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 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...
It's another listener mailbag episode! We answer your questions about adult chess improvement, balancing study with real life, and everything in between. Plus, we share a few listener comments that hit close to home for the club player grind.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.
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Between work, family, and everything else, who has time to learn 20 moves of opening theory? The Colle System offers a solid, low-maintenance way to get a good game every time. Learn the basic plans, the Colle–Zukertort twist, and why this simple setup still scores at the club level.
Referenced:
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 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 Bxc3 5. Bxc3 Ne4 6. Bb4 d6 7. Qc2 f5 8. e3 b6 9. f3 Nf6 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. Bc3 O-O 12. Nh3 Bb7 13. Ng5 Qd7 14. e4 fxe4 15. fxe4 e5 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. O-O-O h6 18. Nf3 Nxd3+ 19. Qxd3 ...
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 to play more practical, confident moves.
Referenced:
- When You See a Good Move, Look for a Better One (chesscom blog)
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 diehards with solid fundamentals, smart preparation, and the right mindset.
Referenced:
Early release! This week we share some thoughts on chess improvement while "adulting."
Referenced:
- Ep. 25: Chess Club Stories (First segment: LICC origin story)
- Ep. 76: Decision Fatigue and Brain Fog at the Chessboard (Game Analysis #6) (Mailbag Segment: starting a chess club)
- Guide to a Successful Chess Club
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.
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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. Welcome to modern tournament chess! This episode is a response to this Reddit post.
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.
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<...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, and more.
Links for Anthony Arena:
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.
🎯 Our Links:
<...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@thechessangle.com.
🎯 Our Links:
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 info@thechessangle.com.
🎯 Our Links:
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
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, emphasiz...
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 for Tigers (Amazon)
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.
🎯 Our Links:
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 for Black
📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.
🎯 Our Lin...
This is the S9 Finale. S10 Premiere coming soon. In the meantime, check out the Long Island Chess Club YouTube Channel 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...
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