The Chess Angle

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 just squeezing out the remaining 10%. NM Tim Mirabile returns to the podcast to discuss this theory and a bunch of other chess improvement topics. In this episode we reference this chess.com article and a post ...

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 standard London formation. The theory and ideas are fairly simple, making it a great choice for those with limited study time. Much of the info in this episode is referenced from the book 

This episode is a review of the chess.com course "Build Your Technique" by FM Thomas Wolski. 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 chess.com article about common online time controls. 

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea ...

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
• Central Control

Referenced:

• Guide to a Successful Chess Club
• Game analyzed (G/90;d10): 

This episode is a response to FM Nate Solon's excellent blog posts I Don’t Like Chess Tournaments and What Would a Fun Chess Tournament Look Like?

Neal reacts and shares his thoughts on weekend events including the following:

• The ideal time control & round times 
• Delay vs. increment
• Club e...

In this conversation, Neal and return guest NM Andy Ansel dive into the world of correspondence chess, exploring its nuances, challenges, and Andy’s pursuit of the International Master (IM) norm. They discuss the differences between over-the-board and correspondence chess, the importance of openings, tips for those new to correspondence play, and the impact of technology on the game. Andy explains the dynamics of playing multiple g...

5-0 blitz games can be an excellent chess improvement tool when used properly and judiciously. In this episode, we offer tips, tricks, and best practices.

Referenced:

• Ep. 122: Online Blitz Chess and Adult Improvement

📧 If you have a question, comment, or topic idea for a future episode, e-mail us at info@thechessangle.com.

🎯 Our Links: 

• Website
• ...

This 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...

This week's pod is a dedicated Listener Mailbag episode. We challenge some of the pushback that's out there about IM Jeremy Silman's system of imbalances and discuss some other topics as well.

Referenced:

• Ep. 83 (S6 Premiere): Mastering the Middlegame for Club Players: The Legacy of IM Jeremy Silman

This week we dive into what separates winning amateur chess players from the rest - and what’s often just noise and distraction. We break down the skills, habits, and strategies that lead to consistent tournament success and explore common misconceptions that don’t actually impact performance as much as people think. 

Referenced:

You guys asked for more tournament stories, so this week Neal goes into full TD mode to discuss recent antics and shenanigans from the Long Island Chess Club. You can't make this stuff up! This is followed by an extended Listener Mailbag segment.

Referenced: 

• Ep. 45: The Truth About Chess Engines for Club Players

This week we discuss a chess improvement philosophy based on the book Black Box Thinking: Why Most People Never Learn from Their Mistakes--But Some Do (Amazon) by Matthew Syed. We also cover some additional topics from our Listener Mailbag.

Chapters:

• Intro & Listener Mailbag
• Playing Unrated Games & Bots Online
• Facing the London System
• The "Black Box" Theory of Chess Impro...

This week, Neal discusses the infamous "hand hover" at OTB events and other topics related to chess improvement and tournament strategy.

Chapters:

• Intro & Listener Mailbag
• Thoughts on Chess Coaching
• How to Handle Fatigue
• Taking Byes
• Dealing with Nerves and Composure
• Hand-Hovering at Tournaments
• Know Your Basic Mates!
• Consistency
• Identifying and Addressing Weaknesses

Referenced: Practical Chess Exercises (Amazon)

📧 If yo...