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This week\u2019s Perpetual Chess is the much anticipated \u201cPawn Book Championship\u201d with popular adult improver Neal Bruce. Neal learned chess from scratch after the age of 40, and has been consistently studying and using flashcards to improve his skills in the last handful of years. In the past year, Neal has turned his attention to better understanding pawn play and positional chess, and he has read 6 (!) different books in order to facilitate better chess understanding. We Perpetual Chess listeners are very fortunate that Neal has offered to do a podcast crowning the \u201cchampion\u201d of the pawn books, and has also agreed to give his honest assessment of the other books. When not working on his chess game, Neal is the Chief Product Officer of a software startup and a father of 3, so we greatly appreciate his taking the time for this large project. Please read on for more details and relevant links.\xa0\n\n\n0:00-\xa0\n\nThe transcript of episode 237 with GM Vladimir Kramnik is here\n\n\nIf you would like to subscribe to the Perpetual Chess Patreon page, you can do so here.\xa0\n\n\n4:00- Other podcasts to hear Neal Bruce:\nBook Recap 6- Woodpecker Method and Rapid Chess Improvement\xa0\xa0\nBook Recap 11- Winning Chess Strategies\xa0\nHow to Chess with Neal Bruce\xa0\nDojo Talks #24 with Neal Bruce\xa0\n\n5:00-\xa0\nWhich books are entrants in Neal\u2019s \u201cPawn Book Championship,\u201d and how and why did he choose them?\xa0\nSmall Steps to Giant Improvement by GM Sam Shankland (Most appropriate for those 1700-2400 FIDE)\nSmall Steps 2 Success by GM Sam Shankland (Most appropriate for those 1800-2400 FIDE)\nPawn Structure Chess by GM Andy Soltis (Most appropriate for those 1500-2200 FIDE)\nChess Structures by GM Mauricio Flores Rios (Most appropriate for those 1500-2200 FIDE)\nThe Power of Pawns by GM Jorg Hickl\u2019s (Most appropriate for those 1200-2000)\nPawn Power by IM Hans Kmoch (Not recommended for any rating range)\n\n\n22:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessable.com! Check out their latest offerings here.\xa0\nNew Chess Courses Online - For All Levels in all - Chessable.com\nAlso be sure to subscribe to the How to Chess podcast, more info here:\nhttps://howtochess.com/\n\n23:00- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Chessmood.com\xa0\nThey offer a huge library of instructive videos. You can hear GM Avetik Grigoryan on Episode 192 of Perpetual Chess. Be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel here.\xa0\n\n24:00- Hans Kmoch Pawn Power\xa0\n\n30:30- GM Andy Soltis\u2019s Pawn Structure Chess\xa0\n\n34:00-GM Sam Shankland\u2019s Small Steps 2 Success\xa0\nhttps://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/345/small_steps_2_success_by_sam_shankland/\nMentioned: New in Chess Magazine\xa0\n\n38:30- Perpetual Chess is brought to you in part by Aimchess.com. Check out their site, and if you decide to subscribe use the code Perpetual30 to save 30%.\xa0\n\n39:00- Small Steps to Giant Improvement\nFree sample from Quality Chess here:\nhttps://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/316/small_steps_to_giant_improvement_by_sam_shankland/\n\n43:00- The Power of Pawns by Jorg Hickl.\xa0\nLink with free sample from New in Chess Books here:\nhttps://www.newinchess.com/en_US/the-power-of-pawns\n\n47:00- Chess Structures\nFree sample from Quality Chess here:\nhttps://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/235/chess_structures_-_a_grandmaster_guide_by_mauricio_flores_rios/\n\n51:00- In what order would Neal recommend that you read these books?\xa0\nMentioned:\xa0\nInterview with Magnus Carlsen on Wolfgang Wee Uncut-\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElHa52f_bC8&t=4725s\n\n58:30- What lessons did Neal learn from these readings? What books are next for him?\xa0\nMentioned: Mastering Chess Strategy, Mastering Positional Sacrifices, Silman\u2019s Reassess Your Chess Workbook,\xa0Practical Chess Exercises, Zurich 1953, New York 1924, Judit Polgar\u2019s How I Beat Fischer\u2019s Record, Book Recap #7 with Jen Shahade\xa0\n\n1:04:00- Thanks so much to Neal for undertaking this massive project and sharing his findings with the chess community! You can keep up with Neal on Twitter here:\nhttps://twitter.com/NealBruceBC\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices