EP.229 - GM Davorin Kuljasevic

GM Davorin Kuljsevicis an author, a trainer and, of course, an accomplished chess player. Davorin has won several international tournaments and competed with the Croatian National team. As a trainer, he has coached the Finland Men’s and Women’s National Chess teams,and he has taught many titled players. In recent years, Davorin is becoming best known for his books. His first book, Beyond Material, helps players learn to sacrifice for initiative and to play more dynamically. Davorin’s new book,How to Study Chess On Your Own: Creating a Plan that Works and Sticking to it, is an expansive and instructive book that provides both chess instruction and study plans for the ambitious improver. The book, and our interview, contain useful tips on how to properly use engines, improve tactics, structure study time, and lots more. Please read on for more details and relevant timestamps.

0:00- We dive right into Davorin’s new book,How to Study Chess On Your Own: Creating a Plan that Works and Sticking to it. What advice can be gleaned from this impressive book?

Mentioned: GM Efstratios Grivas, IM Lawrence Trent, GM Daniel Fridman, Kuljasevic-Fridman 2013, GM Richard Rapport, GM Judit Polgar, GM Veselin Topalov

12:00- Davorin’s book advocates a very ambitious study plan. Can it be adjusted for those who have less time to devote to chess study?

Mentioned:Pump Up Your Ratingby GM Axel Smith, Berlin Wall by GM John Cox

18:00- Davorin answers a few Patreon mailbag questions, including, “Is there a minimum amount of study one must to do to expect chess improvement?”

Mentioned: IM Cyrus Lakdawala

24:00- Patreon mailbag question: “How should adult improvers measure progress?”

28:00-Patreon mailbag question: “Can humans use non GM strength engines as playing partners?”

Mentioned: ChessDojo, Episode 215 with Dr. Vishnu Sreekumar

31:00- How should one properly use chess engines?

James Altucher Episode 716 with Garry Kasparov

37:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. You can check out their latest offerings here:

New Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com

38:00- How can we break the spell of excessive “materialism” in chess, and learn to sacrifice for dynamic compensation?

Mentioned: Beyond Material by GM Davorin Kuljasevic, Gamechangerby GM Mathew Sadler and WIM Natasha Regan, Artemiev-Motylev 2015, Mastering Positional Sacrifices by IM Merijn van Delft

46:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check it out for free, and then, if you decide to subscribe, use the PromoCode Chess30 to save 30%.

49:00- How would Davorin ramp up for a tournament if he were getting ready to compete?

Mentioned: WGM Iva Videnova,

51:00- What was it like to do a Chess TV show in Croatia? How is the chess culture there? Mentioned: Episode 160 with Agadmator, Episode 117 with Stjepian Tomic aka Hanging Pawns, Episode 223 with Dr. Luka Popov, GM Alojzije Janković

54:30- Davorin discusses his experience studying in the US at University of Texas at Dallas, and at Texas Tech University

Mentioned: IM John Bartholomew, IM Dmitry Schneider, FM Andrei Zaremba

58:00- Davorin names a few of his favorite chess authors

Mentioned: IM Mark Dvoretsky, GM Jacob Aagaard, GM Boris Gelfand, Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual

1:02:-- Thanks so much to Davorin for joining the show. Link below for where to reach him and purchase his books:

Buy from New in Chess Publishing (including ebook):

https://www.newinchess.com/how-to-study-chess-on-your-own

Buy from Amazon:

How to Study Chess on Your Own: Creating a Plan that Works… and Sticking to it! - Kindle edition by Kuljasevic, Davorin. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Reach Davorin here:

https://lichess.org/coach/GrandmasterThinking

If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here: https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/donate

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