Episodes

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"...

This episode is a book review/discussion of the acclaimed text (Amazon) by Jonathan Rowson. This is a follow up to Episode 16 which discussed (Amazon) by Simon Webb. I believe these two outstanding books are probably the only resources you need for...

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 (affiliate link), as well as his . I caught up with Romain during his current visit to the...

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...

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...

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: ...

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...

**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...

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...

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:...

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...

For many players, chess study is a grey area.  It's not just WHAT to study but HOW. We believe is one of the best puzzle books for amateur players. For online instructional content, we recommend . These are affiliate links which support the...

Certain chess mistakes appear in amateur games with unwavering consistency. For the best online chess experience, we recommend (affiliate link). Our links: E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Some chess players use gamesmanship to beat their opponent. Our links: E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

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...

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 (affiliate link). Our links: E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

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...

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 (affiliate link). Our links: E-mail:...

Note: There is an updated version of this episode: I share some time-saving tips & tricks for busy individuals with limited study time.  Check out for their fantastic online chess suite as mentioned in this episode.  🎯 Support the...

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

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

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 . If you have a question or topic idea for a future...

A discussion of the psychological aspect of the game.  Referenced: (Amazon) If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . Our links: E-mail: The Amazon links above are affiliate links which earn us a small...