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. Web: www.thechessangle.com. Twitter (X): www.twitter.com/TheChessAngle. Email: info@thechessangle.com. Thank you for listening and we hope you win your next game!
Episodes
In this midseason finale episode, Neal talks with Long Island Chess Club regular Steve Rosenblatt for a wide-ranging conversation on adult chess improvement. The two debate whether YouTube videos or Chessable courses are more effective for gaining rating points, while also diving into tournament psychology, study habits, content overload, and the realities of balancing chess with a demanding career. Steve, founder and CEO of a recr...
Most adult chess players are not held back primarily by calculation or opening knowledge. They are held back by ego: the need to look smart, play "real chess," attack beautifully, avoid embarrassment, prove their strength, or force results. The paradox is that the less emotionally attached you are to proving something over the board, the better your decisions become. This episode adapts ideas from...
This week, we revisit The Amateur's Mind by IM Jeremy Silman, this time through the Chessable edition. We've long argued this is the most important book for adult improvers, not because it hands you lines to memorize, but because it rewires how you think. The Chessable version preserv...
Most adult players default to playing more games when they want to improve, but that instinct is often backwards. In this episode, we argue that structured study is the real driver of progress for club players, and explain why playing alone tends to reinforce bad habits. If you've been stuck at the same rating for a while, this might be the shift you need.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-ma...
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.
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.
Lin...
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: How to Beat A Chess Prodigy Read more
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: Nick Plays Chess
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us ...
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: Stud...
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...
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): The Role of Deliberate Practice in Chess Expertise
- Reddit ...
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 info@thechessangle...
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:
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...
A new year means a fresh chance to improve, but only if you have a plan that actually fits your real life. In this Season 11 premiere, Neal dives into the Listener Mailbag and then shares a practical, no-nonsense framework for building a 2026 chess improvement plan that works for busy adult players. Whether you're aiming to gain rating points, play more confidently, or just stop spinning your wheels, this episode will help you star...
It's the Season 10 finale, so we're emptying the mailbag and tackling your chess improvement questions head-on, from study habits and rating plateaus to tournament nerves and adult time constraints. Season 11 coming soon...
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.
🎯 Our Links:
In this episode, we explore how small, almost trivial adjustments can quietly transform your chess over time. From simple blunder checks to minor mindset shifts, these micro-tweaks often deliver more improvement than major overhauls, especially for busy adult players. We give examples of small changes that create lasting, compounding results in your game.
Referenced:
- The Czech Pirc Defense (YouTube)
In this episode, Neal is joined by fellow amateur and LI Chess Club regular Austin Olson, a 25-year-old merchandising specialist, to break down the long-standing Lichess vs. Chess.com debate from the perspective of the busy adult club player. We compare features, training tools, community, and overall value, and also offer practical tips for getting the most out of both sites, minus the online drama.
This week, we continue our conversation about best practices for online chess and riff about blitz vs. rapid for the amateur player.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.
🎯 Our Links:
In this episode, we discuss how to play online chess in a way that actually helps your over-the-board results. Neal shares his simple, practical method for structuring online sessions so you train with intention instead of just clicking moves. If you've ever felt like your online grind isn't translating to real improvement, this one's for you.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info...
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