Episodes

Your chess rating can easily swing 100 points or more, but it doesn't necessarily mean you've become a better or worse player. In this episode, we react to a fascinating article on rating variance and discuss why amateur players often experience even bigger swings than they realize. Referenced: Why Your Rating Swings More Than You Think 📧 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) Buy Me a Coffee

In engineering, a single point of failure is the one weak component capable of bringing down an entire system. Chess improvement often works the same way. In this episode, we explore why your rating may be determined less by your average skill level and more by the one recurring weakness that keeps showing up in your games - and why identifying and fixing that weakness may be the highest ROI work you can do as an adult improver. Buying more books or courses may not be the answer. Referenced: D...

If you're holding off until you're fully rested, completely focused, and free from distractions before playing or studying chess, you may be waiting a very long time. Most adult improvers live in the "yellow zone" - not at their absolute best, but far from their worst. In this episode, we explore what I'm calling the "Perfect Time Fallacy" and why consistency in imperfect conditions often beats waiting for perfect ones. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-ma...

I break my long-standing rule about not playing chess on my phone to talk about Zapp Chess, a listener-recommended app that surprised me. It blends fast, gamified play with real competitive chess decisions in a way that actually kept me engaged. I walk through my experience and why, despite my usual skepticism, this one feels different. 📧 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) Buy Me a Coffee

In this midseason finale episode, Neal talks with Long Island Chess Club regular Steve Rosenblatt for a wide-ranging conversation on adult chess improvement. The two debate whether YouTube videos or Chessable courses are more effective for gaining rating points, while also diving into tournament psychology, study habits, content overload, and the realities of balancing chess with a demanding career. Steve, founder and CEO of a recruiting firm, brings the perspective of a serious adult competitor...

Most adult chess players are not held back primarily by calculation or opening knowledge. They are held back by ego: the need to look smart, play “real chess,” attack beautifully, avoid embarrassment, prove their strength, or force results. The paradox is that the less emotionally attached you are to proving something over the board, the better your decisions become. This episode adapts ideas from golf psychology about pressure, identity, unrealistic expectations, and emotional overinvestment in...

This week, we revisit The Amateur’s Mind by IM Jeremy Silman, this time through the Chessable edition. We’ve long argued this is the most important book for adult improvers, not because it hands you lines to memorize, but because it rewires how you think. The Chessable version preserves Silman’s voice and structure while adding a layer of engine-checked accuracy that quietly cleans up a few rough edges from the original. What stands out most is how well the core teaching holds up. Silman’s focu...

Most adult players default to playing more games when they want to improve, but that instinct is often backwards. In this episode, we argue that structured study is the real driver of progress for club players, and explain why playing alone tends to reinforce bad habits. If you’ve been stuck at the same rating for a while, this might be the shift you need. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (...

Most adult amateurs quietly carry the same goal: reach Master. In this episode, we take an honest look at why that milestone is so elusive: time constraints, training demands, a competitive player pool, and the realities of adult learning. More importantly, we talk about what is achievable, and how to pursue improvement in a way that’s both realistic and rewarding. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website ...

GM Daniel Gormally returns to the pod to unpack Netflix’s Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary covering the Magnus Carlsen - Hans Niemann controversy. We separate the signal from the noise, offering a candid, player-level perspective on one of chess’s most bizarre modern sagas. Links for GM Daniel Gormally: YouTube channel Chessable 3-Part Series: Sharp Middlegames 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website...

In this episode, we react to a recent article on how to beat chess prodigies and what adult amateurs tend to get wrong when facing underrated kids. We break down practical strategies like avoiding tactical chaos and forcing long, patient games. If you’ve ever sat down across from a 10-year-old and immediately felt in trouble, this one’s for you. Referenced: How to Beat A Chess Prodigy 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 ...

Fellow chess amateur and blogger Nick Visel returns to the pod to talk about the nuts and bolts of improving as an adult player. We cover endgames, openings, and the psychological habits that separate steady improvers from those stuck in place. Think of this as a reality check - with a roadmap. Referenced: Nick's Substack: Nick Plays Chess 📧 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) Buy Me a Coff...

Time delay or an increment has become the norm in over-the-board tournaments, but online chess still largely ignores it. In this episode, we break down why using an increment leads to better games, fairer outcomes, and more instructive endgames, and why the current no-increment culture misses the mark. We also react to a lively Reddit debate on why no-increment chess still dominates online play. Referenced: Lichess Study: Study Creators & Friends Reddit Post: Why is no increment the norm in on...

We like to think chess is pure skill, but at the amateur level, luck plays a bigger role than most players realize. In this episode, we break down how blunders, pairings, time pressure, and your opponent’s mood can all influence your results and rating. More importantly, we talk about how to think about luck the right way so you don’t misjudge your own progress. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com. 🎯 Our Links: Website Twi...

Many adult chess improvers start with the same plan: just play a lot of games and the rating will climb. At first, that actually works - until it doesn’t. In this episode, we talk about why the “just play more games” philosophy causes most amateurs to eventually hit a plateau and why deliberate study is the key to breaking through it. Referenced: Research Study (2005): The Role of Deliberate Practice in Chess Expertise Reddit Post (2024): What rating would the average person reach if they play...

This week, Neal discusses why he recently made a full switch to lichess.org for playing his online games and why the platform works better for his day-to-day chess routine. He still uses chesscom, but only for news, articles, and their lesson library. 📧 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) Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, we tackle one of the most tempting (and dangerous) questions in amateur chess: when should you sacrifice a piece? Instead of carelessly chasing “!!” moves, we break down when your sac might be sound and when it's likely to fail. Referenced: Netflix Documentary On Carlsen-Niemann Scandal Gets 2026 Release Date Why Masters Crush Lower-Rated Players (and You Struggle) by FM Dalton Perrine 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@the...

In this episode, Neal confesses a hard truth: his most dreaded opponents aren’t Masters - they’re “unrated” and “lower-rated” opponents who absolutely do not play like their numbers suggest. We talk about underrated players, rating lag, adult improvers on the rise, and why underestimating your opponent is the fastest way to donate a point. If you’ve ever sat down thinking “this should be fine” and immediately regretted it, this one’s for you. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for...

A new year means a fresh chance to improve, but only if you have a plan that actually fits your real life. In this Season 11 premiere, Neal dives into the Listener Mailbag and then shares a practical, no-nonsense framework for building a 2026 chess improvement plan that works for busy adult players. Whether you’re aiming to gain rating points, play more confidently, or just stop spinning your wheels, this episode will help you start the year with purpose. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or t...

It’s the Season 10 finale, so we’re emptying the mailbag and tackling your chess improvement questions head-on, from study habits and rating plateaus to tournament nerves and adult time constraints. Season 11 coming soon... 📧 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) Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, we explore how small, almost trivial adjustments can quietly transform your chess over time. From simple blunder checks to minor mindset shifts, these micro-tweaks often deliver more improvement than major overhauls, especially for busy adult players. We give examples of small changes that create lasting, compounding results in your game. Referenced: The Czech Pirc Defense (YouTube) 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thech...

In this episode, Neal is joined by fellow amateur and LI Chess Club regular Austin Olson, a 25-year-old merchandising specialist, to break down the long-standing Lichess vs. Chess.com debate from the perspective of the busy adult club player. We compare features, training tools, community, and overall value, and also offer practical tips for getting the most out of both sites, minus the online drama. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@theche...

This week, we continue our conversation about best practices for online chess and riff about blitz vs. rapid for the amateur player. 📧 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) Buy Me a Coffee

In this episode, we discuss how to play online chess in a way that actually helps your over-the-board results. Neal shares his simple, practical method for structuring online sessions so you train with intention instead of just clicking moves. If you’ve ever felt like your online grind isn’t translating to real improvement, this one’s for you. 📧 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) Buy Me a C...