super GM by Michael Adams

How to Chess Podcast with Han Schut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPN60QMA2oA

53:12 Managing Anxiety and Performance Pressure

58:46 Patreon mailbag question: What does Han think of Chessalyz AI and other AI Chess Tutors? 

Mentioned: 

Chessalyz AI:

https://chessalyz.ai/

FM Dalton Perrine’s blog:

https://chesschatter.substack.com/

Novachess AI

https://www.chessagine.com/

1:05:00- Thanks to Han for joining me! Here is how to keep up with him:

YouTube (including Saturday morning streams): 

https://www.youtube.com/c/hanschut

Lichess coaches:

https://lichess.org/coach/HanSchut

Chessable courses: 

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

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GM Aman Hambleton has been busy lately. In addition to his usual role as a popular Twitch streamer and Youtuber for the Chessbrah channel, he recently returned from London, where he was one of the lead commentators for Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship. He also has recently released his highly anticipated Chessable course, Aman Hambleton’s London System. In our conversation we discuss: 


What made the latest Speed Chess Championship “special” according to Magnus Carlsen, and Aman’s thoughts on rapid, classical and freestyle chess. 


What Aman says to haters of the London Opening. 


Aman’s thoughts on the FIDE Candidates. 

We also discuss whether Aman is an adult improver at blitz chess (having recently crossed 3000 on Chess.com , Aman’s thoughts on The Queen of Chess, and the all important question of what Aman thinks of Magnus Carlsen’s new mustache. Its always fun chatting with Aman! 

0:01- Aman’s reflections on Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship in London 

0:14- Looking ahead to the Esports World Cup 

0:19- Aman’s thoughts on the FIDE Candidates 

0:23- Highlights of Aman’s London course. 

More on Aman’s chessboxing match with IM Lawrence Trent here:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/mogul-chessboxing-championship-hambleton-trent

35:00- Patreon mailbag question: Does Aman have plans of doing a formal course on the Taimanov? 

Mentioned: Aman’s Taimanov Speedrun:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUjxDD7HNNTjZAD99gBAKVm_ZipXTtNYn

Mentioned: The Taimanov Bibl

41:00- Patreon mailbag question: What is Aman’s advice for how to improve your middlegame play? 

46:00- Where did Aman come up with the term “snorkel”? 

49:00- Aman recently went over a 3000 blitz rating. Is he an adult improver?

52:00- Does Aman have any new impersonations? 

53:00- Aman’s thoughts on The Queen of Chess 

54:00- Did the Chessbrahs go out in London?

55:00- Favorite chessbrah videos 

56:00- Does Aman approve of Magnus’ new mustache?

59:00- Thanks to Aman for joining me again! Here is how to keep up with he and the Chessbrahs:

Chessable course:

https://www.chessable.com/aman-hambletons-london-system/course/353577/

Twitch:

https://www.twitch.tv/chessbrah

Kick:

https://kick.com/chessbrah/videos

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@chessbrah

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What role does chess play in our lives? That’s a recurring question on Perpetual Chess, and one that author Katie Kormanik explores in her new, personal memoir, Adventures of a Chess Girl. A former top scholastic player, Katie looks back at the competitive years of her early 20s and reflects on how chess became a refuge during a stressful and uncertain time. The game allowed her to travel widely and immerse herself in an eclectic social circle of strong players from around the world. Although Katie ultimately stepped away from competition, she still loves chess, and now fondly revisits those formative memories. We also discuss her experience self-publishing the book, as well as our thoughts on the new Queen of Chess documentary on Netflix. 

Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com. Check out GM Simon Williams' new course here:

https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-stonewall-dutch/course/378958/

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:49 Exploring the Memoir: Adventures of a Chess Girl

Mentioned: All the Wrong Moves by Sasha Chapin

03:28 Chess as a Refuge and a place to build identity

08:14 The Role of Peer Influence in Chess

12:00- Does Katie have a love-hate relationship with chess?

16:09 Romantic Relationships and Chess Improvement

19:00- Gender dynamics in the chess world 

22:05 Advice for Young Women in Chess

23:15 Introducing Chess to Children

25:59 The Journey of Self-Publishing a Book

You can find Katie’s self-publishing checklist within this article:

https://booksbywomen.org/the-case-for-self-publishing-and-why-its-easier-now-than-ever-before/

34:13 Reflections on Life Lessons and Risks

39:47 Our thoughts on the new Netflix Queen of Chess documentary 

43:32 Parenting Styles and Nurturing Passions

45:00- Thanks so much to Katie for joining me! You can find out more about her and her book at:

https://www.chessgirlbook.com/

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Is it possible to continue to get better at chess once you hit your 50s?  The Adult Improver Series returns, and that’s one of the central questions I explore with today’s guest, long-time friend of the pod and fellow chess podcaster Dr. Kevin Scull.

Kevin is the host of the popular Chess Journeys podcast, where he interviews adult chess improvers on a weekly basis. In our conversation, he shares insights drawn from hundreds of interviews, as well as from his own dedicated pursuit of tournament chess.

We discuss:


How Kevin managed to reach a new all-time rating high of over 1800 USCF in his early 50s


The social and competitive benefits of adult-only tournaments


Whether struggling to remember your games afterward means you’re hopeless at chess

As you’d expect, Kevin also shares a wealth of chess resource recommendations and practical improvement tips, and reflects on nearly five years of producing Chess Journeys.

Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series Website:

https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/adultimprover

Perpetual Chess Adult Improver Series Spotify Playlist: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75Uoqz2BoRt2IiTCeOfuky?si=ab7ba68225fb43dc

0:00- Thanks to Chessable, check out Kevin’s course here:

https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/

0:01- Kevin joins the pod. How did he achieve a new rating high of 1800+ USCF in his early 50s? 

0:08- Why Kevin particularly enjoys adult and senior-only tournaments 

18:00- Kevin’s recent chess improvement realizations 

Mentioned: Karpov’s Strategic Wins by IM Tibor Karolyi 

23:00- The benefits of having a coach

Mentioned: NM Gopal Menon

https://lichess.org/streamer/vitamixbrand

28:00- More chess improvement secrets!

Mentioned: 100 Tactical Patterns You Must Know

The Carlsbad Pawn Structure Revisited 

Chess Structures 

32:00- Is Kevin hopeless at chess because he can’t remember his games?

Post-

Am I bad at chess or our brains really that different?

https://drscull.substack.com/p/am-i-bad-at-chess-or-are-brains-really

Playing a Chess Tournament without Calculating

https://substack.com/@drscull/p-185151203

43:00- What is new with the Chess Journeys Podcast and Kevin’s Streaming?

Check at Chess Inception at Chesspuzzle.net 

https://chesspuzzle.net/Inception

47:00- Patterns that Kevin sees in successful improvers

50:00- What has Kevin learned from watching his daughter pursue chess? 

53:00- Kevin’s review of IM Danny Rensch’s Dark Squares

54:00- How to recalibrate expectations as you get older 

56:00- The value of studying random positions 

Thanks to Kevin for joining me!

Blog/substack here:

https://substack.com/@drscull/posts

Chess Journeys Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1kNbZLQE6JvbAyfOlv7ZNY?si=4b82e81608c24743&nd=1&dlsi=1afd66a98e904dc7

Chessable course:

https://www.chessable.com/chess-journeys-tactics-workbook-turning-knowledge-into-skill/course/268850/

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