Mr. Dodgy on Improving at Classical Chess + Chess Fam
Perpetual Chess Podcast
2,015 views
Michael Duke (better known as Mr. Dodgy or @chessproblem) is a Chessable author, co-founder of Chess Fam, and co-host of the Chicken Chess Club podcast. After realizing he consistently played better in rapid than classical chess, Michael set out to fix his biggest weaknesses with the help of GM Alex Colovic. The result? He beat his first grandmaster at age 38 and shares the lessons that helped him get there.
We discuss adult chess improvement, practical training advice, Chess Fam's mission to simplify tournament registration, and Michael's observations from the European Chess Union Congress and the upcoming FIDE presidential election. (Recorded before Arkady Dvorkovich withdrew from the race.)
⏰ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:51 Why Mr. Dodgy improved so much
05:42 Working with GM Alex Colovic
08:49 Rapid vs. classical chess
11:52 Opening preparation and learning
14:38 Calculation training
17:49 Will there be another Chessable course?
20:33 Best chess improvement resources
25:20 Learning through master games
26:15 Favorite players to study
27:21 Beating a GM for the first time
30:19 Chess Party experience
35:45 Introducing Chess Fam
39:55 The Chess Fam business model
43:54 Building a chess startup
48:01 How to get involved with Chess Fam
48:26 Why chess tournaments need reviews
50:43 Making tournaments more welcoming
52:39 The rise of casual chess events
54:07 Inside the ECU Congress
55:40 What the ECU actually does
59:00 The future of European chess
1:05:07 FIDE presidential election discussion
Mentioned
GM Alex Colovic's Substack
GM Alex Colovic: How to Become a Grandmaster
https://www.quora.com/How-did-you-bec...
GM Alex Colovic's Alapin video
Simplified Openings: Easy Alapin (Without ...
Books:
Improve Your Chess Calculation by GM RB Ramesh
Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams & Philip Hurtado
Perfect Your Chess by GM Volokitin & IM Grabinsky
Find Mr. Dodgy
X: https://x.com/ChessProblem
Chessable:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/s/d...
Chess Fam:
https://chessfam.com/
Photo used in thumbnail by David Llada
4 Comments
Mr. Dodgy on Improving at Classical Chess + Chess Fam
Perpetual Chess Podcast
2,015 views
Michael Duke (better known as Mr. Dodgy or @chessproblem) is a Chessable author, co-founder of Chess Fam, and co-host of the Chicken Chess Club podcast. After realizing he consistently played better in rapid than classical chess, Michael set out to fix his biggest weaknesses with the help of GM Alex Colovic. The result? He beat his first grandmaster at age 38 and shares the lessons that helped him get there.
We discuss adult chess improvement, practical training advice, Chess Fam's mission to simplify tournament registration, and Michael's observations from the European Chess Union Congress and the upcoming FIDE presidential election. (Recorded before Arkady Dvorkovich withdrew from the race.)
⏰ Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:51 Why Mr. Dodgy improved so much
05:42 Working with GM Alex Colovic
08:49 Rapid vs. classical chess
11:52 Opening preparation and learning
14:38 Calculation training
17:49 Will there be another Chessable course?
20:33 Best chess improvement resources
25:20 Learning through master games
26:15 Favorite players to study
27:21 Beating a GM for the first time
30:19 Chess Party experience
35:45 Introducing Chess Fam
39:55 The Chess Fam business model
43:54 Building a chess startup
48:01 How to get involved with Chess Fam
48:26 Why chess tournaments need reviews
50:43 Making tournaments more welcoming
52:39 The rise of casual chess events
54:07 Inside the ECU Congress
55:40 What the ECU actually does
59:00 The future of European chess
1:05:07 FIDE presidential election discussion
Mentioned
GM Alex Colovic's Substack
GM Alex Colovic: How to Become a Grandmaster
https://www.quora.com/How-did-you-bec...
GM Alex Colovic's Alapin video
Simplified Openings: Easy Alapin (Without ...
Books:
Improve Your Chess Calculation by GM RB Ramesh
Think Like a Super GM by GM Michael Adams & Philip Hurtado
Perfect Your Chess by GM Volokitin & IM Grabinsky
Find Mr. Dodgy
X: https://x.com/ChessProblem
Chessable:
https://www.chessable.com/courses/s/d...
Chess Fam:
https://chessfam.com/
Photo used in thumbnail by David Llada