Perpetual Chess Podcast

Nikolaos Ntirlis is a Correspondence chess champion, and computer engineer who has become well known in the chess world for his vast opening expertise. Nikolaos is quite skilled at finding original opening ideas, and has grown popular through his books, and by highlighting new opening ideas on his Twitter/X account. The ideas Nikos suggests have often seen quick adoption by Grandmasters, and he has even seen moves he highlighted subsequently appear in the games of Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Girl. In fact, GM Giri wrote the Foreword to Nicolaos’ newest book, the excellent  Reimagining 1. E4. The book offers new ideas for White across many defenses to 1. E4, and explains opening concepts clearly without bombarding you with opening theory. In our conversation, we discussed the origins of Nikolaos’ opening enthusiasm, how best to use engines, as well as which defenses to 1.e4 were most challenging to combat theoretically. Nikolaos is also an accomplished chess trainer who hasworked with the national team of Denmar