This week’s guest on Perpetual Chess is author, psychology professor and avid chess player, Dr. Joel Sneed. In the professional realm, Joel’s research focuses on the topics of late life depression and cognitive impairment, and he is also a practicing clinical psychologist. Since being introduced to competitive chess by a patient, Joel has also always found time for the game, both as an author and a competitor who has achieved very unusual gains for an adult learner. Joel began tournament chess at age 33 with a 1200 rating, and at age 48 is rated over 2000! Joel thinks that part of the reason for his success has been his emphasis on the psychological side of chess, as discussed in his latest collaboration with GM Boris Gulko, Analyzing the Chess Mind. The book provides both traditional game analysis from GM Gulko as well as more general advice about chess psychology from both the GM and the Professor. It was fascinating to hear Joel’s story and there is lots to learn from his book and from our conversation! Please read on for timestamps and topics discussed.
01:00- Joel tells the story of his starting to discover tournament chess through working with a patient at a psychiatric hospital.
07:00- What has chess taught Joel about himself? Why was he initially attracted to the game?
Mentioned: Episode 300 with GM Ulf Andersson
13:00- Joel hasn’t played a tournament since May, why not?
17:00- Joel discusses how he began to collaborate with his co-author, legendary GM Boris Gulko.
19:00- What advice would Joel give to a hypothetical friend who was having trouble finding the motivation to return to tournament chess?
Mentioned: IM John Watson
25:00- Patreon mailbag question: What advice does Joel give to get into a beneficial mindset before a tournament?
35:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Aimchess’ algorithm reviews your games and gives you actionable advice on how to improve your game. Check it out for free, and if you choose to subscribe you can use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.
Or use this link for the same discount:
https://aimchess.com/try?ref=benjohnson12
37:00 Patreon mailbag question: What is Joel’s advice for someone prone to bullet chess addiction and tilt?
Mentioned: Episode 216 with Dr. Jana Krivec
50:00- How has studying his own chess tendencies helped Joel away from chess?
57:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
58:00- What chess lessons did Joel learn from the golf book, Golf is not a Game of Perfect?
1:07:00- What were the biggest contributors to Joel’s slow and steady rise from 1200 to 2000 USCF?
1:11:00- What are Joel’s favorite chess books, besides his own Lessons with a Grandmaster collaboration with GM Boris Gulko?
Mentioned: The Giants of Strategy by GM Neil McDonald, How to Reassess Your Chess by IM Jeremy Silman
1:17:00- What is meant by “Ego is a limited resource?”
1:22:00- Thanks so much to Joel for joining me. You can email him at prof.sneed at gmail dot com
Be sure to check out his books with GM Boris Gulko as well:
Analyzing the Chess Mind:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Analyzing-Chess-Sneed-Boris-Gulko/dp/1784831123/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1YLXPM3IWVAKS&keywords=Analyzing+the+Chess+Mind&qid=1671420382&s=books&sprefix=analyzing+the+chess+mind%2Cstripbooks%2C109&sr=1-1
Forward Chess: https://forwardchess.com/sample/analyzing-the-chess-mind
Lessons with a Grandmaster
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EP 380- FIDE Candidates Wrap Up with GM Erwin L'Ami: Gukesh Ascends as Caruana Suffers a Heartbreaking Setback
EP 379- IM Renier Castellanos on How he Earned the GM Title at Age 41.
Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 2)- FM Mike Klein on the Player’s Mindsets, Historical Context, and the Alireza Shoe Controversy
Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 12 Breakdown (Part 1)- An Epic Finish Awaits, as Naka, Nepo and Gukesh are Tied!
Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Jan Timman on the tournament so far.
EP 378- Lou Hays- Spending weekends with Fischer and Spassky, Getting to 2100 from Scratch as an Adult, Chess Publishing Then and Now
Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 10 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Gukesh lead Narrowly as Naka and Fabi are in Pursuit
Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 2)- GM Daniel King on the Tournament So Far
Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates Round 7 Breakdown (Part 1)- Nepo and Tan Zhongyi Lead after a Dramatic First Half of the Tournament
EP 377- NM Dan Heisman and NM Laura Smith. Two Accomplished Trainers on Capturing, Counting, and other Chess Concepts To Know
Bonus Pod- FIDE Candidates First 4 Round Breakdown. Nepo leads (As usual). Plus a Fan's Toronto Trip Report
EP 376- Adult Improver Jordan Groff on What it Takes to Make Master in 2024
EP 375- FIDE Candidates Mega Preview with GM Rafael Leitão, Chess by the Numbers, and On the Queenside
EP 374- GM Noel Studer- Chess Improvement Q & A- Avoiding Burnout, Addressing Weaknesses, Avoiding Blunders, & Lots More!
EP 373- Carol Ann Caronia: Advice for Chess Parents & Scholastic Teachers from an Author and Longtime Teacher
EP 372- GM Jan Gustafsson: Learning 1. E4, Life after Team Magnus, Chess Cheating, the FIDE Candidates & more
EP 371- GM Josh Friedel- Common Beginner & Intermediate Mistakes, Freestyle Chess, and Advice for Goal-Setting
EP 370- GM Paul van der Sterren- Breakthroughs, Declines, Mindfulness and the Odyssey of a 20+ Year Professional Career
EP 369- NM Robert Ramirez on the difference between Adult and Youth Chess Students, Chess in Cuba, and Why He Loves the Pirc Defense
EP 368- Erik Allebest (Chess.com CEO)- Online Cheating, The Magnus-Hikaru match that fell through, the Chess24 closure & more
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