It's another listener mailbag episode! We answer your questions about adult chess improvement, balancing study with real life, and everything in between. Plus, we share a few listener comments that hit close to home for the club player grind.

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Between work, family, and everything else, who has time to learn 20 moves of opening theory? The Colle System offers a solid, low-maintenance way to get a good game every time. Learn the basic plans, the Colle–Zukertort twist, and why this simple setup still scores at the club level.

Referenced:

• Colle System: Complete Guide for both Colors, with Plans, Moves, and Ideas
• Colle-Zukertort System: Complete Guide for White

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In this episode, we tackle two very different challenges for club players: the Nimzo-Indian Defense and facing those fearless, fast-moving, and sometimes poorly behaved junior opponents at tournaments.

Game Referenced:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 Bxc3 5. Bxc3 Ne4 6. Bb4 d6 7. Qc2 f5 8. e3 b6 9. f3 Nf6 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. Bc3 O-O 12. Nh3 Bb7 13. Ng5 Qd7 14. e4 fxe4 15. fxe4 e5 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. O-O-O h6 18. Nf3 Nxd3+ 19. Qxd3 Bxe4 20. Qe3 Bh7 21. Ne5 Qe6 22. g4 dxe5 23. g5 Qf5 24. Kd2 Rad8+ 25. Ke2 Ng4 26. Qg3 Qe4+ 0-1

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

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You've heard the quote: "When you see a good move, look for a better one." Sounds smart - until it makes you overthink every position. In this episode, we talk about why perfectionism hurts amateur chess improvement and how to play more practical, confident moves.

Referenced:

• When You See a Good Move, Look for a Better One (chesscom blog)

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

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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 Ratings, Difficulty Settings, And More Consistent Experience (chesscom article)

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

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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 [email protected].

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This week we discuss the dark side of weekend chess tournaments in the US.

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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.

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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 [email protected].

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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 [email protected].

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• Website
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