Episodes

In this episode, we tackle two very different challenges for club players: the Nimzo-Indian Defense and facing those fearless, fast-moving, and sometimes poorly behaved junior opponents at tournaments. Game Referenced: 1. d4 ...

You’ve heard the quote: “When you see a good move, look for a better one.” Sounds smart - until it makes you overthink every position. In this episode, we talk about why perfectionism hurts amateur chess improvement and how t...

They study eight hours a day - you study between work meetings and bedtime. They’ve memorized the entire Najdorf - you’ve memorized your kids’ soccer schedule. In this episode, we talk about how to take on the true chess dieh...

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...

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 ...

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....

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...

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...

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...

This week's show begins with some Listener Mailbag questions about opening choices. We then discuss the concept of "Old Man" Chess, which emphasizes a safe, ultra-solid, and risk-averse playing style that is often very effect...

In this episode, Neal shares his experience from a recent night at the LI Chess Club, discussing the challenges of tournament conditions and the nature of 'ugly wins.' The conversation transitions into listener questions, cov...

Many club-level players follow a highly structured study plan but have poor tournament results. We explore this phenomenon and offer some possible solutions. Referenced: Reset: How to Change What's Not Working (Amazon) Chess ...

Welcome to Season 10! This week we discuss 1...e6, blitz chess, using the King in the endgame, and more. Referenced: Blitz is Screwing Up Your Thought Process Ep. 100: The Hippopotamus Defense and Other Chess Opening Systems ...

This is the S9 Finale. S10 Premiere coming soon. In the meantime, check out the which has instructional videos for busy adult players. We're looking to get the channel fully off the ground and add more content on a consistent basis. Game...

In this episode, we dive into the hidden challenges adult players face when returning to chess after a long break, and the powerful mindset shifts that separate those who thrive from those who quit. Whether you’re battling se...

In this Listener Mailbag exclusive, we discuss whether prepping for specific opponents is worth it at the amateur level, and a bunch of other stuff too... 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode,...

This week is all about chess opening philosophy. We discuss a number of ideas about opening prep and argue that having the White pieces does not provide any meaningful advantage at the club level since most amateur games are ...

This week we discuss endgame strategy for club players and some other stuff as well. Grinding out a win in an "even" endgame is a mixture of patience, stubbornness, and luck. A .pgn for the game we analyze is below. We refere...

A number of years ago, GM Andy Soltis claimed that once a chess player becomes serious about the game, there is an 8-year window during which he achieves 90% of his maximum chess potential. Anything beyond that time frame is ...

The Jobava London (1. d4, 2. Nc3, 3. Bf4) is an opening system that is easy to learn, yet still has a lot of sting, especially against ...g6 set-ups by Black. It can easily throw off an opponent who's expecting to face a stan...

This episode is a review of the chess.com course . This is a highly recommended training module for adult players looking to improve. We also share some chess club stories, dive into the Listener Mailbag, and react to a . 📧 If you have a...

This week we discuss ratings and improvement for busy adults. You may wish to check out the referenced in this episode. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:

This episode is a thematic analysis of an amateur game with takeaways that are instruction rich. Topics covered: Bird's Opening (1. f4) Unnecessary defensive moves Sacrificing pieces Material vs. Initiative Calculation Centra...

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...