National Master Nick Panico returns to the podcast for our first "coffee talk" episode. These episodes will feature a guest and include the full conversation, including the pre/post interview segments that are typically off-air. Essentially, we'll press "record," let it run, and publish the whole thing. We covered a variety of topics for amateur players of all levels. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected] . Our links: Website Twitter YouTu...
May 07, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 68
Neal plays a round of Puzzle Rush during the episode! For most of us, "life happens," and lengthy chess study sessions are not possible on a consistent basis. Neal recently created a simple, condensed study routine that can be used intermittently when life gets busy. This allows your chess abilities to stay sharp during those times. The basic idea is a daily study plan of about 15-30 minutes (as your schedule allows) consisting of one 5-minute Puzzle Rush, followed by one other short segment of ...
Apr 30, 2023•38 min
For this interview episode, Neal spoke with National Master Anthony Levin, a NY based chess player and the News Manager for chess.com. Anthony shared his insights on adult improvement and his own personal journey. Talking points include the following: Puzzle Rush vs. speed chess The mythical "phase out" of classical chess Anthony's role as News Manager for chess.com Chess improvement tips Endgame realities for amateur players Referenced: Shereshevsky's Endgame Strategy Smyslov's Endgame Virtuoso...
Apr 23, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 66
Live, over-the-board (OTB) tournament play is the ultimate in chess competition. It's fun, exciting, and aesthetically pleasing. However, rated chess events are not always unicorns and rainbows. There's a harsh reality to tournament play that is often omitted from the discourse on chess. Neal discusses some hard truths about tournaments, shares some of his own personal journey as a player and TD, and provides some tips and tricks along the way. Some of this episode's talking points include the f...
Apr 16, 2023•58 min•Ep. 65
This episode offers some direct and pragmatic ideas for club players when facing a higher-rated opponent. Talking points include the following: Why chess generally hates the underdog Why there's often more pressure on the higher-rated player Upsets happen quite often at the amateur level Is creating complications the ONLY way to beat these players? (hint: no) An effective mindset approach that you probably haven't tried before Strategic draw offers to place pressure on your opponent Referenced: ...
Apr 09, 2023•28 min
This week's episode is a thematic analysis of an amateur game featuring the Steiner Variation of the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2. c4!?). Some other common French sidelines are discussed as well. Additional talking points include the following: Queenside castling The Hedgehog formation Does it make sense to to "prep for an opponent" at the club level? Blind spots when analyzing Game Referenced: 1. e4 e6 2. c4!? b6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 Bxc3 5. dxc3 h6 6. Qd4 Qf6 7. e5 Qe7 8. Bf4 Bb7 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Qd3 ...
Apr 02, 2023•35 min•Ep. 63
This episode covers so-called "club-level" time controls, such as G/90 and G/60. These usually include a time delay ranging from 5 - 30 seconds per move. Neal also shares his thoughts on speed chess as it relates to amateur players and improvement. In addition, some helpful resources that may be underutilized by many are discussed. Additional talking points include the following: The (imaginary) decline of slow time controls DAUT: Don't Analyze Unnecessary Tactics* Your puzzle rating or online r...
Mar 26, 2023•42 min•Ep. 62
This week's episode discusses study plans, training programs, and improvement as it relates to the amateur and club player. If you have a question or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected] . Our links: Website Twitter YouTube Facebook E-mail: [email protected] The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses!...
Mar 19, 2023•41 min•Ep. 61
This episode is a review of The Complete Book of Chess Strategy (Amazon) by IM Jeremy Silman. This is an excellent all-in-one reference book for improvers and club players, covering all phases of the game as well as practical matters (blunders, time pressure, chess psychology, etc.). Neal shares his thoughts on how the concepts in this book apply to the amateur tournament scene. Talking points include the following: The "cat and mouse" technique Opening principles and the correct way to develop ...
Mar 12, 2023•40 min•Ep. 60
This episode explores the psychology of facing a lower-rated opponent who is playing really well. This is often highly frustrating for tournament players. Many times, however, it's more about your own mindset than your opponent's abilities. Conversely, this episode will explain the "ratings walk" phenomenon when facing a higher-rated opponent. Have a question or topic for consideration in a future episode? E-mail us at [email protected] . Mentioned: Chess for Tigers (Amazon) The Survival Gu...
Mar 05, 2023•46 min•Ep. 59
This week I spoke with National Master Nick Panico. Nick is a fellow educator with a background in science and has also been active as a storm chaser. Nick shared his vast experience from the amateur chess scene and our conversation went in a lot of interesting directions. Some of our talking points include the following: Tips for improvers The amateur tournament scene Should you play gambit openings? Cheating & sandbagging Bishop & knight mate Nick's journey to NM Online vs. OTB chess O...
Feb 26, 2023•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 58
To kick off Season 4, Neal spoke with Grandmaster Alex Lenderman. Alex resides in Brooklyn, NY where he was a member of the famous chess team at Edward R. Murrrow HS that won multiple national high school titles. This was depicted in the 2007 book The Kings of New York (retitled Game of Kings ) by Michael Weinreb (Amazon). Alex was the winner of the 2021 US Open and is active as a chess coach for both children and adults. Some of this episode's talking points include the following: Why many adul...
Feb 19, 2023•58 min•Ep. 57
The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! This week's episode is our Season 3 Finale and features International Master Jay Bonin, a legend of the New York chess scene. He is one of the most active tournament players ever, having amassed an estimated 30K - 40K rated OTB games, sometimes playing over 700 games in one year. As such, he is known as the "Iron Man of Chess." Neal spoke with Jay recently via phone where he shared his experiences and knowledge...
Jan 22, 2023•40 min•Ep. 56
The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! This week's episode features WFM Maaike Keetman. We covered a number of important topics for adult improvers and amateur players. Maaike is the VP of Content for Chessable and is active with the ChessQueens Foundation which promotes the game of chess for women and girls in the Netherlands. Her Chessable course, The Fierce Nimzo-Indian , is designed for amateur players and is highly recommended. Some of our talk...
Jan 15, 2023•50 min•Ep. 55
The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! This episode offers some practical advice and insight for improvers and emerging tournament players. Some of the talking points include: How many games a year do you need to play to increase your OTB rating? Should you get up from the board during your game? How tournament pairing rules often make increasing your rating difficult A common pawn blunder to avoid Book study vs. digital/online study Mentioned: The ...
Jan 08, 2023•48 min•Ep. 54
The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! Offering or accepting a draw is often a critical decision in a chess game and is the subject of much discussion and debate. Our guest this week, National Master Robert Guevara, is a tenacious player who declines virtually every draw offer thrown his way. He explains his reasoning for doing so, and it's not because of an obsession with winning. His thought process is highly instructive. We covered some other are...
Dec 18, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 53
The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! This episode is dedicated to all of the school teachers out there. Our guest this week, Dr. Stephen Wefer, is an adult improver (USCF 1691), HS science teacher, and Long Island Chess Club regular. He has also worked as an adjunct professor. We spoke about academia, chess improvement, tournaments, and a lot more. Some of our talking points include the following: Applying an academic mindset to chess improvement ...
Dec 11, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 52
The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! In this solo episode, Neal shares some thoughts on a number of topics related to tournament chess. Talking points include: Non-resigning in overwhelmingly worse positions with no time-pressure issues Queen trade blunders Are online ratings legit or a sham? The Jobava London System (1. d4 2. Nc3 3. Bf4) Resources for the Jobava London: The Jobava London System by GM Simon Williams (Amazon paperback) The Jobava L...
Dec 04, 2022•34 min•Ep. 51
Nick Figorito is a member of the Long Island Chess Club who recently earned the title of National Master (USCF 2200). In this episode, Nick shares his journey to Master, busts some common chess improvement myths, and offers some additional insight. Nick can be reached at [email protected]. Some of our talking points include: Is there a "formula" or systematic study plan to achieve a Master rating? Can anyone make Master? Nick's surprising viewpoint on opening theory Why he hates the Najdorf Si...
Nov 20, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 50
The Chess Angle is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! Fide Master Carsten Hansen is a prolific writer who has authored an astounding 46 chess books and is a #1 best selling author on Amazon. Recently published books include The Anti-Alapin Gambit and The Chess Wizardry of Wotawa , co-authored with Cyrus Lakdawala. Carsten is also an active chess coach and trainer. In addition, he is working to achieve an IM title, and does all this while holding down a full-time d...
Nov 13, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 49
This episode is a primer on the Nimzo & Queen's Indian Defenses for adult improvers and club-level players. These two openings can be used as a complete system against 1. d4. Fighting for control of the e4-square is a major theme. Lines discussed include the following: NIMZO-INDIAN: Rubenstein Variation with 4...b6: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 (5. Nge2 Ne4!) 6. Nf3 Ne4! Classical Variation with 4...0-0: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4! 7...
Nov 06, 2022•47 min•Ep. 48
Candidate Master and renowned chess educator Brian Karen returns to the podcast to discuss the chess cheating crisis as it relates to the amateur player, among other topics. Some of our talking points include: How the prevalence of chess cheating is affecting amateur events Why the Carlsen/Niemann controversy has become irritating & tiresome Are cheat detection algorithms legitimate? Chess coaching philosophies Why do many players drop out of tournaments after losing just one game ? Are larg...
Oct 30, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 47
Neal discusses the dangers of playing chess too literally or "inside the box." Sometimes deviating from conventional chess principles is a smart play. ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! ♟ Our links: Website Twitter YouTube Facebook Support the Show E-mail: [email protected]...
Oct 23, 2022•24 min•Ep. 46
Analyzing your tournament games with a computer program such as Fritz or Stockfish is perhaps the most important component of any improvement plan. However, using a chess engine can sometimes be confusing at the amateur level. In this episode, we review some tips on how club players can use an engine effectively to improve. Some of our talking points include: Why +/= or =/+ is really the same as = Identifying inflection points in your game A technique to avoid repeating a mistake in future tourn...
Oct 16, 2022•26 min•Ep. 45
💻Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel! 💻 We have preview clips for select episodes and are gradually adding content. Please join our community! This season's first solo episode is divided into two main segments with some additional subtopics thrown in. First, Neal argues that "waiting" moves or "passive" moves can sometimes be very effective and possibly the best choice in certain situations. Next, he shares his thoughts on the chess podcasting space. Our links: Website Twitter YouT...
Oct 09, 2022•46 min•Ep. 44
💻Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel! 💻 We have preview clips for select episodes and are gradually adding content. Please join our community! ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! ♟ Electronic Notation Devices (ENDs) offer a convenient way for players to keep score during chess tournaments. No more messy scoresheets or missing moves. ENDs, however, have their detractors, with some worried that players can cheat by sideloading a chess e...
Oct 02, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 43
💻Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel! 💻 We have preview clips for select episodes and are gradually adding content. Please join our community! ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable . Check out a list of our favorite courses! ♟ We've all heard of players who study several hours a day. Nice work if you can get it, but that's not viable for most adult improvers who have responsibilities and commitments outside of chess. My guest this week is Dan Levin, a Long Island Chess Club regul...
Sep 25, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 42
♟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! ♟ For this Season 3 Premier, Neal spoke with IM Justus Williams. Justus is featured prominently in the 2012 chess documentary Brooklyn Castle , which chronicles the famous chess team from Intermediate School 318 in Brooklyn, NY. At age 12, he was the youngest African American to achieve the NM title. Currently, Justus runs Black...
Sep 18, 2022•49 min•Ep. 41
🎤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! ♟ Grandmaster John Emms is a distinguished chess professional. He is one of the UK's top players, as well as a prolific writer, educator, and chess coach. The bulk of our conversation focused on his amazing (and highly recommended) book, The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess (Amazon). Clu...
Jul 31, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 40
🎤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 is a discussion of common endgame ideas, themes, and mistakes at the club level. Mentioned: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (Amazon) Recommended Resources: Silman's Complete Endgame Course by Jeremy Silman (Amazon) Pandolfini's Endgame Course by Bruce Pandolfini (Amazo...
Jul 24, 2022•43 min•Ep. 39
