Jennifer Shahade is a two-time U.S. Women’s Champion, poker professional, commentator, and acclaimed author. This week, she returns to the pod to discuss her new book Thinking Sideways: How to Think Like a Chess Player and Win at Life. Drawing on chess, poker, and psychology, Jen shares practical tips and memorable stories about decision-making, creativity, and improvement. We discuss:
- Why she interviewed reformed chess cheaters and what their stories reveal about ambition
- Helpful advice for remembering opening lines
- The “Einstellung Effect” and how to avoid missing better ideas
- How AI is changing the way we learn and think
We also catch up on Jen’s recent travels and upcoming events. There is a lot to learn and plenty of great stories along the way. 0:00- Intro- Jen Shahade and US Chess announce a settlement:
https://x.com/KenneyBaden/status/2039375140534767852?s=20 0:02- Jen Shahade joins me. How did she find reformed chess cheaters to interview? What did she learn from talking with them for her book? Mentioned: Netflix Untold Documentary about the Niemann-Carlsen story
https://www.netflix.com/title/81582391 0:10- What is “MTR”? 0:14- Working with legendary trainer IM Mark Dvoretsky 0:18- Lessons learned from interviewing a memory champion Mentioned: Yanjaa Wintersoul, GM Sam Shankland 0:28- Jen’s experiences coding with Claude Check out the links to the app she built here:
https://jenshahade.substack.com/p/spin-the-wheel-vibe-a-move 0:36- What is “the Einstellung effect”? 0:40- Jen’s chess-related conversation with legendary psychologist and author Daniel Kahneman 0:42- How chess master and Alpha Zero creator Demis Hassabas “thought sideways” to secure funding for his start up. 0:48- Observations from the recent Sloan sports analytic conference 0:50- What is “the sandwich method”? 0:51- Upcoming book events for Jen 0:52- If you will be in NYC on May 12 and want to support a good cause, come see Jen and I at this event. You can buy tickets to the Chess in the Schools Poker/Chess Fundraiser here:
https://secure.givelively.org/event/chess-in-the-schools-inc/chess-in-the-schools-3rd-annual-charity-poker-tournament 0:54- Thanks to Jen for joining me again, here is where to order her book.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Thinking-Sideways/Jennifer-Shahade/9798897100729 https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Sideways-Think-Chess-Player/dp/B0FCDDB8XV Photo in thumbnail by Maria Emelianova
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Source:
