The Chess Angle

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle ♟This podcast is sponsored by Chessable. Neal is currently enjoying the course entitled The Agile London System, based on the book of the same name.♟ We've all been there: the opponent who won't sit still or who keeps adjusting every piece. Distracting behavior at the chess board can be so infuriating that it adversely affects your results. In this episode, we discuss many of these behaviors and offer some solutions (hint: SAY SOMETHING to your opponent or call the TD over). Some of the behaviors mentioned include: repeated draw offers incessant fidgeting "acknowledgers" and "sighers" tapping hand hovering Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @TheChessAngle  For this interview episode, I spoke with USCF Expert Jarrod Tavares. Jarrod is an amateur/club player who has achieved tournament success with an unconventional, anti-book style. Amateur players and adult improvers of all levels should find this conversation enlightening and provocative. Some of our talking points include: Should the London System be banned from chess?😉 Endgame theory and the amateur player Making unconventional moves to get into your opponent's head The importance of confidence The psychology of draw offers Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

🎤NEW Twitter page for the podcast: @TheChessAngle 🎤Be sure to follow us! While some favor slower time controls, blitz & rapid games are more popular than ever, mainly due to the explosion of online chess. Can speed chess actually help you in slow games and improve your chess overall? National Master Tyrell Harriott believes it can. Tyrell is very active in the New York chess scene and runs the Kings of Queens Chess Club. He also streams on his YouTube channel. Tyrell shared some great insight on the benefits of speed chess, as well as his approach to playing and his thought process. Some of our talking points include: Chess in the parks of New York City The importance of time delay/increments Mindset & attitude Using a consistent opening repertoire How quick time controls can help you improve Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Are you constantly comparing your chess progress to that of others? Are four, five, or six-hour-a-day study plans effective for amateur players? I offer opinions on these topics and more. The segments in this episode include: The "tournament hall" vs. the "study hall" Handling decision fatigue from all the available study material The essential areas of focus for beginners OTB vs. online strategy The comparison game Talent vs. hard work Is studying several hours a day actually necessary at the amateur/club level? Mentioned: The Amateur's Mind (Amazon) The link above is an affiliate link, which earns us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This episode is a book review/discussion of the acclaimed text The Seven Deadly Chess Sins (Amazon) by Jonathan Rowson. This is a follow up to Episode 16 which discussed Chess for Tigers (Amazon) by Simon Webb. I believe these two outstanding books are probably the only resources you need for chess psychology at the amateur and club level. Chess for Tigers is an excellent primer, while The Seven Deadly Chess Sins is more advanced. The seven chess sins include the following: Thinking (erroneously) Blinking Wanting Materialism Egoism Perfectionism Looseness All links above are affiliate links, which earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Grandmaster Romain Edouard joins the podcast this week to explain how players of all levels can minimize mistakes in their games. Be sure to check out Romain's chess.com lesson on this subject (affiliate link), as well as his chessable course on facing the English opening (1.c4). I caught up with Romain during his current visit to the US for his stint as GM in Residence for the St. Louis Chess Club.    Romain's books discussed in this episode: The Chess Manual of Avoidable Mistakes Chess Calculation Training (bundle) My Magic Years with Topalov As mentioned, Romain is offering Chess Angle listeners a discount on all books from his website, thinkerspublishing.com. Use the code ROMAIN15 to receive 15% off all books from the site. This discount does not apply to sale items or bundles. Affiliate links earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. This helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This is the second episode in our Game Analysis Series where I thematically discuss one or more of my OTB games. Some of the concepts from this episode include: Positional ideas vs. tactics Adults vs. kids Unconventional openings Thoughtless one-move attacks As mentioned in this episode, please follow us on Twitter and comment on our pinned post about your rating goal for 12/31/22. Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

For this interview episode, I spoke with Fide Master Roger LaFlair.  Roger teaches high school chemistry and chess at a private school here on Long Island in NY.  He also has an active roster of private chess students.  Roger can be reached at rlaflair@gmail.com.  We touched on a variety of topics regarding tournament play and chess improvement.  Some of our talking points include: The dangers of "me chess" Awareness of your opponent's ideas Avoiding impulsivity & impatience The London System for club/amateur players Chess education Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This episode details some of my experiences as a club player and tournament director in three parts: Why I started the Long Island Chess Club What it's like directing and playing in the same tournament Some funny stories from the club Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

This is the first episode for our new Game Analysis Series. I will thematically break down one or more of my OTB games, covering a variety of chess concepts and ideas for the amateur and club player. Some of the themes from this episode include: Why you shouldn't fear higher-rated opponents How to play against lower-rated opponents How to handle draw offers The French Defense advance variation   Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com