EP 420- Nikolaos Ntirlis- Opening & Engine Advice from a Top Theoretician, Author, and Correspondence Player

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 Denmark. In our conversation, he offered some helpful chess improvement advice with a philosophical bent. Lastly, we discussed some of Nicolaos’ other interests including correspondence chess, chess books, and martial arts. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.

0:02- What is the origin of Nikos’ popular Twitter threads, in which he suggests lines that have been used by GMs like Nakamura, Carlsen, and others?

Mentioned: Nikolaos’ X account here: https://x.com/NikolaosNtirlis/status/1852645135487558104

10:00- Was there any defense against 1. E4 where it was particularly challenging to find fresh ideas?

14:30- What rating range is this book best suited for?

16:00- Does Nikos agree that one should learn opening ideas, rather than openings? Mentioned: Nikos’ interview with Charlyze van Zyl for Forward Chess: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyanVxu48lk

18:30- Patreon mailbag question: What did Nikos discover about an original line that Niemann played against Kramnik? Mentioned Han Schut’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/hanschut

Read the Twitter thread in question: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1841408942737420435.html

19:00- Who are Nikos’ favorite opening theoreticians?

25:00- What is Nikos’ advice for how amateurs should use engines?

32:00- Are there any underappreciated openings?

33:00- Nikos’ overall chess improvement advice

34:00- Where did Nikos’ love for openings start? Mentioned: GM Efim Geller

41:00- Patreon mailbag question: How can one still win a game in correspondence chess?

48:00- What is Nikos’ advice for remembering openings?

52:00- Does Nikos play any OTB?

56:00- What are Nikos’ favorite books? Mentioned: Mentioned: IM Willy Hendriks, IM Tibor Karolyi’s Fischer Books

1:00- Thanks to Nikos for joining me! You can check out his Quality Chess Books here:

https://qualitychess.co.uk/products/coming_soon/24060/reimagining_1e4_by_nikolaos_ntirlis/

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