Ep. 154: Wasted Prep? Why Your Opponent-Specific Prep Might Be Useless Below 2000
Release Date: 05/25/2025
Ep. 187: The 2200 Myth: Why Most Adult Chess Players Won’t Make Master
The Chess Angle
Most adult amateurs quietly carry the same goal: reach Master. In this episode, we take an honest look at why that milestone is so elusive: time constraints, training demands, a competitive player pool, and the realities of adult learning. More importantly, we talk about what is achievable, and how to pursue improvement in a way that’s both realistic and rewarding. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 186: GM Daniel Gormally on "Untold: Chess Mates," the Netflix Special About the Magnus/Hans Cheating Controversy
The Chess Angle
GM Daniel Gormally returns to the pod to unpack Netflix’s Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary covering the Magnus Carlsen - Hans Niemann controversy. We separate the signal from the noise, offering a candid, player-level perspective on one of chess’s most bizarre modern sagas. Links for GM Daniel Gormally: 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 185: The Adult Amateur’s Guide to Defeating Chess Prodigies
The Chess Angle
In this episode, we react to a recent article on how to beat chess prodigies and what adult amateurs tend to get wrong when facing underrated kids. We break down practical strategies like avoiding tactical chaos and forcing long, patient games. If you’ve ever sat down across from a 10-year-old and immediately felt in trouble, this one’s for you. 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. 184: Real Talk on Chess Improvement for Adults feat. Nick Visel
The Chess Angle
Fellow chess amateur and blogger Nick Visel returns to the pod to talk about the nuts and bolts of improving as an adult player. We cover endgames, openings, and the psychological habits that separate steady improvers from those stuck in place. Think of this as a reality check - with a roadmap. Referenced: Nick's Substack: 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 183: Online Chess Has a Clock Problem
The Chess Angle
Time delay or an increment has become the norm in over-the-board tournaments, but online chess still largely ignores it. In this episode, we break down why using an increment leads to better games, fairer outcomes, and more instructive endgames, and why the current no-increment culture misses the mark. We also react to a lively Reddit debate on why no-increment chess still dominates online play. Referenced: Lichess Study: Reddit Post: 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 182: Chess Ratings and the Luck Factor
The Chess Angle
We like to think chess is pure skill, but at the amateur level, luck plays a bigger role than most players realize. In this episode, we break down how blunders, pairings, time pressure, and your opponent’s mood can all influence your results and rating. More importantly, we talk about how to think about luck the right way so you don’t misjudge your own progress. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 181: Why “Just Playing a Lot” is a Chess Improvement Myth
The Chess Angle
Many adult chess improvers start with the same plan: just play a lot of games and the rating will climb. At first, that actually works - until it doesn’t. In this episode, we talk about why the “just play more games” philosophy causes most amateurs to eventually hit a plateau and why deliberate study is the key to breaking through it. Referenced: Research Study (2005): Reddit Post (2024): 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 180: My Complete Switch to Lichess
The Chess Angle
This week, Neal discusses why he recently made a full switch to lichess.org for playing his online games and why the platform works better for his day-to-day chess routine. He still uses chesscom, but only for news, articles, and their lesson library. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
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Ep. 179: When to Sac a Piece in Amateur Chess Games
The Chess Angle
In this episode, we tackle one of the most tempting (and dangerous) questions in amateur chess: when should you sacrifice a piece? Instead of carelessly chasing “!!” moves, we break down when your sac might be sound and when it's likely to fail. 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. 178: The Most Dangerous Player in the Room: "Unrated"
The Chess Angle
In this episode, Neal confesses a hard truth: his most dreaded opponents aren’t Masters - they’re “unrated” and “lower-rated” opponents who absolutely do not play like their numbers suggest. We talk about underrated players, rating lag, adult improvers on the rise, and why underestimating your opponent is the fastest way to donate a point. If you’ve ever sat down thinking “this should be fine” and immediately regretted it, this one’s for you. 📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at . 🎯 Our Links:
info_outlineIn 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 info@thechessangle.com.
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