Welcome to The Chess Angle!
The Chess Angle

The Chess Angle

The Chess Angle is the official podcast of the renowned Long Island Chess Club in NY. We discuss chess, tournament play, and improvement at the amateur and club level. Featured guests include titled players and dedicated amateurs. New episodes drop on Sundays. Thank you for listening and we hope you win your next game!

Recent Episodes

Oct. 4, 2025

Ep. 166: The Busy Adult's Guide to Chess Success

Early release! This week we share some thoughts on chess improvement while "adulting." Referenced: (First segment: LICC origin story) (Mailbag Segment: starting a chess club) 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future...
Sept. 28, 2025

Ep. 165: Why I (Probably) Will Never Play in a Weekend Tournament Ever Again

This week we discuss the dark side of weekend chess tournaments in the US. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com . 🎯 Our Links: Website Twitter (X) YouTube ...
Sept. 21, 2025

Ep. 164: Why Is My 900-Rated Opponent Playing Like a Master?

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....
Sept. 14, 2025

Ep. 163: Adult Chess Improvement & Content Creation From a Gen-Z Perspective feat. Anthony Arena

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, a...
Sept. 7, 2025

Ep. 162: Chess Burnout, Defending Against the London, Flagging Your Opponent & More (Listener Mailbag Exclusive)

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 info@the...
July 22, 2025

Ep. 161: Resetting the Board (Back in the Fall)

The Chess Angle will be taking a break for the remainder of the summer. I realized I needed more time to recharge after Season 9, and this pause will allow me to refocus and come back stronger. Thanks for your support - see y...

Reviews

Great for club players and improvers!

"This podcast has quickly climbed the ranks for me and has become one of my favorite and must-listen shows that I listen to. I am a fairly new club player, and I’ve learned a ton from Neal, both in t…"

Tom_Casper | Jan. 21, 2023

Excellent Podcast - I feel like it has REALLY helped my game

"This is a great podcast for the chess enthusiast. I have been listening to it regularly and trying out the tips that are suggested. I feel like it has helped me step up my game. Thank you so much!…"

lasertswift | Sept. 4, 2022

Outstanding adult improvement podcast!!!

"I last played chess on my high school team and have recently returned after nearly a 40 year hiatus. Upon my return I was overwhelmed by the abundance of material that is “out there” and was really c…"

bg000001a | June 25, 2022

Might be the best chess podcast for amateurs

"This is probably my favorite chess podcast. The content and presentation are excellent - well organized, and lots on no-nonsense, practical advice. I like the mix of solo and interview episodes. We…"

BookClub28 | May 23, 2022