The Chess Angle

You hang one pawn, then eight moves later you hang another, and then your opponent easily wins the game while you're still processing where you went wrong. This is all too common at the club level. In addition, Neal dives into the Listener Mailbag.

Game Referenced: Neal vs. 1490 (G/90;d10)

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Bf5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. Bg3 Nf6 6. Bxf5 exf5 7. Qf3 Qd7 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 9. c3 Qd7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. O-O Rfe8 13. Qc2 Qd6 14. Qxf5 Ne7 15. Qc2 Ng6 16. Nbd2 Ng4 17. Rae1 Re6 18. h3 Nf6 19. c4 c5 20. cxd5 Qxd5 21. b3 Ne4 22. Nxe4 Rxe4 23. Qxc5 Qd8 24. Rc1 h6 25. Rc2 b6 26. Qc7 Qe7 27. Qxe7 Rxe7 28. Rfc1 1-0

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

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National Master Nick Panico returns to the pod for some "chess coffee talk" and shares his insights from the tournament scene. We cover:

• Developing a tournament routine
• Playing while distracted
• What to do when the guy next to you won't stop coughing
• Our thoughts on caffeine consumption as a chess player
• Preparing for OTB play

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

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• Buy Me a Coffee

This week we take a deep dive into the psychology of draw offers for the club-level player. Strategically offering or accepting a draw can add quite a number of points to your rating. We break this down in detail.

Referenced:

• Ep. #40: Tournament Strategy feat. GM John Emms
• Ep. #53: NM Rob Guevara on Why He Declines All Draw Offers
• Ep. #57: GM Alex Lenderman on Adult Improvement, Chess Cheating, & More
• The Complete Book of Chess Strategy (Amazon)
• The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess (Amazon)

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

The Amazon links above are affiliate links. Qualifying purchases help support this podcast at no additional cost to you.

This podcast recently crossed the half-a-million download mark! Thank you all for your support of The Chess Angle.

This week's guest is International Master Michael Rahal. Michael is a professional trilingual chess coach, content creator, and FIDE Press Officer. In this jam-packed episode, he provides thoughtful insight on the challenges of improving at chess as an adult and why there's not always a positive correlation between chess study and tournament results. Michael also details his experiences interviewing some of the world's most elite players including Magnus Carlsen. He then shares his thoughts on the chess content creation space and previews his upcoming Chessable and YouTube projects.

Links for IM Michael Rahal:

• Twitter/X
• YouTube
• Instagram

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

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• Website
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This week's pod is an updated and revised version of Episode 12: Chess Improvement Hacks for Busy People. Neal offers some practical time-saving hacks for busy adults with limited study time and argues that social media overload may harm your chess progress.  

If you're enjoying the pod, please consider telling your chess playing friends about us and giving us a 5-star review on your podcast app of choice. We appreciate your support!

Referenced:

• 12 Apps We Can't Stop Using, for Better or Worse (WSJ article)
• Episode #43: Are Electronic Notation Devices Legit? 

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
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• Buy Me a Coffee

This week, Neal shares some tips, tricks, and harsh realities he learned from playing in chess tournaments over the years.

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

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This week, Neal puts on his tournament director hat to discuss rule violation scenarios using real examples from amateur chess tournaments. We also include common mishaps and misunderstandings at the club level regarding rules and procedures. Amateur players of all levels should find this episode both informative and entertaining! Special thanks to Pat Barron, friend of the pod and fellow TD from Pennsylvania whose correspondence was the basis of this episode.

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

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• Website
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• Buy Me a Coffee

This week's guest is Australian Grandmaster Max Illingworth. Max is a coach, author, and blogger who has lots of experience working with adult chess improvers and a sincere interest in helping them get better. His chess.com blog is instruction rich and formed the basis of our conversation. Max shared his thoughts on why many adult players have trouble improving, including the erroneous thought processes and approaches that hinder progress.

As a reminder, you can become a Patreon member of The Chess Angle. For just $2 a month, you can support the show while receiving a few perks including access to a members-only blog, Neal's personal episode notes/outlines, priority consideration for questions/topic suggestions, and early access to select episodes. If you're interested in a single donation, we also have a Buy Me a Coffee page, where you can buy us a "virtual" coffee as a one-off contribution. We appreciate your support of the pod!

Links for GM Max Illingworth:

• Chess.com Blog
• Twitter/X
• YouTube
• Dismantling the Sicilian (Amazon)
• Coaching inquiries: Email [email protected] or DM at https://m.me/max.illingworth.16

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
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• Buy Me a Coffee

Welcome to Season 7!

As a reminder, you can become a Patreon member of The Chess Angle. For just $2 a month, you can support the show while receiving a few perks including access to a members-only blog, Neal's personal episode notes/outlines, priority consideration for questions/topic suggestions, and early access to select episodes. 

If you're interested in a single donation, we also have a Buy Me a Coffee page, where you can buy us a "virtual" coffee as a one-off contribution. We appreciate your support of the pod!

This week, we discuss how to "Marie Kondo" your chess study plan if you're rated about 800-1200 and you're looking to break the 1400 barrier. You don't need to buy 100 chess books, 25 courses, and join seven different online training programs. A streamlined collection of chess study materials covering each phase and theme of the game combined with lots of OTB experience is probably all you need for quite some time. In this episode, we cover:

• Why playing is just as crucial as studying
• How much study material do you need?
• How often should you study?
• Using chess study materials appropriately
• What NOT to study 
• Putting it all together

Referenced:

• Ep. 99: How to Approach Chess Study as a Beginner or Advanced Beginner
• The Amateur's Mind
• Chess for Tigers
• Starting Out: The Caro-Kann
• Winning Chess Strategies
• Pandolfini's Endgame Course
• Silman's Complete Endgame Course
• How to Study Chess on Your Own
• Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual
• Introduction to Tactics
• Endings, Openings, A Taste of the Middle

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟Some of the links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.♟

This episode is our Season 6 finale. We'll be taking a short break and will return with Season 7 on April 14, 2024. This week, we discuss ten common reasons why players at the club level lose games:

1 - Non-processing

2 - Rushing against odd opening moves

3 - Neglecting development/premature attacks

4 - Misplaying castling

5 - Rook posing

6 - Too much French pastry

7 - Trading down to a losing King and pawn ending

8 - Trying too hard to win

9 - Being cavalier against lower-rated opponents

10 - Poor clock management

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

This week's guest, Tim Just, is a major figure in tournament directing and chess administration. He is a National TD, editor of the 5th-7th editions of the US Chess Rulebook, author, and columnist. When it comes to directing amateur chess tournaments, he's done it all and seen it all. In this episode, Tim shares a number of wild and entertaining anecdotes from the amateur chess scene. You can't make this stuff up!

Links for Tim Just:

• My Opponent is Eating a Doughnut
• Just Law
• Rules | US Chess.org (“Just the Rules” column)
• A Guide to Scholastic Chess

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.♟

Nick Visel is a dedicated club player with a long term goal of achieving the title of National Master. He is well known in the adult improver community and is very popular on Twitter/X. You may be interested in subscribing to Nick's Substack where he shares book reviews, analysis of his OTB tournament games, and more. This week, Nick joined Neal for a candid conversation about chess improvement, the ups and downs of playing at the club level, and how the amateur chess scene has changed over the years.

We cover:

• Is online blitz helpful or hurtful?
• Openings
• The psychology of facing lower and higher-rated players
• Ratings & improvement
• Study plans
• Tactics vs. positional play
• And more...

Links for Nick Visel:

• Twitter/X
• Substack
• New York 1924 Review

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

In this jam-packed episode, return guest Grandmaster Daniel Gormally discusses the upcoming 2024 Candidates Chess Tournament: the players, controversies, history, and more. The winner of this event will challenge Ding Liren for the title of World Chess Champion. The Candidates begins on 4/3/24 in Toronto, Canada.

Links for the Candidates Tournament:

• Chess.com Article 
• FIDE Article

Links for GM Daniel Gormally:

• Ep. 96: GM Daniel Gormally on Adult Chess Improvement, the Cheating Epidemic, & More
• Mating the Castled King (Amazon)
• Pandemic Shark: A Journey Through the World of Chess Improvement (Amazon)
• Play Chess Like the Pros (Amazon)
• Sharp Middlegames (Chessable)
• Facebook
• Twitter (X)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

Welcome to our 100th episode! Be sure to check out our new and improved website. Same address, updated look. This week, we explore five universal responses for Black. These can be played against any first move by White. 

In this episode:

• Listener Mailbag
• 1…g6 (Modern Defense)
• Hippopotamus Defense
• 1…e6 
• 1…b6 
• 1…Nc6 

Referenced:

• 10 Black "Opening Systems" (ThePawnSlayer chess.com blog)
• The Amateur’s Mind
• Winning Chess Strategies
• Simple Chess

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

Chess improvement can be overwhelming and daunting for beginners looking to reach the intermediate level and beyond. This is especially true for busy adults with limited study time. In the episode, we provide a general overview of what we believe beginners and advanced beginners should focus on and provide a number of suggested resources to get you started.

Suggested Books:

• Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
• How to Win at Chess: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Beyond (Levy Rozman)
• The Amateur’s Mind (Jeremy Silman)
• Winning Chess Strategies (Yasser Seirawan)
• Winning Chess Tactics (Yasser Seirawan)
• Pandolfini’s Endgame Course

Suggested Online Lessons from Chess.com:

• Basic Checkmates and More
• Essential Checkmate Patterns
• Introduction to Tactics
• A Kaleidoscope of Openings
• Pawn Endings: Beginner to Expert (good for ALL levels)
• Rook and Other Endgames (a little advanced, but very thorough and good for ALL levels)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

The week, Neal dives into the listener mailbag to discuss the parallels between music and chess, handling losses, and dealing with frustration at the chessboard. This is followed by an open and candid discussion about mindset and attitude at the chessboard during OTB tournaments. There's definitely an emphasis on chess psychology for this episode.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Intro

(00:48) - Chess and Music

(07:38) - Dealing with Losses

(17:00) - Frustration at the Chessboard

(22:49) - The Chess Mindset (what to avoid)

(49:42) - Outro

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

This week's guest is National Master Daniel Lowinger, a high school Chinese teacher who cut his teeth playing chess on the New York scene. Dan offers some thoughtful and philosophical ideas about amateur chess improvement, titles, being honest with oneself, and much more.

Chapters:

(00:00) - Intro

(03:48) - Dan's Beginnings

(06:24) - Thoughts on Chess Titles

(23:44) - Honesty with Oneself

(29:43) - Adult Improvement

(44:18) - 3...Qd8 Scandinavian Defense

(55:29) - Opening Originals: Strong Sidelines for Club Cats

(58:37) - Outro

Links for NM Daniel Lowinger:

• The 3...Qd8 Scandinavian: Simple and Strong
• Opening Originals: Strong Sidelines for Club Cats
• Facebook

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
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Our guest this week is English Grandmaster Daniel Gormally. Daniel is a professional chess player and coach who has written several books on the game. He is also the author of a 3-part Chessable series entitled Sharp Middlegames. In addition, Daniel has represented England in the European Team Championship and is a two-time winner of the English Rapid Play Championship. He earned his final GM norm in 2005 in a tournament where he scored a 2693 performance rating.  Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:32) - English Chess Scene (10:25) - Computers, AI, & Engines (21:24) - Chess Cheating Epidemic (33:15) - Adult Improvement & Daniel's Instructional Content (58:59) - Outro Links for GM Daniel Gormally:

• Mating the Castled King (Amazon)
• Pandemic Shark: A Journey Through the World of Chess Improvement (Amazon)
• Play Chess Like the Pros (Amazon)
• Sharp Middlegames (Chessable)
• Facebook
• Twitter (X)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

This week we discuss how to analyze your chess games with an engine to increase learning, avoid mistakes, and explore your thought process. Neal addresses some listener mail and then reviews one of his OTB games where he was having an off night. There were miscues from both players throughout which is typical at the club level. Referenced:

• Ep. 45: The Truth About Chess Engines for Club Players
• Bellon vs. 1630: 

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d6 3. e3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Be7 6. h3 b6 7. c4 Bb7 8. Nc3 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. O-O O-O 12. Rc1 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. b3 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Qd4 Rfd8 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Qf4 Bb7 19. Ne5 f6 20. Nc4 e5 21. Qh4 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Qg4 Nd3 25. Qe6+ Kf8 26. Nd6 Qe7 27. Qxe7+ Kxe7 28. Nxb7 Nc1 29. Bf3 Nxa2 30. Kf1 f5 31. Be2 Nb4 32. Ke1 Kd7 33. Kd2 Kc7 34. Kc3 a5 35. Nxa5 bxa5 36. Kc4 Kb6 37. f3 f4 38. exf4 exf4 39. Kd4 Nc2+ 40. Ke4 g5 41. Bc4 Ne1 42. Kf5 h6 43. Kg6 Nxg2 44. Kxh6 Kc5 45. Bf7 Kb4 46. Kxg5 a4 47. bxa4 Kxa4 48. h4 Nxh4 49. Kxh4 1-0

Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:36) - Opening Repertoire (Listener Mailbag) (09:10) - Puzzle Rush and Skill Retention (Listener Mailbag) (17:58) - Using a Chess Engine (1:03:10) - Outro 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
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Happy New Year! For our first episode of 2024, Neal answers some questions from our listener mailbag and shares his chess study plan for 2024.  Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:20) - Neal's 2024 Study Plan (09:57) - Are YouTube Videos Helpful? (14:43) - Chess Club Attendance (34:37) - Sicilian vs. Caro-Kann (41:33) - Aggressive vs. Timid Opponents (48:02) - Outro Referenced:

• Practical Chess Exercises (Amazon)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
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📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
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♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Happy Holidays! This week, Neal shares a brief holiday message. Thank you to everyone for supporting the show. We saw a major uptick in downloads in 2023. We'll be taking an extended holiday/end-of-year break and will resume on Sunday, January 14, 2024.  If you're a new listener, now is a great time to binge and catch up. We hope you win your next game! 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

Many club-level players consistently have trouble facing 1. d4. This week, we explore why that is, and offer some practical and philosophical advice. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (01:40) - 1. d4 General Thoughts (07:00) - Social Media and 1. d4 (12:12) - 1. d4 vs. 1. e4 (15:10) - Nimzo & Q. Indian Defenses (22:30) - Fighting the London System (26:54) - Fighting the Catalan Opening (34:05) - Outro Referenced: Ep. 48: The Nimzo & Queen's Indian Defenses: A Complete System Against 1. d4 🎯 Support the Show: 

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📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
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The Botvinnik System is a solid opening choice for White that is easy to learn. We also discuss system openings generally and how they can benefit club players with limited study time. **Errata: In the episode at (23:31), it should be 8. d3, not e3. Please refer to the .pgn below. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (00:37) - System Opening Benefits (15:54) - Botvinnik System (24:26) - Outro Referenced:

• Silman Article
• Chess Openings: How to Play the English Opening! (YouTube)
• Win with The Botvinnik System in The English Opening (YouTube)
• Ep. 37: The London System for Club Players
• Botvinnik System Main Line: 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. d3 Ne8 

🎯 Support the Show: 

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📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

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This week we take a deep dive into some of the most common thematic mistakes that club players make on a regular basis. Most of them have to do with misguided tournament strategies and mishandling your opponent, rather than a lack of chess theory. Chapters: (00:00) - Intro (04:08) - The 3 Most Missed Moves (08:19) - Misreading Defensive Moves (11:20) - Brain Fog (13:40) - Matching (16:45) - "Temper Tantrum" Chess (20:34) - Punishing (25:29) - Chess Theater (30:27) - "Active" Moves (33:33) - Early Pawn Overextensions (36:06) - Clock Management (42:02) - Accepting Disruptive Behavior (47:07) - Outro 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
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FM Alex King returns to the podcast to share his journey from NM to FM. In addition, we discuss some practical improvement topics that club players of all levels should find useful. Check out Episode #23 if you missed Alex's first appearance on the pod. Alex resides in Memphis, TN and is an active player, coach, and writer.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 26:54 - Rating Deflation 35:42 - Backsplaining 42:55 - Null Move Strategy/Hypothesis 59:36 - Outro 📚 Referenced:

• Winning
• Grind Like a Grandmaster

Links for FM Alex King:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• lichess
• Null Move article

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

Andy Ansel is a devoted chess enthusiast who is well known for his impressive book collection which features over 15,000 items. He also has an extensive tournament background with a peak rating of USCF 2100. His playing experience includes games against three World Champions (Symslov, Tal, and Kasparov). Currently, Andy is active in correspondence chess and recently earned the CM title.  In this episode, Andy discusses his book collection in detail and gives his opinion on classic vs. modern books for adult improvers looking to become stronger.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 07:49 - Correspondence Chess 13:20 - Playing 3 World Champions 18:40 - Book Collection 42:45 - Classic vs. Modern Books 52:09 - Outro Referenced:

• Chess Book Collectors Facebook Group

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

David MacEnulty is a legendary chess coach best known for his work with disadvantaged children at Community Elementary School #70 in the South Bronx in New York City. He took them from beginning players to national scholastic champions, an astonishing feat. David was portrayed by famed actor Ted Danson in the 2005 TV-film Knights of the South Bronx which details his experience at CES #70. In this episode, David shares his remarkable story, including some wild cheating incidents his students encountered. He also provides some insight on teaching, learning, developing a "warrior mentality," preparation, and much more. Be on the lookout for David's upcoming book (release date TBD) entitled "Sunrise in the Bronx" where he recounts his experience at CES #70 in vivid detail. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 03:50 - Bruce Pandolfini & Teaching 05:00 - Teaching at CES #70 06:33 - David's Background 17:55 - Guiding Principles 31:10 - Cheating Incidents 43:19 - Knights of the South Bronx film 48:45 - Outro   📚 Referenced:

• Knights of the South Bronx (YouTube full film)
• Knights of the South Bronx (DVD)
• My System (Nimzovitch)
• 1000 Best Short Games of Chess (Chernev)
• Complete Chess Strategy (Pachman)
• How Not to Play Chess (Znosko-Borovsky)
• Oceana (Ted Danson)

♟Links for David MacEnulty:

• Amazon Author Page
• CBS News Feature
• Think Like a King

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

For this season's first interview episode, Neal spoke with Xilin Chen, a 24-year old student at Stonybrook University and a Long Island Chess Club regular. Xilin described his chess improvement activities: lots of 3-0 and 1-0 online games, analyzing his own games, chess.com study resources, and virtually no chess books. He also shared his thought process when playing OTB tournament games. 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

There's a lot of chess advice out there, but is all of it sound? Will these suggestions really help you, especially if you're an emerging player looking to get to the intermediate level?  While this episode is primarily aimed at players rated about 1000 USCF, we believe improvers of all levels will enjoy it. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 07:22 - Classic Games 10:05 - Chess Engines 13:39 - Daily Study Plans 25:28 - Openings 31:07 - Outro 📚 Books Referenced:

• Willpower (Amazon)
• How to Study Chess on Your Own (Amazon)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube

♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This week we continue our discussion of IM Jeremy Silman. Some are critical of his method, and while Neal considers Silman's system to be essential for improvement, he shares a few nitpicks of his own in the spirit of thoroughness. Referenced: Silman's response to his critics.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:45 - Nitpicks 24:46 - Other Criticism of Silman 35:48 - Outro 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

Welcome to Season 6! Sadly, renowned chess educator IM Jeremy Silman passed away recently. Many consider his content to be essential for amateur improvement. He is probably best known for his system of imbalances and its application to the middlegame. This week, we'll give an overview of his approach and discuss some of his books and online content.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 07:58 - The Imbalances 11:38 - The Amateur's Mind 15:05 - Complete Book of Chess Strategy 17:11 - Reassess Your Chess 19:59 - Silman's Complete Endgame Course 24:37 - Chess.com Lessons 34:17 - Outro Books Referenced (Amazon links):

• The Amateur’s Mind
• The Complete Book of Chess Strategy
• Reassess Your Chess, 4th Ed.
• Silman’s Complete Endgame Course

 Lessons Referenced (Chess.com links):

• Silman Teaches Tactics 1 
• Silman’s Lessons in Strategy 1 
• Silman’s Lessons in Strategy 2 
• Roots of Positional Understanding 
• Now What?
• Rook and Other Endgames 
• Mental Domination 

Previous Episodes Referenced:

• #6: The Amateur's Mind
• #60: The Complete Book of Chess Strategy

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟The Amazon and chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This episode is our Season 5 Finale. Season 6 coming soon! Our guest this week is Brian  Karen, a Candidate Master, chess educator, historian, and regular contributor to the podcast. We discussed the evolution of chess clubs and the amateur tournament scene, specifically from the 80s, 90s, and early 00s until now.  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 09:26 - Rise of International Players 14:00 - Postmortems 18:38 - Analog vs. Digital Clocks 28:11 - Speed Chess 30:35 - OTB vs. Online Ratings 38:37 - Female Attendance at Chess Clubs 43:59 - Outro FB Groups Referenced: Chess Book Collectors FIDE World Chess Championship 2025 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, we unravel the English Opening from Black's point of view for club players and adult improvers. We tackle the unfamiliarity and anxiety that comes with confronting 1. c4 and share three variations that will boost your confidence as Black. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 05:50 - Symmetrical Var. (1...c5) 10:33 - Nimzo-English (1...Nf6) 16:58 - English Defense (1...b6) 26:52 - Outro Referenced: Starting Out: The English (Amazon) PGNs: After 1. c4: Symmetrical English: 1. ...c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6 Nimzo-English: 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 2... e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 English Defense: 1... b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 Bxf3 5. exf3 c5 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc6 8. Qd1 Rc8 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
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• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Ready to shake up your chess game with some unconventional openings? In our latest episode, we make a case for occasionally adding complexity to your game. By getting higher-rated opponents out of their comfort zone early on, you can create an unbalanced, non-theoretical position that might just give you the upper hand.  We also bring attention to the "piece polishers" - those players who love sticking to conventional theory. This episode explores how you can disrupt them. We delve into the effectiveness of off-book openings, such as 1. e3. Please note that this isn't an exhaustive guide to every unconventional opening, but a general overview. Finally, we explore some exciting opening ideas that can lead to tactically rich positions. These can disorient a classical player who is not prepared for the unexpected. We discuss the Grob, otherwise known as the Spike, and the  Scandinavian Defense. We also delve into the Evans Gambit, and the Orangutan Opening. These might seem a bit out there, but with a basic theoretical study, you could gain a significant advantage by occasionally springing these surprises on your opponent. So, let's get ready to catch your opponent off guard!  Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 09:15 - 1. e3 10:43 - Fianchetto Structures 16:00 - Early h4 and ...h5 Ideas 19:05 - 1. d4 e6 22:08 - The Grob (1. g4) 24:35 - Scandinavian Defense 26:43 - Alekhine's Defense 28:54 - Orangutan Opening (1. b4) 32:52 - Benoni Defense 36:20 - Evans Gambit 39:01 - Outro 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

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• Buy Me a Coffee

Did you know that the world of chess ratings can be as intriguing and mysterious as the game itself?  How significant are tactics, game analysis, and a consistent opening repertoire for players rated below 1800? We go a step further, shedding light on the pros and cons of competing in higher rating sections and the unreliability of online ratings. As we wrap up, we serve up practical tips and strategies to help bolster your rating, including the pitfalls to avoid like dual-rated games. But above all, we celebrate the sheer love for the game and the joy of tournament play. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:17 - Listener Mailbag 28:55 - Playing Up 32:46 - Online Ratings 37:34 - Rating Deflation 42:48 - Dual-Rated Games 51:44 - Outro Referenced:

• Blindfold Chess Podcast
• Audible Chess 
• Blindfold Chess Offline (Android app)
• Blindfold Chess Training (Android app)
• Chess for Tigers (Amazon)
• The Seven Deadly Chess Sins (Amazon)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a chess tournament? Join us as we converse with return guest National Master Nick Panico, who takes us on a captivating journey. This episode is a deep dive into the world of chess, the importance of taking lower-rated opponents seriously, and much more. The discussion gets even more interesting as Nick recounts a suspicious game. This fuels a conversation about potential cheating in chess and the rules about phone usage during play. We also explore the contentious issue of chess etiquette among kids, including whether asking for an opponent's score sheet during a game is considered acceptable or not.  In the final part of our conversation, we delve into Nick's thoughts about taking a hiatus from chess and his goals to continue playing, albeit less frequently. We discuss just how important having a tournament director present is and how age, coupled with rating deflation, can affect one's game. By the end of this episode, you'll gain a unique insight into the chess tournament atmosphere. Don't miss out on this episode packed with engaging discussions and enlightening experiences from the amateur chess scene! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:27 - Kreitner Tournament Recap 13:06 - Chess Cheating 29:48 - Chess Etiquette and Kids 59:45 - Hitting One's Rating Floor 01:15:56 - Chess Hiatus and Future Goals 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
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• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

This week, we'll be exploring some common themes for club-level players by analyzing a typical amateur game that featured a lot of miscues. Concepts include: stopping counterplay, open vs. closed center, impatient pawn pushes, "phantom" tactics, and much more. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:50 - Nimzo-Indian Defense 14:12 - Phantom Tactics 15:15 - Impatient Pawn Pushes 16:57 - Feel-Good Checks 23:08 - Players who Stand 31:00 - Outro Referenced:

• Starting Out: The Nimzo-Indian (Amazon)
• Game Analyzed: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nf3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. Bd3 f5 9. O-O O-O 10. a4 a5 11. Ba3 Rf6 12. Be2 d6 13. Rad1 Qe8 14. c5 Bc6 15. Bb5 Bxb5 16. axb5 Qxb5 17. c4 Qe8 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Rb1 Nd7 20. Rfd1 Rc8 21. d5 exd5 22. Rxd5 Qf7 23. Rbd1 Ndc5 24. Bb2 Rh6 25. Be5 Qe7 26. Bf4 g5 27. Bg3 Rf8 28. Qb2 Nxg3 29. hxg3 Ne4 30. Qd4 Qf7 31. Rb5 Qh5 32. Kf1 Qh1+ 33. Ng1 Rh2 34. Ke2 Qxg2 35. Qd5+ Rf7 36. Qa8+ Kg7 0-1

If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube

The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Our episode features an engaging analysis of a chess game from the Long Island Chess Club. We dissect every plan, delving into the nuances of a Queen's pawn opening and strategies for preventing Black's e5 idea from White. We also unravel the mystery around the hyper-modern idea of striking in the center. In addition, we're sharing our insights on tackling higher-rated opponents, the significance of game review using an engine, and the importance of a positive mindset. Lastly, we touch upon chess's cognitive aspects, particularly decision fatigue and brain fog, and their impact on players. If you've ever found yourself overwhelmed by the mental energy needed to navigate a chess game, you're not alone. We share valuable advice on taking breaks, resetting your mind, and doing so without falling into time pressure. So, sit back, relax, and let us guide you on your quest to improve your chess skills. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:49 - Mailbag: Starting a Chess Club 15:08 - Game Analysis Begins 26:07 - Mistake Frequency 27:03 - Decision Fatigue and Brain Fog 37:05 - Solutions for Decision Fatigue 40:30 - Production Notes 46:20 - Outro Referenced:

• Guide to a Successful Chess Club (US Chess Federation)
• Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue? (NY Times article)
• Game Analyzed: 1. d4 d6 2. Bf4 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nd7 5. c3 e5 6. Bg3 Nh6 7. Be2 O-O 8. h3 e4 9. Nfd2 f5 10. h4 b6 11. Qb3+ Kh8 12. c4 Nf6 13. Bf4 Qe8 4. Nc3 Nhg4 15. Bg5 Bb7 16. Bxf6 Rxf6 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Rf7 19. Qc2 Nf6 20.h5 g5 21. h6 Bf8 22. Bh5 Nxh5 23. Rxh5 Rf6 24. Rh2 Qf7 25. Qc6 Re8 26. O-O-O Rxh6 27. Rdh1 Rxh2 28. Rxh2 f4 29. g3 Re7 30. gxf4 gxf4 31. Qc4 Qf5 32. Kb1 Bg7 33. Qc6 h5 34. Qc1 Bf6 35. Qc6?? Bxd4! 36. Qa8+ Kh7 37. Qd8 Bf6 38. Qf8 Qg6 39. Rh1 Rg7 (no remaining score due to time pressure) 0-1

If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube

Meet high school student and Candidate Master Jessica Hyatt, the highest-rated female African-American chess player, and National Master Tyrell Harriott, her coach and mentor. Be intrigued as the duo sheds light on Jessica's inspiring journey from her initial rating of USCF 350 in fifth grade to her current rating of USCF 2100, and her quest to achieve the title of National Master (USCF 2200). Advancing in chess is a long trek, but it's filled with numerous exciting turns, as Jessica recounts her experiences at recent tournaments and the time she won the prestigious Daniel Feinberg Success in Chess Award. We'll also learn about her recent victories against GMs Michael Rohde and Abhimanyu Mishra. Are you eager to gain insights into strategies for today's faster time controls? Well, Jessica has you covered. She shares her game plan, emphasizing the importance of mental toughness and strategic thinking. You'll be amazed by Tyrell's unique teaching style, which involves playing even the most disadvantageous positions and embracing the art of resilience. Listen to how he motivates his students using his own tournament experiences, pushing them to become stronger while enjoying the journey. It's all about focus, discipline, and determination. Join us for this engaging conversation with one of the rising stars in the chess world and learn what it truly takes to achieve your chess goals! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:33 - Marshall Chess Club 06:31 - College Aspirations 08:27 - Discovering Jessica's Talent 10:27 - Beating Two GMs - Tyrell 12:54 - Beating Two GMs - Jessica 15:48 - Tyrell on Coaching & Improvement 19:12 - Jessica on Coaching & Improvement 25:05 - Jessica's Chess Beginnings 31:24 - Outro Links for Jessica Hyatt:

• Appearance on CBS News
• Jessica and Tyrell on Twitch
• Jessica's Win vs. GM Abhimanyu Mishra

If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

Website

Twitter

YouTube

Tune in as we delve into the mind of a seasoned tournament player, Dan Levin. A regular at the Long Island Chess Club, Dan brings a unique perspective to this episode as he shares his experiences from the recent Eastern Class Championships in Connecticut, and the National Open in Vegas. Listen in as we uncover the reasons behind a peculiar resignation and a puzzling rating discrepancy in his games. Get ready for an in-depth exploration into the complexities of strategic moves as Dan shares his insights on how he navigated through different stages of the tournaments. Learn about the critical task of weighing the pros and cons of each move, understanding the opponent's style, and how to swiftly recover from a lost advantage. In this jam-packed episode, Dan walks us through some of his game highlights, revealing how he maneuvered his way to a clear winning advantage even after losing an initial lead. We also dissect his opponents' strategies and discuss how he countered them effectively. Join us on this epic journey through the intriguing world of OTB chess tournaments. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 02:12 - Game 1 - Queen's Gambit Exch. Var. 06:32 - Game 2 - QGD Tartakower Var. 10:16 - Game 3 - Trompowsky Attack 14:12 - Game 4 - Fast-Moving Opponents 21:31 - Game 5 - Blunders, Time Pressure, Playing "Up" 28:05 - Game 6 - Material Imbalances 31:35 - Game 7 - Caro-Kann 33:56 - Game 8 - Trompowsky Attack 38:22 - Game 9 - QGD 39:50 - Game 10 - Dutch Defense 44:12 - Game 11 - Playing Against Kids If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

Website

Twitter

YouTube

Have you ever wondered about the differences between playing chess online and over-the-board? How does it impact your strategies and even your enjoyment of the game? Welcome to the first solo episode of the fifth season of The Chess Angle. We're making our podcast experience more user-friendly by introducing chapter markers and experimenting with video versions of our interview episodes on YouTube. This week, Neal dives into the mailbag to answer your questions. In a light-hearted discussion, we compare online chess to the more traditional OTB format. We explore whether using a physical chessboard while playing online can help you practice for real-life tournaments, yet we also emphasize that nothing can truly replicate the thrill of a live game. Neal shares a personal strategy he uses when he's overlooked a crucial move in an OTB game. We even discuss the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) variation! Chapters: 00:00 - Intro. 00:35 - Opening Remarks/Video versions 05:34 - Listener Mailbag Intro. 07:01 - Online Chess with Physical Board 12:56 - OTB Time Controls 18:29 - Move-by-Move Books 24:40 - World Champ. Format Suggestions 28:18 - English Opening 32:50 - ICBM Variation 35:36 - Outro.

Referenced:

• Logical Chess Move by Move (Amazon)
• Understanding Chess Move by Move (Amazon)
• The Amateur's Mind (Amazon)
• Everyman Chess: "Starting Out" series (publisher site)
• ICBM Variation (YouTube): 1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6 4. d3 exd3 5. Bxd3 h6?? 6. Nxf7! Kxf7 7. Bg6+ Kxg6 8. Qxd8 (the Queen is like a "missile" going across the board)

The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

Website

Twitter

YouTube

Get ready to sharpen your chess skills with National Master Jerald Times, a revered chess educator and CEO of Chess Across Borders. We'll traverse across the chessboard of Jerald's experiences, from his nostalgic moments playing chess on a Navy ship to his enlightening journey of teaching and transitioning to a more dynamic playing style. Ever wondered about the psychological transformation of chess players? Our conversation reveals the intriguing shift from reactionary to responsive play, emphasizing the importance of harnessing the power of desire and will to succeed.  We'll also analyze the recent world championship match between Ding and Nepo, discussing the match format and its potential bias towards particular player styles. In addition, we'll touch upon the evolution of chess, from its romantic period to the modern era where it's viewed as a data game. Our chat provides a rare insight into the chess culture at Washington Square Park and the importance of tactical skills for adult improvers. Listen in for Jerald's sage advice that when it comes to improving tournament play, the battleground is indeed the learning ground. Tune in for an episode packed with chess strategies, experiences, and transformations. Chapters: 00:00 Intro. 03:52 Opening Preparation 07:11 Chess Eras & Evolutions 14:00 Learning Zone vs. Performance Zone 19:18 Ding/Nepo Recap & Championship Format 26:55 The Journey to Master & Chess as a Data Game 29:31 Washington Square Park stories 35:32 Ratings, Thinking Patterns, & Tactics 42:00 Lawsuit update 46:02 Chess Across Borders 51:54 Outro Referenced:

• Chess for Tigers (Amazon)
• Better Thinking, Better Chess (Amazon)

Links for NM Jerald Times:

• Twitter
• Chess Across Borders

The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

Website

Twitter

YouTube

Are you ever too old to get better at chess? Join me as I sit down with National Master, top podcaster, successful entrepreneur, and best-selling author James Altucher, who is on a thrilling journey to regain a rating of 2200. Despite being in his 50s, James is determined to prove that age is just a number when it comes to mental capacity and improvement. From discussing strategies of the game to understanding the importance of physical and mental health, our conversation is full of insights that will leave you eager to push your own boundaries, no matter your age. James shares both the joys and challenges he's encountered as an adult player, including meeting and learning from top players like Magnus Carlson and Gary Kasparov. He also opens up about the memory techniques he learned from the World Memory Champion, and how these methods have significantly improved his game. The crux of our conversation centers around a question that has intrigued many chess players: Do adults "age out" of improvement? James takes us on a deep exploration of how raw calculation ability and memory start to decline in our 30s and 40s, but how wisdom improves with age, allowing us to recognize patterns and connect the dots between them. Tune in to our enlightening discussion to discover James' practical tips/strategies, and how he applies life lessons to the game he loves. Whether you're a chess enthusiast or just someone looking to challenge your own limitations, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. Chapters: 00:00 Intro. 00:36 Announcements 05:58 Thoughts On Playing Kids 08:06 James' Study Regimen 15:54 Taking Byes at Weekend Events 22:06 Chess Coaching 25:06 Chess Improvement and Memory 34:57 James' Professional Experience 40:18 Handling Losses and Tilt 43:25 The Third Door for Improvement 49:28 Outro Referenced:

• Skip the Line (Amazon)
• The Third Door (Amazon)

Links for James Altucher:

• Website 
• Twitter
• 📚Amazon Author Page📚

🎯 Become a Member: Patreon 📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
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• YouTube
• Patreon

♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This week's episode is our Season 4 Finale. SEASON 5 COMING SOON!  This is an updated version of the very first episode of this podcast, "Chess Openings and the Club Player." We cover:

• The main goal of the opening 
• System and thematic openings
• Is there an advantage to having the white pieces?
• Should you play complicated, theoretical openings?
• The importance of a consistent opening repertoire
• Neal's personal opening choices

Referenced (Amazon links):

• The London System in 12 Practical Lessons
• Win With the London System 
• Play the London System 
• Starting Out: The French 
• Starting Out: The Nimzo-Indian 
• Starting Out: The Queen’s Indian 
• Master the Hedgehog Structure (article)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

We cover:

• Touch move
• Trapped pieces
• Does playing through Master games really help?
• Is a knight on the rim always dim?
• Should you move the same piece twice?
• Speculative vs. combinational sacrifices
• "Shuffling" moves
• Initiative vs. development

Referenced:

• Winning Chess Tactics (Amazon)
• Introduction to Tactics (chess.com)
• Step Up In Tactics (chess.com)

Game Analyzed: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 Bf5 4. c4 c6 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. c5 Qxb3 7. axb3 Nbd7 8. Nc3 e6 9. h3 Be7 10. b4 O-O 11. Be2 b5 12. Nf3 a6 13. O-O Ra7 14. Ra2 Rfa8 15. Rfa1 h6 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Nd7 18. Bg3 Bd8 19. Bd6 Nf6 20. Ra3 Ne4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Kf1 a5 23. bxa5 Rxa5 24. Rxa5 Rxa5 25. Rxa5 Bxa5 26. f3 Bc2 27. Kf2 Bd2 28. Bf1 Ba4 29. Bc7 Kf8 30. Ke2 Bb4 31. Kf2 Ke8 32. Bd3 Kd7 33. Bb6 g6 34. Ke2 Kc8 35. g4 f5 36. h4 h5 37. gxh5 gxh5 38. e4 Kd7 39. exf5 exf5 40. Bxf5+ Ke7 41. Bg6 Bb3 42. Bxh5 Bc4+ 43. Kf2 Bd2 44. Bg6 Bc1 45. Bc7 Bxb2 46. Be5 Bc1 47. f4 b4 48. h5 1-0 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Amazon and Chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

National Master Nick Panico returns to the podcast for our first "coffee talk" episode. These episodes will feature a guest and include the full conversation, including the pre/post interview segments that are typically off-air.  Essentially, we'll press "record," let it run, and publish the whole thing. We covered a variety of topics for amateur players of all levels. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

Neal plays a round of Puzzle Rush during the episode! For most of us, "life happens," and lengthy chess study sessions are not possible on a consistent basis. Neal recently created a simple, condensed study routine that can be used intermittently when life gets busy. This allows your chess abilities to stay sharp during those times. The basic idea is a daily study plan of about 15-30 minutes (as your schedule allows) consisting of one 5-minute Puzzle Rush, followed by one other short segment of chess study (e.g., book, online course, reviewing your games, etc.). Referenced: Chess.com: Puzzle Rush Article: Are You Addicted to Puzzle Rush? If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

For this interview episode, Neal spoke with National Master Anthony Levin, a NY based chess player and the News Manager for chess.com. Anthony shared his insights on adult improvement and his own personal journey. Talking points include the following:

• Puzzle Rush vs. speed chess
• The mythical "phase out" of classical chess
• Anthony's role as News Manager for chess.com
• Chess improvement tips
• Endgame realities for amateur players

Referenced:

• Shereshevsky's Endgame Strategy
• Smyslov's Endgame Virtuoso
• Recognizing Your Opponent's Resources
• Perfect Your Chess
• Silman's Complete Endgame Course
• Pandolfini's Endgame Course 
• Article: NM Juan Sena
• Article: Is Classical Chess Being Phased Out?

Links for NM Anthony Levin:

• Chess.com
• Twitter

If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Some of the Amazon links above are affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

Live, over-the-board (OTB) tournament play is the ultimate in chess competition. It's fun, exciting, and aesthetically pleasing. However, rated chess events are not always unicorns and rainbows. There's a harsh reality to tournament play that is often omitted from the discourse on chess. Neal discusses some hard truths about tournaments, shares some of his own personal journey as a player and TD, and provides some tips and tricks along the way. Some of this episode's talking points include the following:

• Chess equipment
• Local clubs vs. major events
• Ratings & pairing systems
• Tips & tricks while playing
• Should you play speed chess between rounds?
• Things that will annoy the tournament director
• Rules you may not be familiar with but should know
• Openings and using a "forever" repertoire
• Scorekeeping
• Dealing with disruptive behavior

Referenced: Tournament Announcement Terminology (Scroll down to "TOURNAMENT LIFE ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS") If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

This episode offers some direct and pragmatic ideas for club players when facing a higher-rated opponent. Talking points include the following:

• Why chess generally hates the underdog
• Why there's often more pressure on the higher-rated player
• Upsets happen quite often at the amateur level 
• Is creating complications the ONLY way to beat these players? (hint: no)
• An effective mindset approach that you probably haven't tried before
• Strategic draw offers to place pressure on your opponent

Referenced:Chess for Tigers (Amazon) by Simon Webb

If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This week's episode is a thematic analysis of an amateur game featuring the Steiner Variation of the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2. c4!?). Some other common French sidelines are discussed as well. Additional talking points include the following:

• Queenside castling
• The Hedgehog formation
• Does it make sense to to "prep for an opponent" at the club level?
• Blind spots when analyzing

Game Referenced: 1. e4 e6 2. c4!? b6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 Bxc3 5. dxc3 h6 6. Qd4 Qf6 7. e5 Qe7 8. Bf4 Bb7 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Qd3 O-O-O! 11. O-O-O g5 12. Bg3 Qf8 13. h4 g4 14. Nd4 h5 15. Rhg1 Qh6+ 16. Kb1 Nge7 17. f3 Nxd4 18. cxd4 Nf5 19. Be1 gxf3 20. Bxf3 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Rhg8 22. Bd2 Qf8 23. Rxg8 Qxg8 24. Bg5 Re8 25. d5 Qg6 26. Ka1 Ng7 27. Qc3 Qf5? 28. Bf6! Qg6 29. Qd4 Nf5 30. dxe6?? Nxd4 31. exd7+ Kxd7 32. Rxd4+ Kc6 33. a3 Qg1+ 0-1 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! 

This episode covers so-called "club-level" time controls, such as G/90 and G/60. These usually include a time delay ranging from 5 - 30 seconds per move. Neal also shares his thoughts on speed chess as it relates to amateur players and improvement. In addition, some helpful resources that may be underutilized by many are discussed. Additional talking points include the following:

• The (imaginary) decline of slow time controls
• DAUT: Don't Analyze Unnecessary Tactics*
• Your puzzle rating or online rapid rating is not your real rating...
• Our inaugural Listener Mailbag segment

Mentioned: Secrets of Practical Chess (Amazon) by John Nunn* Recommended Chess.com Lessons: Errata: The tactics lessons below (the last 3) are listed here in the correct order of difficulty. In the episode, I switched the order of the last two. 

• Now What? 
• Roots of Positional Understanding 
• Why Simon Loves the French Defense 
• The London System for the Busy Chess Player 
• Build Your Technique
• Chess Potpourri
• Pawn Endings: Beginner to Expert
• Rook and Other Endgames
• Introduction to Tactics
• Step Up In Tactics
• Intermediate Tactics

If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

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The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! The Amazon and Chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This week's episode discusses study plans, training programs, and improvement as it relates to the amateur and club player. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
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• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! 

This episode is a review of The Complete Book of Chess Strategy (Amazon) by IM Jeremy Silman. This is an excellent all-in-one reference book for improvers and club players, covering all phases of the game as well as practical matters (blunders, time pressure, chess psychology, etc.).  Neal shares his thoughts on how the concepts in this book apply to the amateur tournament scene. Talking points include the following:

• The "cat and mouse" technique
• Opening principles and the correct way to develop your pieces
• Understanding the imbalances of a position
• Pawn structures
• Middlegame basics
• The minority attack
• The battle of the minor pieces
• Are the Lucena and Philidor endgame positions really a priority for most improvers?
• The reality of most endgames at  club-level tournaments
• Draw offers

Have a question or topic for consideration in a future episode? E-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
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• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This episode explores the psychology of facing a lower-rated opponent who is playing really well. This is often highly frustrating for tournament players. Many times, however, it's more about your own mindset than your opponent's abilities. Conversely, this episode will explain the "ratings walk" phenomenon when facing a higher-rated opponent. Have a question or topic for consideration in a future episode? E-mail us at [email protected]. Mentioned:

• Chess for Tigers  (Amazon)
• The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess  (Amazon)

Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
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• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This week I spoke with National Master Nick Panico. Nick is a fellow educator with a background in science and has also been active as a storm chaser. Nick shared his vast experience from the amateur chess scene and our conversation went in a lot of interesting directions. Some of our talking points include the following:

• Tips for improvers
• The amateur tournament scene
• Should you play gambit openings?
• Cheating & sandbagging
• Bishop & knight mate
• Nick's journey to NM
• Online vs. OTB chess

Our links:

• Website
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• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses!

To kick off Season 4, Neal spoke with Grandmaster Alex Lenderman. Alex resides in Brooklyn, NY where he was a member of the famous chess team at Edward R. Murrrow HS that won multiple national high school titles. This was depicted in the 2007 book The Kings of New York (retitled Game of Kings) by Michael Weinreb (Amazon). Alex was the winner of the 2021 US Open and is active as a chess coach for both children and adults. Some of this episode's talking points include the following:

• Why many adults have difficulty improving
• Chess psychology
• The chess cheating epidemic
• Alex's experience playing at local clubs
• Teaching chess

Links for GM Alex Lenderman:

• Email 
• Chess.com
• Facebook

Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! The Amazon link above is an affiliate link which earns us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! This week's episode is our Season 3 Finale and features International Master Jay Bonin, a legend of the New York chess scene. He is one of the most active tournament players ever, having amassed an estimated 30K - 40K rated OTB games, sometimes playing over 700 games in one year. As such, he is known as the "Iron Man of Chess." Neal spoke with Jay recently via phone where he shared his experiences and knowledge. The basis of this conversation is his 2016 book, Active Pieces (Amazon) which discusses Jay's approach to chess with explanatory prose and annotated games. Some of the talking points in this episode include the following:

• Why Jay feels draw offers are best made when capturing a piece
• The influence of Bobby Fischer
• Winning with the "rope-a-dope" method
• Jay's strong friendship with fellow NY chess legend Asa Hoffmann
• The "Bonin-Kann" opening (1...c6, 2...a6!?, holding back ...d5, which often throws the opponent off balance)
• Thoughts on mate with the bishop and knight
• Playing Queenless middlegames
• His win against chess giant GM Samuel Reshevsky
• How Jay adapts his style and openings for specific opponents

Links for IM Jay Bonin:

• Active Pieces (Amazon)
• Facebook
• Chess.com: Boninknights

Mentioned:

• Bellon - Bonin (2008) 1/2-1/2

Season 4 of The Chess Angle coming soon! Our links:

• Website
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• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! This week's episode features WFM Maaike Keetman. We covered a number of important topics for adult improvers and amateur players. Maaike is the VP of Content for Chessable and is active with the ChessQueens Foundation which promotes the game of chess for women and girls in the Netherlands. Her Chessable course, The Fierce Nimzo-Indian, is designed for amateur players and is highly recommended. Some of our talking points include the following:

• Inducing errors from your opponent
• Why the Catalan may be the most dangerous opening at the amateur level
• The Nimzo-Indian defense for improvers
• Why most amateur games are decided by tactics
• Maaike's success despite little endgame study
• How Tal influenced Maaike's style
• Maaike's quest for the WIM title
• Grinding out wins in even positions
• How improvers should approach openings

Links for WFM Maaike Keetman: The Fierce Nimzo-Indian (Chessable Course)  Maaike on Twitter: @MaaikeKeetman Our links:

• Website
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• YouTube
• Facebook
• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! This episode offers some practical advice and insight for improvers and emerging tournament players. Some of the talking points include:

• How many games a year do you need to play to increase your OTB rating?
• Should you get up from the board during your game?
• How tournament pairing rules often make increasing your rating difficult
• A common pawn blunder to avoid
• Book study vs. digital/online study

Mentioned: The Amateur's Mind by IM Jeremy Silman (Amazon)

Our links:

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• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Amazon link above is an affiliate link which earns us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! Offering or accepting a draw is often a critical decision in a chess game and is the subject of much discussion and debate.  Our guest this week, National Master Robert Guevara, is a tenacious player who declines virtually every draw offer thrown his way. He explains his reasoning for doing so, and it's not because of an obsession with winning. His thought process is highly instructive. We covered some other areas including:

• The dangers of perfectionism
• Achieving NM despite not entering the tournament scene until age 25 
• Draw offer stories from actual OTB games
• Dealing with time pressure
• Persistence and the fighting spirit

Our links:

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• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! This episode is dedicated to all of the school teachers out there.  Our guest this week, Dr. Stephen Wefer, is an adult improver (USCF 1691), HS science teacher, and Long Island Chess Club regular. He has also worked as an adjunct professor. We spoke about academia, chess improvement, tournaments, and a lot more. Some of our talking points include the following:

• Applying an academic mindset to chess improvement
• Stephen's tips for balancing work, family, and chess study/play
• Chess openings philosophy
• Rating goals
• Facing underrated opponents
• Playing speculative sacrifices
• Is there a limit to one's chess improvement past age 45?

Links for Dr. Stephen Wefer:

• YouTube channel: Cool Chess Stuff with Stephen
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Instagram: @bio_explained, @coolchessstuff

Our links:

• Website
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• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected] 

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses!In this solo episode, Neal shares some thoughts on a number of topics related to tournament chess. Talking points include:

• Non-resigning in overwhelmingly worse positions with no time-pressure issues
• Queen trade blunders
• Are online ratings legit or a sham?
• The Jobava London System (1. d4 2. Nc3 3. Bf4)

Resources for the Jobava London:

• The Jobava London System by GM Simon Williams (Amazon paperback)
• The Jobava London System by GM Simon Williams (Chessable  course)
• Ginger GM Simon Williams' YouTube Page

Our links:

• Website
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• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected]

Nick Figorito is a member of the Long Island Chess Club who recently earned the title of National Master (USCF 2200). In this episode, Nick shares his journey to Master, busts some common chess improvement myths, and offers some additional insight. Nick can be reached at [email protected]. Some of our talking points include:

• Is there a "formula" or systematic study plan to achieve a Master rating?
• Can anyone make Master?
• Nick's surprising viewpoint on opening theory
• Why he hates the Najdorf Sicilian
• Chess improvement while working full-time
• Nick's belief that simply "not blundering" may boost your rating more than any other strategic or tactical approach

Our links:

• Website
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• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses! Fide Master Carsten Hansen is a prolific writer who has authored an astounding 46 chess books and is a #1 best selling author on Amazon. Recently published books include The Anti-Alapin Gambit  and The Chess Wizardry of Wotawa, co-authored with Cyrus Lakdawala. Carsten is also an active chess coach and trainer. In addition, he is working to achieve an IM title, and does all this while holding down a full-time day job, so his work ethic is quite impressive. In this episode, Carsten offers some outstanding insight on the opening phase of the game for amateur players. Some of our talking points include:

• Carsten's quest to achieve an IM title
• How club players should approach openings
• How to beat higher-rated opponents
• Should you play gambits?
• A full assessment of Neal's opening repertoire
• Theory vs. themes
• Dealing with nerves and avoiding time pressure
• Carsten's chess coaching philosophy
• The one glaring weakness with many opening courses 

Links for FM Carsten Hansen:

• Website
• Amazon Author Page
• Twitter
• Chessable

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• E-mail: [email protected]

This episode is a primer on the Nimzo & Queen's Indian Defenses for adult improvers and club-level players. These two openings can be used as a complete system against 1. d4. Fighting for control of the e4-square is a major theme. Lines discussed include the following: NIMZO-INDIAN:

• Rubenstein Variation with 4...b6: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 (5. Nge2 Ne4!) 6. Nf3 Ne4!
• Classical Variation with 4...0-0: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4! 7. Qc2 f5
• Leningrad Variation: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6
• Samisch Variation with 4. a3: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3 5. bxc3 and Black can begin an attack on the weak c4-pawn (...Nc6-a5, ...b6, ...Ba6, etc.)

QUEEN'S INDIAN:

• Main Line:  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Nc3 Ne4! 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 (9. Ng5?? Nxe2! 10. Qxe2 Bxg2 11. Qh5 h6 -+) c5 (9...Be4 is also good in the main line)
• Petrosian System with 4. a3:  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5! (stopping 6. d5 by White)

Errata: When discussing odds & ends,  I mentioned that you can sometimes trick your opponent into playing the French Defense after 1. d4 e6! 2. e4 d5. I said 2. ...e5 by mistake (though I suspect most of you knew what I meant). 

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

• Starting Out: The Nimzo-Indian (Amazon)
• Starting Out: The Queen’s Indian (Amazon)
• The Fierce Nimzo-Indian by WFM Maaike Keetman (Chessable)

Our links:

• Website
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The Amazon links above are affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Candidate Master and renowned chess educator Brian Karen returns to the podcast to discuss the chess cheating crisis as it relates to the amateur player, among other topics. Some of our talking points include:

• How the prevalence of chess cheating is affecting amateur events
• Why the Carlsen/Niemann controversy has become irritating & tiresome
• Are cheat detection algorithms legitimate?
• Chess coaching philosophies
• Why do many players drop out of tournaments after losing just one game?
• Are large cash prizes hurting the Royal Game?
• Is bullet chess harmful or helpful?
• Is solving extremely difficult chess puzzles really beneficial?

♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses!♟

• Our links:
• Website
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• Support the Show
• E-mail: [email protected]

Neal discusses the dangers of playing chess too literally or "inside the box." Sometimes deviating from conventional chess principles is a smart play. ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses!♟

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Analyzing your tournament games with a computer program such as Fritz or Stockfish is perhaps the most important component of any improvement plan. However, using a chess engine can sometimes be confusing at the amateur level. In this episode, we review some tips on how club players can use an engine effectively to improve. Some of our talking points include:

• Why +/=  or  =/+  is really the same as  =
• Identifying inflection points in your game
• A technique to avoid repeating a mistake in future tournament games
• Avoiding the mindset of "I don't need to review the game - I know where I went wrong" 

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💻Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel!💻 We have preview clips for select episodes and are gradually adding content. Please join our community! This season's first solo episode is divided into two main segments with some additional subtopics thrown in. First, Neal argues that "waiting" moves or "passive" moves can sometimes be very effective and possibly the best choice in certain situations. Next, he shares his thoughts on the chess podcasting space. Our links:

• Website
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💻Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel!💻 We have preview clips for select episodes and are gradually adding content. Please join our community! ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses!♟ Electronic Notation Devices (ENDs) offer a convenient way for players to keep score during chess tournaments. No more messy scoresheets or missing  moves. ENDs, however, have their detractors, with some worried that players can cheat by sideloading a chess engine. We explore this in detail and show that these concerns are overblown. My guest this week is Joey Troy, creator of ChessNoteR, the only END available for purchase at the time of this recording. Joey gives us the full scoop on electronic notation. We also reached out to the Continental Chess Association about their decision to not allow ChessNoteR devices, even though they're USCF certified. Find out how they responded, and hear Joey's reaction... Joey is offering all Chess Angle listeners a 10% discount on ChessNoteR devices (all are USCF certified) through 11/1/22.  Use the promo code CHESSANGLE on the ChessNoteR site below.  Links Referenced in this Episode:

• ChessNoteR.com - Homepage
• ChessNoteR.com - Store
• ChessNoteR.com - Info for TDs
• USCF Certified ENDs

Disclosure: The Chess Angle was provided with a ChessNoteR unit at no cost. We stand by our recommendations and only endorse products we believe in and have used personally. Our links:

• Website
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• E-mail: [email protected]

💻Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel!💻 We have preview clips for select episodes and are gradually adding content. Please join our community! ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Check out a list of our favorite courses!♟ We've all heard of players who study several hours a day. Nice work if you can get it, but that's not viable for most adult improvers who have responsibilities and commitments outside of chess. My guest this week is Dan Levin, a Long Island Chess Club regular and New York attorney. We discussed what it's like being a tournament player while adulting, among other topics. Some of our talking points include:

• A thematic analysis of two of our games played at the club
• Why do some 800-rated opponents play like they're 1800?
• The Caro-Kann opening: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5
• Major events vs. local clubs - Which is better?
• How Dan got to play former world champion Boris Spassky
• Rating swings
• Internet & speed chess

Our links:

• Website
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• E-mail: [email protected]

♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable.  Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ For this Season 3 Premier, Neal spoke with IM Justus Williams. Justus is featured prominently in the 2012 chess documentary Brooklyn Castle, which chronicles the famous chess team from Intermediate School 318 in Brooklyn, NY. At age 12, he was the youngest African American to achieve the NM title. Currently, Justus runs Black Squares Chess, which brings the game to kids in underserved communities. Some of the talking points from this episode include:

• Justus's quest for the GM title
• Behind the scenes info from Brooklyn Castle  & the IS 318 experience
• A technique to improve tournament results when facing critical positions
• Why Justus prefers chess study using physical books over computers
• How playing in Washington Square Park helped his development
• Is it possible to get a good slice of pizza outside of NY?🍕

Links for IM Justus Williams:

• Brooklyn Castle (YouTube - stream entire film)
• Brooklyn Castle (Amazon - DVD)
• Black Squares Chess/DreamBuilders4Equity
• Black Squares Chess main site
• Justus's appearance on CBS This Morning

Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable.  Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ Grandmaster John Emms is a distinguished chess professional. He is one of the UK's top players, as well as a prolific writer, educator, and chess coach. The bulk of our conversation focused on his amazing (and highly recommended) book, The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess (Amazon).  Club players and adult improvers of all levels should find our discussion  highly beneficial. John reviews several topics from the book and offers practical strategies for tournament play at the amateur level. Some of our talking points include:

• The CEM (check every move) method
• Avoiding high risk/low reward tactics
• Bluffing & The Poker Face
• Converting winning positions
• Draw offers & "draw by reputation"
• Choosing an opening repertoire
• Clock control & time management
• Long think, wrong think
• Internet & blitz chess

John's Twitter page: @GMJohnEmms 📚Visit John's Amazon.com Author Page for a full list of titles📚 Selected works by GM John Emms:

• The Survival Guide to Rook Endings
• The Ultimate Chess Puzzle Book
• Starting Out: The Queen's Indian
• Starting Out: The Sicilian
• Easy Guide to the Nimzo-Indian
• Discovering Chess Openings : Building a repertoire from basic principles
• More Simple Chess: Moving on from the Basic Principles

This episode is our Season 2 Finale. Season 3 begins September 2022. The Amazon links above are affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
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• Support the Show

E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable.  Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ This episode is a discussion of common endgame ideas, themes, and mistakes at the club level. Mentioned: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (Amazon) Recommended Resources: Silman's Complete Endgame Course by Jeremy Silman (Amazon) Pandolfini's Endgame Course by Bruce Pandolfini (Amazon) The Amazon links above are affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable.  Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ This episode explores possible reasons why your rating is not increasing. It may have little to do with study time or knowledge of chess theory. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Follow us on Twitter (X): @TheChessAngle The London System has become one of the most popular openings for White. While it's a staple at amateur events, many top players use it as well, including GMs Magnus Carlsen, Gata Kamsky, Simon Williams, and Anish Giri. The London System is easy to learn, yet very sound and solid. It can lead to slow positional play or dynamic attacking play. The London can be used as a complete opening repertoire for White or as an occasional surprise against an unsuspecting opponent. Regardless, Black can easily get crushed if he's not careful or plays on autopilot. Some of this episode's talking points include the following:

• "System" openings defined
• What exactly is the London System?
• Why the London is so effective at the amateur level
• Addressing criticism of the London System
• Basic themes and concepts
• Comments on the recommended resources below

Recommended Resources:

• The London System in 12 Practical Lessons by Oscar De Prado (Amazon)
• The London System for the Busy Chess Player by GM Simon Williams (chess.com)
• Tips & Tricks of the London System by GM Aman Hambleton (chess.com)
• The Agile London System by GM Alfonso Romero & FM Oscar De Prado (chessable)
• The Jobava London System by GM Simon Williams (chessable)

While I currently recommend the recent De Prado book above as your starting point (as far as physical books), you should be aware of the seminal text Win With the London System by Johnsen & Kovacevic (Amazon), which contains both illustrative games and an in-depth analytical section.

The resources above include affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable.  Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ The French Defense (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5) is one of the most respected openings for Black, and is particularly effective at the amateur level. This is recommended as a complete repertoire against 1. e4. Some of this episode's talking points include:

• Why amateurs should avoid the Sicilian defense (1...c5) and open games (1. e4 e5) 
• Why the French Defense is so effective at the club level
• Three variations that will cover 95% of your games versus 1. e4
• Some additional thoughts about confidence and patience

Recommended Resources:

• Starting Out: The French by Byron Jacobs (Amazon)
• Why Simon Loves the French Defense by GM Simon Williams (chess.com)
• Master the French Defense by NM Bryan Tillis & GM Alex Lenderman (Chessable)

The resources above include affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable.  Chessable uses science-backed learning and the concept of spaced repetition to ensure retention. Check out their courses today!♟ This week I spoke with my friend Jay Kleinman, a fellow chess amateur and social worker in NY. Jay recounted some fascinating experiences from the amateur tournament scene, and an overriding theme in our conversation was how becoming a parent changes the narrative of adult improvement. Some of our talking point include:

• The unfortunate decline of OTB post-mortem analysis
• The dangers of mimicking super-GMs
• How Jay almost gave a lesson to the late William Lombardy (Fischer's coach)
• Jay's encounters with some now-famous GMs ("I knew them when...")
• Chess improvement beyond parenting
• Opening choices

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable.  Check out their courses today!♟ Happy Father's Day to all the chess dads out there! In this episode, I will discuss the chess thought process through the lens of two of my recent OTB games. Some of the talking points include:

• Confidence against higher-rated opponents
• Trusting your analysis
• Playing experience vs. studying
• A suggested tip for the opening phase

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Neal is currently enjoying the course entitled The Agile London System, based on the book of the same name.♟ We've all been there: the opponent who won't sit still or who keeps adjusting every piece. Distracting behavior at the chess board can be so infuriating that it adversely affects your results. In this episode, we discuss many of these behaviors and offer some solutions (hint: SAY SOMETHING to your opponent or call the TD over). Some of the behaviors mentioned include:

• repeated draw offers
• incessant fidgeting
• "acknowledgers" and "sighers"
• tapping
• hand hovering

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle  For this interview episode, I spoke with USCF Expert Jarrod Tavares. Jarrod is an amateur/club player who has achieved tournament success with an unconventional, anti-book style. Amateur players and adult improvers of all levels should find this conversation enlightening and provocative. Some of our talking points include:

• Should the London System be banned from chess?😉
• Endgame theory and the amateur player
• Making unconventional moves to get into your opponent's head
• The importance of confidence
• The psychology of draw offers

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤NEW Twitter page for the podcast: @TheChessAngle 🎤Be sure to follow us! While some favor slower time controls, blitz & rapid games are more popular than ever, mainly due to the explosion of online chess. Can speed chess actually help you in slow games and improve your chess overall? National Master Tyrell Harriott believes it can. Tyrell is very active in the New York chess scene and runs the Kings of Queens Chess Club. He also streams on his YouTube channel. Tyrell shared some great insight on the benefits of speed chess, as well as his approach to playing and his thought process. Some of our talking points include:

• Chess in the parks of New York City
• The importance of time delay/increments
• Mindset & attitude
• Using a consistent opening repertoire
• How quick time controls can help you improve

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

Are you constantly comparing your chess progress to that of others? Are four, five, or six-hour-a-day study plans effective for amateur players? I offer opinions on these topics and more. The segments in this episode include:

• The "tournament hall" vs. the "study hall"
• Handling decision fatigue from all the available study material
• The essential areas of focus for beginners
• OTB vs. online strategy
• The comparison game
• Talent vs. hard work
• Is studying several hours a day actually necessary at the amateur/club level?

Mentioned: The Amateur's Mind (Amazon) The link above is an affiliate link, which earns us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

This episode is a book review/discussion of the acclaimed text The Seven Deadly Chess Sins (Amazon) by Jonathan Rowson. This is a follow up to Episode 16 which discussed Chess for Tigers (Amazon) by Simon Webb. I believe these two outstanding books are probably the only resources you need for chess psychology at the amateur and club level. Chess for Tigers is an excellent primer, while The Seven Deadly Chess Sins is more advanced. The seven chess sins include the following:

• Thinking (erroneously)
• Blinking
• Wanting
• Materialism
• Egoism
• Perfectionism
• Looseness

All links above are affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

Grandmaster Romain Edouard joins the podcast this week to explain how players of all levels can minimize mistakes in their games. Be sure to check out Romain's chess.com lesson on this subject (affiliate link), as well as his chessable course on facing the English opening (1.c4). I caught up with Romain during his current visit to the US for his stint as GM in Residence for the St. Louis Chess Club.    Romain's books discussed in this episode:

• The Chess Manual of Avoidable Mistakes
• Chess Calculation Training (bundle)
• My Magic Years with Topalov

As mentioned, Romain is offering Chess Angle listeners a discount on all books from his website, thinkerspublishing.com. Use the code ROMAIN15 to receive 15% off all books from the site. This discount does not apply to sale items or bundles. Affiliate links earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

This is the second episode in our Game Analysis Series where I thematically discuss one or more of my OTB games. Some of the concepts from this episode include:

• Positional ideas vs. tactics
• Adults vs. kids
• Unconventional openings
• Thoughtless one-move attacks

As mentioned in this episode, please follow us on Twitter and comment on our pinned post about your rating goal for 12/31/22. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

For this interview episode, I spoke with Fide Master Roger LaFlair.  Roger teaches high school chemistry and chess at a private school here on Long Island in NY.  He also has an active roster of private chess students.  Roger can be reached at [email protected].  We touched on a variety of topics regarding tournament play and chess improvement.  Some of our talking points include:

• The dangers of "me chess"
• Awareness of your opponent's ideas
• Avoiding impulsivity & impatience
• The London System for club/amateur players
• Chess education

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

This episode details some of my experiences as a club player and tournament director in three parts:

• Why I started the Long Island Chess Club
• What it's like directing and playing in the same tournament
• Some funny stories from the club

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

This is the first episode for our new Game Analysis Series. I will thematically break down one or more of my OTB games, covering a variety of chess concepts and ideas for the amateur and club player. Some of the themes from this episode include:

• Why you shouldn't fear higher-rated opponents
• How to play against lower-rated opponents
• How to handle draw offers
• The French Defense advance variation  

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

**Note: Alex King earned the FM title after this was recorded. The episode title has been updated but the original show notes are below. This week I spoke with National Master Alex King who resides in Memphis, Tennessee. Alex is an active tournament player, teacher, and writer. His 6-part article series for Chess Life magazine on the Tarrasch Defense  begins with the March 2022 issue. Alex is also an accomplished musician, and he composed and performed all the music in this episode. Some of our talking points include:

• Chess improvement tips for amateurs
• The prevalence of chess cheating
• The relationship between music and chess

Alex's links & info: Marshall Spectator articlechess.com: AlexanderKing lichess: OjaiJoao E-mail: [email protected] Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

I spoke with Candidate Master and renowned chess educator Brian Karen. He is one of the most active teachers in the country. Some of our talking points include:

• Tournament players vs. hobbyists
• A rating system based on norms, rather than individual games
• Studying chess
• Does preparing for a specific opponent actually make a difference at the club level?

Links referenced in this episode: Chess Book Collectors FB Group Fide World Chess Championship FB GroupThe Seven Deadly Chess Sins (affiliate link) Chess for Tigers (affiliate link) Brian's email: [email protected] Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

Arguably, certain "theoretical advantages" often have less significance at the amateur level. For example, material imbalances such as "having the two bishops" or "being up the Exchange" are often overrated when non-titled players face off. Our Links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

For the podcast's first interview format, I spoke with National Master Tim Mirabile. This is our uncut, unedited conversation. Below, Tim shared a list of some favorite books and a link to an article about the growth mindset:

• Bobby Fischer – My 60 Memorable Games
• Robert Burger – The Chess of Bobby Fischer
• Alexander Kotov – Think Like a Grandmaster, Play Like a Grandmaster
• Andrew Soltis – The Art of Defense in Chess
• Vladimir Vukovic – The Art of Attack in Chess
• John Nunn & Peter Griffiths – Secrets of Grandmaster Play
• Alex Dunne – How to Become a Candidate Master
• Mauricio Flores Ríos – Chess Structures: A Grandmaster Guide
• Reuben Fine – Basic Chess Endings
• Jonathan Speelman – Analyzing the Endgame
• Eduard Gufeld – Exploiting Small Advantages
• Mark Dvoretsky & Artur Yusupov – Original 5 book series (Training for the Tournament Player, Opening Preparation, Technique for the Tournament Player, Positional Play, Attack and Defense)
• Chess Informant, Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, Encyclopedia of Chess Middlegames: Combinations, Encyclopedia of Chess Endings (somewhat obsoleted by database, training software, tablebases)
• Growth Mindset article

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

For many players, chess study is a grey area.  It's not just WHAT to study but HOW. We believe Practical Chess Exercises is one of the best puzzle books for amateur players. For online instructional content, we recommend chess.com. These are affiliate links which support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

Certain chess mistakes appear in amateur games with unwavering consistency. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com (affiliate link). Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

Some chess players use gamesmanship to beat their opponent. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode, I discuss the modern classic "Chess for Tigers" by Simon Webb, which I believe is the best primer on chess psychology for amateur players. It is linked below along with the chess clock I mentioned. These are affiliate links which help support this podcast at no additional cost to you. Chess for Tigers 

LEAP Chess Clock Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

A discussion of the thought process before making a move. This episode is for amateur players of all levels. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com (affiliate link). Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

Is the amateur chess scene more competitive than ever before? We take a look at that, and poker somehow makes its way into the discussion. Below are links to the books mentioned in this episode. These are Amazon affiliate links which help support this podcast at no additional cost to you. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com (affiliate link).

• The Biggest Bluff
• Outliers
• The Amateur’s Mind

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

In this two-part episode, I discuss the psychology of your opponent's rating, and then share some incidents I witnessed involving chess parents. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com (affiliate link). Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

Note: There is an updated version of this episode: Ep. 109: Chess Improvement Shortcuts for the Busy Adult Improver. 

I share some time-saving tips & tricks for busy individuals with limited study time.  Check out ChessBase for their fantastic online chess suite as mentioned in this episode.  🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

I discuss how players react when losing a game or facing a worse position. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

A discussion of what happens when "internet players" join live events. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com . If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

A brief update of the podcast. Thank you for listening!

Here, I sort of reverse course from Episode 3 and talk about why I suddenly like 5-minute online games after criticizing them for some time. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

A discussion of the psychological aspect of the game.  Referenced: The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess (Amazon) If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This episode is a review of the book The Amateur’s Mind (Amazon) by IM Jeremy Silman. Below is a direct link to the book. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com.  

If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟The Amazon and chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

Here, we weigh the pros and cons of playing at local chess clubs versus major tournaments. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

A criticism of the standard Swiss System in favor of the random pairings variation. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• E-mail: [email protected]

The pandemic has created a chess boom which is discussed in this episode. For the best online chess experience, we recommend chess.com (affiliate link). 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟The chess.com links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This episode details a cheating incident at the Long Island Chess Club... If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🎯 Support the Show: 

• Patreon 
• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Patreon
• Buy Me a Coffee

Welcome to The Chess Angle! This episode is a condensed, rapid-fire discussion of chess openings for club players and adult improvers. Talking points include:

• The main goal of the opening 
• System and thematic openings
• Is there an advantage to having the white pieces?
• Should you play complicated, theoretical openings?
• The importance of a consistent opening repertoire

Referenced:

• The London System in 12 Practical Lessons
• Win With the London System 
• Play the London System 
• Starting Out: The French 
• Starting Out: The Nimzo-Indian 
• Starting Out: The Queen’s Indian 
• Master the Hedgehog Structure (article)

🎯 Support the Show: 

• Buy Me a Coffee

📧 If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected]. 🔗 Our links:

• Website
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Buy Me a Coffee

♟The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This is a brief trailer/intro for The Chess Angle podcast.