Ep. 161: Resetting the Board (Back in the Fall)
The Chess Angle
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 you in the fall! ♟️🎙️ 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 160: “Old Man” Chess: The Slow, Boring Way to Win More Games
The Chess Angle
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 effective at the club level. The conversation also explores the balance between tactical and positional play, the advantages and disadvantages of "Old Man" Chess, and insights from this . 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 159: Chess Opening Systems for White & More
The Chess Angle
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, covering topics such as the value of attending chess clubs, the etiquette surrounding draw offers, and the effectiveness of coaching for improvement. Neal also discusses various opening systems for White, emphasizing the importance of having a set repertoire while being open to mixing strategies. The final segment is a commentary on the excellent article . This...
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Ep. 158: Why Your Fancy Chess Study Plan and Four-Year Book Hierarchy Aren't Working
The Chess Angle
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: (Amazon) (Amazon) 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links: The Amazon links above are affiliate links. Qualifying purchases help support this podcast at no additional cost to you.
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Ep. 157 (S10 Premiere): 1...e6 vs. EVERYTHING, Does Blitz Mess Up Your Thought Process?, & More
The Chess Angle
Welcome to Season 10! This week we discuss 1...e6, blitz chess, using the King in the endgame, and more. Referenced: 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 156 (S9 Finale): The THREE Things You Need to Know to Beat 1. d4, Common Beginner Mistakes, Spite Checks, and Stalemate Fantasies
The Chess Angle
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 Referenced: 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 Ne4 8. Bxe4 dxe4 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. O-O Rd8 13. Nd2 e5 14. Nxe4 Qe6 15. Qf3 b6 16. Ng5 Qg6 17. Qxa8 Qxg5 18. Qf3 Re8 19. dxe5 Rxe5 20. Rad1 h6 21. Rd2 Bf5 22. Qa8+ Kh7 23. f4 Qg3 24. fxe5 Qxe3+ 25. Rdf2 Bxh3 26. gxh3 Qg3+ 27. Qg2 Qxg2+ 28. Kxg2 c5 29....
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Ep. 155: Why Many Adults Give Up on Chess, and How You Can Be the Exception
The Chess Angle
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 self-doubt, time constraints, or rating plateaus, this episode offers real talk and practical strategies to help you stay motivated, set realistic goals, and rediscover the joy of the game. We also share the "driveway method" to help shake off a tough loss. This was referenced in this episode. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode,...
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Ep. 154: Wasted Prep? Why Your Opponent-Specific Prep Might Be Useless Below 2000
The Chess Angle
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, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 153: There is NO Advantage to Having the White Pieces at the Amateur Level
The Chess Angle
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 littered with mistakes, thus negating any possible benefit of moving first. The basis of this episode is a response to the excellent article by NM Jeremy Kane. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 152: Grinding Out Endgame Wins at the Club Level (Game Analysis #14)
The Chess Angle
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 reference the highly recommended book (Amazon) by GM John Emms, . 1. Nf3 b6 2. g3 Bb7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. c4 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. d3 c5 8. e4 d6 9. Nd2 Nc6 10. f4 Qd7 11. g4 Nd4 12. g5 Ne8 13. Nf3 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Nc7 15. Be3 d5 16. Bf2 dxc4 17. dxc4 Qxd1 18. Raxd1 Rad8 19. Kg2 f6 20. h4 fxg5 21. hxg5 Bc6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rd1 Rxd1 24. Bxd1 Kf7 25. Be3 Bd6 26. Bf3 g6 27. e5...
info_outlineThis 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:
- Ep. 61: Do Chess Training Programs Work?
- Ep. 105 (S7 Premiere): Declutter Your Chess Study Plan
- Build Your Technique by FM Thomas Wolski
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at [email protected].
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