GM Johan Hellsten returns to Perpetual Chess for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked yet essential chess skills: defense. Johan is the 2006 Swedish National Champion and a renowned author and coach, best known for his Mastering Chess series. In this interview, he shares insights from his latest book and <a href="https://www.chessable.com/mastering-chess-defense/course/189031/">Chessable course</a>, <a href="https://www.newinchess.com/mastering-chess-defence">Mastering Chess Defense</a> (also available in print), reflecting on why defending is often harder than attacking, which players are best to study to improve your defensive play, and key concepts like “the lifeline.” Johan is a true professional and always a pleasure to talk chess with. Timestamps of topics discussed are below.

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0:00- We begin with an impromptu discussion of obscure chess opening names including the Austrian Defense, the Tartakower Caro Kann, The Fegatello Italian, and the Polerio Italian Defense
10:00- Why is it harder for people to spot defensive resources than tactics? 
15:00- How did Johan find so many good defensive examples? 
Check out Johan’s separate course on defense for Chessmood members:
<a href="https://chessmood.com/course/chess-defense">https://chessmood.com/course/chess-defense</a>
 21:00- <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess">Patreon mailbag question</a>: How should amateur players incorporate chess defense into their thinking processes?
29:00- What is the definition of defense? 
31:00- Did Johan ever meet legendary GM Miguel Najdorf? 
Mentioned:
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Miguel-Najdorf-Viejo-Games-Stories/dp/9464201134">El Viejo by GM Zenon Franco</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Najdorf-x-Liliana/dp/1941270395/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P0HYTWZ3MC7T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.x78wVlMEoqJwbLLaFDM1gs5ObczJBOX_jhbUfYoxmTE.e8kx7YmO02slewqXgqbdPkFJ6IZ1FNpr4QrZmoziRWE&dib_tag=se&keywords=najdorf+x+najdorf&qid=1752174896&sprefix=Najdorf+X+Najdorf%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-1">Najdorf X Najdorf by Liliana Najdorf </a>
Kasparov vs. Najdorf Bugojno 1982
<a href="https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069983">https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1069983</a>
36:00- Out of Kasparov, Karpov, Korchnoi, Spassky, whose games were the most instructive? 
Mentioned: GM Emmanuel Berg
Check out Johan’s Youtube videos about Petrosian and Ulf Andersson here:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAkeoP9TTs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYAkeoP9TTs</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDo--EPHnfc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDo--EPHnfc</a>
42:00- More book recs from Johan!
Mentioned:
Timman’s Triumphs:
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Timmans-Triumphs-100-Best-Games/dp/9056919172">https://www.amazon.com/Timmans-Triumphs-100-Best-Games/dp/9056919172</a>
Speed Demon:
https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Demon-Fascinating-Tragic-Vyzhmanavin/dp/9493257819
GM Judit Polgar’s Quality Chess Trilogy:
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Game-Queens-Judit-Polgar-Teaches/dp/1907982523/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2M6XV3UPBV4NZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ahvePIGNKqhDe1bXL-qoXo5Q1xxkJhJDutN-ubveAyzdFWQReeE9WsPH0Oku4KcCMHbHqObKVQ0uE1kFR8TKZiilWnFS0BvRaslwpzvd7UuEO8wB40IoYrmodCg5IaTGia5lebqDtWxvUWMEStoGl63MJDiWULs9aYLR8tboIT71HxSFwiVWTTT0NApf1r6BVOmV_Nn6-1BsZJWb71qDP2HYCsB-sdjFncRrQXh2OWg.ZW7qc71VtP1jAfe5xSnks9kq5BD9Z_kFkQ5lsX9TZIg&dib_tag=se&keywords=Judit+polgar&qid=1752182610&s=books&sprefix=judit+polgar%2Cstripbooks%2C136&sr=1-7">https://www.amazon.com/Game-Queens-Judit-Polgar-Teaches</a>
46:00- What is the chess defensive resource that is sometimes referred to as “the lifeline?”
Mentioned:
GM Hellsten’s Chessmood article about it:
<a href="https://chessmood.com/blog/lifeline-chess-tactic">https://chessmood.com/blog/lifeline-chess-tactic</a>
Or move 32 of this Korchnoi-Fisher 1962 Curaco game:
<a href="https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044560">https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044560</a>
49:00- What do the concepts of “Evolution and revolution” have to do with chess defense?
Mentioned: GM Josif Dorfman’s “The Method”
https://www.abebooks.com/Method-Chess-Dorfman-Iossif-Sarl-Game/31453994460/bd
52:00- More chess book talk!
Mentioned: Boris Spassky’s Best Games 
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boris-Spasskys-Best-Games-Rising/dp/1784832006">https://www.amazon.com/Boris-Spasskys-Best-Games-Rising/dp/1784832006</a>
53:00- Check out the two defensive puzzles we discuss in this Lichess study:
<a href="https://lichess.org/study/1AlpJ6gn/3b3ZdebD">https://lichess.org/study/1AlpJ6gn/3b3ZdebD</a>
Spassky-Geller move 35-
<a href="https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1049395">https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1049395</a>
Carlsen-Duda 2025 is included and annotated by NM Anthony Levin for <a href="http://chess.com">Chess.com</a> here (as well as in the LiChess study):
<a href="https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-cct-chesscom-classic-playoffs-day-1">https://www.chess.com/news/view/2025-cct-chesscom-classic-playoffs-day-1</a>
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EP 442- GM Johan Hellsten: Why Defending Is So Difficult — And How to Improve It

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