The Chess Angle

What are the qualities of a good chess coach? How can one become a chess teacher? How should lessons be organized and scheduled? This episode is Part One of Two about chess teaching from both the teacher and student point of view. This week we focus more on the former. We also cover the following topics:

Referenced:

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This week, we share our thoughts about online chess cheating. We believe it is rampant, while the online servers seem to downplay the amount of cheating taking place. We hypothesize that cheaters are using specific methods in an attempt to avoid detection, and we created nicknames for these players. We discuss the following cheating personalities and more:

Referenced:

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This week, Neal discusses attacking play for the amateur player. Arguably, club players should approach attacks differently than titled players. This episode is divided into three segments:

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Beating or drawing higher-rated opponents stems from winning the psychological game, since attempting to outplay them based solely on chess skill usually fails. We also discuss the following:

Game Referenced: 2013 vs. Neal (G/90;d10)

1. c4 b6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 Bb7 4. a3 e6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Qc2 Nxc3 10. Qxc3 Be4 11. Nd2 Bb7 12. O-O-O d5 13. Kb1 dxc4 14. Bxc4 Nd7 15. f3 c5 16. Nb3 Rac8 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Nf6 20. Rd2 Rfd8 21. Rhd1 Rxd2 22. Qxd2 h6 23. e4 Qe6 24. Nc1 c4 25. Ne2 Qe5 26. Qd6 Qb5 27. Nc3 Qg5 28. e5 Qf5+ 29. Ka1 Ne8 30. Qd7 Qxd7 31. Rxd7 Nc7 32. Ne4 Ne6 33. Kb1 Rc7 1/2-1/2

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James Nidds is a 58-year-old amateur player and LI Chess Club regular rated 1808 (US Chess) at the time of this recording. He offers a great deal of advice and perspective on chess improvement as an adult. Talking points include the following & more:

Referenced:

Viktor Korchnoi - Sofia Polgar Speed Chess Match

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After much planning and preparation, you're excited to play in a 6-round weekend event, but find yourself 0-3 heading into round 4 and feeling frustrated and dejected. Should you finish out the tournament or withdraw? We take a look at this and more. Topics covered:

Referenced:

The instructional videos below are from the LI Chess Club YouTube Channel which is in the early stages. All videos feature positions from amateur games and cover themes and ideas you will actually face on a regular basis. The goal will be to have videos that are approx. 7-12 min. in length so that busy adults will be able to consume them. 

✔ FIDE Rating Deflation Adjustment (chess.com article)

✔ Ep. 99: How to Approach Chess Study as a Beginner/Adv. Beginner

✔ Ep. 71: NM James Altucher

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What are the qualifications to be a "good" chess player? This week's episode is a reaction to the Reddit post When Can You Tell Someone You Are Good at Chess? We cover the following and more:

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This week's offering is a dedicated Listener Mailbag episode. We cover the following and more:

Leave a voicemail message! 🎙

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This week's episode is a response to the Reddit post What are some of the most advanced and incomprehensible concepts in chess? At the time of this recording, there were over 150 responses. The following concepts, among others, were frequently cited as being difficult to understand:

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Most players agree that slower time controls are beneficial for chess growth, but what about blitz chess? Can online blitz chess help you improve? Are certain blitz time controls better than others? Should you always play with an increment? What about bullet chess? In this episode, Neal shares the results of an informal online chess experiment where he played several blitz games at various time controls. 

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Your opponent has a better position or plays a move that catches you by surprise. Rather than keep your composure while patiently analyzing, you become frustrated, despondent, and convince yourself your position and/or your opponent's apparent threat is worse than it is. As a result, you bang out an unnecessary (and weakening) defensive move. Sound familiar? You just played a "panic move." This week we take a look at this common chess ailment.

Game Referenced: 1900 vs. Neal (G/90;d10)

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2

Nxc3 9. Qxc3 Be4 10. b3 d6 11. Bb2 f5 12. Rad1 Bf6 13. Ne5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Qe8

15. Qf3 c6 16. Nd3 Na6 17. Nf4 g6 18. h4 e5 19. Nh3 e4 20. Qe3 Rd8 21. Rh1 c5 

22. h5 cxd4 23. Bxd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Rf6 25. hxg6 Qxg6 26. Nf4 Qf7 27. Rh5 Kh8 28.

Qc3 Qg7 29. Rd5 Rdf8 30. Qd4 Nc5 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Qxd6 Rf6 33. Qd8+ Rf8 34.

Ng6+ Qxg6 35. Qxf8+ 1-0

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For club-level chess players and adult improvers, an argument can be made that amateur games are significantly more instructive than Grandmaster games. Amateur games feature themes, ideas, mistakes, and erroneous thought processes that are highly instructive, while the ideas in Grandmaster games are often esoteric and difficult to process. Simply put, amateur games are ripe with instructional value. This week's episode is a review of The World's Most Instructive Amateur Game Book (Amazon) by NM Dan Heisman. It is a collection of 30 deeply annotated amateur games. The written prose and explanations are outstanding. We cover the following and much more:

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Developing tournament players are often told the following: study tons of Master games, drill tactics, review mate-in-one puzzles, and do not spend more than 10% of your study time on openings. Is this advice accurate, somewhat accurate, or misguided? This week, we take a look at the pros and cons of common chess study activities. We cover:

Referenced:

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Welcome to Season 8! Neal begins by discussing the state of the podcast and some harsh truths about chess improvement that are arguably not mentioned enough. The final segment is a discussion of the King's Indian Attack, an easy-to-learn, theoretically sound system-opening for White after 1. Nf3 or 1. e4. It can be played against any Black defense, but is particularly effective against the French, Sicilian, and Caro-Kann. 

Referenced:

Sample Lines:

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This week's episode is our Season 7 Finale (Season 8 coming soon...). In this light, laid-back, rapid-fire episode, Neal reacts to the enjoyable chess.com article 7 Hot Takes That Are Just True by Pedro Pinhata, a Sr. Digital Content Writer for chess.com.

Mr. Pinhata's 7 Hot Takes:

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This week, Neal discusses another instructive tournament game. We cover the following and more:

Game Referenced: Neal vs. 1697 (G/90;d10)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 b6 4. h3 Bb7 5. Nf3 d6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 Nbd7 9. c3 Re8 10. a4 a5 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. Qd1 h6 13. Re1 Bf8 14. Bh2 e5 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nc4 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 e4 18. Be2 Nc5 19. Ne5 Qxd1 20. Rexd1 Bd6 21. Nc6 Bxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Re6 23. Nd4 Rd6 24. Nf5 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Kf8 26. Rd4 Ne6 27. Rd2 Rd8 28. Rxd8+ Nxd8 29. Nd4 Nb7 30. Nb3 Nd7 31. f3 exf3 32. gxf3 Ndc5 33. Nxc5 Nxc5 34. Bb5 Ke7 35. b4 Ne6 36. Kg3 Kd6 37. Bc4 c6 38. f4 f6 39. e4 axb4 40. cxb4 c5 41. Bxe6 Kxe6 42. bxc5 bxc5 43. Kf3 c4 44. Ke3 g5 45. fxg5 hxg5 46. Kd4 c3 47. Kxc3 Kd6 48. a5 Kc5 49. a6 Kb6 1-0

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This week, Neal begins by diving into the listener mailbag. This is followed by an instructive analysis of a recent OTB tournament game. We cover the following and more:

Game Referenced: 1831 vs. Neal (G/90;d10)

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 Be4 10. Nd2 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 d5 12. e4 c5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nb3 d4 16. Qc4 Qe7 17. Nxc5 bxc5 18. f3 Nd7 19. b4 Rac8 20. bxc5 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 Nxc5 22. Ba3 Rfd8 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Rad1 Kf8 25. Rd2 Ke7 26. Rfd1 Ke6 27. f4 f6 28. Kf3 Ra5 29. Rxd4 Rxd4 30. Rxd4 Rxa2 1/2-1/2

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Like it or not, the clock is just as much a part of tournament chess as the board and pieces. Poor clock management is a consistent problem for many players. We cover:

Referenced:

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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

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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:

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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:

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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.

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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!

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

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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.

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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!

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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:

Referenced:

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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

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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!

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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:

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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.

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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:

Referenced:

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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:

Suggested Online Lessons from Chess.com:

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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

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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

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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:

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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:

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: 

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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:

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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: 

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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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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:

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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: 

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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: 

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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:

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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: 

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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):

 Lessons Referenced (Chess.com links):

Previous Episodes Referenced:

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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: 

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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: 

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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: 

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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:

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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: 

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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:

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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:

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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:

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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 info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

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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:

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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:

Links for NM Jerald Times:

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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:

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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:

Referenced (Amazon links):

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We cover:

Referenced:

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 info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

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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 info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

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 info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

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:

Referenced:

Links for NM Anthony Levin:

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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:

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 info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

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

Referenced:Chess for Tigers (Amazon) by Simon Webb

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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:

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 info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

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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:

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. 

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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 info@thechessangle.com. Our links:

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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:

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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 info@thechessangle.com. Mentioned:

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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:

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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:

Links for GM Alex Lenderman:

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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:

Links for IM Jay Bonin:

Mentioned:

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

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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:

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

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:

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

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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:

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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:

Links for Dr. Stephen Wefer:

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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:

Resources for the Jobava London:

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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 nfigorito@ymail.com. Some of our talking points include:

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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:

Links for FM Carsten Hansen:

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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:

QUEEN'S INDIAN:

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). 

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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:

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

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!♟

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:

💻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:

💻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:

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:

💻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:

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♟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:

Links for IM Justus Williams:

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🎤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:

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

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:

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🎤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: WebsiteTwitterFacebookE-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤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: WebsiteTwitterFacebookE-mail: info@thechessangle.com

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🎤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:

Recommended Resources:

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: WebsiteTwitterFacebookE-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤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:

Recommended Resources:

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: WebsiteTwitterFacebookE-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤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:

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🎤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:

Our links: WebsiteTwitterFacebookE-mail: info@thechessangle.com