The Chess Experience

Chess improvement as an adult is harder than it should be. Plus, the journey can sometimes feel too stressful and serious. This show aims to fix that by 1) interviewing experts who can offer clarity on the best ways to improve; and 2) giving you a heap of fun with ?chess entertainment? shows that discuss chess culture, events, movies, etc. Most episodes feature a guest, but sometimes I'll do a solo show on a topic. This is all brought to you by me, Daniel Lona. I?m a dedicated chess amateur and the owner of Adult Chess Academy. After listening to this podcast, I want you to have a clearer idea of how to improve, and have a more fun, dynamic chess experience. Please follow the show so you don?t miss an episode!

Prenumerera

iTunes / Overcast / RSS

Webbplats

thechessexperience.buzzsprout.com

Avsnitt

WGM Dina Belenkaya: A Born Chess Entertainer, Her New Course, & Chasing the IM Title

Send me a message about this episode!

090 With natural charisma and exceptional chess skills, Dina Belenkaya is perfect for this new era of chess. A serious student of the game all her life, she competed professionally and earned the WGM title in 2016. In 2020, Dina began her new career as a streamer and content creator...

Just two years later, her popularity soared. Dina delivered bold and funny interviews with the world?s top players at the FIDE Grand Prix, and the videos went viral.

Dina has a sharp wit and a sense of joy in her videos that are rarely seen even amongst other chess celebrities.

These days, she focuses on her chess YouTube channel, where she often plays super GMs in trash-talking blitz games. And, this year, she released her first course and online chess community: Russian Chess School.

We chat:

Will she continue to beat Levy (Gotham Chess) in Titled Tuesday?Why her course is unique and groundbreaking in the chess world. Her goal of earning the IM title and what she needs to achieve it.

Adult Improver Pod: How To Make Progress with Limited Time & Should Club Players Coach? w/ Ono

Send me a message about this episode!

089 It?s rare to see an adult club player make a career in chess. This week?s guest, Ono, has done just that. He started like many of us: inspired to dive into the game after watching the Queen?s Gambit. Which progressed into working studiously on his chess.

Then, he embarked upon a chess blog, called The Ono Zono. Not long after the blog gained traction, Ono started coaching beginners.

Since then, he?s developed a roster of students, appeared on several chess podcasts, and continues to create content for the adult improver community.

In this episode, we discuss:

3 strategies for managing limited study time as an adult so you can still make progress.Why tackling difficult puzzles too early in your chess journey can be a mistake.The top trait Ono observed in his most successful chess students.

Discussing Strategy For Club Players with IM Thomas Willemze

Send me a message about this episode!

088 Like many chess subjects, knowing what to study for strategy is a bit murky. Especially if you?re a semi-confused club player like myself. So, who better to chat with about this topic than an author who has written three books on the subject? Welcome today?s guest: IM Thomas Willemze.

Over the past six years, Thomas has published three popular books and several courses on the subject of strategy, all specifically aimed at the club player.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why it?s helpful to study both master and amateur games to improve your strategy knowledge.Why Thomas chose less common strategy ideas for his foundational book on the subject (like exchanging pieces and utilizing your rooks.)The benefits of studying the games of the most recent world champions.

7 Insights From 2 Years of Chess Podcasting With Daniel Lona

Send me a message about this episode!

087 Rarely have I publicly reflected on my experiences from running this podcast. Or what I?ve learned from talking to so many titled players, coaches, and commentators. But it?s been a little over two years since the show?s launch. And it has recently crossed 250K downloads (woohoo!)

To top it off, we?ve delivered eighty guest interviews and counting.

So, I figured a little reflection was due.

In this episode, I share insights on the improvement, insights on the chess community, and a few ?behind-the-scenes? thoughts from years of being a chess podcast host.

I also dive into:

My five most personally meaningful episodes.Why I believe the chess community is better than most other skill/hobby communities.Why this podcast has only just begun.

My membership relaunch is just weeks away! Sign up for the waitlist here to be notified.

Links to Other Episodes Cited:

NM Bruce Pandolfini Rochelle Ballantine GM Irina Krush IM Eric Rosen WGM Jennifer Shahade

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2024-04-16
Länk till avsnitt

Pod Update: Your "Chess Wish" & Next Episode on 4/16

Send me a message about this episode!

Quick update: No full episode this week. But we'll return on 4/16/24.

Wanna tell me how your chess journey is going? Or have any feedback for the podcast?

You can send me a message here.

Also, I asked my Twitter followers what their answer would be to my frequently asked pod question below. Send me your answer and I may read it on next week's solo pod!

"If a chess genie existed and could grant you one chess wish, what would you wish for?"

Send your answer through my website or reply to this Twitter post.

2024-04-11
Länk till avsnitt

Countering the Effects of Aging on Chess Plus Tips on Strategy w/ WIM Natasha Regan

Send me a message about this episode!

086 She?s a rock star of chess accomlishments. WIM Natasha Regan has represented England in two chess Olympiads. She?s co-authored two award-winning chess books with GM Matthew Sadler. And, in recent years, Natasha has co-created three Chessable courses on strategy.

Even outside of chess, Natasha impresses.

She earned a degree in mathematics from Cambridge University, has had a career as a professional actuary, and is an accomplished Go player.

In this episode, we cover:

Three strategies to fight back against the effects of aging on your chess.Why counterattacking is often better (and smarter) than pure defense.How learning to recognize intermediate moves can help you become an overall better chess player.

GM Noël Studer: Adding Fun to Chess Improvement & Helpful Ideas From His New Beginner Course

Send me a message about this episode!

085 GM Noël Studer is a fountain of superb chess advice. Many folks loved his first appearance on the show (Ep. 67.) And that?s why he?s here a second time! It?s rare and special to have a Grandmaster working hard to help club players improve their game.

And, now, he even helps beginners.

A former Swiss chess champion and the youngest GM ever from Switzerland...

Noël has just released a comprehensive course to help beginner players (links are below.)

In this episode, we discuss:

Three strategies to make your chess study experience more fun.Help your beginner friends and family improve by understanding what will help them get better results (and which resources they should avoid.)Two beginner-level concepts that even Grandmaster Noël didn?t know until he created his course.If you want consistent improvement, you MUST separate these two types of chess activities.

Adult Improver Pod: Chasing the WFM Title at 1900 FIDE w/ Kincs? Toth

Send me a message about this episode!

084 Hungary has a rich history of producing chess stars. Even at the adult improver level, you have the impressive accomplishments of our guest, Kincs? Toth.

She?s already reached 1900 FIDE and is gunning for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title - which requires a 2100 rating plus norms.

And she does this all while earning her computer engineering degree in Budapest.

Kincs? infuses even more chess into her life by moderating online events for Chess.com and running a Twitch channel with thousands of followers.

In this episode, we discuss:

What she changed in her chess to leap 250 FIDE rating points in just one year.Are amateurs qualified to coach chess?Will she pursue a full-time career in chess if she earns the WFM title?

Rare Insights Into Chess & Psychology w/ Julia Rios

Send me a message about this episode!

The life of a chess player is often emotional. There can be huge wins and the joy of learning, but also painful losses and sluggish improvement. Helping me gain new insights into how to address these challenges is clinical psychologist and co-host of the ChessFeels podcast, Julia Rios.

Julia combines her professional knowledge with her chess experience to offer some brilliant insights into ?chess psychology.?

In this episode, we discuss:

Does chess offer more emotional challenges than other endeavors?Should you not care about your rating?Does the expectation to improve hinder our enjoyment of chess? Bonus: A chess genie offers Julia one wish but she insists on getting three.

Chess Coaching: What To Look For & Getting The Most From It w/ IM Yuriy Krykun

Send me a message about this episode!

082 Many adult improvers ask this question at least once: Should I get a chess coach? This episode is designed to help you figure out what to look for in a coach and how to maximize the experience.

Helping me discuss this topic is IM Yuriy Krykun.

Yuriy is a well-known course creator with Chessable, and a superb coach who?s helped countless students.

In this episode, we cover:

What are some of the qualities you should look for in a chess coach?Do you need to work towards a specific goal with your coach?Does it matter which title your coach has? (NM, FM, IM, etc.)What if you?re not improving after working with a coach?What are some of the traits of Yuriy?s most successful students?

IM Kostya Kavutskiy - GM Goals, Candidates Controversy, & Improvement Q&A

Send me a message about this episode!

Renowned chess coach and co-founder of the Chess Dojo, IM Kostya Kavutskiy, returns to the podcast! Previously, we talked mostly about how to read annotated game books (Episode 17).

This time, we cover a wide variety of topics. Including:

What new insights the Chess Dojo has learned on helping adult improvers from running their online membership, called ?Training Program.?Kostya?s recent OTB tournament experiences and how he chooses which ones to attend.His improvement approach for his personal chess goals, including earning the GM title.Whether the 2024 Candidates tournament had a fair qualifying process (and Kostya?s predictions for who might win.)Improvements questions from my Twitter followers.

Where To Find More of Kostya/Chess Dojo?s Content:

Training Program by Chess Dojo Chess Dojo - Twitch Chess Dojo - YouTube Chess Dojo - Twitter Chess Dojo - Website Kostya on Twitter Kostya?s Endgames course Kostya?s Book

2024-02-20
Länk till avsnitt

Five Essential Lessons From Coaching with IM Andras Toth

Send me a message about this episode!

080 What can you learn from a year of coaching from one of the world?s best chess coaches More than can ever be packed into a single podcast episode! BUT we cover the top five lessons I learned from IM Andras Toth - with Andras doing a deep dive into each one.

Andras is an extraordinary chess coach. He has a YouTube channel full of entertaining videos on powerful chess improvement help.

Plus, he has a wide variety of Chessable courses on essential topics every adult club player should learn.

In this episode, we cover:

Why losing material is the last variable that matters in chess.Does Puzzle Rush help with calculation speed?Why do adults struggle to seize attacking opportunities?Is age a barrier to improvement?

Turning A Passion For Chess Into a Career w/ WIM Charlize van Zyl

Send me a message about this episode!

079 Sometimes a passion for chess runs so deep you want to make it your life. That?s the story of South Africa?s WIM Charlize van Zyl. While she earned the WIM at just age 13, she didn?t fully realize her passion for the game until she left it for five years and then returned to it as an adult.

From there, she earned her way to multiple Chess Olympiads and is now gunning for the WGM title.

Plus, she has a chess business and recently became a reporter for FIDE?s most elite tournaments.

We also discuss:

What chess skills she needs to develop to go from WIM to WGMWhat it?s like interviewing Magnus CarlsenWhat top chess player she?d most like to hang out with

The Adult Improver Chess Life with Sam Canciobello

Send me a message about this episode!

078 Dedicating three years of your life to chess as an adult is huge. Especially when it includes OTB classical tournaments and running a chess YouTube channel. That?s been the story of Sam Canciobello.

Inspired by the Queen?s Gambit, her passion for chess - now in its fourth year - has been consistent and impressive.

In this episode, we cover the different stages of her chess life, her long-term goals, and lessons she?s learned along the way. We also discuss:

Was it worthwhile for her to spend a large volume of time on openings at the beginning of her journey?What factors have helped her improve the most?Why great women players had a big impact on her chess life.

How to Make Losing Less Painful In Chess w/ Daniel Lona

Send me a message about this episode!

077 Part of being a chess player is losing many games. But what if those experiences didn?t have to be so painful? To that end, I solicited advice on how to deal with the most difficult losses.

I received feedback from the adult improver community on social media, a handful of chess coaches, and a dash of my insights.

Then, I collected what I felt was the most helpful advice, categorized them, and put them into a 5-step process. It can be used anytime you endure a particularly emotional or upsetting loss.

The advice here ought to help you reduce some of that emotional bite from a loss, as well as ensure you don?t beat yourself up too much over it.

Here?s to making your chess journey more enjoyable!

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2024-01-26
Länk till avsnitt

WGM Jennifer Shahade: Her New Tactics Book, Appearing on Jeopardy, & Leaving US Chess

Send me a message about this episode!

076 Jennifer Shahade returns to the podcast! 2023 was a major one for her, and we discuss the major milestones of her year.

If you?re not familiar, Jennifer is a 2-time US Women?s Chess Champion, author of 4 chess books (including the recent hit Chess Queens), and a long-time advocate of making the chess community a better place for women and girls.

In this episode, we talk about:

A recent, fun chess experience she?s had on Jeopardy.Her new tactics book, Play Like a Champion, that features well-known women chess players (and why the book helps if you?ve only been doing online tactics.)The challenges she?s faced by stepping down as head of the US Chess Women and leaving US Chess.A peek into Jen?s next book, Thinking Sideways.

Essential Chess Tips From 6 Books By NM Dan Heisman

Send me a message about this episode!

075 NM Dan Heisman is a world-renowned chess coach and author. He?s on the verge of publishing his thirteenth, and perhaps final, chess improvement book. In this episode, we take a retrospective of some of Dan?s best books and offer improvement advice relevant to each book.

It?s an honor to celebrate Dan?s amazing multi-decade career as a chess author and his third appearance on the podcast.

Some tips we discuss:

Surprising advice from Dan on the #1 principle that should guide your study plan.How to avoid a common mistake club players make when choosing annotated game books.Three key categories of what to study to improve your chess - and how much time to focus on each one.

Later this year (2024), Dan will publish a book based on his ongoing ?Chess Tip of the Day? series that he?s posted daily for years on Twitter. Look for that soon!

In the meantime, here are links to all of Dan?s fantastic books, his YouTube channel, and his website.

More From Dan Heisman:

Dan?s Website Dan?s YouTube Channel Dan?s Books Dan?s Twitter Dan?s guide to annotated game books (scroll down to ?Game Collections?)

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2024-01-09
Länk till avsnitt

Elevating Your Chess With Great Women Players w/ WIM Luciana Morales

Send me a message about this episode!

074 Many great women players deserve more attention. Consider that even the games of women's world champions are rarely studied. This shouldn't be the case any longer since their chess is instructive, and their personal lives are rich and inspired.

Thankfully, WIM Luciana Morales (along with co-author NM Bryan Tillis) shines a light on the first five women world champions in a new and unique course.

Not only does it contain a hefty dose of chess improvement lessons for club players...

But it?s also an important work that brings more attention to women and their impact on the chess community.

In this interview, we dive into the surprising stories & lessons of these great women world champions, as well as some behind-the-scenes making of Luciana?s course. We also discuss Luciana?s unique upbringing as a rising talent in Peru.

More From Luciana

Luciana?s course: Queens of the Chess Board Luciana?s Twitter

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2024-01-02
Länk till avsnitt

Positional Play for Club Players w/ FM Nate Solon

Send me a message about this episode!

A second visit to the pod from chess coach & author, FM Nate Solon! In recent years, Nate has become a well-known chess educator.

He?s co-authored the highly-praised book, Evaluate Like a Grandmaster.

In 2023, he released his first Chessable course on the Reti opening for White.

Plus, Nate regularly publishes a popular e-newsletter on improvement advice called, Zwischenzug. (Links to all these are below!)

In this interview, we discuss:

Preparation and performance lessons learned from Nate?s victory at the adults-only, classical tournament, called ALTO, at the Charlotte Chess Center.Why should you study positional play as a club player when everything is supposedly tactics and more tactics?How does playing the Reti (1.Nf3) - Nate?s new course! - give a club player a helpful advantage over 1.e4?

Make It Club-Player Friendly: Elite Events & Courses with WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni

Send me a message about this episode!

072 She?s been making a splash in the chess world. Not only is WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni a regular commentator for top-level tournaments...she?s also become a key commentator for Hikaru?s Twitch channel while he competes at the Candidates and other key events.

Plus, this year she?s created video instruction for two Chessable courses.

One is for the Scotch opening. The other covers tactics. Both courses are aimed at us: club players.

This speaks to her strength of making complex chess easy to understand for adult improvers.

Fiona has also had a rich competitive history. She?s represented her country, Luxembourg, in every Chess Olympiad since 2002 and has earned the title of Woman International Master.

In this episode, we discuss:

A behind-the-scenes look at attending the FIDE Grand SwissWhy is the Scotch opening ideal for club players?How many openings should a club player learn before it becomes harmful to improvement?Which players have the best chances in the 2024 Candidates tournament?

To Win A Giveaway of Fiona's Course, follow me here on Twitter.

Podcast Crossover: NM Ben Johnson on His New Book: Perpetual Chess Improvement

Send me a message about this episode!

Not many chess resources are aimed directly at helping the adult improver. But the superb new book by well-known chess podcast host, Ben Johnson, does exactly that. Released this fall, it?s called Perpetual Chess Improvement.

The book covers a broad range of topics for not only boosting your chess abilities but also answering difficult questions like: ?Do you need to study endgames?? ?How should you approach rating plateaus??

Ben?s book is pure gold for us adult improvers. Each page is chock full of helpful guidance, and it?s as easy to read as a page-turning novel.

In this interview, we discuss:

Why engaging with the chess community is just as vital as improvement for our chess experience.Is consistent study & play an overemphasized trait for our chess journey?Ben?s dream guests who have yet to appear on his show (other than Magnus!)

Update on Podcast - We'll Be Back!

Send me a message about this episode!

This is a brief 1-minute update on the state of the podcast. Don't worry - we'll return soon!

2023-09-26
Länk till avsnitt

A Rapid Rise to 2000 with Adult Improver Kamryn Hellman

Send me a message about this episode!

070 A small number of chess players make remarkably quick progress. Perhaps even fewer of those are adults. Which is why the achievements of this week?s guest, Kamryn Hellman, are so remarkable.

She started playing chess for the first time as an adult. And, in just a little over a year, Kamryn rose to a 2000 Rapid rating on Chess.com.

Because progress this fast is rarely seen by adults, we explore her journey and how she achieved it.

We discuss:

Her top three ?difference makers? for reaching a 2000 Chess.com rating in fifteen monthsWhy competing in OTB classical tournaments was such a powerful factor in her improvementWas her approach to be a tactics machine or was there room for studying strategy and positional chess?

IM Dean Ippolito - Tales of a Premier Chess Coach & How To Manage Rating Deflation

Send me a message about this episode!

For two decades, IM Dean Ippolito has been one of America?s top coaches. Throughout his career, he?s coached several scholastic talents to national titles. Plus, he?s authored six chess books. Dean?s own chess journey is just as impressive. He was a rising child star and competed professionally for a few years after high school.

Today, he runs a successful coaching business called Dean of Chess Academy, which offers online classes and camps.

In this episode, we also discuss the scourge of adult improvers who compete at OTB tournaments: rating deflation.

We discuss what it is, how it affects adult club players like yourself, and some advice that Dean offers on how to deal with it.

Finally, we talk about Dean?s new book, Tricks, Traps, and Tips in the Chess Opening. The book offers a unique (and much more fun!) approach to learning opening ideas and principles.

More From Dean:

Dean?s website Dean?s Twitter Dean?s new book, Tricks, Traps & Tips in the Chess Opening

>>Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-08-15
Länk till avsnitt

FM Mike Klein: Building the Next Generation of Chess Players

Send me a message about this episode!

068 You may know him as best as ?Fun Master? Mike, the face of ChessKid. For the past decade, Mike has been the Chief Chess Officer of ChessKid, the scholastic version of Chess.com. His mission has been to make the game fun and accessible for an ever-growing audience of young chess players.

While my show primarily focuses on adult improvers, I?m always interested in how we grow this great game of ours, and reaching kids is a big part of that.

And who better to discuss this subject than with Mike Klein!?

Plus, if you?re a parent, Mike offers some great advice on how you can your kids? school involved in teaching chess.

We also discuss:

Which top youth player he thinks has the best chance to stay in the game and make an impact for many years to come.The highlights of Mike?s journalism career, including which former world champ he would?ve loved to interview.His game and experiences with Josh Waitzkin, of Searching For Bobby Fischer fame.

How To Maximize Your Time For Chess Improvement w/ GM Noël Studer

Send me a message about this episode!

067 How should you spend your chess time if you want to improve? The problem for adult improvers isn?t always about having too little time or energy to get better. Often, the challenge is knowing how to use that time effectively. That?s where GM Noël Studer comes in to help us.

A former Swiss chess champion, and the youngest GM ever from Switzlerland, Noël is now helping chess improvers fine-tune their study programs.

The result?

Better progress without having to spend countless hours each day studying or playing.

In this interview, Noël discusses:

How the One-Third Rule can simplify your study process and give you greater progress without any additional demands on your time.The surprising reason you can improve at openings with less study time instead of more.How to keep your energy high before going into an OTB tournament with a simple training strategy used by professional athletes.

South Africa's Chess Star: WIM Jesse February

Send me a message about this episode!

This week features South Africa?s most charismatic chess streamer and commentator:
WIM Jesse February. Jesse has had an impressive tournament career that?s still going strong as she works toward the WGM title.

Some of her accomplishments include representing the South African Women?s Team in three Chess Olympiads. Plus, she's a two-time winner of the South African Women?s Chess Championship.

We chat about Jesse?s incredible and recent experience doing commentary for the inaugural Global Chess League tournament - a unique mixed-team event that featured some of the world?s best men and women players.

And we talk about what Jesse feels she needs to work on to get the WGM title, her best advice from years of coaching, and whether she can give up bullet at 3am.

More From Jesse:

Twitch channel YouTube channel Twitter Instagram TikTok

>>Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-07-25
Länk till avsnitt

On the Rise: Streamer & Adult Improver, WCM Alexandra Prado

Send me a message about this episode!

065 WCM Alexandra Prado is a strong amateur player with a fast-rising chess Twitch channel. Rated 1859 FIDE, she has a renewed interest in competing in OTB classical.

Plus, she?s aiming for the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title. On that goal, she?s getting coaching help from Chess Dojo?s IM Kostya Kavutskiy, which we discuss in this episode.

We also chat about her chess life in Bolivia, what has helped her improve the most as a player, and her unexpected opportunity to play in-person blitz against Andrea Botez.
----

I NEED YOUR HELP: Want to have a say in my upcoming chess membership? Please fill out this super-short survey about what features you want most.

----

A Reenergized Tournament Career with WGM Anna Zatonskih

Send me a message about this episode!

064 For the past two decades, WGM Anna Zatonskih has been a powerhouse among women chess players in America. She is a 4-time US Women?s champion (06?, 08?, 09?, and 11?.) Plus, she?s been a member of every US Women?s team for the Chess Olympiad since 2004.

And while she has struggled a bit competitively in recent years, Anna just achieved an incredible first-place victory at the prestigious Cairn?s Cup in St. Louis in June of 2023.

This event gathered some of the world?s best female chess players, including former World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.

Not only did Anna win the event - she did so with no losses.

This has renewed the fire for Anna?s competitive career

In this interview, we discuss highlights from the tournament, what she learned from the event, and her goal of proving that ?age is just a number.?

>>Join my official FREE Club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-07-12
Länk till avsnitt

A Trio of Talents: Grandmaster, Educator, & Commentator w/ GM Daniel King

Send me a message about this episode!

In the best possible way, Daniel King is a ?triple threat? of chess: A GM professional competitor who?s played against some of the world?s best?A commentator who delivers GM-level analysis that?s easily accessible for us club players? And an educator who?s served up a library of phenomenal books, courses, and videos that?ll sharpen our chess skills.

Not enough?

He?s also a skilled and passionate musician who regularly plays in bands.

Daniel launched his chess life with an exciting competitive career. He earned his IM title in ?82, his GM title in ?89, and scored some notable achievements like placing 4th in the British Championship in ?87.

In the early 90s, he launched a career as a chess commentator. Later, he published countless books, DVDs, and online courses.

These days, Daniel runs his popular YouTube channel, Power Play Chess. There you can find top-notch, insightful commentary on the biggest chess events.

In this interview, we discuss:

A few thrilling stories of Daniel defeating some of the world?s best as a professional player.Daniel?s favorite moments as a commentator covering World Champion Garry Kasparov. Why you shouldn?t be afraid to play the Open Sicilian as White (and how to get excited if your opponent plays an anti-Sicilian.)

Update: New Episodes & Upcoming Membership for The Chess Experience

Send me a message about this episode!

After a brief break, the latest on the next episode's release. Plus, a little info on the upcoming membership for this podcast, The Chess Experience. If you don't want to miss its announcement, sign up here:

Get the info here when The Chess Experience Membership releases.

2023-06-28
Länk till avsnitt

Two Decades of First-Rate Chess Journalism with Peter Doggers

Send me a message about this episode!

062 Few people have attended the world?s top chess tournaments. Or interviewed the most talented chess players on the planet, including legends like Garry Kasparov. But Peter Doggers has lived this life for nearly the past twenty years.

In 2007, he launched the company Chess Vibes. At its peak, it was one of the world?s biggest online news sites for chess. It covered top events and offered in-depth journalism.

Six years later, Peter sold Chess Vibes to Chess.com and became their Director of Content. Currently, he is Chess.com's Director of News and Events.

In this interview, we discuss:

What top chess player before his time Peter would have loved to interview.His favorite books for improvement that helped him rise to the level of 2292 FIDE and earn two IM norms.The strengths and weaknesses of modern chess journalism.

Adventures in Course Creating with NM Laura Smith

Send me a message about this episode!

061 It?s not often a chess content creator is an everyday superhero who?s also a school teacher and mother of three. But that?s what makes NM Laura Smith so special. She gives much of her free time to helping others in chess, both as a coach, a Twitch streamer, and now?a brand-spankin? new Chessable author!

Laura was one of my first guests to appear on the show, and the first interview I ever recorded.

So, I?m thrilled to have her back on the podcast to update the latest in her chess life.

Her new course, Forcing Moves for Beginners, is now available and was a labor of love. (Link to the course is below.)

In this episode, we discuss:

Why solving ?easy? tactics very fast is critical for club players.Laura?s new & deeper connection with the online chess community in the past year.An exciting forthcoming course collaboration between Laura and an esteemed, well-known chess coach.

Building a Dynamic Chess Life with Solveig, aka Rookie Redhead

Send me a message about this episode!

Diving head-first into chess as an adult beginner ain?t easy. Yet some folks do it incredibly well. And with inspiring dedication. That?s the adult improver story of Norway?s Solveig.

After watching the Magnus-Nepo World Championship match, she committed to the game in January ?22.

At the time, she was rated well below 1000.

Since then, she?s worked with two coaches, attended over half a dozen OTB classical tournaments, and follows weekly study plans.

Now, her FIDE rating is already over 1200 and on the rise.

Topping it off, Solveig launched a YouTube channel, Rookie Redhead, detailing some of her chess journey and lessons learned. (Link below.)

In this interview, we discuss:

Whether you can ever really feel like you?re good at chessThe value of breaking some ?rules? of chess improvementThe struggle of feeling confident in your chess abilities

Top 8 Chess Lessons From A Successful Adult Improver w/ Stacia Pugh

Send me a message about this episode!

059 Need some inspiration on your chess journey from a fellow adult improver? This week?s guest is a powerhouse. Even though she didn?t begin chess until adulthood, Stacia Pugh has soared to 1800 USCF - and still rising!

Plus, she?s attending OTB classical tournaments nearly every month and has a chess coaching business called, Chess Is Best.

In this episode, we discuss:

Stacia?s Top 8 Chess Improvement LessonsHow switching from d4 to e4 dramatically improved her chess - and why other club players should also play 1.e4Why tactics are by FAR the most important area of chess for improvement

Overcoming Setbacks on Your Chess Journey w/ Daniel Lona

Send me a message about this episode!

058 Ah! The dreaded ?life got in the way? scenario. When it does, our chess progress stalls or suffers. In this journey update, I explain how a prolonged health problem threw a monkey wrench into my chess goals.

The good news is that during these months, while my tactical vision waned, I eventually gained two key insights into how to manage a setback in my chess studies.

I hope nothing ever slows down your chess progress?

But if that happens, this episode may give you some camaraderie and helpful advice...

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-05-18
Länk till avsnitt

From Harlem to Grandmaster Goals with IM Kassa Korley

Send me a message about this episode!

057 Becoming a titled player without a chess coach is no easy feat. Yet that?s exactly what Kassa Korley achieved. When he was 15, he became the youngest Black American to earn the NM title.

Since then, he?s become an International Master.

And, in recent years, he garnered two of the three norms needed in his pursuit of the Grandmaster title.

Again, all on his own. No coach.

Kassa?s chess journey is wildly impressive. Yet, as you hear him tell his story, it?s surprisingly relatable for a club player.

In this interview, Kassa shares some superb improvement insights that he?s gained from over two decades in chess.

Adult improvers: you can soak up a lot of wisdom from his lessons!

Plus, Kassa delves into what impact he?s excited to make in his new position as Head of Community with Chess.com. Finally, Kassa offers what career(s) he would pursue if it had to be something other than chess.

Follow Kassa on Twitter

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-05-09
Länk till avsnitt

Expanding Connections in the Chess Community w/ WIM Lena Miladinovic

Send me a message about this episode!

056 Coach. Titled player. Entrepreneur. These are just a few of the impressive achievements of WIM Lena Miladinovic. Hailing from Serbia, and becoming a 3-time national champion, Lena has experienced nearly every major corner of the chess world.

She?s also run tournaments, become a FIDE-certified arbiter, and in recent years built a unique chess business.

Lena wants to make it easier for the chess community to connect. To find each other. And expand on their love for the game.

So, she created a company called Outpost, which does exactly that.

In this episode, we discuss Lena?s exciting chess journey, a key lesson she learned from years of coaching that?ll help adult improvers, and the details of her ?LinkedIn for Chess? business.

More From Lena:

Outpost Chess website Lena?s Twitter Lena?s Instagram

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-05-02
Länk till avsnitt

Rapid Chess Growth with Jules Gambit

Send me a message about this episode!

055 Quick rating gains. Thousands of new followers on Twitch. As she revived her love for chess, Jules Gambit has shown an impressive record of improvement. Not to mention she's made a splash in the chess streamer community - all in the same short period of time!

In less than a year, Jules has seen a 600+ rating increase. And, at the recent US Amateur Team tournament, she achieved an OTB classical rating performance of 2000 USCF!

Jules is a dynamic, engaging personality with a lot of insights and fun stories to share. Hope you enjoy this episode!

Powerful Improvement Advice with IM David Pruess

Send me a message about this episode!

054 This episode features one of the three "senseis" of Chess Dojo, IM David Pruess, for a deep dive on a variety of chess topics. Whether it?s discussing if the latest World Championship is worthy of our time, or what he still wanted to contribute to chess after decades of being in the game - you can count on David to bring depth and sharp analysis to our chat.

Plus, as the co-founder of one of the best chess education platforms in the world, David offers great improvement insights for you in this episode, including:

What would he do differently to improve faster if he started chess all over again?Why having a training partner is one of the best strategies for accelerating your chess skill that?s rarely taught or followed.Clear and straightforward advice on balancing fun with chess improvement.

World Chess Championship Preview with FM Carsten Hansen

Send me a message about this episode!

053 The next World Chess Championship match is around the corner! While there?s no Magnus, there?s still plenty to be excited about. This preview episode is made for the club player or casual chess fan - meaning it?s accessible and easy to follow.

I interview FM Carsten Hansen, one of the most prolific chess authors around, and in our discussion, he?ll help you:

1) understand what makes this a rare match-up,
2) the styles of each player and how they?ll clash, and
3) who?s expected to win and why

The match begins Sunday, April 9th. But this episode will be worth listening to even several days after that to help you understand what?s happening.

More From FM Carsten Hansen:

Carsten?s chess books Carsten?s website Carsten on Twitter

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-04-07
Länk till avsnitt

What Makes A Good Chess Commentator With GM Jon Ludvig Hammer

Send me a message about this episode!

052 How do we grow the game? A major way has been the huge popularity of live-streamed events with star players and world-class commentary. But whether that commentary is engaging and accessible to chess fans is critical to our game?s popularity.

So, what should you look for in chess commentary?

That?s a major theme that I discuss with GM Jon Ludvig Hammer in this week?s episode.

Hammer has been a professional commentator for nearly a decade. He regularly works for TV 2 Norway. He?s also been a contributor for Chess.com and GM Hikaru Nakamura?s Twitch channel.

Prior to his commentator career, Hammer reached Super GM status with a 2705 FIDE rating. And he was Magnus Carlsen?s second in the 2013 and 2014 World Chess Championships.

In this episode, Hammer and I also discuss a key improvement topic:

Do you need to play classical chess to become a better player? (We take different views!)

Plus, enjoy an episode that?s more discussion-style instead of the usual interview format, per Hammer?s request.

More from Jon Ludvig Hammer:

Hammer?s Twitch channel Hammer?s Twitter Hammer?s Chess.com educational content

Photo Credit: The superb photo used for this episode comes from photographer and WFM Maria Emelianova. You can follow her on Twitch and Twitter.

----
Please Leave a Positive Rating If You Enjoyed This Episode

If you enjoyed this or other episodes, please leave a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple. Then, DM me on Twitter or email me (scroll to the bottom) and let me know you did. I'll reply personally with a thank you!

-----
>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2023-03-21
Länk till avsnitt

How to Study Endgames (for Club Players) w/ IM Yuriy Krykun

Send me a message about this episode!

051 Like many areas of chess, it can be difficult to study endgames. There?s an ocean?s worth of books and courses on the subject. But where to begin? To help me simplify this subject for club players, I?m excited to bring IM Yuriy Krykun back on the show.

For starters, Yuriy is renowned as one of Chessable?s top course creators (his Dynamic Italian course is one of my favorites!)

Plus, from years of coaching amateur students, Yuriy understands well how to teach endgames in a practical way.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to boost your motivation to study endgames (if, like me, yours is low!)What?s a good percentage of your study time to spend on endgames? Should you focus on practical or theoretical endgames? Why you may not need to study endgames at all!

Lessons & Lifestyle of a Pro Chess Player with IM Irina Bulmaga

Send me a message about this episode!

050 We are finally back after a 6-week health hiatus! Today?s guest is the #1 rated woman in Romania: IM Irina Bulmaga. Irina is a professional chess player who is working full-time chasing the GM title as an adult.

Another impressive stat?

Irina has been in the FIDE Top 100-rated Women in the world since 2012.

In a career full of amazing accomplishments, Irina has represented Romania in seven Chess Omplyiads since 2010.

As a humble club player, I?m always impressed by those who are so good at chess they can make it a competitive career.

So, in this episode, we chat about the lessons she?s learned in her many years of chess.

Plus, we discuss what will it take for her to make the leap from IM to GM?

Quick Show & Health Update

Send me a message about this episode!

Sorry for my absence the past few weeks. Here's why. (But I hope to be back very soon.)

2023-02-07
Länk till avsnitt

My Top 5 Chess Lessons of 2022 - Daniel Lona

Send me a message about this episode!

049 After 800 hours of chess, you should learn some stuff. That?s roughly the amount of time I spent playing and studying the game in 2022. And, yes, for all that effort, there?s a nagging concern that I should be way better. But I did learn a few things along the way...

In fact, 2022 marks my second full year of being a serious student of chess since my middle school days, when I first took the game seriously.

Much of the year required an "aggravating patience" - is that a thing? - as my rating refused to climb for the first six months.

Thankfully, I had two great coaches to guide my way, and eventually, I had some notable progress and rating gains.

Plus, I always keep my eyes open for insights so that I can share them with my fellow chess community.

Some are about the game itself, others about the overall journey.

So, here are my Top 5 Chess Lessons of 2022! Enjoy!

Want to share a comment about this episode with me?

Tag me on Twitter or send me an email.

2023-01-17
Länk till avsnitt

GM Ben Finegold - Streaming, Comedy, & Improvement Advice

Send me a message about this episode!

048 Few Grandmasters are as entertaining as Ben Finegold. His blend of humor, truth-telling, and exceptional chess skill are rare in the streaming world.

Ben hails from Detroit, Michigan. Raised in a chess family, he ultimately tied as the highest-rated American-born player in the US with a USCF rating of 2662.

He now lives in Atlanta, where he streams regularly on Twitch with his wife, Karen

The channel has amassed over 124K followers, and his YouTube channel has 113K subscribers. Those numbers are well-deserved and I highly recommend checking out each of his channels.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why not being afraid of losing is critical for amateur players.What makes his Twitch channel stand out from other chess streamers?If you?re getting burned out on chess, what should you do?Would Ben do stand-up comedy?

Holiday Update & Brief Message

Send me a message about this episode!

This is a brief 3-minute "episode" to announce a brief holiday break and to encourage some reflection on your chess progress. As described, please let me what you've achieved this year in chess that you feel good about.

You can do so by tagging me in a post on Twitter (@Lona_Chess), emailing me (scroll to the bottom for my address), or sending me a message here.

Happy Holidays! And I'll talk to you soon!

>> Join my official FREE club for The Chess Experience on Chess.com<< (PROMOTION)

2022-12-27
Länk till avsnitt

An Adult Improver Tale of Chess, Goals, & Rock & Roll with Amy Shaw

Send me a message about this episode!

047 Many chess players fall into a trap. They get too obsessed with chess and their progress. Stress and worry can replace joy and discovery. But not for this week?s guest. Fellow adult improver, Amy Shaw, has found a great balance between striving for consistent improvement and loving the game?

And she?s done it without the sometimes unhealthy drive for rating gains that can plague chess players.

In addition to working as an English professor by day and playing in a rock band by night?

Amy has also become well-known in the chess adult improver circles on Twitter with 2K followers.

In this episode, we discuss:

If she could travel back 2 years, what would she tell herself at the start of her chess journey?Two major benefits she?s received from working with a coach.If she could pick anyone in the chess world to hang out with, who would it be?Why she no longer focuses on rating goals (and where she puts her energy instead.)

Fighting Back From Losing Positions With NM Jeremy Kane

Send me a message about this episode!

046 When you?re in bad position or down material, it?s easy to lose hope. We?ve all been there. But today?s guest, NM Jeremy Kane, explains how and why you should usually keep fighting.

His book, The Next To Last Mistake, teaches folks specific strategies needed to hold a draw or even win in losing positions.

Plus, we discuss his work building the vast library of fun, unique, and helpful chess lessons for Chess.com as their Curriculum Director.

Finally, Jeremy shares his somewhat ?relaxed? approach to consistent chess improvement.
-------
Want to join my exclusive community for adult chess improvers?
Chess Improver Monthly offers:

Group coaching & game review from titled players to help your chess.Submit guest questions & private episode discussions for The Chess Experience Podcast.Live video chats w/ me & fellow adult improvers to have fun & stay motivated.Much more!

Check out all the membership benefits here.
---------