Show Notes
IM Greg Shahade has long been well known in the chess world as a three-time national scholastic champion and the founder of the Pro Chess League and the US Chess School. Recently, however, he reached a much broader audience with an impressive run on the syndicated trivia show Jeopardy!.
Greg amassed over $75,000 in winnings, dethroning 31-time champion Jamie Ding along the way. He joined me after what he described as “the craziest week of his life” to discuss:
The approach to adult learning that helped him go from trivia novice to Jeopardy! champion in just a few years
Behind-the-scenes insights from the recording process, plus his reflections on his controversial on-stage mannerisms
How his background in chess (and poker) shaped his strategy and decision-making under pressure
There isn’t a ton of chess discussion in this episode, but Greg’s approach to learning and performance has clear applications across many domains.
00:00 Introduction
Check out our sponsors, Chessiverse.com , and you can use code Perpetual30 to save 30% on premium feature and/or IM John Bartholomew’s Complete Scandinavian Course.
Chessiverse.com
03:00- Greg Shahade joins the show, we begin by discussing adult learning and Greg’s late start to trivia.
Mentioned: Learned League
Thinking Sideways by Jennifer Shahade
Ducksters
07:43 Building Knowledge Structures
10:03 The Role of Intense Study
12:54 Flashcards and Review Techniques
15:43 Betting Strategies on Jeopardy
18:45 Reflections on the Jeopardy Experience
You can review questions Greg faced here:
https://www.j-archive.com/showseason.php?season=42
25:00- Patreon mailbag question- Why does Greg know so little about current events? What is his approach to daily double hunting?
30:44 Daily Double Strategies and Insights
36:57 Patreon mailbag question- Why is Greg so expressive when playing Jeopardy?
42:16 Physicality and Focus in Jeopardy
49:25 Behind the Scenes of Jeopardy
52:40 Facing the Champion: Mental Strategies
55:11 The Weight of Anticipation: Media and Public Perception
57:02 Navigating Fame: Love, Hate, and Public Reaction
59:50 Preparing for the Tournament of Champions
01:03:51 Chess and Jeopardy: Cross-Disciplinary Insights
01:07:20 Reflections on Study Techniques and Memory
01:11:20 Final Thoughts: The Game and Its Emotional Toll
Thanks to Greg for joining me at a busy time. Follow him here:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gregshahade/?hl=en
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