The Chess Angle

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

**Note: Alex King earned the FM title after this was recorded. The episode title has been updated but the original show notes are below. This week I spoke with National Master Alex King who resides in Memphis, Tennessee. Alex is an active tournament player, teacher, and writer. His 6-part article series for Chess Life magazine on the Tarrasch Defense begins with the March 2022 issue. Alex is also an accomplished musician, and he composed and performed all the music in this episode. Some of our talking points include: Chess improvement tips for amateurs The prevalence of chess cheating The relationship between music and chess Alex's links & info: Marshall Spectator articlechess.com: AlexanderKing lichess: OjaiJoao E-mail: snarkusmusic@gmail.com Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

I spoke with Candidate Master and renowned chess educator Brian Karen. He is one of the most active teachers in the country. Some of our talking points include: Tournament players vs. hobbyists A rating system based on norms, rather than individual games Studying chess Does preparing for a specific opponent actually make a difference at the club level? Links referenced in this episode: Chess Book Collectors FB Group Fide World Chess Championship FB GroupThe Seven Deadly Chess Sins (affiliate link) Chess for Tigers (affiliate link) Brian's email: briankaren@usa.net Our links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com

Arguably, certain "theoretical advantages" often have less significance at the amateur level. For example, material imbalances such as "having the two bishops" or "being up the Exchange" are often overrated when non-titled players face off. Our Links: WebsiteTwitter Facebook E-mail: info@thechessangle.com