Show Notes
Renowned author and trainer GM R.B. Ramesh is one of the rare coaches who has worked extensively with the world's elite players while still providing practical advice for ambitious amateurs.
Long respected as one of chess's leading trainers and authors, Ramesh has helped guide the development of stars such as GMs Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, and Aravindh Chithambaram. As his students continue to reach new heights, Ramesh remains committed to sharing lessons that can benefit players at every level. For that reason, it was exciting news when he recently announced the relaunch of his YouTube channel, where he plans to regularly share free instructional content.
In our conversation, we discussed:
• What he has learned from coaching elite players• When to focus on calculation versus pattern recognition• The risks of burnout for top young players
We also discussed Ramesh's plans for future content, whether he has any new chess book recommendations, and how aspiring players can make the most of their limited study time.
There is always so much to learn from GM R.B. Ramesh.
Thanks to this week’s sponsors, Chessiverse.com. Use code “Perpetual30” to save 30% on premium offerings, and IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.
0:00 Introduction
2:10 GM Ramesh joins. Why is he relaunching his YouTube channel?
4:50 What Ramesh has learned from coaching elite players like Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram
7:45 Why young players focus too much on openings
10:00 How strong players think: candidate moves, objectivity, and avoiding analytical bias
13:30 Visualization, calculation, and why club players struggle to analyze deeply
16:15 Common problems even elite players face: time trouble, concentration, and handling losses
Check out Ramesh’s interview with Praggnandhaa here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU0J3ftM8BQ
21:00 How coaches can help players overcome psychological obstacles
27:00 Patreon mailbag question: Might players like Praggnandhaa and Gukesh be dealing with issues like burnout, and a lack of balance in their lives?
Mentioned:
31:30 The dangers of playing too many tournaments
35:15 Long-term burnout concerns for today's generation of prodigies
37:20 Patreon mailbag question: What does Gukesh need to do to regain his best form?
44:45 Does being World Champion create unique psychological pressure?
48:45 Listener question: Pattern recognition vs. calculation
51:00 Analysis vs. calculation: an important distinction
54:10 How adults with only a few hours per week should spend their chess study time
55:30 Future books, Chessable courses, and long-term projects
57:30 What viewers can expect from Ramesh's YouTube channel
1:00:30 Training camps, teaching philosophy, and adapting to students
1:02:30 Why Ramesh stopped reading most chess books
1:04:00 The psychological side of coaching and improvement
1:06:30 Final advice for amateurs and aspiring professionals
1:07:40 Outro
Thanks to GM Ramesh for joining me again! Be sure to SUB to his YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@RameshRB
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Perpetual Chess Podcast
John Hartmann is the award-winning editor of Chess Life magazine, a longtime book reviewer, and an expert on ChessBase, engines, and chess technology. He joined me shortly after a visit to St. Louis to discuss the ongoing U.S. Chess Championships, the renovations to the St. Louis Chess Club, the latest in chess technology, and his new AI-assisted chess newsletter, First Look Chess. We touched on:
GM Nikita Vitiugov is a former Russian champion who reached a peak ranking of #15 in the world. He has represented both his native Russia and England at the Chess Olympiad and worked on the World Championship team of his boyhood rival, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi. In his excellent new book, Chess Metamorphosis, he candidly reflects on his varied chess experiences.
As a three-time Chess Olympian representing Chile, GM Mauricio Flores Rios, renowned author of Chess Structures, has fond memories of this timeless, biennial tournament. But these days, he is more interested in the instructive quality of the games than in the races for medals.
The Adult Improver series returns to spotlight another guest who has benefited from chess and improved significantly at the game. Chess was recommended to Leah Brown as a healthier outlet for a mind that, in Leah’s words, tends to “torture itself.” Leah began playing tournaments less than two years ago and already has a peak rating of over 1600 USCF. In our conversation, Leah shares the training approach that has helped propel these gains, including:
Jan Henric Buettner is a German entrepreneur, co-founder of Freestyle Chess alongside Magnus Carlsen, and a candidate for FIDE President. In his business career he has worked in technology, venture capital and hospitality.