EP 465: Chess Improvement Q&A with IM Junta Ikeda - Tactics, Time Trouble & Training Resources

2025-12-23

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Japanese-Australian chess player, trainer, and content creator Junta Ikeda is the 2013 Japanese National Chess Champion and a runner-up in the 2020 Australian Championship. These days, with a full-time job outside of chess, Junta devotes most of his chess energy to helping others improve. He has shared countless insights on his excellent blog, Infinite Chess, which I’ve been reading religiously since its launch. There, Junta offers thoughtful advice on topics such as improving your tactics, managing the clock, and budgeting y...

Japanese-Australian chess player, trainer, and content creator Junta Ikeda is the 2013 Japanese National Chess Champion and a runner-up in the 2020 Australian Championship. These days, with a full-time job outside of chess, Junta devotes most of his chess energy to helping others improve. He has shared countless insights on his excellent blog, Infinite Chess, which I’ve been reading religiously since its launch. There, Junta offers thoughtful advice on topics such as improving your tactics, managing the clock, and budgeting your study time. For this interview, I compiled questions based on some of his most insightful observations as we explored chess improvement from a wide range of angles. Toward the end of the conversation, we also touched on Junta’s background, chess in Japan, and even picked up a few non-chess book recommendations.

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0:04- Junta joins me! Does Junta’s fellow Canberra, Australia resident, IM Andras Toth exist in real life?

0:06- How does Junta respond to FM Nate Solon’s inflammatory tweet about chess books?

https://x.com/natesolon/status/1988955760965963898?s=20

0:11- Junta’s coaching and content creation background

0:12- What are the most common mistakes Junta sees amateurs make?

0:19- What did Junta learn from the book How to Become a Deadly Chess Tactician?

22:00- Junta shares some advice from his lifelong battles with time trouble

What I needed to cure my time trouble:

https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/how-i-escaped-time-trouble-hell

In search of lost time: 20 Time Trouble Tips

https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/1-in-search-of-lost-time-20-time

EP 383 with Dan Bock

24:00- How to learn to face your fears

Mentioned: The Uncool by Cameron Crowe

39:00- The Impact of Talent in Chess

Mentioned: GM Moulthan Ly, GM Max Illingworth

47:00- How did “the worst openings player in Australia” learn to tolerate them?

Mentioned: GM David Smerdon’s The Complete Chess Swindler

51:00- Thanks to our sponsor, Chessable.com! Checkout their holiday sale here:

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52:00- What type of challenging exercises does Junta recommend in order to improve calculation?

Mentioned: IM Kostya Kavutskiy’s Endgame Studies 101, IM Tatev Abrahamyan’s Endgame Studies: Solve to Evolve, Domination by Kasparyan, Studies for Practical Players

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1:01:00- Junta’s recommended chess books and resources

Mentioned: Lichess, The Mammoth Book of the World’s Greatest Chess Games , My Great Predecessors

My 10 Memorable Chess Books

https://juntaikeda.substack.com/p/my-10-memorable-chess-books

1:02:00- Is chess growing in Japan despite Shogi’s popularity?

1:08:00- Balancing Chess and Content Creation

1:10:00- Why Junta wishes he had committed more to chess than university

1:13:00- Will Junta pursue the GM title?

Mentioned: Dojo Talks with IM-elect Gauri Shankar

1:15:00- Non chess book recs!