All Episodes
The Chess Angle — 192 episodes
Ep. 191 (Midseason Finale): Is YouTube Actually Better For Adult Chess Improvement Than Chessable? feat. Steve Rosenblatt
Ep. 190: Boost Your Chess Rating by Checking Your Ego
Ep. 189: The Amateur's Mind (Chessable Version) - Still the Most Important Chess Book for Adult Players
Ep. 188: Why Study Beats Play for Chess Improvement
Ep. 187: The 2200 Myth: Why Most Adult Chess Players Won't Make Master
Ep. 186: GM Daniel Gormally on "Untold: Chess Mates," the Netflix Special About the Magnus/Hans Cheating Controversy
Ep. 185: The Adult Amateur's Guide to Defeating Chess Prodigies
Ep. 184: Real Talk on Chess Improvement for Adults feat. Nick Visel
Ep. 183: Online Chess Has a Clock Problem
Ep. 182: Chess Ratings and the Luck Factor
Ep. 181: Why "Just Playing a Lot" is a Chess Improvement Myth
Ep. 180: My Complete Switch to Lichess
Ep. 179: When to Sac a Piece in Amateur Chess Games
Ep. 178: The Most Dangerous Player in the Room: "Unrated"
Ep. 177 (S11 Premiere): Your 2026 Chess Improvement Blueprint (Busy Adult Edition)
Ep. 176 (S10 Finale): Chess Improvement Mailbag Special
Ep. 175: The Butterfly Effect and Chess Improvement
Ep. 174: Lichess vs. Chess.com, and the Busy Adult Club Player (Online Chess Cleanup Plan, Part 3, feat. Austin Olson)
Ep. 173: Blitz vs. Rapid (Online Chess Cleanup Plan, Part 2)
Ep. 172: Your Online Chess Cleanup Plan
Ep. 171: Adult Chess Improvement Q & A
Ep. 170: The Colle System (The Working Adult's Opening)
Ep. 169: The Nimzo-Indian Defense, Junior Opponents, & More (Game Analysis #15)
Ep. 168: How "Find a Better Move" Ruined My Chess
Ep. 167: The Casuals Strike Back: How to Beat Chess Diehards
Ep. 166: The Busy Adult's Guide to Chess Success
Ep. 165: Why I (Probably) Will Never Play in a Weekend Tournament Ever Again
Ep. 164: Why Is My 900-Rated Opponent Playing Like a Master?
Ep. 163: Adult Chess Improvement & Content Creation From a Gen-Z Perspective feat. Anthony Arena
Ep. 162: Chess Burnout, Defending Against the London, Flagging Your Opponent & More (Listener Mailbag Exclusive)
Ep. 161: Resetting the Board (Back in the Fall)
Ep. 160: "Old Man" Chess: The Slow, Boring Way to Win More Games
Ep. 159: Chess Opening Systems for White & More
Ep. 158: Why Your Fancy Chess Study Plan and Four-Year Book Hierarchy Aren't Working
Ep. 157 (S10 Premiere): 1...e6 vs. EVERYTHING, Does Blitz Mess Up Your Thought Process?, & More
Ep. 156 (S9 Finale): The THREE Things You Need to Know to Beat 1. d4, Common Beginner Mistakes, Spite Checks, and Stalemate Fantasies
Ep. 155: Why Many Adults Give Up on Chess, and How You Can Be the Exception
Ep. 154: Wasted Prep? Why Your Opponent-Specific Prep Might Be Useless Below 2000
Ep. 153: There is NO Advantage to Having the White Pieces at the Amateur Level
Ep. 152: Grinding Out Endgame Wins at the Club Level (Game Analysis #14)
Ep. 151: You Have 8 Years to Improve, Then It's Game Over: A Discussion & Debate About Adult Chess Improvement feat. NM Tim Mirabile
Ep. 150: The Jobava London System: A Chess Opening for Busy Adults
Ep. 149: Build Your Technique, Build Your Rating: The Game-Changer You Need
Ep. 148: Can An Adult Beginner Reach 1600?
Ep. 147: Bird's Opening (1. f4), When to Sac a Piece (and when not to) at the Amateur Level, Material vs. Initiative & More (Game Analysis #13)
Ep. 146: Better Tournaments, Better Chess: Creating Ideal Playing Conditions
Ep. 145: Correspondence Chess Success feat. NM Andy Ansel
Ep. 144: Speed Chess Secrets: How 5-0 Blitz Can Supercharge Your Skills
Ep. 143: Formal Chess Study Plans: Essential or Overhyped?
Ep. 142: The Tactics vs. Imbalances Debate
Ep. 141: What Actually Wins Chess Tournaments (And What's Just Noise)
Ep. 140: Chess Tournament Trickery & Shenanigans
Ep. 139: The "Black Box" Method of Chess Improvement
Ep. 138: "Hand Hovering" at Chess Tournaments, Why We Lose Games, & More
Ep. 137: Chess Improvement Over Age 50
Ep. 136: The Truth About Rook and Pawn Endings
Ep. 135: Hidden Chess Mistakes No One's Talking About
Ep. 134 (S9 Premiere): Is the London System for Lazy Players? and other Chess Hot Takes
Ep. 133 (Bonus Episode!): Stop Obsessing & Start Winning at Chess
Ep. 132 (S8 Finale): Chess Teaching, Part 2: Materials, Resources, & Essential Concepts
Ep. 131: Thoughts on Chess Teaching, Part 1: Philosophy & Structure
Ep. 130: Online Chess Cheating
Ep. 129: Seven Attacking Tips for Club-Level Chess Players
Ep. 128: Boosting Your Chess Rating & Higher-Rated Opponents (Game Analysis #12)
Ep. 127: Chess Study Plans & Formulas, the Club-Level Thought Process, Tournament Strategy & More feat. James Nidds
Ep. 126: Should You Ever Withdraw From a Chess Tournament?
Ep. 125: Are Adult Improvers "Good" at Chess?
Ep. 124: Are Amateur Players Qualified to Coach Chess?
Ep. 123: The Most Confusing Chess Concepts for Developing Players
Ep. 122: Online Blitz Chess and Adult Improvement
Ep. 121: Avoiding "Panic Moves" in Chess (Game Analysis #11)
Ep. 120: Fix Your Chess Mistakes! (Review of "The World's Most Instructive Amateur Game Book")
Ep. 119: Ineffective Chess Study Habits
Ep. 118 (S8 Premiere): Chess Improvement Realities (Also, The King's Indian Attack Opening System)
Ep. 117 (S7 Finale): Online Chess "Doomsday Feature" to Stop Your Losing Streak
Ep. 116: The Truth About Bishops & Knights for the Club-Level Chess Player (Game Analysis #10)
Ep. 115: What (Some) Chess Coaches Don't Get (Game Analysis #9)
Ep. 114: How to Avoid Time-Trouble at Club-Level Chess Tournaments
Ep. 113: Stop Dropping Pawns! (Game Analysis #8)
Ep. 112: Chess Tournament Savvy, Playing Amid Distractions, Prepping for OTB Play & More feat. NM Nick Panico (Chess Coffee Talk #4)
Ep. 111: How to Boost Your Chess Rating Using Draw Offers
Ep. 110: IM Michael Rahal on the Challenges of Adult Chess Improvement & More
Ep. 109: Chess Improvement Shortcuts for the Busy Adult Improver
Ep. 108: Checkmate Confessions: The Harsh Realities I Learned from Chess Tournaments
Ep. 107: Check, Mate, Cheat: Unveiling the Dark Side of Chess Tournament Shenanigans
Ep. 106: GM Max Illingworth on Adult Chess Improvement, Why YouTube Videos May Not Help, "Potholes & Detours" on the road to 1600, "Unlearning" Chess, & More
Ep. 105 (S7 Premiere): Declutter Your Chess Study Plan
Ep. 104 (S6 Finale): Ten Ways to Lose a Chess Game
Ep. 103: Wild Chess Tournament Stories: Cheating, Collusion, Pushy Parents & Other Tall Tales from the Amateur Chess Scene feat. Tim Just, National TD and US Chess Rulebook Editor
Ep. 102: Chess Improvement & Tournament Skills Roundtable feat. Nick Visel
Ep. 101: Candidates Tournament Preview 2024 feat. GM Daniel Gormally
Ep. 100: The Hippopotamus Defense and Other Chess Opening Systems for Black
Ep. 99: How to Approach Chess Study as a Beginner or Advanced Beginner (Tips and Suggested Resources)
Ep. 98: The Worst Chess Mindsets for Tournament Players
Ep. 97: Chess Ratings, Improvement, the 3...Qd8 Scandinavian & More feat. NM Daniel Lowinger
Ep. 96: GM Daniel Gormally on Adult Chess Improvement, the Cheating Epidemic, & More
Ep. 95: How to Use a Chess Engine as a Developing Player
Ep. 94: Sicilian vs. Caro-Kann, Neal's 2024 Chess Study Plan, & More
Ep. 93: Holiday Message 2023
Ep. 92: Stop Being Afraid of 1. d4: Tips for Club-Level Chess Players
Ep. 91: The Botvinnik System: An Easy-to-Learn Opening for White
Ep. 90: Common Club-Level Chess Mistakes: Matching, Punishing, "Temper Tantrum" Chess & More
Ep. 89: Chess "Backsplaining" & the "Null Move" Strategy for Club Players feat. FM Alex King
Ep. 88: Amateur Chess Legend Andy Ansel on his Massive 15,000+ Book Collection, Playing 3 World Champions, & Whether Club Players Should Use Classic or Modern Books for Improvement
Ep. 87: David MacEnulty, Renowned Chess Coach Portrayed in the 2005 Film "Knights of the South Bronx," on Teaching, Learning, Improving, Tournament Skills, Cheating, & More
Ep. 86: Chess Improvement Without Books feat. Xilin Chen (USCF 2144)
Ep. 85: Trendy Chess Improvement Advice
Ep. 84: Mastering the Middlegame, Part 2: Are There Flaws With Silman's Imbalances?
Ep. 83 (S6 Premiere): Mastering the Middlegame for Club Players: The Legacy of IM Jeremy Silman
Ep. 82 (S5 Finale): My Opponent is Smoking a Cigarette: Chess Clubs Then vs. Now feat. Brian Karen (Chess Coffee Talk #3)
Ep. 81: The English Opening (1. c4) from Black's Perspective
Ep. 80: Chess Opening Surprises to Trick Your Opponent
Ep. 79: Everybody Loves Ratings
Ep. 78: Cheating at Local Chess Clubs feat. NM Nick Panico (Chess Coffee Talk #2)
Ep. 77: Phantom Tactics, Impatient Pawn Pushes, the Power of 1...Nf6, Nimzo-Indian Defense, Stopping Counterplay, & More (Game Analysis #7)
Ep. 76: Decision Fatigue and Brain Fog at the Chessboard (Game Analysis #6)
Ep. 75: Jessica Hyatt, the Highest-Rated Female African-American Chess Player (with NM Tyrell Harriott)
Ep. 74: Inside the Mind of a Tournament Chess Player feat. Dan Levin
Ep. 73: The Chess Conundrum: Balancing Online and OTB Play
Ep. 72: NM Jerald Times on Mastering the Chessboard: Insights, Strategies, and Transformations
Ep. 71 (S5 Premiere): A Journey to Chess Mastery feat. NM James Altucher
Ep. 70 (S4 Finale): Chess Openings & Using a "Forever" Repertoire (Ep. 1 Reboot)
Ep. 69: Passed Pawns, Piece Sacrifices, & More (Game Analysis #5)
Ep. 68: Weekend Tourneys, Rating "Donators" & More feat. NM Nick Panico (Chess Coffee Talk #1)
Ep. 67: The "Puzzle Rush Plus One" Chess Study Plan for Busy Adults
Ep. 66: Starting Chess at a "Late" Age feat. NM Anthony Levin
Ep. 65: Your First Chess Tournament - Tips & Tricks
Ep. 64: Beating Higher-Rated Opponents: It's Easier Than You Think at the Club Level...
Ep. 63: The French Steiner Variation, 1. e4 e6 2. c4!? & More (Game Analysis #4)
Ep. 62: How To Succeed At Club-Level Time Controls (G/90, G/75, etc.)
Ep. 61: Do Chess Training Programs Work?
Ep. 60: Review of "The Complete Book of Chess Strategy," the Best All-In-One Reference Book for Improvers
Ep. 59: Why Is My Lower-Rated Opponent Playing So Well?
Ep. 58: Gambit Openings, Students Cheating During Lessons, Bishop & Knight Mate, Sandbagging, Time Controls, Improvement & More feat. NM Nick Panico
Ep. 57 (S4 Premiere): GM Alex Lenderman on Adult Improvement, Chess Cheating & More
Ep. 56 (S3 Finale): Active Pieces feat. NY Chess Legend IM Jay Bonin, the "Iron Man of Chess"
Ep. 55: WFM Maaike Keetman on the Nimzo-Indian, Grinding Out Wins, Attacking Play, Openings, & More
Ep. 54: Avoid This Common Pawn Blunder & Other Practical Tournament Tips
Ep. 53: NM Robert Guevara on Why He Declines All Draw Offers
Ep. 52: Chess Improvement and Academia feat. Stephen Wefer, Ph.D.
Ep. 51: Non-Resigners, Faulty Queen Trades, the Jobava London, & More
Ep. 50: Becoming a Chess Master feat. NM Nick Figorito
Ep. 49: Chess Openings Masterclass feat. FM Carsten Hansen
Ep. 48: The Nimzo & Queen's Indian Defenses: A Complete System Against 1. d4
Ep. 47: The Chess Cheating Crisis: Implications for the Amateur Player feat. CM Brian Karen
Ep. 46: The Dangers of Playing Too Literally
Ep. 45: The Truth About Chess Engines for Club Players
Ep. 44: "Waiting" Moves, Chess Podcasts, & Other Musings
Ep. 43: Are Electronic Notation Devices Legit? feat. Joey Troy, Creator of ChessNoteR
Ep. 42: Playing in Tournaments With a Full-Time Job feat. Dan Levin (USCF 1724)
Ep. 41 (S3 Premiere): IM Justus Williams on Chess Improvement, Brooklyn Castle & More
Ep. 40 (S2 Finale): Tournament Strategy feat. GM John Emms
Ep. 39: Endgame Tips for Improvers
Ep. 38: Why Your Rating Is Not Increasing
Ep. 37: The London System for Club Players
Ep. 36: The French Defense for Club Players
Ep. 35: Chess Improvement While Parenting feat. Jay Kleinman (USCF 1915)
Ep. 34: Confidence at the Chessboard (Game Analysis #3)
Ep. 33: Annoying & Distracting Chess Behaviors
Ep. 32: Winning With Off-Book Ideas feat. Jarrod Tavares (USCF 2000)
Ep. 31: The Benefits of Speed Chess feat. NM Tyrell Harriott
Ep. 30: Dubious Study Plans, The Comparison Game, & More
Ep. 29: "The Seven Deadly Chess Sins" (advanced chess psychology)
Ep. 28: Avoiding Mistakes feat. GM Romain Edouard
Ep. 27: Facing Unusual Openings (Game Analysis #2)
Ep. 26: Learning & Improving feat. FM Roger LaFlair
Ep. 25: Chess Club Stories
Ep. 24: Higher & Lower-Rated Opponents (Game Analysis #1)
Ep. 23: The Chess Cheating Epidemic & More: Talking with FM Alex King
Ep. 22: Playing vs. Studying feat. Candidate Master Brian Karen
Ep. 21 (S2 Premiere) : Amateur Chess Myths
Ep. 20 (S1 Finale): Talking with National Master Tim Mirabile
Ep. 19: Do Chess Puzzles Really Help?
Ep. 18: Thematic Amateur Chess Mistakes
Ep. 17: Sneaky Chess Tricks, Swindles, & Head Games
Ep. 16: "Chess for Tigers" by Simon Webb (the best chess psychology primer)
Ep. 15: When It's Your Turn to Move
Ep. 14: Boosting Your Chess Rating in the Modern Era
Ep. 13: Your Opponent's Rating & "Pushy" Chess Parent Anecdotes
Ep. 12: Chess Improvement Hacks for Busy People
Ep. 11: What Chess Players Do When Losing a Game
Ep. 10: When "Internet Players" Join In-Person Tournaments
Ep. 9: Podcast Update Announcement 9-12-21
Ep. 8: Why I Now Like 5-minute Online Chess Games
Ep. 7: Draw Offers, Slumps, & Ego
Ep. 6: Why "The Amateur's Mind" is the Best Chess Book...
Ep. 5: Local Chess Clubs vs. Major Tournaments
Ep. 4: The Flaws of the Swiss System Pairing Method
Ep. 3: Thoughts on Internet Chess & the Pandemic
Ep. 2: Catching a Chess Cheater
Ep. 1: Chess Openings and the Club Player
Ep. 0: Introduction to The Chess Angle