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 [email protected].

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

This week's pod is a dedicated Listener Mailbag episode. We challenge some of the pushback that's out there about IM Jeremy Silman's system of imbalances and discuss some other topics as well.

Referenced:

• Ep. 83 (S6 Premiere): Mastering the Middlegame for Club Players: The Legacy of IM Jeremy Silman
• Ep. 84: Mastering the Middlegame, Part 2: Are There Flaws With Silman's Imbalances?
• The Amateur’s Mind (Amazon)
• Mastering Chess Imbalances (YouTube)

Father/Daughter Chess Tournament Contact Info (Alex and Acacea):

• Email
• Instagram

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

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. Qualifying purchases help support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This week we dive into what separates winning amateur chess players from the rest - and what’s often just noise and distraction. We break down the skills, habits, and strategies that lead to consistent tournament success and explore common misconceptions that don’t actually impact performance as much as people think. 

Referenced:

• Ep. 65: Your First Chess Tournament - Tips & Tricks

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

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

You guys asked for more tournament stories, so this week Neal goes into full TD mode to discuss recent antics and shenanigans from the Long Island Chess Club. You can't make this stuff up! This is followed by an extended Listener Mailbag segment.

Referenced: 

• Ep. 45: The Truth About Chess Engines for Club Players
• Ep. 95: How to Use a Chess Engine as a Developing Player

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

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

This week we discuss a chess improvement philosophy based on the book Black Box Thinking: Why Most People Never Learn from Their Mistakes--But Some Do (Amazon) by Matthew Syed. We also cover some additional topics from our Listener Mailbag.

Chapters:

• Intro & Listener Mailbag
• Playing Unrated Games & Bots Online
• Facing the London System
• The "Black Box" Theory of Chess Improvement
• Open vs. Closed Analysis Loops
• Perfectionism Revisited
• Outro

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

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. Qualifying purchases help support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

This week, Neal discusses the infamous "hand hover" at OTB events and other topics related to chess improvement and tournament strategy.

Chapters:

• Intro & Listener Mailbag
• Thoughts on Chess Coaching
• How to Handle Fatigue
• Taking Byes
• Dealing with Nerves and Composure
• Hand-Hovering at Tournaments
• Know Your Basic Mates!
• Consistency
• Identifying and Addressing Weaknesses

Referenced: Practical Chess Exercises (Amazon)

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

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• Twitter (X)
• YouTube (Chess Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. Qualifying purchases help support the podcast at no additional cost to you.

VIDEO VERSION is available on our YouTube Channel.

In this episode we discuss chess improvement and tournament strategies for players over 50 with some additional topics from our Listener Mailbag.

Chapters:

• Intro and Listener Mailbag
• Winning Won Positions
• Spectator Interference
• Online Chess Etiquette
• Chess Improvement Strategies for Players Over 50

📧 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 Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

VIDEO VERSION is available on our YouTube Channel.

First, Neal engages with listener feedback, discussing their chess improvement journeys and suggestions for future episodes. The conversation then transitions into an exploration of rook and pawn endings, emphasizing their complexity and the mental challenges players face. Neal also shares resources for improving endgame skills, highlighting the importance of foundational knowledge in chess. Chapters include:

• Introduction and Listener Mailbag
• Declining Draw Offers
• Is Endgame Knowledge Really That Important?
• Realities of Rook and Pawn Endings
• Trading Rooks - yes or no?
• A Warning About Doubled Rooks
• Active vs. Passive Rook
• The Reality of the Lucena & Philidor Positions
• Recommended Endgame Resources
• Outro

Books Referenced:

• Silman's Complete Endgame Course (Amazon)
• Pandolfini’s Endgame Course (Amazon)

Chess.com Lessons Referenced:

• Pawn Endings: Beginner to Expert (King and pawn endings only, providing a solid foundation)
• Rook and Other Endgames (by IM Jeremy Silman)
• Build Your Technique (Endgames are included, but there’s also some openings, middlegames, and tactics). 

📧 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 Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

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

VIDEO VERSION is available on our YouTube Channel.

This week we discuss the importance of calculation, the choice between rapid and blitz games, and ten common hidden mistakes that players of all levels make. These mistakes range from erroneous pawn grabs to thoughtless bishop moves, providing valuable insights for beginners and reminders for experienced tournament players.

Referenced:

• Ep. 99: How to Approach Chess Study as a Beginner or Advanced Beginner
• Ep. 111: How to Boost Your Chess Rating Using Draw Offers

📧 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 Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee

VIDEO VERSION is available on our YouTube Channel.

Welcome to Season 9! This episode is a response to the Reddit post What is Your Personal Chess Hot Take? Neal discusses various topics, including the importance of analyzing both wins and losses, the debate surrounding the London System, and the significance of openings in chess strategy. He also shares hot takes about rating deflation, clock etiquette, speed chess, and the impact of psychology on the game. The conversation also touches on the challenges of online chess, particularly regarding cheating.

📧 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 Angle Podcast)
• YouTube (LI Chess Club)
• Buy Me a Coffee