The Chess Angle

🎤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: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤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:

• "System" openings defined
• What exactly is the London System?
• Why the London is so effective at the amateur level
• Addressing criticism of the London System
• Basic themes and concepts
• Comments on the recommended resources below

Recommended Resources:

• The London System in 12 Practical Lessons by Oscar De Prado (Amazon)
• The London System for the Busy Chess Player by GM Simon Williams (chess.com)
• Tips & Tricks of the London System by GM Aman Hambleton (chess.com)
• The Agile London System by GM Alfonso Romero & FM Oscar De Prado (chessable)
• The Jobava London System by GM Simon Williams (chessable)

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: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤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:

• Why amateurs should avoid the Sicilian defense (1...c5) and open games (1. e4 e5)
• Why the French Defense is so effective at the club level
• Three variations that will cover 95% of your games versus 1. e4
• Some additional thoughts about confidence and patience

Recommended Resources:

• Starting Out: The French by Byron Jacobs (Amazon)
• Why Simon Loves the French Defense by GM Simon Williams (chess.com)
• Master the French Defense by NM Bryan Tillis & GM Alex Lenderman (Chessable)

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: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤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:

• The unfortunate decline of OTB post-mortem analysis
• The dangers of mimicking super-GMs
• How Jay almost gave a lesson to the late William Lombardy (Fischer's coach)
• Jay's encounters with some now-famous GMs ("I knew them when...")
• Chess improvement beyond parenting
• Opening choices

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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:

• Confidence against higher-rated opponents
• Trusting your analysis
• Playing experience vs. studying
• A suggested tip for the opening phase

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🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Neal is currently enjoying the course entitled The Agile London System, based on the book of the same name.♟ We've all been there: the opponent who won't sit still or who keeps adjusting every piece. Distracting behavior at the chess board can be so infuriating that it adversely affects your results. In this episode, we discuss many of these behaviors and offer some solutions (hint: SAY SOMETHING to your opponent or call the TD over). Some of the behaviors mentioned include:

• repeated draw offers
• incessant fidgeting
• "acknowledgers" and "sighers"
• tapping
• hand hovering

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🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle For this interview episode, I spoke with USCF Expert Jarrod Tavares. Jarrod is an amateur/club player who has achieved tournament success with an unconventional, anti-book style. Amateur players and adult improvers of all levels should find this conversation enlightening and provocative. Some of our talking points include:

• Should the London System be banned from chess?😉
• Endgame theory and the amateur player
• Making unconventional moves to get into your opponent's head
• The importance of confidence
• The psychology of draw offers

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

🎤NEW Twitter page for the podcast: @TheChessAngle 🎤Be sure to follow us! While some favor slower time controls, blitz & rapid games are more popular than ever, mainly due to the explosion of online chess. Can speed chess actually help you in slow games and improve your chess overall? National Master Tyrell Harriott believes it can. Tyrell is very active in the New York chess scene and runs the Kings of Queens Chess Club. He also streams on his YouTube channel. Tyrell shared some great insight on the benefits of speed chess, as well as his approach to playing and his thought process. Some of our talking points include:

• Chess in the parks of New York City
• The importance of time delay/increments
• Mindset & attitude
• Using a consistent opening repertoire
• How quick time controls can help you improve

Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

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" vs. the "study hall"
• Handling decision fatigue from all the available study material
• The essential areas of focus for beginners
• OTB vs. online strategy
• The comparison game
• Talent vs. hard work
• Is studying several hours a day actually necessary at the amateur/club level?

Mentioned: The Amateur's Mind (Amazon) The link above is an affiliate link, which earns us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]

This episode is a book review/discussion of the acclaimed text The Seven Deadly Chess Sins (Amazon) by Jonathan Rowson. This is a follow up to Episode 16 which discussed Chess for Tigers (Amazon) by Simon Webb. I believe these two outstanding books are probably the only resources you need for chess psychology at the amateur and club level. Chess for Tigers is an excellent primer, while The Seven Deadly Chess Sins is more advanced. The seven chess sins include the following:

• Thinking (erroneously)
• Blinking
• Wanting
• Materialism
• Egoism
• Perfectionism
• Looseness

All 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: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: [email protected]