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Episodes

March 30, 2025

Ep. 146: Better Tournaments, Better Chess: Creating Ideal Playing Con…

This episode is a response to FM Nate Solon's excellent blog posts and Neal reacts and shares his thoughts on weekend events including the following: The ideal time control & round times  Delay vs. increment Club events vs. weekend...

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March 23, 2025

Ep. 145: Correspondence Chess Success feat. NM Andy Ansel

In this conversation, Neal and return guest NM Andy Ansel dive into the world of correspondence chess, exploring its nuances, challenges, and Andy’s pursuit of the International Master (IM) norm. They discuss the differences between over-the-board...

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March 16, 2025

Ep. 144: Speed Chess Secrets: How 5-0 Blitz Can Supercharge Your Skil…

5-0 blitz games can be an excellent chess improvement tool when used properly and judiciously. In this episode, we offer tips, tricks, and best practices. Referenced: 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail...

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March 9, 2025

Ep. 143: Formal Chess Study Plans: Essential or Overhyped?

This week we discuss whether highly structured study plans are practical for busy amateurs. Neal concludes by sharing his own plan (HINT: it’s not complicated). Referenced: 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future...

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March 2, 2025

Ep. 142: The Tactics vs. Imbalances Debate

This week's pod is a dedicated Listener Mailbag episode. We challenge some of the pushback that's out there about IM Jeremy Silman's system of imbalances and discuss some other topics as well. Referenced: (Amazon) (YouTube) Father/Daughter Chess...

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Feb. 23, 2025

Ep. 141: What Actually Wins Chess Tournaments (And What’s Just Noise)

This week we dive into what separates winning amateur chess players from the rest - and what’s often just noise and distraction. We break down the skills, habits, and strategies that lead to consistent tournament success and explore common...

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Feb. 16, 2025

Ep. 140: Chess Tournament Trickery & Shenanigans

You guys asked for more tournament stories, so this week Neal goes into full TD mode to discuss recent antics and shenanigans from the Long Island Chess Club. You can't make this stuff up! This is followed by an extended Listener Mailbag segment....

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Feb. 9, 2025

Ep. 139: The "Black Box" Method of Chess Improvement

This week we discuss a chess improvement philosophy based on the book (Amazon) by Matthew Syed. We also cover some additional topics from our Listener Mailbag. Chapters: Intro & Listener Mailbag Playing Unrated Games & Bots Online Facing the...

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Feb. 2, 2025

Ep. 138: "Hand Hovering" at Chess Tournaments, Why We Lose Games, & M…

This week, Neal discusses the infamous "hand hover" at OTB events and other topics related to chess improvement and tournament strategy. Chapters: Intro & Listener Mailbag Thoughts on Chess Coaching How to Handle Fatigue Taking Byes Dealing with...

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Jan. 26, 2025

Ep. 137: Chess Improvement Over Age 50

is available on our . In this episode we discuss chess improvement and tournament strategies for players over 50 with some additional topics from our Listener Mailbag. Chapters: Intro and Listener Mailbag Winning Won Positions Spectator...

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Jan. 19, 2025

Ep. 136: The Truth About Rook and Pawn Endings

is available on our . First, Neal engages with listener feedback, discussing their chess improvement journeys and suggestions for future episodes. The conversation then transitions into an exploration of rook and pawn endings, emphasizing...

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Jan. 12, 2025

Ep. 135: Hidden Chess Mistakes No One's Talking About

is available on our . This week we discuss the importance of calculation, the choice between rapid and blitz games, and ten common hidden mistakes that players of all levels make. These mistakes range from erroneous pawn grabs to...

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Jan. 5, 2025

Ep. 134 (S9 Premiere): Is the London System for Lazy Players? and oth…

is available on our . Welcome to Season 9! This episode is a response to the Reddit post  Neal discusses various topics, including the importance of analyzing both wins and losses, the debate surrounding the London System, and the...

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Dec. 20, 2024

Ep. 133 (Bonus Episode!): Stop Obsessing & Start Winning at Chess

is available on our . This episode is a pre-season bonus pod. Season 9 of the podcast begins on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Moving forward, all episodes will have a full video version on our , so whether you prefer to watch or listen, we've got you...

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Nov. 3, 2024

Ep. 132 (S8 Finale): Chess Teaching, Part 2: Materials, Resources, & …

This episode is our Season 8 Finale! Neal will be taking an extended end-of-year break and will return with Season 9 in January 2025. This week, we continue our discussion on chess teaching with a focus on materials, resources, and essential concepts...

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Oct. 27, 2024

Ep. 131: Thoughts on Chess Teaching, Part 1: Philosophy & Structure

What are the qualities of a good chess coach? How can one become a chess teacher? How should lessons be organized and scheduled? This episode is Part One of Two about chess teaching from both the teacher and student point of view. This week we focus...

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Oct. 20, 2024

Ep. 130: Online Chess Cheating

This week, we share our thoughts about online chess cheating. We believe it is rampant, while the online servers seem to downplay the amount of cheating taking place. We hypothesize that cheaters are using specific methods in an attempt to avoid...

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Oct. 13, 2024

Ep. 129: Seven Attacking Tips for Club-Level Chess Players

This week, Neal discusses attacking play for the amateur player. Arguably, club players should approach attacks differently than titled players. This episode is divided into three segments: Listener Mailbag (elderly advice, withdrawing from tourneys,...

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Oct. 6, 2024

Ep. 128: Boosting Your Chess Rating & Higher-Rated Opponents (Game An…

Beating or drawing higher-rated opponents stems from winning the psychological game, since attempting to outplay them based solely on chess skill usually fails. We also discuss the following: Stop doing THIS and your rating will increase Opening...

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Sept. 29, 2024

Ep. 127: Chess Study Plans & Formulas, the Club-Level Thought Process…

James Nidds is a 58-year-old amateur player and LI Chess Club regular rated 1808 (US Chess) at the time of this recording. He offers a great deal of advice and perspective on chess improvement as an adult. Talking points include the following &...

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Sept. 22, 2024

Ep. 126: Should You Ever Withdraw From a Chess Tournament?

🎯 Please SUBSCRIBE to our ! After much planning and preparation, you're excited to play in a 6-round weekend event, but find yourself 0-3 heading into round 4 and feeling frustrated and dejected. Should you finish out the tournament or...

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Sept. 15, 2024

Ep. 125: Are Adult Improvers "Good" at Chess?

🎯 Please SUBSCRIBE to our ! What are the qualifications to be a "good" chess player? This week's episode is a reaction to the Reddit post We cover the following and more: Should you tell your opponent he forgot to press his clock? How to play...

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Sept. 8, 2024

Ep. 124: Are Amateur Players Qualified to Coach Chess?

This week's offering is a dedicated Listener Mailbag episode. We cover the following and more: Using "inflection points" to improve Does using a chess engine "turn off your brain?" Should you study with an amateur chess coach? Is rating deflation...

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Sept. 1, 2024

Ep. 123: The Most Confusing Chess Concepts for Developing Players

This week's episode is a response to the Reddit post At the time of this recording, there were over 150 responses. The following concepts, among others, were frequently cited as being difficult to understand: Pawn play En passant Rook and pawn...

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