The Adult Improver Series of Perpetual Chess returns today. It is a series devoted to sharing the stories of dedicated chess amateurs. This week’s guest is Kamryn Hellman. Kamryn is a 23 year-old who got swept up by chess in 2021 after seeing Queen’s Gambit. At that time she learned the game from scratch, and in the subsequent time she has become immersed in the culture and brought her Chess.com rapid rating to a peak of over 1900. Kamryn has also gotten involved in her local chess community and has enjoyed her forays into tournament chess, despite the challenges that it created. I was really impressed with Kamryn’s quick rise in the chess ranks, and also her analytical approach to improving her game. She shared lots of useful advice in our interview, and it was fun to hear her story. Please read on for timestamps of topics discussed.
Resources mentioned in intro:
Spotify Adult Improver Playlist
Adult Improver Webpage
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Support Perpetual Chess Via Patreon
Also be sure to subscribe to the Perpetual Chess Linkfest, for a free weekly email of the week’s biggest chess stories and chess improvement related blog posts.
0:04- After Kamryn discovered chess via Queen’s Gambit, how did she dive deeper into the game?
Mentioned: Gotham Chess
0:09- How did Kamryn begin to find a community IRL. Was she welcomed at her local chess club?
Mentioned: Todd Wolf
14:00 - Kamryn is doing some teaching of beginners. Does she think it helps her chess?
16:00- 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
18:00- What was the tournament experience like? How has Kamryn learned to deal with nerves?
27:00- What is Kamryn’s approach to analyzing her games?
33:00- Patreon mailbag question: How does Kamryn work on her thought processes?
36:00- Does Kamryn have any other hobbies that have helped with her approach to chess?
38:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com. Check out their latest courses here: https://www.chessable.com/courses/all/new/
40:00- How does Kamryn approach working on endgames?
Mentioned: GM Naroditsky’s Principles of Chess Endgames
44:00- What motivates Kamryn to work so hard on her game?
Mentioned: Jen Shahade’s Chess Queens
46:00- How does Kamryn study openings?
53:00- Compared to most adults, Kamryn’s unusual rise in the ratings have been meteoric. How does Kamryn contextualize the unusual gains she has made? 58:00- What other content creators does Kamry enjoy?
Mentioned: Hanging Pawns, Eric Rosen teaches Andrea Botez the London
59:00- Has Kamryn read any chess books that have really helped her?
Mentioned: 100 Endgames You Must Know, Everyone’s First Chess Workbook, Best Lessons of a Chess Coach
1:02:00- What do Kamryn’s friends think of her chess obsession?
1:04:00- What is Kamryn’s advice for new chess enthusiasts?
1:06:00- Thanks so much to Kamryn for joining me! You can follow her on Twitter here:
https://twitter.com/kamrynheidi
If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess, you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/perpetualchess
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EP 381- CM Azel Chua- Calculation Advice, Improving Chess Intuition, and is the concept of “Checks, Captures & Threats” overrated?
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
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