The Chess Angle

They study eight hours a day - you study between work meetings and bedtime. They've memorized the entire Najdorf - you've memorized your kids' soccer schedule. In this episode, we talk about how to take on the true chess diehards with solid fundamentals, smart preparation, and the right mindset. Referenced: Did chesscom recently make puzzles easier? Or did I just crack chess? (Reddit) New Puzzles...

Early release! This week we share some thoughts on chess improvement while "adulting." Referenced: Ep. 25: Chess Club Stories (First segment: LICC origin story) Ep. 76: Decision Fatigue and Brain Fog at the Chessboard (Game Analysis #6) (Mailbag Segment: starting a chess club) Guide to a Successful Chess Club 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  inf...

This week we discuss the dark side of weekend chess tournaments in the US.  📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube Buy Me a Coffee  

So your opponent is rated "only" 900 or "only" 1200 but is playing extremely well. He's not hanging anything or falling victim to tactical traps and is also demonstrating a working knowledge of positional and strategic ideas. Welcome to modern tournament chess! This episode is a response to this Reddit post . 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  inf...

This week's episode features Anthony Arena, a 27-year-old data analyst, amateur player, content creator, and Long Island Chess Club regular. Our conversation focused on chess improvement in the digital era, tournament play, and more.  Links for Anthony Arena: TikTok YouTube Instagram Chess Masters 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessan...

Our summer hiatus is over and the pod is back! In this Listener Mailbag exclusive we dive into a number of chess improvement topics. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube Buy Me a Coffee

The Chess Angle will be taking a break for the remainder of the summer. I realized I needed more time to recharge after Season 9, and this pause will allow me to refocus and come back stronger. Thanks for your support - see you in the fall! ♟️🎙️ 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube...

This week's show begins with some Listener Mailbag questions about opening choices. We then discuss the concept of "Old Man" Chess, which emphasizes a safe, ultra-solid, and risk-averse playing style that is often very effective at the club level. The conversation also explores the balance between tactical and positional play, the advantages and disadvantages of "Old Man" Chess, and insights from...

In this episode, Neal shares his experience from a recent night at the LI Chess Club, discussing the challenges of tournament conditions and the nature of 'ugly wins.' The conversation transitions into listener questions, covering topics such as the value of attending chess clubs, the etiquette surrounding draw offers, and the effectiveness of coaching for improvement. Neal also discusses various...

Many club-level players follow a highly structured study plan but have poor tournament results. We explore this phenomenon and offer some possible solutions. Referenced: Reset: How to Change What's Not Working  (Amazon) Chess for Tigers (Amazon) 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube...

Welcome to Season 10! This week we discuss 1...e6, blitz chess, using the King in the endgame, and more. Referenced: Blitz is Screwing Up Your Thought Process Ep. 100: The Hippopotamus Defense and Other Chess Opening Systems for Black 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube (Chess Angl...

This is the S9 Finale. S10 Premiere coming soon. In the meantime, check out the Long Island Chess Club YouTube Channel which has instructional videos for busy adult players. We're looking to get the channel fully off the ground and add more content on a consistent basis.  Game Referenced: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 Ne4 8. Bxe4 dxe4 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 Bd6 1...

In this episode, we dive into the hidden challenges adult players face when returning to chess after a long break, and the powerful mindset shifts that separate those who thrive from those who quit. Whether you're battling self-doubt, time constraints, or rating plateaus, this episode offers real talk and practical strategies to help you stay motivated, set realistic goals, and rediscover the joy...

In this Listener Mailbag exclusive, we discuss whether prepping for specific opponents is worth it at the amateur level, and a bunch of other stuff too...  📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast) YouTube (LI Chess Club) Buy Me a Coffee

This week is all about chess opening philosophy. We discuss a number of ideas about opening prep and argue that having the White pieces does not provide any meaningful advantage at the club level since most amateur games are littered with mistakes, thus negating any possible benefit of moving first. The basis of this episode is a response to the excellent article  Chess Openings In The Engine Era...

This week we discuss endgame strategy for club players and some other stuff as well. Grinding out a win in an "even" endgame is a mixture of patience, stubbornness, and luck. A .pgn for the game we analyze is below. We reference the highly recommended book The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess (Amazon) by GM John Emms, who was a previous guest on the pod (Episode #40) . 1. Nf3 b6 2. g3 Bb7 3. Bg...

A number of years ago, GM Andy Soltis claimed that once a chess player becomes serious about the game, there is an 8-year window during which he achieves 90% of his maximum chess potential. Anything beyond that time frame is just squeezing out the remaining 10%. NM Tim Mirabile returns to the podcast to discuss this theory and a bunch of other chess improvement topics. In this episode we reference...

The Jobava London (1. d4, 2. Nc3, 3. Bf4) is an opening system that is easy to learn, yet still has a lot of sting, especially against ...g6 set-ups by Black. It can easily throw off an opponent who's expecting to face a standard London formation. The theory and ideas are fairly simple, making it a great choice for those with limited study time. Much of the info in this episode is referenced from...

This episode is a review of the chess.com course "Build Your Technique" by FM Thomas Wolski . This is a highly recommended training module for adult players looking to improve. We also share some chess club stories, dive into the Listener Mailbag, and react to a chess.com article about common online time controls .   📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us...

This week we discuss ratings and improvement for busy adults. You may wish to check out the Reddit post referenced in this episode.  📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast) YouTube (LI Chess Club) Buy Me a Coffee

This episode is a thematic analysis of an amateur game with takeaways that are instruction rich. Topics covered: Bird's Opening (1. f4) Unnecessary defensive moves Sacrificing pieces Material vs. Initiative Calculation Central Control Referenced: Guide to a Successful Chess Club Game analyzed (G/90;d10):  1. f4 b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 e6 5. Bb2 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. c4 Nbd7 9. Nc3 c5 1...

This episode is a response to FM Nate Solon's excellent blog posts I Don't Like Chess Tournaments and What Would a Fun Chess Tournament Look Like? Neal reacts and shares his thoughts on weekend events including the following: The ideal time control & round times  Delay vs. increment Club events vs. weekend tourneys Practical matters 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future ep...

In this conversation, Neal and return guest NM Andy Ansel dive into the world of correspondence chess, exploring its nuances, challenges, and Andy's pursuit of the International Master (IM) norm. They discuss the differences between over-the-board and correspondence chess, the importance of openings, tips for those new to correspondence play, and the impact of technology on the game. Andy explains...

5-0 blitz games can be an excellent chess improvement tool when used properly and judiciously. In this episode, we offer tips, tricks, and best practices. Referenced: Ep. 122: Online Blitz Chess and Adult Improvement 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links:  Website Twitter (X) YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast) YouTube...

This week we discuss whether highly structured study plans are practical for busy amateurs. Neal concludes by sharing his own plan (HINT: it's not complicated). Referenced: Ep. 61: Do Chess Training Programs Work? Ep. 105 (S7 Premiere): Declutter Your Chess Study Plan Build Your Technique by FM Thomas Wolski 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at  info...