In Episode 211, I converse with International Master Cyrus Lakdawala, Author of 52+ Books. Cyrus  is a former American Open Champion who lives in San Diego CA. He has been teaching chess for four decades and is a prolific and widely read author. Much acclaimed books of his are 'How Ulf Beats Black, 'Clinch It!' and 'Winning Ugly in Chess'. He twice won the Best Instructional Book Award of the Chess Journalists of America (CJA), in 2017 for 'Chess for Hawks' and in 2020 for 'In the Zone: The Greatest Winning Streaks in Chess History'.

We speak about Montreal chess friends,  the San Diego chess scene, the Weekly Gambito tournament, private lessons vs. self-practice, brainstorming for boook ideas, doves vs. hawks , confidence vs. honesty, analysis of strengths and weaknesses, overtraining, Caro Kann theory, endgame study, limitations of the engine and more.