The Chess Cognition Podcast

Surya's Chessable Page: https://www.chessable.com/author/suryaganguly/Surya's 1. e4 Repertoire Part 1: https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-suryas-1e4-part-1/course/353840/Surya's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SuryachessProChess Training: https://prochesstraining.com/GM Ganguly on the Perpetual Chess Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLy5B3n5aOQ00:00 Intro02:29 Understanding vs. Memorization09:13 Opening Advantage is Not Everything11:19 How Surya Structures His Opening Courses18:30 Explaining Strange Looking Moves in the Najdorf22:27 Lessons From Team Anand25:20 Stories From Training Indian Top Players34:22 System Openings vs. Mainlines48:40 His YouTube Journey53:01 Pro Chess Training56:15 WHY We Play ChessIn this episode, I’m honored to welcome Surya Ganguly, one of India’s most respected grandmasters and opening theoreticians. A former child prodigy, six-time Indian Champion, Asian Champion, and former world #55 with a peak rating of 2676, Surya was also a key member of Viswanathan Anand’s World Championship team—achieving a remarkable 100% score as part of the preparation squad. Many chess fans also know Surya from his deep, principled work as a coach and author, including his latest Chessable course: Lifetime Repertoire: 1.e4 – Part 1 vs the Sicilian.Instead of repeating questions from his excellent appearances on the Perpetual Chess Podcast, this conversation goes deeper into how openings should be learned and taught. We explore understanding vs memorization, the importance of asking why in opening study, integrity and consistency in building a repertoire, system openings versus main lines, and how Surya adapts his teaching from 1400-rated players to elite stars like R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi.keywords: chess openings, Surya Ganguly, chess education, Chessable, opening preparation, chess strategy, memorization vs understanding, chess courses, chess training, creativity in chess, Anand

Info on CoachChamps 2025: https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-coachchamps

00:00 Remembering Daniel Naroditsky02:59 Podcast Begins05:55 Takeaways from Different Rating Bands11:08 Opening Preparation17:20 Training Plans25:30 Time Management and Checkpoints27:06 Chesstempo Blitzset34:43 Psychological Aspects of Coaching37:56 Reflections on Coaching Styles45:51 How Much They Can Improve in a Month49:24 Future Improvements and Feedback51:37 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsIn this conversation, NM Robert Ramirez, an acclaimed chess coach and the CoachChamps 2025 champion, discusses his experiences and insights from CoachChamps 2025. He shares his coaching techniques, the importance of adapting to students' needs, and the psychological aspects of chess training. The conversation delves into specific strategies for different rating levels, the significance of tactical training, and the impact of preparation on performance. Robert emphasizes the need for consistency and clarity in coaching, while also reflecting on the challenges and successes of his students during the tournament.Keywords: chess coaching, tournament strategies, student performance, chess techniques, coaching methods, psychological aspects, chess tactics, training plans, time management, chess improvement

Info on CoachChamps 2025: https://www.chess.com/events/info/2025-coachchampsFollow David: https://x.com/dpruess?lang=enhttps://www.youtube.com/c/ChessDojo
00:00 Intro04:15 A 14-Year-Old Idea06:12 Surprising Takeaways from Coach Champs17:05 Psychological Training25:52 David's Most Proud Moments29:55 Unfairness 34:43 The Impact of Tie Breaks on Coach Standings41:04 Coaching Preparation and Strategies52:02 Sebu's Incredible Result59:15 Improving Skills in a Limited Time1:06:35 Draft Choices and Their Importance1:25:12 How CoachChamps Can Get More Attention1:31:50 Training Insights with LoganSeason 3 of The Chess Cognition Podcast opens with International Master David Pruess, reflecting on lessons from the first-ever Coach Champs tournament. In this episode, I sit down with David to unpack what made this event so unique, what we both learned as coaches, and our training approaches.The conversation delves into the unique challenges faced by coaches, the psychological aspects of player performance, and the importance of tailored strategies based on individual player strengths and weaknesses. David discusses surprising outcomes from the tournament, the significance of emotional management, and the need for constructive feedback in coaching. We discuss various aspects of chess coaching, focusing on the psychological impact of losses, effective strategies for tournament preparation, and the importance of time management and identifying weaknesses in players. We examine the impact of drafting choices and luck on tournament outcomes, as well as the importance of flexibility in coaching methods. The discussion also highlights the importance of teaching basic principles and endgame skills, and the role of audience engagement in chess events. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into improving chess performance and coaching effectiveness.Keywords:chess coaching, tournament insights, coaching strategies, psychological preparation, emotional management, player improvement, coaching feedback, chess competition, coaching experiences, opponent analysis, chess, coaching, tournament preparation, psychological impact, player profiles, time management, endgame skills, strategy, audience engagement, coaching effectiveness

00:00 Intro12:03 Pressure14:37 Alan Watts' Fantasy17:53 Meditation21:04 Playing the Position in Front of You27:01 Toxic Self-Talk 30:24 Rating Anxiety 33:42 Confidence and Self-Efficacy41:23 Handling Losses45:21 Pain = Suffering x Resistance52:35 Time Trouble55:07 Giving up Control58:00 Self-Adopted Identities1:00:28 Beauty in Complexity1:03:46 Preserving the Love for the Game1:15:31 Pre-Game RitualsBenji Portheault, a seasoned performance coach with experience working with chess players of all levels, including super grandmasters, joined the podcast to discuss the mental aspects of chess. Throughout the conversation, he explored topics such as meditation, dealing with tilt, tournament preparation, and the psychology of chess success. Benji gave insights into how identity, confidence, and mindset play crucial roles in a player's performance. His approach combines modern psychology with meditation techniques to help players build resilience and manage the stress of competition effectively.A major focus of the discussion was on managing emotions during games, particularly in high-pressure situations. Benji explained the importance of developing self-awareness, identifying negative thought patterns, and learning how to reset mentally after mistakes. He introduced techniques such as open monitoring meditation and mental reframing to help players regain focus and prevent one mistake from snowballing into further blunders. He also emphasized the need for practical routines before and during games, including recognizing the feeling of playing well and recalling past successful experiences to build confidence.The conversation also touched on broader topics like rating anxiety, tournament nerves, and the importance of maintaining a love for the game. Benji encouraged players to cultivate a healthy relationship with chess, understanding that improvement requires embracing both wins and losses as learning experiences. He highlighted how professionals and amateurs alike struggle with the psychological challenges of competition, making mental training just as crucial as tactical and strategic preparation.

Season 2 of the Chess Cognition Podcast comes to a close with this wrap-up episode. From cognitive science and chess psychology to positional mastery and historic match insights, we covered a wide range of powerful conversations with nine brilliant guests.

As we prepare for Season 3 launching in August, I’d love to hear your feedback—what was your favorite episode, what topics do you want more of, and who should I invite next?

Thank you for being part of your exciting journey.